Molecular Ecology Laboratory

Work in the Molecular Ecology Laboratory in the Department of Fisheries and Wildlife at Michigan State University is directed toward the use of a variety of molecular genetic markers as indirect sources of inference at the individual, population, or ecosystem levels. Emphasis is placed on interdisciplinary training in general areas of population and behavioral ecological theory, population genetics, molecular biology, evolution, and conservation biology. Research involves development and application of novel molecular genetic markers and methods of analysis for the study of vertebrates. Projects involve the use of molecular markers for the study of population genetic structure, gene flow, paternity, behavioral ecology, and population demography. Emphasis is placed on managed or exploited populations and in the area of Conservation Biology.

Dr. Scribner’s laboratory facilities are well equipped and staffed. The laboratory consists of 3 rooms covering over 2400 sq. ft. The laboratory is equipped for and has the technical capabilities to conduct a variety of molecular genetic analyses including genotyping, mutation-detection assays, sequence analysis, basic plasmid, phagmid, cosmid cloning, Northern and Southern hybridization, 5’-RACE, and quantitative PCR.

Laboratory equipment includes a 2 Licor DNA Analyzers, a Hitachi FM BIO II genotyping/sequencing unit, 5 PCR thermal cyclers, hybridization chambers and all necessary equipment for cloning and other PCR-based analyses. Additional equipment and laboratory facilities are available in other labs, core facilities, and within inter-departmental programs in Genetics, Ecology, Evolutionary Biology and Behavior (EEBB), and Animal Breeding and Genetics at Michigan State University that Dr. Scribner is affiliated with. Resources for analyses of data are available in the laboratory in the form of desk-top PC’s and Power MacIntosh computers, through shared computer resources within the department, and via the campus-wide computer network.