MRI: Acquisition of Genomic Sequencing Instrumentation

New Mexico State University, Las Cruces NM

Investigators

Abstract

New Mexico State University (NMSU) has received funding from the National Science Foundation to acquire major research instrumentation in the form of a transformational new technology of genome sequencing called Emulsion PCR pyrosequencing. First invented barely three years ago, this novel technology reduces the time and cost of DNA sequencing to about 1% of existing technologies and allows exploratory genetic characterization of environmental samples. The multi-user genome sequencing core facility will allow NMSU researchers to pioneer the understanding of 1) how mutations in a few genes can affect the expression of hundreds of others, 2) how certain viruses ameliorate the pathogenicity of some diseases, 3) how genes that allow beneficial bacteria to live in hosts can change to allow pathogenicity, 4) the changes in microbial communities of severely polluted and remediated soils, 5) mutations that drive ongoing speciation in natural populations of plants and insects, and 6) genome-level genetic characterization of non-model organisms. NMSU is a leader in biotechnology education in the minority-majority state of New Mexico, and it will be the first minority serving institution to acquire emPCR pyrosequencing technology. The genome sequencing core facility will leverage several existing programs and facilities in bioinformatics and computation at NMSU to prepare its students for the next-generation biotechnology workforce.