Acquistion of Instrumentation for a DNA Sequencing and Analysis Core Facility

在克里斯托弗·科瓦尔博士的指导下，圣克劳德州立大学获得了一笔赠款，用于开发自动DNA测序和分析设施。DNA测序能力现在是生物学研究的广泛领域的必要技能，从系统发育到水质，从遗传学/基因组学到医学。为了在这些不同的领域培养下一代科学家，需要在教室和研究实验室中进行DNA测序反应的能力。这项提案的资金将用于购买DNA分析系统、96孔热循环仪和用于分析DNA序列数据的多台计算机工作站。用这笔赠款获得的仪器将使圣克劳德州立大学的八个不同研究项目继续取得进展。这些项目包括植物和硅藻系统学、免疫学、细胞和发育生物学以及内分泌生理学。在每个研究项目中，DNA序列数据都是回答这些领域关键问题的实验策略的关键组成部分。在少数情况下，这些项目的DNA序列数据的获取将与本科课程相吻合，允许学生在课堂上接受DNA测序领域的培训，以便为这些研究项目生成数据。该仪器还将作为教育工具用于本科课程。圣克劳德州立大学的生物和化学教职员工将能够联合起来，使用这种仪器开展研究和教育合作。本科和研究生教育在两个系都得到了加强，因为他们有能力在教育和研究之间架起一座桥梁，让学生超越学习而去探究。他们将获得操作自动DNA测序仪的技术能力，以及理解测序为什么重要的智力能力。对于许多学生来说，可以说他们将通过这种仪器获得他们的第一个有形的发现。学生们将在电脑屏幕上看到他们生成的数据，其中一些数据以前从未见过。

A grant has been awarded to Saint Cloud State University under the direction of Dr. Christopher Kvaal to develop an Automated DNA Sequencing and Analysis Facility. The ability to sequence DNA is now a necessary skill for wide areas of biological study, from phylogeny to water quality to genetics/genomics to medicine. In order to train the next generation of scientists in these diverse fields, the capacity to perform DNA sequencing reactions in the classroom and research lab is needed. The funding from this proposal will enable the purchase of a DNA Analysis System, a 96 well thermocycler, and multiple computer workstations for analysis of DNA sequence data.The instrumentation acquired with this grant will enable eight diverse research projects at Saint Cloud State University to make continued progress. These projects include plant and diatom systematics, immunology, cell and developmental biology, and endocrine physiology. In the case of each of the research projects, DNA sequence data is a critical component of the experimental strategy for answering vital questions in these fields. In a few cases, the acquisition of DNA sequence data for these projects will coincide with undergraduate courses, allowing students being trained in-class in the area of DNA sequencing to generate data for these research projects. The instrumentation will also be used in undergraduate courses as an educational tool.Biology and Chemistry faculty at Saint Cloud State University will be able to join together in research and education collaborations using this instrumentation. Undergraduate and graduate education is enhanced in two departments by having the ability to bridge the gap between education and research, to allow students to go beyond learning to inquiry. They will acquire the technical prowess to operate an automated DNA Sequencer and the intellectual capacity to understand why sequencing is important. For many students it can be said that they will have their "first" tangible discoveries with this instrumentation. Students will see on a computer screen data they generated, some of which has never been seen before.