Medaille College has received $60,000 from LI-COR Biosciences Genomics Education Matching Funds program. These funds will be applied toward the purchase of equipment that will enable undergraduate students at Medaille to sequence DNA and to map genotypes of organisms.
The addition of this laboratory equipment will support faculty members as they train students for careers in biological, biomedical and environmental sciences.
“Medaille has assembled an impressive array of instrumentation used in fields like forensic science, industry, and medical and genetic research,” said Dr. Elizabeth Lucyszyn, professor and chair of the Department of Mathematics and Sciences. “The DNA sequencer will propel the education and technical skill development of our biology students to a much higher level, hopefully capturing their interest as they gain experience with techniques familiarized by popular media.”
“I anticipate the DNA sequencer will be introduced in our biochemistry course in the fall, and with faculty supervision, students will be able to use it for independent study projects. Faculty are already planning ways to include it in their own research efforts,” she continued. “In the near future, we plan to develop a molecular biology course to provide additional opportunities for intensive, advanced hands-on training with current analytical methodologies.”