A DNA sequencer with AFLP and microsatellite genotyping capabilities for integrative biology applications

威尔弗里德·劳里埃大学(WLU)生物系多年来一直从综合的角度教授和处理研究问题。这种方法试图将不同组织层面的过程联系起来，从分子到整个生物体和种群。传统上，WLU的学生在教学和研究实验室获得的实践经验主要是通过基于整体生物的研究获得的。然而，这种情况最近发生了变化，因为该系的专业知识已经扩大到包括微生物学和分子生物学等学科，这些领域的知识是真正综合的生物学方法所必需的。这种扩展在目前提供的课程类型中很明显，就像分子方法现在正被整合到教员的许多研究项目中一样。在所要求的设备中，一个具有AFLP和微卫星基因分型能力的DNA测序仪将支持五个共同申请者的研究项目(以及其他目前和可能未来的系研究人员)，并将有助于对本科生和研究生进行分子生物学技术的培训，因为它还将用于一些教学实验室。将该系统用于教学目的是获得该系统的一项要求。由于所申请的资金是Li-Cor Biosciences提供的基因组教育配对基金的等额资金，该基金旨在支持分子生物学及相关领域的本科生的教育和培训。作为其在本科培训中的作用的一部分，该系统将支持植物生理学和植物-微生物相互作用、植物发育遗传学、鸟类繁殖行为和生态学、植物系统发育和生物多样性以及分子植物细胞生物学的研究计划。因此，该系统将在支持和加强广泛的研究课题以及维持和加强系从综合角度处理生物学的哲学方面发挥重要作用。

The Department of Biology at Wilfrid Laurier University (WLU) has taught and approached research questions from an integrative perspective for many years.  This approach attempts to link processes at different levels of organization, from the molecular up to whole organisms and populations.  Traditionally, the hands-on experience gained by students in teaching and research laboratories at WLU has been gained primarily through whole organism biology-based studies.  This has changed recently, however, as the expertise of the department has expanded to include such disciplines as microbiology and molecular biology, areas in which knowledge is required for a truly integrative approach to biology. The expansion is evident as much in the types of courses now being offered as in the molecular approaches that are now being integrated into many of the faculty's research programs.  The equipment requested, a DNA sequencer with AFLP and microsatellite genotyping capabilities, will support the research programs of the five co-applicants (in addition to other current and likely future departmental researchers), and will contribute to the training of undergraduate and graduate students in the techniques of molecular biology, as it will also be used in a number of teaching laboratories.  The use of the system for teaching purposes is a requirement of its acquisition, as the requested funds represent matching funds for a Genomic Education Matching Funds grant from Li-Cor Biosciences, which is aimed at supporting the education and training of undergraduate students in molecular biology and related fields. As part of, and in addition to, its role in undergraduate training, the system will support research programs in plant physiology and plant-microbe interactions, the genetics of plant development, the reproductive behaviour and ecology of birds, plant phylogeny and biodiversity, and molecular plant cell biology.  Therefore, the system will play a significant role in supporting and enhancing a broad range of research topics as well as in maintaining and enhancing the department's philosophy of approaching biology from an integrative perspective.