Integrating Genotype and Phenotype:
a planning workshop
A major challenge of biology is to integrate genomic-level data with the phenotype of the whole organism. The Department of Biological Science at Florida State University will be hiring a group eight molecular and evolutionary geneticists to work on this problem. We plan to emphasize the study of epigenetic inheritance, as we already have a nucleus of interest in this burgeoning research area. The FSU organizers realize that there are scientific and cultural barriers to building a truly interactive group. During this workshop, we would like to address questions such as “How do we get molecular biologists to listen to evolutionary biologists, and vice-versa.” “Once we are listening, what can we do together that we can’t do alone?”
FRIDAY FEBRUARY 2
Dirac 499, Florida State University
8:30: Joe Travis, Dean of Arts and Sciences: Welcome
8:50: David Houle / Hank Bass: Vision for the Cluster and the Workshop
9:15: Mike Lynch, Indiana University
The Frailty of Adaptive Hypotheses for the Origins of Organismal Complexity.
10:00: Steve Henikoff, Hutchinson Cancer Research Center
Epigenetic profiling of plant and animal genes.
10:45: BREAK
11:00: Gunter Wagner, Yale University
How to find connections between genetic evolution and morphological evolution? Making Molecular Evolution and Developmental Biology talk to each other.
11:45: DISCUSSION
12:30 LUNCH
2:00: Tim Bestor, Columbia University Medical Center
Comparative Biology of Genomic Methylation Patterns.
2:45: Trudy Mackay, North Carolina State University
The genetic architecture of complex traits: Lessons from Drosophila.
3:30: BREAK
4:00: Rich Jorgensen, University of Arizona
Evolutionary and Functional Diversification of the Epigenome, and A Paragenetic Perspective on the Role of RNA Silencing in the Biology of Plants.
4:45: DISCUSSION
5:30: Depart FOR DINNER:
7:30: Open reception
SATURDAY FEBRUARY 3
Pavilion room at Wakulla Springs Resort
9:00: Rudy Raff, Indiana Universtiy
Evolution of the link between genotype and phenotype: Conservative genic regulation with radical changes in development.
9:45: Dirk Schübeler, Friedrich-Miescher-Institute for Biomedical Research
Targets and function of epigenetic marks: Insights from global analysis.
10:30: BREAK
11:00: Dave Gilbert, Florida State University
What can replication tell us about chromosome evolution?
11:45: OPEN DISCUSSION
1:00 – LUNCH – Wakulla Springs Lodge
~3PM – boat tour of Wakulla / hiking, etc.
Discussion continues over drinks and dinner