MRI: Acquisition of an Applied Biosystems 3500 Genetic Analyzer to Enhance Research and Training at Texas A&M International University

这项主要研究仪器补助金支持收购应用生物系统3500遗传分析仪，以支持德克萨斯州A M国际大学（TAMIU）的研究和本科教育，该大学是德克萨斯州南部的西班牙裔服务机构。获得遗传分析仪将使PI和学生能够收集序列数据并对各种分子标记进行评分，这将有助于构建遗传学，确定种群的遗传结构，并更好地了解复杂社会行为背后的神经内分泌和转录机制。除了PI的研究计划外，所要求的设备将促进TAMIU和周边学院和大学的许多教师的项目。这些教师代表了研究学科的多样性，包括：遗传学，微生物学，土壤科学，环境湖沼学，生态学，植物生物学和生物信息学。TAMIU位于德克萨斯州南部的边境，为一个以西班牙裔为主的社区提供服务;这是一个在科学和数学专业中历史上代表性不足的群体。增加这些学生参与前沿原创性研究对扩大科学多样性和增强国家实力至关重要。的技术和经济竞争力。这项研究的结果将通过区域和专业会议、学术期刊上的出版物传播，并通过媒体采访、非专业出版物上的文章和非专业团体的讲座向公众传播。 该提案所支持的设备将为TAMIU及周边地区的高中生、本科生和研究生提供出色的教育效益，增强现有课程，并促进基因组学和生物信息学新课程的创建。

This Major Research Instrumentation grant supports the acquisition of an Applied Biosystems 3500 Genetic Analyzer to support research and undergraduate education at Texas A&M International University (TAMIU), a Hispanic serving institution in South Texas. The acquisition of a genetic analyzer will enable the PI and students to collect sequence data and score a variety of molecular markers, which will facilitate the construction of phylogenies, determine the genetic structure of populations and provide a greater understanding of the neuroendocrine and transcriptional mechanisms underlying complex social behaviors. In addition to the PI's research program, the requested equipment will advance the projects of numerous faculty, both at TAMIU and surrounding colleges and universities. These faculty represent a great diversity of research disciplines, including: genetics, microbiology, soil science, environmental limnology, ecology, plant biology, and bioinformatics. Situated on the border in South Texas, TAMIU serves a predominately Hispanic community; a group historically underrepresented in science and math professions. Increasing the participation of these students in cutting edge original research is critical to broadening diversity in the sciences and enhancing the nation?s technological and economic competitiveness. Results from this research will be disseminated through regional and professional conferences, publications in scholarly journals, as well as communicated to the general public in interviews with the media, write-ups in lay publications, and lectures to non-professional societies. The equipment supported by this proposal will provide outstanding educational benefits to high school, undergraduate, and graduate students at TAMIU and the surrounding area, enhancing the current curriculum and fostering the creation new courses in genomics and bioinformatics.