Refrigerated tabletop centrifuge with microplatz capacity for use in DNA sequencing and other molecular genetic studies

我们的研究使用遗传技术来回答关于动物进化、发育和繁殖的各种问题。例如，我们研究了：1)一些北美淡水鱼的进化关系和遗传群体结构；2)缝隙连接的组成蛋白连接蛋白在胚胎发育和组织维持中的作用；3)蚊子和其他害虫的发育和繁殖。我们使用的许多技术都涉及大量的DNA测序。虽然DNA测序过去是非常劳动密集型的，但现在该过程基本上是自动化的，并且可以在短时间内对大量样品进行测序。去年，马尼托巴大学植物系、微生物系和动物学系的研究人员获得了NSERC研究工具和仪器的资助，用于购买一台自动测序仪。目前的建议是为冷冻离心机寻求资金，使我们能够为测序准备大量样品。一台可以旋转96孔板的离心机将使我们能够充分利用新型自动测序仪的高通量能力。

Our research uses genetic techniques to answer a variety of questions regarding animal evolution, development, and reproduction.  For example, we investigate: 1) the evolutionary relationships and genetic population structure of a number of North American freshwater fishes; 2) the roles that connexins, the constituent proteins of gap junctions, play in embryonic development and tissue maintenance; and 3) development and reproduction in mosquitoes and other pest insects.  Many of the techniques we use involve extensive DNA sequencing.  Although DNA sequencing used to be very labour-intensive, the process is now largely automated and sequencing of a large number of samples in a short period of time is possible.  Last year, researchers in the Departments of Botany, Microbiology, and Zoology at the University of Manitoba received an NSERC Research Tools and Instruments grant to purchase an automated sequencer.  The current proposal seeks funding for a refrigerated centrifuge that would allow us to prepare a large number of samples for sequencing.  A centrifuge that can spin 96-well plates will allow us to take full advantage of the high-throughput capabilities of the new automated sequencer.