A grant has been awarded to Knox College under the direction of Dr. Janet Kirkley to acquire a real-time thermal cycler and fluorometer. This equipment will enable Knox College faculty and students to perform quantitative polymerase chain reaction (QPCR). This technique has a wide variety of applications, and access to QPCR will enhance undergraduate research, education, and training. Because of the ease and speed of QPCR, students will be able to answer more sophisticated questions directed at understanding how cells function at the molecular level. This equipment will replace older, more time-intensive methods as well as provide new research capabilities.
This equipment will be used by undergraduate student researchers and their faculty mentors to: 1) study how temperature regulates the activation of macrophage cells, which promote inflammation; 2) investigate the role of the protein intersectin in the development of the frog Xenopus laevis; and, 3) address structure-function relationships in the bacterial GrpE protein. Students will use this equipment in the context of ongoing research projects. Other techniques can be developed using the real-time capability of the thermal cycler, and Knox faculty and students will be encouraged to incorporate use of this versatile equipment in their research programs.
This equipment will substantially enhance undergraduate research and education at Knox College. It will allow students to explore complex molecular events in cells, leading to a greater understanding of the molecular processes necessary to sustain life. Preparation for careers in science will also be enhanced by students acquiring skills in QPCR, a valuable, cutting edge, widely applicable technique.
