Epigenetics and Chromatin Remodeling in Development Organizer(s): Renato Paro and Peter Fraser Date: January 19 - 24, 2006
Location: Keystone Resort, Keystone, CO, USAThe stability of gene expression patterns, which define different cellular states, is highly dependent on chromatin structure and function. Regulatory features invoked by, for example, particular histone modifications or nuclear architecture greatly influence the way genetic information is interpreted during developmental processes. Such an epigenetic constitution of the nucleus is heritable, providing the basis for mechanisms like the permanent inactivation of an X chromosome or genomic imprinting in mammalian cells. The recent identification of many components of epigenetic regulation has created enormous excitement in the field, not only because we foresee a better understanding of the basic mechanisms on how developmental decisions are maintained, but also because we might learn how aberrant cases, like cancer cells, change their epigenetic hallmarks. Epigenetic gene control also needs to be considered to better understand and approach more applied topics like nuclear cloning, stem cells and tissue engineering. This meeting will bring together scientists who have identified epigenetic constituents and studied their regulatory contributions at the molecular level, with scientists who study, in more complex organisms, epigenetic programming of cellular fates during normal developmental and in the disease case. Scholarship Deadline: September 19 2005 Discounted Abstract Deadline: September 19 2005 Abstract Deadline: October 12 2005 Discounted Registration Deadline: November 18 2005 |