Conferences
19–21 June 2017, Institute of Molecular Biology (IMB), Mainz, Germany
2017 IMB Conference: Gene Regulation by the Numbers: Quantitative Approaches to Study Transcription
Key words: Molecular biology, genetics, epigenetics, DNA, RNA, gene regulation, bioinformatics, computational biology, transcription
Keynote speakers:
- Eileen Furlong, European Molecular Biology Institute (EMBL), Heidelberg, Germany
- Amos Tanay, The Weizmann Institute, Rehovot, Israel
Summary of our conference
The focus of the 2017 IMB Conference is on “Gene Regulation by the Numbers: Quantitative Approaches to Study Transcription”. Our conference will explore the latest findings and technological developments in the field of gene regulation. The regulation of gene expression is a highly complex process in which numerous different factors play a role, such as signalling pathways, transcription factors and epigenetic modifications. With the recent surge in the development of omics technologies, researchers have generated vast amounts of data describing the contribution of these factors to controlling gene activity. However, interpreting, validating and integrating the data remains a major challenge. A combination of quantitative analysis and experimental research is therefore crucial to draw a complete picture of gene regulation.
The conference will address major open questions in the field that quantitative approaches will help to address, for example:
- How do gene regulatory networks make robust decisions in the face of intracellular and environmental fluctuations?
- How do epigenetic mechanisms ensure that gene expression programmes are faithfully transmitted within cell lineages and from one generation to the next?
- How do RNA-RNA and RNA-protein interactions control gene expression at the post-transcriptional level?
- How do DNA sequence variations influence gene expression and phenotypic outcomes, and what are the long-term consequences of this on an evolutionary time scale?
- How can dynamic models help us to understand signalling, gene regulation and cell fate decision making?
- Can we improve the speed and accuracy of existing data analysis strategies?
- What are the upcoming challenges in data analysis?
This conference will be a unique opportunity for participants to learn about the latest discoveries, talk about their own findings and initiate research partnerships. As well as scientific sessions, there will be many networking opportunities, including poster sessions, a conference dinner and an excursion to nearby Kloster Eberbach monastery. We hope that the ideas and concepts developed during the conference will result in exciting collaborations. Anyone interested is welcome to attend and can register online.
