Acquisition of Automated Genetic Analyzer for Interdisciplinary Research, Teaching and Training in Molecular Phylogenetics, Biology, and Bioinformatics in an Undergraduate College

已向霍普学院提供赠款，用于购买一台自动遗传分析仪，用于进化生物学、微生物学、分子生物学和生物信息学的研究和培训。 该仪器将由教师和学生使用，将对研究和教学的多个领域产生重大影响。 首先，它将用于收集菠萝家族进化研究的DNA序列数据，由于广泛的栖息地丧失，菠萝家族的物种面临着越来越大的灭绝风险。 第二，它将被用来检查原始真核生物贾第虫的基因组进化，贾第虫是引起贾第虫病的寄生虫。 第三，该仪器将用于通过对酵母的研究更多地了解脂肪酸如何调节基因。 最后，它将被用于病毒基因组的比较分析，作为HHMI资助的噬菌体基因组学研究计划的一部分，自动遗传分析仪将通过帮助培养希望学院的本科生和NSF-REU的学生掌握现代科学技术，从而鼓励他们从事科学事业，从而产生广泛的影响。 它会增强希望吗？的HHMI资助的噬菌体基因组学计划，这是一项旨在留住科学优秀新生的举措，它将用于促进师生在植物进化，微生物基因组学，细胞生物学和生物化学方面的合作研究。 通过在研究实验室和几个不同班级的服务，该仪器每年将为至少100名本科生提供样品制备，最先进的DNA测序以及数据分析和解释方面的实践经验。

A grant has been awarded to Hope College to purchase an automated genetic analyzer for research and training in evolutionary biology, microbiology, molecular biology, and bioinformatics. The instrument, which will be used by both faculty and students, will significantly impact multiple areas of research and teaching. First, it will be used to collect DNA sequence data for evolutionary studies of the pineapple family, whose species have been under increasing risk of extinction due to extensive habitat loss. Second, it will be used to examine genome evolution in the primitive eukaryote Giardia lamblia, the parasite that causes Giardiasis. Third, the instrument will be used to learn more about how genes are regulated by fatty acids through a study in yeast. Lastly, it will be used in a comparative analysis of virus genomes as part of the HHMI-funded Phage Genomics Research InitiativeThe automated genetic analyzer will have broad impacts by helping to train Hope College undergraduate students and NSF-REU students in modern scientific techniques, thereby encouraging them to pursue careers in science. It will strengthen Hope?s HHMI-funded program in phage genomics, which is an initiative targeted at retaining outstanding freshmen in science, and it will be used to foster faculty-student collaborative research in plant evolution, microbial genomics, cell biology, and biochemistry. With its service in research laboratories as well as in several different classes, the instrument will provide at least 100 undergraduate students per year with hands-on experience in sample preparation, state-of-the-art DNA sequencing, and data analysis and interpretation.