We request funds for a beta-scanner with the capability to quantitatively analyze radioactively labelled (P32, S35, and C14) nucleic acid and protein blots. We will establish a joint facility that will primarily serve seven laboratories, five in the Biology department and two in the Biochemistry department. The requested instrumentation will be used to accomplish goals of currently funded projects. The research effort in all laboratories has a very strong molecular methodology component. Major research efforts involve elucidation of recombination mechanisms in yeast and E.coli, transcriptional regulation in Drosophila, and in immunoglobulin genes, control of DNA replication in Xenopus, molecular-genetics of Drosophila neurodevelopment, and development of methodology for gene isolation. Several projects have a special emphasis o protein- nucleic acid interactions. The proposed instrument will enhance the quantitative precision of the ongoing work, and will make possible experiments that are too time consuming with existing instruments. Equally important, the proposed instrument will enable us to plan experiments that were previously unrealistic because of the high degree of precision necessary in the interpretation of data.
