Plant growth chamber for arabidopsis research

拟南芥是农业生物技术的一种模式生物，它为了解基因功能如何影响作物改良提供了机会。随着拟南芥基因组测序计划的完成，目前面临的挑战是基因功能的确定。一个基因的功能的完整理解依赖于突变等位基因和转基因系的表型分析感兴趣的基因。然而，表型的表现依赖于生长条件。在不太理想的条件下，往往会遗漏微妙的表型。因此，一个可控的生长环境对拟南芥突变体和转基因系的表型分析至关重要。由于拟南芥体型小，呈莲座状生长，生命周期短，因此在专门为这种模型实验室植物设计的生长室中可以实现最佳生长。拟南芥生长室将成为PI基因功能测定平台的关键组成部分之一。该生长室专为拟南芥生长设计，为表型分析和遗传筛选提供受控环境。获得这样一个拟南芥生长室将允许观察和记录从幼苗到成熟植物的许多发育阶段的表型。申请资金（28,501美元）用于购买拟南芥生长室，用于“拟南芥RACK1（活化蛋白激酶C受体的同源物）作用的分子机制”提案中描述的研究项目，该项目由NSERC发现资助。

Arabidopsis is a model organism for agricultural biotechnology, providing the opportunity to get key insights into the way that gene function can affect crop improvement. With the completion of the Arabidopsis genome sequencing project, the current challenge is the determination of gene function. A complete understanding of a gene's function relies on the phenotypic analysis of the mutant alleles and transgenic lines for the gene of interest. However, the manifestation of phenotype relies on the growth conditions. Subtle phenotypes are often missed in less desirable conditions. Therefore, a controllable growth environment is essential for the phenotypic analysis of Arabidopsis mutants and transgenic lines. Because of its small size, rosette growth habit, and short life cycle, an optimal growth of Arabidopsis can be achieved in a growth chamber specifically designed for this model laboratory plant.                The proposed Arabidopsis growth chamber will be one of the key components for the PI's gene function determination platform. This growth chamber is specific designed for Arabidopsis growth, providing controlled environments for phenotypic analysis and genetic screen. The acquisition of such an Arabidopsis growth chamber would permit the observation and record of the phenotypes at many developmental stages, from seedlings to mature plants. Funds ($28,501) are requested to purchase an Arabidopsis growth chamber devoted to the research program described in the proposal entitled "Molecular mechanisms of the action of Arabidopsis RACK1, an ortholog of receptor for activated protein kinase C", funded by the NSERC Discovery Grants.