Norwich students get chance to try sophisticated gene 'chip"
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By Rebecca Hamm Times Argus Staff - Published: November 21, 2005
NORTHFIELD — Sophisticated gene analysis would normally be the realm of major scientific research institutions or hospitals.
But this semester, senior-level biology students at Norwich University have been learning the cutting edge technology, thanks to a Vermont genetics research team that has been visiting colleges around the state under a $16 million, five-year federal grant.
The high-tech laboratory course would normally be cost-prohibitive for a small college but has been made available through the Vermont Genetics Network, which has been introducing students to the subject since 2003.
The lessons are taught once a week for eight weeks by a team of five researchers from the outreach program of Vermont Genetics Network, and focus on microarray technology, which allows scientists to perform sophisticated genetic analysis with the use of a "gene chip."
Dr. Karen Hinkle, assistant biology professor at Norwich, said when used with a computer, the palm-sized gene expression chip lets researchers view tens of thousands of genes and isolate specific genes for comparative analysis.
Scientists are now using microarray technology to try to understand the fundamental aspects of growth and development in organisms and explore the underlying genetic causes of many human diseases.
"Before microarray it was tough because you had to know what gene you were looking for. But this is the gold standard of global gene expression," Hinkle said.
Using the teaching module designed by the outreach team, Hinkle and her students have been studying the effects of dimethyl sulfoxide or DMSO, an industrial solvent used in the making of paper, on the genetic makeup of yeast.
Students collect RNA from yeast samples treated with DMSO, and control yeast samples (exposed to water only), which are then injected into the microarray gene chips. At the UVM Microarray Core Facility, they use advanced computer software at UVM and students can then visualize gene expression differences.
The outreach team then shows students basic microarray data analysis procedures to generate lists of genes which are affected by the DMSO.
Timothy Hunter is the manager of the outreach program, funded by a $16 million grant from National Center for Research Resources, a division of the National Institutes of Health.
He said that the outreach program was created to "generate enthusiasm for the science and generate a pipeline for students who want to pursue medical or science careers."
Hunter said microarray technology has been available for 10 years, but is still new to many professors.
"In some cases, (the students) are doing things their primary instructors haven't done themselves. In many cases, the instructors are taking the course along with the students," he said.
The Vermont Genetics Network microarray outreach team includes two UVM professors, two research technicians and a bioinformatics expert, who uses computers to collect, analyze and store genomics information. The genetics network is located at UVM.
"The purpose or goal of the program is to really support junior faculty in the genetics field because they don't normally have the money for the research endeavors in genetics," Hunter said. "We want to expose them to high tech state-of-the-art technologies that are out there in the field, in the pharmaceutical or medical settings or research institutes like the University of Vermont," he said.
As an added bonus, Hinkle said the Vermont Genetics Network provided not only the instruction, but also the necessary lab equipment and materials, thousands of dollars worth of equipment, for the course.
"It's mind-blowing how much effort they've put into this," Hinkle said of the outreach team.
"As part of the Vermont genetics project, anything we didn't have (in the laboratory) they gave us; four pipetters for $250 each, a centrifuge, vortexes, a spectrophotometer, supplies, enzymes and reagents," she said.
Norwich University even received its own explosion-proof lab refrigerator and freezer to store its samples.
Since 2003, UVM, Green Mountain, Johnson State, Middlebury, and St. Michael's Colleges, have all participated in the genetics course. Each school was outfitted with the lab equipment needed for the microarray module.
Hunter said the outreach team plans to teach at Castleton State College in the spring 2006 semester and ultimately at Lyndon State College.
Hunter also said the outreach team hopes to increase the laboratory skills of undergraduate science students within the state and anticipates that these additional skills help them in their future career development. He said the students' connections with the outreach team will come in handy when they are applying for internships, jobs and graduate programs.
Throughout the course Hinkle has been impressed by her students' enthusiasm.
"The best part about the outreach is the students are so excited. They come early and ask tons of questions. We were so lucky to have this opportunity," Hinkle said.
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