Fifth Gordon Research Conference on Epigenetic Regulation of Gene Expression

Recipient Organization
UNIVERSITY OF RHODE ISLAND
PO BOX 984
WEST KINGSTON,RI 02892

Performing Department
GORDON RESEARCH CENTER

Non Technical Summary
Epigenetics is the study of heritable variation not due to changes in DNA sequence. It has seen a tremendous growth in interest over the last few years, and impacts cloning, inheritance, breeding, and disease, to name but a few. This conference brings together workers in plants, animals, and microbes to discuss common mechanisms underlying epigenetic change.

Animal Health Component

(N/A)

Research Effort Categories

Basic

100%

Applied

(N/A)

Developmental

(N/A)

Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)	Subject of Investigation (SOI)	Field of Science (FOS)	Percent
201	2499	1040	50%
201	2499	1080	50%

Knowledge Area
201 - Plant Genome, Genetics, and Genetic Mechanisms;

Subject Of Investigation
2499 - Plant research, general;

Field Of Science
1040 - Molecular biology; 1080 - Genetics;

Goals / Objectives
This is an opportune time for the fifth Epigenetics Gordon Conference where researchers working on diverse experimental systems can present their latest results. The importance of chromatin structure and links between chromatin proteins, DNA methylation and RNA interference have been established while complete genome sequences of key organisms are having a major impact. This conference will bring together the leading researchers working on epigenetic problems in plants, animals and fungi to identify universal epigenetic mechanisms important in plant and animal development, somaclonal variation, imprinting and paramutation.

Project Methods
By comparing and contrasting results from different organisms that display at least superficially similar phenomena, the function of the epigenetic processes and the underlying mechanisms will become better understood and, hence, easier to control.

Progress 07/01/03 to 06/30/04

Outputs
2003 GORDON RESEARCH CONFERENCE on Fifth Gordon Reaserch Conference on Epigenetic Regulation of Gene Expression FINAL PROGRESS REPORT USDA 2003-35304-13240 The Gordon Research Conference (GRC) on Fifth Gordon Research Conference on Epigenetic Regulation of Gene Expression was held at Holderness School, Plymouth, NH from August 10-15, 2003. The Conference was well-attended with 150 participants (attendees list attached). The attendees represented the spectrum of endeavor in this field coming from academia, industry, and government laboratories, both U.S. and foreign scientists, senior researchers, young investigators, and students. In designing the formal speakers program, emphasis was placed on current unpublished research and discussion of the future target areas in this field. There was a conscious effort to stimulate lively discussion about the key issues in the field today. Time for formal presentations was limited in the interest of group discussions. In order that more scientists could communicate their most recent results, poster presentation time was scheduled. Attached is a copy of the formal schedule and speaker program and the poster program. In addition to these formal interactions, "free time" was scheduled to allow informal discussions. Such discussions are fostering new collaborations and joint efforts in the field. I want to personally thank you for your support of this Conference. As you know, in the interest of promoting the presentation of unpublished and frontier-breaking research, Gordon Research Conferences does not permit publication of meeting proceedings. If you wish any further details, please feel free to contact me. Thank you. Dr. Robert Martienssen 2003 Conference Chair

Impacts
The Conference was well-attended with 150 participants. The attendees represented the spectrum of endeavor in this field coming from academia, industry, and government laboratories, both U.S. and foreign scientists, senior researchers, young investigators, and students. The Epigenetics GRC provides a unique opportunity for researchers working on related phenomena in different organisms to come together and exchange recent results and ideas. It is in a crossdisciplinary environment such as this that intellectual leaps occur and innovative ideas flourish.

Publications

No publications reported this period