By Adrianna Tarin
UNK Communications

KEARNEY – “Tight Squeeze: Nanogenomics” is the topic of the Science Café hosted by the Sigma Xi Chapter at the University of Nebraska at Kearney.

The event, which is free and open to the public, is at 5 p.m. Monday (Dec. 9) at Cunningham’s Journal, 15 W. 23rd St. in Kearney.

UNK Assistant Professor of Analytical Chemistry Kristy Kounovsky-Shafer will discuss how the analysis of individual DNA molecules is altering the pace and scope of biological investigation.

“The Optical Mapping System was developed as a single molecule platform for construction of physical maps that span entire genomes,” Kounovsky-Shafer said.

According to Kounovsky-Shafer, this platform effectively discovers structural alterations. However, a system with greater output enables not only the characterization of individuals but entire human populations.

“We’ll discuss how we developed new ways to present very high densities of arrayed DNA molecules using nanoconfinement through the development of new fluidic devices with nanoslit features,” Kounovsky-Shafer said.

Sigma Xi is chartered by the Sigma Xi Society, a nonprofit membership society of scientists and engineers whose research spans the spectrum of science and technology.

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Source: Kristy Kounovsky-Shafer, 308.865.8308, kounovskykl@unk.edu
Writer: Adrianna Tarin, 308.865.8454, tarinay@lopers.unk.edu