Index of University Press Releases

May 30, 2006

Biochemistry department acquires DNA analysis system

Tony Cole loads the LI-COR 4300 DNA Sequencer.

MITCHELL –Anthony Cole, assistant professor of biochemistry at DWU, has acquired an automated LI-COR 4300 DNA analysis system.

The system will allow DWU biology and biochemistry students the opportunity to sequence DNA samples and to learn how to interpret the data collected. The state-of-the-art system allows for the simultaneous sequencing of up to 66 DNA samples of 2000 nucleotides each.

LI-COR Biosciences offered $1.75 million in Genomics Education Matching Funds (GEMF) to high schools, colleges and universities. The GEMF program was used to acquire the LI-COR DNA sequencing system and software for use by undergraduate students studying molecular biology and related fields at DWU.

Cole received half of the funding for the system through a GEMF grant from LI-COR Biosciences in Lincoln, Neb. South Dakota Biomedical Research Infrastructure Network provided $25,000, the Hughes Fund at DWU provided $20,000, and the remainder came from a private donor to the DWU biochemistry program. The complete system costs approximately $90,000. The money received from the SD BRIN is funded by NIH Grant Number 3 P20 RR016479 from the INBRE Program of the National Center for Research Resources.

DWU is a private liberal arts university affiliated with the Dakotas Conference of the United Methodist Church.

For more information on the biochemistry program at DWU, visit http://www.dwu.edu/catalog/courses/biology.htm#biochemistry or email Cole at ancole@dwu.edu.