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American Alligator
Caption:
An American Alligator in Ding Darling Wildlife Refuge, Florida. The National Science Foundation offers grants for genetic studies of neglected species, such as this alligator.
Important: Use of this image is restricted. Please see “Restrictions” (below) for complete information.
More about this Image
In 2001, the National Science Foundation (NSF) launched a new grant competition designed to help boost genetic research on organisms that are not models of human biology and therefore, not normally supported by biomedical science. A handful of organisms were selected, with an attempt to represent as many branches of the Tree of Life as possible. During the selection process, favor was given to those species for which little resources currently exist.
NSF intends to use the data resulting from the program to build libraries of bacterial artificial chromosomes (or BACs) for use in detailed genetic studies of neglected species. Awardees will use the grant money to pay for BAC libraries. BACs can be used for storing and cataloging DNA, mainly as bits of genomes that have been broken into manageable stretches and then tagged and inserted into bacteria. Biologists may use BACs to examine genes, compare whole genomes of two or more organisms, and then fill the gaps in existing gene sequences.
Species chosen for the program range from Edwards’s worm lizard (Amphisbaenia alba), to a butterfly (Heliconius erato), to a tiny crustacean with a transparent body (Daphnia pulex).
(Preview Only)
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| Credit: |
Credit ©Gerald and Buff Corsi, California Academy of Sciences |
| Decade of Image: |
2000 - 2009 |
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Categories:
ANIMALS / BIRDS / REPTILES / FISH
BIOLOGICAL / General
Formats Available:
TIFF Format - 4.29M - 1000 x 1500 pixel image - 300 DPI
Restrictions:
Important: The owner has restricted the use of this image. Permission is granted to use the image for personal, educational, or nonprofit/non-commercial purposes only and only after sending an e-mail notifying your intent to use to manzanita@calacademy.org. Permission to use this image in any other manner is prohibited without prior permission from the owner.
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