Genomes to Life Diversity Initiative
This was a collaborative initiative between Western Carolina University, Furman University and the University of North Carolina-Asheville. At each of the institutions, funds from the grant award were used for the acquisition of mostly microscopy laboratory equipment, supporting supplies and necessary training as appropriate. The distribution of funds was: $495,000 Western Carolina University; $130,000 Furman University; $100,000 University of North Carolina-Asheville for a total of $725,000 total award from DOE. Western Carolina University purchased significant instrumentation with funds from this award that included among others, fermenters, a Confocal microscope, and an automated sequencer. The fermenters have been used in research and courses and to prepare biochemical materials for research and courses. The Confocal microscope has provided Western students and faculty with unique imaging opportunities not generally available except in medical schools. Unlike regular optical microscopy, confocal microscopy offers a three-dimensional image that can be viewed from different angles. In addition, the device has been set up to be controlled from remote locations, providing high school and institutions of higher education students across Western North Carolina with the opportunity to use state-of-the-art instrumentation from their location. One of the goals of this collaboration was to get more high school students interested in science. The automated sequencer has become a very significant instructional and research tool. It has been widely used for characterizing the oak genome, which has very significant implications for Western North Carolina. More recently, it has been used for groundbreaking forensic science research. This device has been used to create a database to identify unidentified persons. The instrument has also been used in several undergraduate and graduate courses, where students learn the principles and operation of this very important instrument. With its funds the University of North Carolina-Asheville purchased centrifuges, rotors, a thermocycler, and a fluorescent microscope enhancing its laboratory capabilities for faculty and students in undergraduate research and science courses. Furman University used its award for the acquisition of a Beckman-Coulter CEQ 8000 Genetic Analysis System which greatly enhanced its capability in genetic research providing much greater opportunity for students and faculty. The educational and research experience for students and faculty at each of these institutions and at other institutions of higher education in addition to high school students has and will continue to be greatly enriched because of this grant award.
- Research Organization:
- Western Carolina University, Cullowhee, NC
- Sponsoring Organization:
- US Energy Research and Development Administration (ERDA)
- DOE Contract Number:
- FG02-04ER63907
- OSTI ID:
- 973503
- Report Number(s):
- DE-FG02-04ER63907-1
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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