MRI: Acquisition of a Quantitative Real-Time PCR System for Biological Science Research

Grinnell College, Grinnell IA

Investigators

Abstract

Grinnell College has received an award from the National Science Foundation to purchase a state-of-the-art quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) system for collaborative student/faculty research. This quantitative molecular tool will support research across subdisciplines within the biology department at Grinnell, and will be used to address a variety of research questions in the areas of plant molecular ecology and physiology, microbiology, microbial ecology, genetics, and cell and developmental biology. Specifically, the requested system will be used for investigations of: 1) plant responses to environmental stress; 2) bacterial diversity in the phyllosphere; 3) molecular ecology of flower color; 4) bacterial response to DNA damage; and 5) epithelial tissue development in nematode morphogenesis. The proposed activities will contribute in diverse and important ways to their understanding of the molecular basis for biological diversity and function in various organisms. The requested instrumentation will significantly enhance the College?s infrastructure, by providing new technology for quantitative genetic analysis. As with other instrumentation at Grinnell College, this new equipment will be integrated into the curriculum at all levels, enriching the research training and learning of a broad cross-section of students. The acquisition of a qPCR instrument will strengthen their undergraduate biology and biological chemistry programs, which continually strive to reflect current advances in research technology.