Pyrosequencer for genomics and epigenomics research

农业、食品和营养科学部的农业基因组和蛋白质组学股(AGP股)是一个多用户核心设施，为利用基因组学技术促进粮食和生物经济技术创新的研究人员提供关键能力。这些享誉国际的多学科研究项目包括畜牧科学与技术(牛、猪、鸡)、肉类科学与加工、猪营养、生殖生理学、牧场生态与管理，以及加拿大农业和农业食品公司的合作科学家。这些研究人员的一些主要研究领域集中在改善对遗传和表观遗传变化的理解，影响复杂的性状，如饲料效率、动植物健康。表观遗传修饰导致基因表达的变化，而DNA序列没有任何变化(例如胞嘧啶的甲基化、甲基化、乙酰化等)。这些领域包括饲料效率、免疫反应、微生物与宿主的相互作用、与动物健康和肉质有关的牛肉、奶牛和猪的肠道微生物区系的作用、与微生物群相关的遗传背景/环境；奶牛的早期营养和管理计划、胰腺的表观基因组、牧场生态学、生物多样性研究、生产实践对肉类质量的影响以及为遗传/表观遗传改良和基因辅助管理提供更好的工具。除了现有的基因组学和功能基因组学研究外，有必要为AGP单位的研究人员获得焦磷酸测序仪，以鉴定功能单核苷酸多态和表观遗传学标记。所要求的热解测序仪将利用表观基因组学提供对环境和饮食的基因组反应方面的进一步知识，以制定与动物生产、健康、作物科学、食品科学和安全以及农业企业有关的协调营养和管理战略。这些研究将加强工具的开发，以确定动物和植物系统的特定性能、质量特征和附加值特征，并促进为工业和学术界培训高素质的人员。

A multi-user core facility, Agricultural Genomics and Proteomics Unit (AGP Unit), in the Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science, provides key capacity for researchers employing genomics technologies for technological innovation in food and the bio-economy. These internationally reputed multidisciplinary research programs include The Livestock Gentec (bovine, swine, chicken), meat science and processing, swine nutrition, reproductive physiology, rangeland ecology and management, and collaborating scientists at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. Some of the major areas of investigation by these researchers are focused on improving the understanding of genetic and epigenetic changes, impacting complex traits such as feed efficiency, animal and plant health. The epigenetics modifications result in variations of gene expression without any change in the DNA sequence (e.g., the methylation of cytosine, methylation, acetylation etc.). These include feed efficiency, immune response, microbial-host interactions, the role of gut microflora in beef, dairy cattle and pigs related to animal health and meat quality, genetic background/environment associated with microbiome; early-life nutrition and management programs in dairy cows, epigenome of the pancreas, rangeland ecology, biodiversity studies, impact of production practices on meat quality and providing better tools for genetic/epigenetic improvement and gene-assisted management. It is necessary to acquire a pyrosequencer for the AGP unit researchers, to identify the functional single nucleotide polymorphism and epigenetic markers, in addition to the existing genomics and functional genomics researches. The requested Pyrosequencer will be providing further knowledge in genomic response to environment and diet using epigenomics to develop coordinated nutritional and management strategies related to animal production, health, crop sciences, food science and safety, and agri-business. These studies will enhance the development of tools that identify specific performance, quality traits, and value added characteristics in animal and plant systems and facilitate training of highly qualified personnel for industry and academia.