MRI/RUI:Acquisition of Instrumentation for an Undergraduate Research Program in Biotechnology

在Marilyn Cruz-Alvarez博士和Takashi Ueda博士的指导下，佛罗里达海湾海岸大学（FGCU）获得了一笔赠款，用于为生物技术本科研究项目购置设备。该设备包括在受控条件下用于植物生长和植物培养的环境室。这种设备的可用性对于生物技术的教师研究以及该计划的本科生培训都是至关重要的。通过加强新生物技术项目的基础设施，它将有助于FGCU招募高素质的教师和学生。购买这些设备将有助于目前对植物发育基本方面的研究。特别是，该设备将立即用于两个联邦资助的项目，涉及分析两种植物基因的结构和功能。一个是一种新的花椰菜基因，它可能参与花椰菜凝乳的形成。另一种是荞麦（Fagopyrum esculentum）基因，它编码一种抗氧化酶，这种酶存在于从细菌到人类的各种生物中。该设备将由该项目当前和未来的教师共享，因此它将对其他研究项目产生影响。这些设备也将广泛用于教育目的。FGCU生物技术计划的课程强调实践培训和本科生广泛参与教师研究。学生可以在分子遗传学、生物技术方法、细胞生物学、植物生理学、植物分子遗传学、生物化学和发育遗传学等课程的实验部分以及在个别教师指导下进行的独立研究中使用这些设备。考虑到这些设备将用于研究的潜在生物技术应用，提供这些设备可能具有更广泛的意义。例如，对上述植物基因的表征可能有助于更好地理解甘蓝（Brassica oleracea）栽培品种（如花椰菜、西兰花或球芽甘蓝）可食用部分的发育，或了解植物种子干燥和发芽的过程。该研究的未来应用可能包括操纵蔬菜作物可食用部分的形成和抗旱作物的产生。此外，这些设备的可用性将增加FGCU学生的研究机会，并有助于他们更好地为研究生学习或生物技术行业的工作做好准备。一个强大的研究项目和一代准备良好的劳动力有望使生物技术项目成为吸引生物技术公司到佛罗里达西南部的中心，从而促进该地区的经济增长和进一步发展。

A grant has been awarded to Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU) under the direction of Dr. Marilyn Cruz-Alvarez and Dr. Takashi Ueda for the acquisition of equipment for an undergraduate research program in Biotechnology. The equipment includes environmental chambers for growth of plants and plant cultures under controlled conditions. Availability of this equipment is essential both for faculty research in Biotechnology as well as for training of undergraduate students in the program. By enhancing the infrastructure of the new Biotechnology program it will aid in the recruitment of high quality faculty and students at FGCU.Purchase of the equipment will facilitate current research on basic aspects of plant development. In particular the equipment will be immediately used for two federally funded projects involving the analyses of the structure and function of two plant genes. One is a novel cauliflower (Brassica oleracea) gene that may be involved in cauliflower curd formation. The other is a buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum) gene encoding an antioxidant enzyme found in a wide range of organisms, from bacteria to humans. The equipment will be shared by current and future faculty in the program and therefore it will have an impact on additional research projects. The equipment will also be extensively used for educational purposes. The curriculum of the Biotechnology program at FGCU emphasizes hands-on training and extensive participation of undergraduates in faculty research. Students will benefit from the equipment by using it in the laboratory components of courses such as Molecular Genetics, Methods in Biotechnology, Cell Biology, Plant Physiology, Plant Molecular Genetics, Biochemistry and Developmental Genetics, as well as for independent research conducted under individual faculty supervision. Availability of the equipment may have a broader significance considering the potential biotechnological applications of the research for which it will be used. Characterization of the plant genes mentioned above, for example, may lead to a better understanding of the development of edible parts in cultivated varieties of Brassica oleracea, such as cauliflower, broccoli or Brussels sprouts, or of the processes of plant seed desiccation and germination. Future applications of this research may include manipulation of the formation of the edible parts in vegetable crops and generation of drought-resistant crops. In addition, the availability of the equipment will enhance research opportunities for students at FGCU and it will aid in better preparing them for graduate studies or jobs in the biotechnology industry. A strong research program and generation of a well-prepared workforce are expected to make the Biotechnology program a center for attracting biotechnology companies to Southwest Florida leading to economic growth and further development of the region.