Real-time PCR system for biology department

我们建议通过获得最先进的真实的实时定量聚合酶链反应（qPCR）系统，提高纪念大学生物系研究人员进行现代分子生物学研究的能力。基因表达的变化是许多生物现象的基础。真实的实时qPCR是目前用于定量核酸和测量特定基因表达变化的优选方法。qPCR是一种高灵敏度的方法，其利用小样本量和短实验时间范围，并且可以生成大量有用的数据。这种技术比传统的定量mRNA的方法，如北方印迹或核酸酶保护测定法，显着更灵敏，这是变得过时。为了在分子生物学领域保持竞争力，生物系必须获得真实的时间qPCR系统。申请的资金总额将用于支持NSERC资助的三个主要用户及其研究生、本科生和博士后研究员的研究计划。这些主要用户有广泛的研究兴趣，包括鱼类分子内分泌学，生态基因组学和果蝇遗传学。

We propose to increase the capacity of researchers in the Biology Department of Memorial University to carry out modern molecular biology research by acquiring a sate of the art real time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) system. Changes in gene expression underlie many biological phenomena. Real Time qPCR is currently the preferred method for quantifying nucleic acids and measuring changes in the expression of specific genes. qPCR is a highly sensitive method that utilizes small sample sizes and short experimental time frames and that can generate vast amounts of useful data. This technique is dramatically more sensitive than traditional means of quantifying mRNA such as northern blots or nuclease protection assays, which are becoming obsolete. In order to remain competitive in the field of molecular biology, it is imperative that the Department of Biology acquires a real time qPCR system. The total requested funds will support the NSERC-funded research program of three major users and their graduate and undergraduate students and postdoctoral fellows. These major users have a wide range of research interests that include fish molecular endocrinology, ecological genomics and fruit fly genetics.