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The DNA Sequencing and Analysis Core Facility project in the College of Science and Technology continues to have a significant scientific impact on the university.
What began with $55,000 in seed money from Vision 2010 has spawned additional funding efforts through a CST matching grant for new equipment, including a DNA sequencer and microarray scanner.
Installed in March 2007, the facility’s new DNA sequencer has allowed for increased efficiency and flexibility. DNA analysis of samples previously took an hour and a half. Now four samples can be analyzed within as little as an hour. Gregory Colores and Jennifer Schisa, co-directors of the facility, estimate that the new machine is four times faster than its predecessor with double the information output.
Janet Miller, full-time supervisor of the facility, processes and analyzes samples using the sequencer and conducts genome expression analysis with the microarray scanner. Miller also is on hand to troubleshoot and answer questions at any time during the day.
The subsidized fee of $5 per sample is an improvement from the cost of $15 previously incurred at other institutions.
State-of-the-art technology has bolstered recruitment efforts in terms of both faculty and students. The opportunity to conduct in-depth research within footsteps of one’s office is an attractive prospect; so is the hands-on learning experience for graduate students. And they aren’t the only ones who are impressed. The facility lends additional credibility to the college in terms of grant proposal criteria.
“Funders and prospective faculty alike are highly interested in what we have here at CMU,” Schisa said. The growing facility is the only one of its kind in mid-Michigan, which heightens demand for the variety of services that are available.”
“It’s a great resource for both teaching and research purposes,” Colores said. “Students in biology and biotechnology are getting phenomenal experience in conjunction with their classroom education.” One student even landed a job offer based on knowledge gained running a DNA sequencer.
The DNA Sequencing and Analysis Core Facility Web site is: dnasaf.bio.cmich.edu. •
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