Microarray scanner for functional genomics research

功能基因组学（转录组学）和蛋白质组学是农业、食品和营养科学系一个多用户、多教员的农业基因组学和蛋白质组学单位（AGP单位）进行研究的主要重点。开展这项研究的各个小组包括猪繁殖发育计划、牛基因组学计划、植物生物技术小组、油菜籽生物技术项目和植物病理学小组支持60名学生、技术人员、博士后研究员和研究助理的研究项目。“高分辨率，多激光微阵列扫描仪与分析软件”的收购是非常关键的功能基因组学研究。mRNA转录组是遗传蓝图的来源，被用作细胞蛋白质的编码，细胞蛋白质可以作为结构构建块、酶和营养转运体以及其他必需的细胞成分。通过转录组分析测量基因表达，可以确定细胞基因的水平，这些水平随特定时间线或治疗而变化。所要求的微阵列扫描仪是一种必不可少的设备，可以同时比较杂交微阵列芯片上存在的10,000-50,000个基因。这种要求的扫描仪保留了必要的高水平的灵敏度，准确性和可重复性，以有效比较来自不同染料标记的cDNA的转录组。此外，扫描仪提供的特征提取软件可以在自动模式下读取和处理多达100个原始微阵列图像文件。将敏感和可靠的转录组分析纳入我们的研究计划，将转化为相应的能力和效率的指数增长，通过它我们可以提供我们正在努力理解的复杂真核生物生理过程的见解。所要求的微阵列扫描仪将用于8位申请人当前的研究项目，也将允许其他同事将高密度微阵列转录组分析纳入未来的研究工作。

The functional genomics (transcriptomics) and proteomics is the major focus of research conducted in a multi-user, multi-faculty Agricultural Genomics and Proteomics Unit (AGP Unit) in the Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science  Various groups conducting this research include The Swine Reproduction-Development Program, The Bovine Genomics Initiative, Plant Biotechnology Group, Canola Biotechnology Program and Plant Pathology Group supporting the research programs of 60 students, technicians, post doctoral fellows and research associates. The acquisition of a "High-resolution, multiple laser Microarray Scanner with analytical software" is very critical for functional genomics research. The mRNA transcriptome serves as the source of genetic blueprints that are utilized as the code for cellular proteins that can function as structural building blocks, enzymes and nutrient transporters and other essential cell components. The measurement of gene expression, through transcriptome analysis allows for determination of levels of cellular genes that vary with respect to specific timelines or treatments. The requested microarray scanner is an essential piece of equipment that allows simultaneous comparison of 10,000-50,000 genes present on a hybridized microarray chip. This requested scanner retains the necessary high levels of sensitivity, accuracy and reproducibility for effective comparison of transcriptomes from differentially dye-labeled cDNA. Furthermore, the feature extraction software available with the scanner can read and process up to 100 raw microarray image files in an automated mode. The incorporation of sensitive and reliable transcriptome analysis into our research programs will translate into a corresponding exponential increase in the capacity, and efficacy by which we can provide insights into the complex eukaryotic physiological processes that we are striving to understand. The requested microarray scanner will be utilized within the current research programs of the 8 applicants and will also allow additional colleagues to incorporate transcriptome analysis using high-density microarrays into future research endeavours.