MRI/RUI: Acquisition of Genetic Analyzers for University of South Dakota Evolutionary Genetics Research Group

南达科他大学生物系获得了一笔资助。Nepokroeff, Britten, Helenurm & Swallow，获得自动基因分析仪器。该设备将用于自动DNA测序、基因片段和基因分型分析（如微卫星检测、使用aflp进行DNA指纹识别）。这些设备将被安置在生物系，并将由来自USD生物系和基础生物医学科学系的另外17名教师使用。以美元收购这台设备尤其重要，因为目前校园内没有这样的设施，在南达科他州也没有高通量的设施。USD的生物学研究人员将使用遗传分析仪解决进化遗传学，保护生物学和系统学方面的一些重要问题。Nepokroeff博士将处理的具体项目包括康乃馨科的系统分类学，使用几种不同DNA序列的分子系统发育分析和系统发育方法来研究太平洋岛屿热带灌木属精神病（开花植物中物种最丰富的属之一）物种的生物地理学（殖民和扩散）。此外，她将使用AFLP和微卫星标记研究几个夏威夷植物谱系的保护和种群遗传学。布里顿博士计划研究几个联邦濒危物种的种群遗传结构和遗传变异。他将使用AFLP和微卫星分析，通过栖息地丧失和黑尾草原土拨鼠的历史森林鼠疫感染来调查种群碎片化的影响。此外，他还计划研究号手天鹅和沙丘鹤的基因变异。Helenurm博士将介绍岛屿特有植物的种群遗传学和进化。他将使用DNA指纹识别方法，例如微卫星和AFLP标记，来检查加利福尼亚海峡群岛特有的几种开花植物的遗传变异水平，其中许多是濒临灭绝的。他还将使用aflp和DNA序列来检查海峡群岛植物物种的种内（或“系统地理”）关系，这是一个鲜为人知的系统。斯沃洛博士将讨论果蝇的野生亲缘物种——柄眼蝇的形态、行为和生理特征的相关进化问题。他将利用DNA序列重建杆眼蝇物种和种群之间的系统发育关系。其次，他将在QTL研究中使用DNA标记（aflp）来确定涉及物种识别和配偶选择相关性状的基因数量。该设备将被USD的教师、博士后研究人员、毕业生和本科生用于原创性研究，将被整合到USD课程的三门课程中。该设备还将被纳入几个现有的暑期项目，旨在为该地区少数民族高中的学生和他们的老师提供研究经验。除了美国社区外，新设备和拟议的项目预计将为至少四所具有研究专业知识和经验的地区学院提供服务。获得现场设施将提高PI在联邦研究基金方面的竞争力，并吸引新的教师和研究生参加美元不断增长的研究项目。因此，基因分析设备将对USD的研究和教育项目的质量产生巨大的影响，将允许pi在高水平上整合教学和研究，并将以多种方式丰富USD社区。

A grant has been awarded to the University of South Dakota Department of Biology, under the supervision of Drs. Nepokroeff, Britten, Helenurm & Swallow, to acquire automated genetic analysis instrumentation. The equipment will be used for automated DNA sequencing, genetic fragment and genotyping analysis (e.g. microsatellite detection, DNA finger-printing using AFLPs). The equipment will be housed in the Biology Department, and will be used by an additional 17 faculty from USD's Departments of Biology and Basic Biomedical Sciences. The acquisition of this equipment at USD is especially significant because there is currently no such facility on campus, and no high-throughput facility in the state of South Dakota.Researchers in Biology at USD will address a number of important questions in evolutionary genetics, conservation biology and systematics using the genetic analyzer. Specific projects to be addressed by Dr. Nepokroeff include the systematics of the carnation family, Caryophyllaceae, using molecular phylogenetic analysis of several different DNA sequences and phylogenetic approaches to study biogeography, (colonization and dispersal) in Pacific island species of the tropical shrub genus Psychotria (one of the most species-rich genera of flowering plants). Additionally, she will study conservation and population genetics of several Hawaiian plant lineages using AFLP and microsatellite markers. Dr. Britten plans to address population genetic structure and genetic variability of several Federally endangered species. He will be investigating the effects of population fragmentation through habitat loss and historical sylvatic plague infections in Black-tailed prairie dogs using AFLP and microsatellite analysis. Additionally, he plans to examine genetic variation in trumpeter swans and sandhill cranes. Dr. Helenurm will address population genetics and evolution of insular endemic plants. He will use DNA finger-printing methods, e.g., microsatellite and AFLP markers to examine levels of genetic variability in several species of flowering plants endemic to California's Channel Islands, many of which are endangered. He will also use AFLPs and DNA sequences to examine within-species (or "phylogeographic") relationships for plant species in the Channel Islands, a system which is poorly known. Dr. Swallow will address questions concerning correlated evolution of morphological, behavioral and physiological traits in stalk-eyed flies (family Diopsidae), wild relatives of the fruit fly. He will use DNA sequences for reconstructing phylogenetic relationships among species and populations of stalk-eyed flies. Secondly, he will use DNA markers (AFLPs) in a QTL study to determine the number of genes involved in traits related to species recognition and mate choice.The equipment will be used in original research by faculty, postdoctoral researchers, graduates and undergraduate students at USD, will be integrated into three courses in the USD curriculum. The equipment will also be incorporated in several existing summer programs, geared to give research experiences to area minority high school students and their teachers. The new equipment and proposed programs are anticipated to serve at least four area colleges with research expertise and experiences, in addition to the USD community. Acquiring an on-site facility will enhance the PI's competitiveness for federal research funds and attract new faculty and graduate students to USD's growing research programs. Thus, a genetic analyzer facility will have an enormous impact on the quality of research and educational programs at USD, will allow the PIs to integrate teaching and research at a high level, and will enrich the USD community in a diversity of ways.