Technologies derived from the genome projects for humans and other model systems offer an extremely effective and economical approach for studying many important biological questions as well as mechanisms of animal and plant pathogenesis. Furthermore, the availability of the necessary equipment and training in modern technologies is clearly an important role of the University of Minnesota in serving its Land Grant Mission. Recent and future faculty recruitment on the University of Minnesota, St. Paul Campus has necessitated the development of a core High Throughput Genetic Analysis Laboratory. In addition, university strategic planning including the Colleges of Agriculture, Biological Sciences, Medicine, and Veterinary Medicine lead to the recognition that the University of Minnesota now has the opportunity to establish an internationally recognized center focusing on emerging DNA technologies on the St. Paul Campus. Most importantly, as illustrated by the individual project descriptions, is the already present critical mass of researchers who have existing needs for high throughput DNA sequencing and genotyping capabilities. Such technologies will permit the utilization of DNA sequencing of nuclear and mitochondrial DNA genes to address questions concerning speciation patterns, phylogenetic relationships among plants, bacteria, protozoan, birds and mammals. Technologies developed by the laboratory will provide insights into strategies for monitoring environmental changes, the identification of emerging plant and animal pathogens, and direct genotypic selection for specific physiological characteristics. The intellectual environment associated with such technologies will foster new partnerships both between colleges as well as with the private sector. Finally, this infrastructure will serve to enhance undergraduate, graduate and professional student recruitment while providing new training opportunities for current undergraduate and graduates. Critical for this strategic venture is the presence of appropriate faculty who will stimulate new interdisciplinary research programs and who will bring new skills associated with these emerging technologies. At present on the St. Paul Campus, the Food Animal Biotechnology Center encompasses several different research programs that have as their goal to develop new molecular technologies associated with animal production through the identification and modulation of genes affecting growth, development, reproductive performance, efficiency of feed conversion, lactation and disease resistance. The goal of the Plant Molecular Genetics Institute on the St. Paul Campus is to span the molecular, cellular, and whole plant levels and to complement the University's plant breeding programs. Finally, faculty in the College of Biological Sciences play a leadership role in genetics and developmental biology at the University of Minnesota. In order to provide for efficient and effective utilization of this multiinvestigator laboratory, technical support will also be provided as part of the institutional match. To complement these existing programs, the College of Veterinary Medicine is committed to hiring new faculty who will bring new skills associated with these emerging technologies that require extensive instrumentation. These individuals, who will have an already established track record, will serve to stimulate future applications and further intercollegiate interactions. Several of the participants of this proposal will serve on theses search committees. In addition, to stimulating faculty recruitment, this core laboratory will also provide trained support staff, within and outside the university, to permit contemporary usage of the equipment throughout the region.
