MRI/RUI: Acquisition of a Genetic Analyzer and Real-Time PCR System Machine for Undergraduate Research

在凯瑟琳·马修斯博士的指导下，西卡罗来纳大学获得了一笔赠款，用于部分支持遗传分析仪和实时聚合酶链式反应系统。基因分析仪是一个执行DNA测序和一系列基因分型和DNA指纹技术的自动化系统。实时聚合酶链式反应系统对DNA混合物中的序列进行量化，在检测环境中稀有但具有重要功能的微生物方面特别有用。这两个仪器系统将作为西科大生物系的多用户研究、研究培训和教育分子生物学设备。这些仪器旨在增强生物学教师的研究能力和西德克萨斯大学学生的教育经验，并吸引新学生和研究人员来到该大学。这些系统的许多应用将使一系列研究活动成为可能，包括对具有生态和经济意义的生物的物种和种群的进化和遗传研究、法医生物学技术和微生物群落分析。为这些仪器提供的资金将支持利用分子生物学的最新创新对生物多样性进行调查。它将极大地扩展WCU生物系的分子生物学能力，并将带来令人兴奋的发现。关于植物、动物和微生物的进化史，还有很多需要了解。我们将在分子和遗传学研究中研究一系列不同的生物，由此产生的数据将有助于解决来自不同生态系统的生物之间的关系。学生将参与使用这些工具获取的数据的生成、解释和呈现，教师和学生将共同发布新的研究成果。这些工具还将扩大课堂和研究实验室的教学能力和有效性，并将导致向大学生物专业和非专业学生传播科学的充满活力和创造性的方式。该项目的核心意图是培训年轻科学家进行生物多样性研究，同时利用最新的技术进步。基因组分析仪和实时聚合酶链式反应系统将为学生提供在基于分子的研究以及在获得和分析基因组数据集方面获得实践经验的机会。教学技术和实验室经验的现代化将激发学生对生物的兴趣，并将促进对生物学家用来回答科学问题的现代方法的更好理解。此外，还将对代表人数不足的群体进行外联，包括来自附近切罗基保留地的学生；妇女、残疾人和少数群体；以及来自阿巴拉契亚南部农村当地社区的学生。通过学习一系列分子工具，WCU的学生将更好地为生物学方面的深造、高科技行业和教育领域的工作，或者仅仅是成为科学和技术通做好准备。

A grant has been awarded to Western Carolina University under the direction of Dr. Katherine Mathews for partial support of a Genetic Analyzer and a Real-Time PCR System. The Genetic Analyzer is an automated system that performs DNA sequencing and an array of genotyping and DNA fingerprinting techniques. The Real-Time PCR System quantifies sequences from mixtures of DNA and is especially useful in detecting rare, but functionally important microorganisms in the environment. The two instrument systems will function as multi-user research, research training, and educational molecular biology equipment in the Biology Department at WCU. The instruments are meant to enhance the research capabilities of the Biology faculty and the educational experience of WCU students, as well as to attract new students and researchers to the university. The many applications of these systems will make possible a host of research activities, including evolutionary and genetic studies of species and populations of ecologically and economically significant organisms, forensic biology techniques, and microbial community analysis. Funding for these instruments will support the investigation of organismal biodiversity using recent innovations in molecular biology. It will greatly expand the molecular biological capabilities of the Biology Department at WCU and will lead to exciting discoveries. Much remains to be learned about the evolutionary history of plants, animals, and microorganisms. A diverse array of organisms will be examined in molecular and genetic studies, and the resulting data will help resolve relationships among organisms from diverse ecosystems. Students will be included in the generation, interpretation, and presentation of data acquired with these instruments, and together faculty and students will publish novel research results. These instruments will also broaden the capabilities and effectiveness of instruction in the classroom and research laboratories and will result in dynamic and creative ways of communicating science to both Biology majors and non-majors at the university. The project has at its core the intent to train young scientists in biodiversity studies while utilizing the latest in technological advances. The Genomic Analyzer and Real-Time PCR System will provide students with the opportunity to gain hands-on experience in molecular-based studies and in obtaining and analyzing genomic datasets. Student interest in biology will be invigorated by the modernization of teaching techniques and laboratory experiences, and better understanding of the modern methods used by biologists to answer scientific questions will be promoted. Furthermore, outreach to underrepresented groups including students from the nearby Cherokee Reservation; women, disabled persons, and minorities; as well as students from the rural, Southern Appalachian local communities will be undertaken. By learning an array of molecular tools, WCU students will be better prepared for advanced studies in biology, for jobs in high-tech industries and education, or simply to become science and technology literate.