F Fred Choobineh: The grant supports future developments

Sally Mackenzie: Understanding genetic processes is important Photos: University of Nebraska-Lincoln

The US University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) has received a three-year $9 million grant towards funding studies into genetics.

The grant was awarded to Nebraska’s Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research from the National Science Foundation. Research will include examining how complex groupings of genes function on a cellular level and how this influences the development and response of animals and plants to their environment. Scientists will also make use of an environmental scanning microscope and fund development and testing of nanoresearch techniques and devices to study chromatin.

Studies that aid understanding of these genes hold the potential to help scientists modify plants to better adapt to environmental changes.
 
Two UNL researchers will lead teams of 15 scientists collaborating on the project. Project director F Fred Choobineh, head of Nebraska Experimental Program To Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR), believes the research holds benefits for both the University and the industry. “This grant helps UNL remain the nation's leader in transgenic crop testing and builds faculty and infrastructure that can support the future development of agriculture," he notes.

UNL officials believe the research will help the University maintain its position as a leader in the testing of genetically modified crops. The University of Nebraska Medical Centre and Creighton University will also partner with UNL to undertake the research.

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