Keystone conference on Natural Genetic Variation

<x-flowed iso-8859-1>Dear All,

I would like to draw your attention to a conference that will be of
interest to anybody interested in genetic variation within and
between species. The number of attendees is limited, so I urge you
to consider registering soon.

Keystone Conference on Natural Variation and Quantitative Genetics in
Model Organisms

Organizers: Detlef Weigel and Bruce Walsh
January 8 - 13, 2004
Beaver Run Resort, Breckenridge, Colorado
Early Registration Deadline: November 10, 2003

Despite tremendous advances in the genetic analysis of many
biological processes, the molecular basis of the variation seen
within and between species remains largely unknown. Standard genetic
analyses in model organisms have focused on laboratory-induced
mutations with large phenotypic effects, which contrasts with the
variation seen in natural populations, which is mostly continuous.
The phenotypic variation seen within or between closely related
species also contrasts with the phenotypic variation seen between
more distantly related species. It seems likely, however, that intra-
and interspecific variation are two sides of the same coin, although
a unifying molecular framework has not yet been developed. Now is an
exciting time to revisit these questions because of several major
technological advances. These include new analytical tools, such as
high-throughput genotyping, new statistical and computational
methods, comprehensive transcriptome and proteome profiling, as well
as opportunities to compare entire genomes between closely and
distantly related organisms. Understanding the molecular basis of
natural variation has important implications both for understanding
the evolution of new traits, as well as for understanding how
selection has shaped genomes, including the human genome.

The meeting will have as a major focus both animal and plant model
organisms, in which the use of quantitative genetics is experiencing
a renaissance. A second focus of the meeting will be recent
discoveries of how changes in key regulatory factors cause major
phenotypic differences in more distantly related taxa. The overall
goal of this meeting is to bring together a diverse group of
investigators that includes scientists interested in the evolution of
developmental diversity, quantitative geneticists and population
geneticists. Finally, the meeting, which will focus on genetic model
organisms such as Drosophila and Arabidopsis, will be an excellent
complement to the meeting that is to be held concurrently, on Human
Genetic Diversity.


--
Detlef Weigel, Ph.D.
Director
Department of Molecular Biology
Max Planck Institute for Developmental Biology
Spemannstrasse 37-39
D-72076 T=B8bingen
Germany

Voice +49-(0)179-676 9032 (cell)
Voice +49-(0)7071-601 1410 (direct)
Voice +49-(0)7071-601 1411 (H=B8lya Wicher, administrative assistant)
=46AX +49-(0)7071-601 1409 (direct) or 1412 (administrative assistant)

Email [Only registered users see links. ]

[Only registered users see links. ]
[Only registered users see links. ]

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