Monitoring gene function and regulation in physio-pathological processes

我们的DNA包含数千个基因，这些基因产生不同的分子，称为转录本，这些转录本的信息依次被翻译成蛋白质。后一种分子实体调节我们体内所有的生化反应。因此，基因的突变或异常调控经常导致恶性肿瘤。为了获得基因功能和调控的新知识，人们可以使用聚合酶链反应（PCR）的方法来监测基因是如何工作的。PCR是一项强大的技术，它允许从几乎所有生物体的任何基因或相应转录物中提取DNA序列的指数扩增；而且只需要极少量的生物样本。PCR结合使用结合双链DNA的化学探针对DNA扩增进行实时监测（定量PCR， qPCR），可以非常精确和非常可靠地测定DNA数量。PCR的这一革命性特征为分子生物学和生物医学科学的几个领域提供了使用和/或开发广泛应用的可能性。目前的拨款申请汇集了一组nserc资助的团队，对他们来说，qPCR是每天都非常需要的。因此，所要求的设备是完成每一个研究计划所不可缺少的。

Our DNA contains thousands of genes which produce different molecules called transcripts whose information is in turn translated into proteins. The later molecular entities mediate all of the biochemical reactions in our bodies. Thus, the mutation or abnormal regulation of genes frequently results in malignancies. To acquire novel knowledge on gene function and regulation, one can monitor how genes work using the approach of polymerase chain reaction (PCR). PCR is a powerful technology, which permits the exponential amplification of DNA sequences derived from any gene or corresponding transcript from virtually all living organisms; and requires only infinitesimal quantities of biological samples. PCR in conjunction with real time monitoring of DNA amplification using chemical probes that bind double stranded DNA (quantitative PCR, qPCR) allows very precise and extremely reliable determination of DNA quantities. This revolutionary feature of PCR provides the possibility of using and/or developing a wide range of applications in several fields of molecular biology and biomedical sciences. The current grant application brings together a group of NSERC-funded teams for whom, the qPCR is critically required on a daily basis. Therefore the requested equipment is indispensable for the accomplishment of each research program.