MRI: Acquisition of an Applied Biosystems 3500xL DNA Analyzer for Interdisciplinary Genomics Research and Training at the University of Houston-Clear Lake

这笔拨款将用于购买应用生物系统公司的3500xL 24毛细管DNA分析仪，以促进休斯顿大学-克利尔湖分校（UHCL）的研究和研究培训能力。ABI 3500xL DNA分析仪是一种全自动毛细管电泳系统，每天可测序高达400,000个碱基对。所要求的设备将供至少8名生物学、生物技术和环境科学教员用于他们的研究活动以及本科生和研究生的研究训练。DNA分析仪将用于检测微加根头菌（Rhipicephalus microplus）中农药抗性相关基因突变、研究短尾紫花苜蓿（Medicago truncatula）中必需氨基酸的生物合成、研究软珊瑚环境胁迫的分子机制、研究植物锌稳态维持的分子机制、研究加尔维斯顿湾（Galveston Bay）微生物种群以及研究人诱导型一氧化氮合酶的调控。收购高通量DNA分析仪将通过丰富基因组学课程和整合使用现代仪器的独立研究项目的实践机会，加强教师的研究和促进学生的学习。教师和学生研究人员将使用这些设备来解决生物学、生物技术和环境科学领域的重要问题。例如，DNA分析仪将用于确定德克萨斯州牛蜱中导致农药抗性的基因，这给养牛业造成了重大损失。该分析仪将用于解决与人类福利有关的问题，例如一氧化氮在人体中的作用，以及如何提高植物性食品（如豆类）的营养质量，以解决全球植物性饮食营养不良的问题。该分析仪还将用于确定环境压力对软珊瑚的影响，表征加尔维斯顿湾的微生物群落，以及其他对环境重要的项目。该设备将极大地促进UHCL的研究出版物和拨款提案的产生，并加强与美国农业部儿童基金会等区域和国家组织的持续合作。美国营养研究中心，美国农业部-农业部-家畜昆虫研究实验室，纳尔科化学公司和贝勒医学院。该设备的收购将满足当地和国家对训练有素的具有生物学、生物技术和环境科学研究技能的学士和硕士毕业生的需求。每年至少有50名学士和硕士学生将在独立研究和论文研究中使用该仪器，另有30名学生将在正式培训课程中使用该仪器。这些学生中有很大一部分将来自科学领域代表性不足的群体。当地7至12年级的理科生也将有机会访问该设备的数据，学习如何进行基因和基因组分析。

This grant will provide for the acquisition of an Applied Biosystems 3500xL 24-capillary DNA Analyzer to foster research and research training capabilities at the University of Houston-Clear Lake (UHCL). The ABI 3500xL DNA Analyzer is a fully automated capillary electrophoresis system with a capacity of sequencing up to 400,000 base pairs per day. The requested equipment will be used by at least eight faculty members in biology, biotechnology and environmental science for their research activities as well as for research training of undergraduate and graduate students. The DNA Analyzer will be utilized to detect pesticide resistance-associated gene mutations in Rhipicephalus microplus, to study essential amino acid biosynthesis in Medicago truncatula, to study molecular mechanisms of environmental stress in soft corals, to study molecular mechanisms involved in the maintenance of zinc homeostasis in plants, to study microbial populations in Galveston Bay, and to study regulation of human inducible nitric oxide synthase. Acquisition of the high-throughput DNA Analyzer will enhance faculty research and advance student learning by enriching courses in genomics and through integration of hands-on exposure for independent research projects using modern instrumentation. Faculty and student researchers will use the equipment to address important problems in the areas of biology, biotechnology and environmental science. For example, the DNA Analyzer will be used to determine the genes responsible for pesticide resistance in the Texas cattle tick, which has led to major loss to the cattle industry. The Analyzer will be used to address problems related to human welfare, such as the role of nitric oxide in the human body, and how to improve the nutritional quality of plant foods, such as legumes, to address the worldwide problem of malnutrition from plant-based diets. The Analyzer will also be used to determine the effects of environmental stress on soft corals, to characterize the microbial community of Galveston Bay, and in other projects important to the environment. This equipment will greatly enhance the generation of research publications and grant proposals from UHCL and enhance ongoing collaborations with regional and national organizations such as the USDA Children?s Nutrition Research Center, USDA-ARS-Livestock Insect Research Laboratory, Nalco Chemical company, and Baylor College of Medicine. Acquisition of this equipment will address both local and national needs for well-trained B.S. and M.S graduates with research skills in biology, biotechnology and environmental science. At least 50 B.S. and M.S. students per year will use the instrument in independent studies and thesis research and another 30 students in formal training courses. A high percentage of these students will be from groups underrepresented in science. Local 7th to 12th grade science students will also be given opportunities to access data from this equipment to learn how to perform genetic and genomic analysis.