RUI - A Genetic Analyzer for Studies on Biodiversity, Phylogenetics, Population Genetics and Molecular Biology in the Caribbean

该奖项是为了奖励获得一台用于DNA测序和基因分析的自动化仪器。DNA测序和基因分析将被广泛用于微生物多样性和生态学的研究。这些项目包括侧重于热带森林、毁林土地和农业单一栽培中与植物和土壤相关的微生物多样性、加勒比极端环境中的微生物多样性以及土壤与水生纤毛虫的比较。建议基于细胞质DNA对加勒比地区稀有和濒危维管植物种群以及大约8000年前居住在该地区的美洲印第安人的种群历史和迁徙路线进行进一步研究。此外，DNA测序将被广泛用于各种生物的分子系统发育研究，如支角类、纤毛虫、苔藓植物以及安的列斯群岛稀有和濒危的维管植物。DNA测序还将被用作确认基因结构、定点突变和其他涉及DNA操作的步骤的工具。自动化遗传分析仪将在该系建立博士项目的目标中发挥关键作用。该仪器将对促进竞争性研究产生重大影响，并将提高正在开发的分子系统学研究生课程的质量。通过这些方式，它将为越来越多的研究生的研究性培养做出强有力的贡献。此外，通过促进竞争性研究，它将改善占波多黎各人97%的本科生的研究机会，从而提高他们在美国和其他地方进行研究生研究的兴趣和培训。该文书的影响将波及整个校园，因为目前在校园或马亚吉兹市的任何地方都没有这样的文书。影响将超越美国国界，因为许多研究生来自拉丁美洲和加勒比海地区，也因为一些研究项目在地区层面上运作。

This award is for the acquisition of an automated instrument for DNA sequencing and genotype analysis. DNA sequencing and genotype analysis will be used extensively for studies on microbial diversity and ecology. These include projects focused on plant-associated and soil-associated microbial diversity in forests, deforested land, and agricultural monocultures in the tropics, on microbial diversity in extreme environments in the Caribbean, and on soil-aquatic ciliate comparisons. Further studies based on cytoplasmic DNA are proposed on populations of rare and endangered vascular plants of the Caribbean, and on the population history and migratory routes of the Amerindians who peopled the region approximately 8,000 years ago. In addition, DNA sequencing will be used extensively for molecular phylogenetic studies in a wide diversity of organisms such as cladocerans, ciliates, bryophytes, and rare and endangered vascular plants of the Antilles. DNA sequencing will also be used as a tool to confirm gene constructs, site-directed mutations, and other steps involving DNA manipulation.The automated genetic analyzer will play a key role in the Department's goal of establishing a doctoral program. The instrument will have a strong impact on facilitating competitive research and will enhance the quality of a molecular systematics graduate course that is being developed. In these ways, it will make a powerful contribution to the research training of the growing number of graduate students. Furthermore, by facilitating competitive research, it will improve research opportunities for undergraduates, composed 97% of Puerto Ricans, and thus increase their interest and improve their training for graduate research in the U.S. and elsewhere. The impact of the instrument will reach the whole campus, as there is currently no such instrument anywhere on campus or in the city of Mayaguez. The impact will reach beyond U.S. borders because a number of the graduate students are from Latin America and the Caribbean, and because some of the research projects operate at a regional level.