2017 Society / British Society for Genetic Medicine Meeting The Human in Healthcare

23 – 24 November 2017, The Royal Society,

This meeting is a joint event between the Genetics Society and the Speakers British Society for Genetic Medicine. Kaitlin Samocha Harvard Medical School/Broad Institute, USA Recent technological advances provide the ability to directly access Don Conrad Washington University School of Medicine, USA variation within an individual’s genome, providing vast potential for Joe Marsh , UK personalising and improving healthcare. The ‘Human Genome in Denis Lo Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Healthcare’ meeting aims to explore the science that underpins current and potential future applications of the human genome to Serena Nik-Zainal Sanger Institute, UK inform diagnostics, prognostics and personalisation of therapies. Magnus Ingelman-Sundberg Karolinska Institute, Sweden Jakub Tola University of Minnesota, USA We have an outstanding line up of speakers from around the world Joe Pickrell New York Genome Centre, USA who will provide insight into the approaches through which an JULY 2017 | ISSUE 77 individual’s genome can be harnessed to improve healthcare.

Sessions will focus on advances in approaches to interpret an Scientific Organisers individual’s genome in theGENETICS context of rare disease, common SOCIETYMichael Simpson King’sNEWS College London and plc complex disease and cancer, alongside approaches aiming to Jim Huggett LGC & University of Surrey provide more effective personalised therapies. In this issue Emma WoodwardThe Genetics Society Central News isManchester edited by University Hospitals NHS Lynsey Hall and items for future issues The meeting will explore how• Joint the spring impact meeting of variation within an Foundation Trust (British Society for Genetic Medicine) can be sent to the editor by email to individual’s genome is leveraged• Future frommeetings a population scale genotypic [email protected]. • Student and Travel Reports and phenotypic standpoint and how individuals are increasingly The Newsletter is published twice a year, • Available grants taking control of their own genomic information to inform health with copy dates of July and January. and lifestyle decisions.

for Coverregistration image: please visit www.genetics.org.uk 2017 Genetics Society / British Society for Genetic Medicine Meeting The Human Genome in Healthcare. See page 4 for details. ISSUE 77 . July 2017

For more details please contact: The Genetics Society Charles Darwin House 12 Roger Street A WORD FROM THE EDITOR London CONTENTS WC1N 2JU

Switchboard: +44 0203 793 7850 Email: [email protected] Web: www.genetics.org.uk Meeting Announcements 4 - 6 The Genetics Society Journals 2017 Genetics Society Autumn Meeting Heredity External Meetings Diary A word from the editor www..com/hdy Editor-in-Chief: Prof. Barbara Mable Sectional Interest Groups 7 Heredity Editorial Office, , Graham Kerr Building, Glasgow, G12 8QQ, Genetics Society Business 8 - 14 Honorary Secretary’s Notices and Development Welcome to Issue 77 Committee changes and elections www.genesdev.org Editor: Dr T. Grodzicker Incoming Genetics Society President Genes & Development, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, Life Membership of the Genetics Society Dear Readers, this time with the British 500 Sunnyside Boulevard, Woodbury, New York, 11797, USA Genetics Society Meeting Report 15 - 16 Society of Genetic Medicine. Committee members 2017 joint spring meeting of the Genetics Society, Welcome to the latest addition of Meetings in themselves are the Genetics Society newsletter, President BSDB and BSCB a valuable place for different Prof Wendy Bickmore, University of Edinburgh and my first editorial exploit! career stages to meet and Genetics Society Sponsored Events 17 - 19 Since the last newsletter, the Vice-Presidents 27th Mammalian Genetics and Development Workshop network. Interdisciplinary Prof Malcolm Logan, King’s College London The UK Dictyostelium Meeting Society has had a new experience meetings are even more so as Prof Colum Walsh, University of Ulster British Meiosis Meeting in the form of a joint meeting they demonstrate the, perhaps Prof Alison Woollard, between the Genetics Society, the The South West Fly Meeting previously unconsidered, links Honorary Secretary British Neuroscience Festival British Society for Developmental Dr Jonathan Pettitt, University of Aberdeen between our specialities. This Future conferences and the British Society allows researchers to combine Honorary Treasurer Features 20 - 23 for Biology. For this, we their skill sets and engage with Prof Martin Taylor, University of Edinburgh Say it out loud: Communicating Your Science 2017 created a new travel grant option more sophisticated, nuanced Scientific Meetings Secretary for junior scientists, and in this Mrs Dominique Kleyn, Bioindustry Association Sectional Interest Group Spotlight: 14th Annual UK questions. These opportunities Workshop on Archaea issue have covered this event for collaboration can then attack Newsletter Editor Dr Lynsey Hall, Newcastle University Travel Reports 24 - 33 from their perspective with the problems of our world today reports from grant recipients. The using a more holistic approach. Website Editor Heredity Fieldwork Grant Report 34 - 35 response to this meeting event Dr Kay Boulton, The Roslin Institute, University of Edinburgh Training Grants 36 - 37 was very favourable, so hopefully I hope you enjoy this issue, and Best wishes, Postgraduate Representative we will see it repeated in the all of the reports on the various Lynsey Hall Ms Helena Wells, Kings College London Studentship Reports 39 - 52 future. Our autumn meeting research and meetings which we Ordinary Committee Members Forthcoming Meetings 39 - 52 will also be a joint meeting, have been delighted to fund. Structure, function and regulation (Area A) Dr Aziz Aboobaker, University of Oxford Dr Douglas Vernimmen, The Roslin Institute, University of Edinburgh Genomics (Area B) Dr Michael Simpson, King’s College London Dr Sudhakaran Prabakaran, Cell and Develomental Genetics (Area C) Meetings in themselves are a valuable place for different Dr Marika Charalambous, Queen Mary, University of London career stages to meet and network. Interdisciplinary meetings Prof Stefan Hoppler, University of Aberdeen Applied and Quantitative Genetics (Area D) are even more so as they demonstrate the, perhaps previously Dr Danny Thorogood, Aberystwyth University Dr Alastair Wilson, University of Exeter unconsidered, links between our specialities. Evolutionary, ecological and population genetics (Area E) Dr Frank Hailer, University of Cardiff Prof Mark Jobling, University of Leicester Corporate Genetics and Biotechnology (Area F) Prof Richard Flavell, Ceres Inc, USA Dr Jim Huggett, LGC, Teddington

Design and Print Collaborate Agency www.collaborate.agency Advertising in Genetics Society News represents an opportunity to reach a large community of professional geneticists. For rates please email [email protected]

2 . GENETICS SOCIETY NEWS . ISSUE 77 www.genetics.org.uk . 3 2017 Genetics Society / British Society for Genetic Medicine Meeting The Human Genome in Healthcare

EXTERNAL MEETINGS DIARY 23 – 24 November 2017, The Royal Society, London 5

This meeting is a joint event between the Genetics Society and the Speakers British Society for Genetic Medicine. Kaitlin Samocha Harvard Medical School/Broad Institute, USA More detailed information and links to event Animal Genetics and Diseases Recent technological advances provide the ability to directly access Don Conrad Washington University School of Medicine, USA websites can be found at www.genetics.org.uk/ Date: 20th - 22nd September 2017 variation within an individual’s genome, providing vast potential for Joe Marsh University of Edinburgh, UK Conferences/Externalmeetings.aspx Location: Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, personalising and improving healthcare. The ‘Human Genome in Denis Lo Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong We will happily include any announcements for Cambridge Healthcare’ meeting aims to explore the science that underpins Registration deadline: 1st August 2017 current and potential future applications of the human genome to Serena Nik-Zainal Sanger Institute, UK genetics-based meetings in this section. Please send Website: coursesandconferences. inform diagnostics, prognostics and personalisation of therapies. Magnus Ingelman-Sundberg Karolinska Institute, Sweden any items to [email protected] wellcomegenomecampus.org/Conferences.wt Jakub Tola University of Minnesota, USA We have an outstanding line up of speakers from around the world Genomic Medicine 2017 who will provide insight into the approaches through which an Joe Pickrell New York Genome Centre, USA Genome 10k and Genome Science Conference Date: 26th - 27th September 2017 individual’s genome can be harnessed to improve healthcare. Date: Tuesday 29 August - Friday 1 September 2017 Location: Murray Edwards College, Cambridge Sessions will focus on advances in approaches to interpret an Scientific Organisers Location: Norwich Research Park, Norwich. Abstract deadline: 26th August 2017 individual’s genome in the context of rare disease, common Michael Simpson King’s College London and Genomics plc Registration deadline: 31st July 2017 Website: biotexcel.com/event/genomic-medicine- complex disease and cancer, alongside approaches aiming to Website: www.earlham.ac.uk/genome-10k-and-genome- Jim Huggett LGC & University of Surrey 2017-cambridge/ provide more effective personalised therapies. science-conference Emma Woodward Central Manchester University Hospitals NHS Big Data in Biology and Health The meeting will explore how the impact of variation within an Foundation Trust (British Society for Genetic Medicine) MRC Human Genetics Unit - Eye Development and Date: 25th - 27th September 2017 individual’s genome is leveraged from a population scale genotypic Degeneration Scientific Meeting Location: Wellcome Genome Campus-EMBL and phenotypic standpoint and how individuals are increasingly Date: 4th - 5th September 2017 Conference taking control of their own genomic information to inform health Location: MRC Institute of Genetics and Molecular 18th July 2017 and lifestyle decisions. Registration deadline: Medicine, Edinburgh Website: coursesandconferences. Abstract submission deadline: 30th June 2017 wellcomegenomecampus.org/Conferences.wt Website: edin.ac/eyedd2017 Festival of Genomics Integrating Inherited Cancer Syndromes into Cancer Date: 3rd - 4th October 2017 Care 2017 Location: Boston Convention and Exhibition Centre Date: 6th September 2017 Registration deadline: 14th September 2017 Location: The Royal Marsden Education and Conference Website: www.festivalofgenomicsboston.com/ Centre, London Website: www.royalmarsden.nhs.uk/news-and- World Congress on Genetic Counselling events/conference-centre/study-days-and-conferences/ Date: 4th - 6th October 2017 integrating-inherited-cancer-syndromes Location: Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge The Genomics of Common Diseases Registration deadline: 7th September 2017 Date: 6th - 9th September 2017 Website: coursesandconferences. Location: Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, wellcomegenomecampus.org/Conferences.wt Cambridge Registration deadline: 8th August 2017 3rd International Conference on Genetic and Website: coursesandconferences. Protein Engineering wellcomegenomecampus.org/Conferences.wt Date: 8th - 9th November 2017 Location: Las Vegas, Nevada, USA Exploring Human Host-Microbiome Interactions in Registration deadline: 8th November 2017 Health and Disease Website: protein-engineering.conferenceseries.com Date: 13th - 15th September 2017 Location: Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Surveying Galton’s Legacy Cambridge Date: 15 November, 2017 Registration deadline: 1st August 2017 Location: The Royal Society, London Website: coursesandconferences. Website: galtoninstitute.org.uk/future-events/ wellcomegenomecampus.org/Conferences.wt Festival of Genomics Date: 30th - 31st January 2018 Location: Excel Exhibition Centre, London for registration please visit www.genetics.org.uk Registration deadline: 8th January 2018 (early bird); 30th January Website: www.festivalofgenomicslondon.com

www.genetics.org.uk . 5 SECTIONAL INTEREST GROUPS 6 7 GENETICS SOCIETY BUSINESS

The Genetics Society helps support several sectional Evolutionary Genetics and Genomics interest groups by providing meeting sponsorship. Organiser: Frank Jiggins ([email protected]) We currently have 15 groups who organise sectional Website: evolutionarygenetics.heliconius.org/eggs/ News announcements interest meetings with the organizers and dates of any forthcoming meetings are listed below. If you are South-West Fly interested in any of these areas, please contact the Next meeting: 3rd May 2016 (Bristol University) relevant organiser. Groups who wish to be considered Organiser: James Hodge for sectional interest group status should contact ([email protected]) Congratulations the Scientific Meetings Secretary Dominique Kleyn Website: http://www.bristol.ac.uk/phys-pharm- ([email protected]) in the first instance. neuro/events/fly-meetings/ any congratulations to our positions in the , MPresident Wendy, who has and she has revealed that the Genetics Society Pombe Club just been elected as a of packaging of individual genes Arabidopsis Next meeting: 2018 (date to be confirmed) The Royal Society. in the nucleus changes during Organiser: Geraint Parry Organiser: Jacky Hayles ([email protected]) the differentiation of stem cells ([email protected]) For those of you unfamiliar with and in response to epigenetic Website: www.garnetcommunity.org.uk Wendy’s work, she is fascinated London Fly meetings mechanisms. by the three-dimensional Next meeting: 3rd Wednesday of the month Arabidopsis structure and organization Current research in the Bickmore (Francis Crick Institute, Lincoln’s Inn Fields Next meetings: 6th - 7th August 2017, of the genome and her work lab focuses on how spatial laboratory, London) SEB satellite meeting (Gothenberg) has changed thinking about genome organisation influences Organisers: Nic Tapon ([email protected]) and 11th - 13th December 2017, how the expression of genes the regulation of genes in Barry Thompson ([email protected]) SEB-GARNet Symposium (University of Edinburgh) is controlled. By combining development and in disease. Website: lists.londonflymeeting.org/listinfo/lfm Organiser: Geraint Parry imaging and molecular genetics Wendy is currently the Director . ([email protected]) she showed that different human of the MRC Human Genetics Unit Mammalian Genetics and Development Website: www.garnetcommunity.org.uk have preferred at the University of Edinburgh. Organisers: Nick Greene, Andrew Copp, Andrew Ward ([email protected]) Archaea Group Next meeting: 4th - 5th January 2018 Mammalian Genes, Development and Disease (University of Lancaster) Next meeting: 7th July 2017. Organiser: Nick Robinson ([email protected]) At the Fringe Organisers: Rosalind John ([email protected]), David Tosh ([email protected]), David Allard ur Honorary Secretary I stepped away from nematode British Yeast Group ([email protected]) OJonathan Pettitt will be research, and presented a show Organisers: Daniela Delneri performing in August at this based around some of the long- ([email protected]) and Graham Pavitt Meiosis group years’ Edinburgh Fringe as part standing issues associated with ([email protected]) Organiser: Isabelle Colas (isabelle.colas@hutton. of the Cabaret of Dangerous human genetics; such as genetic ac.uk) and Alexander Lorenz ([email protected]) Ideas. In his own words: determinism, designer babies, C. elegans Population Genetics Group and the troubled history of Organiser: Stephen Nurrish Like many researchers, I have Next meeting: 3rd - 6th January 2018 (Bristol) genetics and race. This August, ([email protected]) ‘enjoyed’ the opportunity of Organiser: Jon Bridle ([email protected]) I am performing an expanded trying to make my research funny version of this show as part of the E-ACTG (Edinburgh Alliance for Complex Trait The Zebrafish Forum and entertaining by performing Cabaret of Dangerous Ideas at the improved my general Genetics) Organiser: Rachel Ashworth ([email protected]), as part of the academic stand-up Edinburgh Fringe. communication skills. I would Next meeting: Autumn 2017 (details to be notified) Caroline Brennan ([email protected]), comedy network, Bright Club. In encourage anyone interested in Organisers: Chris Haley ([email protected]) Corinne Houart ([email protected]). some ways, it wasn’t as difficult I’ve found writing and presenting stepping out of their comfort zone and ([email protected]) as it sounds, since for most science to the public through to give it a try. Website: www.wiki.ed.ac.uk/display/eactg/Edinburgh+A There are meetings at 5:30pm-8.00pm on the first audiences, studying worms is an organisations like Bright Club lliance+for+Complex+Trait+Genetics Thursday of every other month. Room G12, New inherently ridiculous venture. and the Cabaret of Dangerous If you want to attend Jonathan’s Hunt’s House, King’s College - London SE1 1UL Last year, I performed in the Ideas to be a challenging, but performance, tickets and further Ecological Genetics Group ‘Cabaret of Dangerous Ideas’, very rewarding alternative to information are available at: Organiser: Paul Ashton held as part of the University of conventional public engagement tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/ ([email protected]) Aberdeen May Festival, where activities; it has significantly our-genes-tell-us-what-to-do

6 . GENETICS SOCIETY NEWS . ISSUE 77 www.genetics.org.uk . 7 GENETICS SOCIETY BUSINESS GENETICS SOCIETY BUSINESS 8 9

Honorary Secretary’s Notices Committee changes and elections Jonathan Petitt . Honorary Secretary, University of Sheffield s mentioned in the previous B) and Applied and Quantitative serve on the Committee. Details Anewsletter, on our Executive Genetics (Area D), respectively. of funding schemes and upcoming sub-committee, Lynsey Hall has committee vacancies are listed replaced Manuela Marescotti as We also welcome new members of elsewhere in this Newsletter. the Newsletter editor and Kay the Genetics Society. All members Boulton has taken up the newly are encouraged to make an active The committee is currently Life Membership in the Amendments to created position as Website Editor. contribution to the Society by considering the nominees for the We are pleased to welcome Helena attending the scientific meetings following positions: Scientific Society Bylaws and promoting membership Meetings Secretary, Ordinary Genetics Society Wells to the sub-committee, who has replaced Lynsey Hall as the among colleagues. Members can Committee Member for Corporate Postgraduate Representative. apply to our various funding Genetics and Biotechnology (Area ave you reached the age of he following bylaws have been schemes, which include travel F) and Evolutionary, Ecological retirement (65), but wish to amended. H T We also welcome two new grants and summer studentships. and Population Genetics (Area E). continue with your involvement Ordinary Committee members: Those who want to become more Successful nominees will take up in the Society? If so, and you are A3. Life Membership Individuals must be current Sudhakaran Prabakaran involved may consider acting as their posts in May 2018. The names an ordinary member who has (University of Cambridge) and a Local Representative for the of post holders will be announced discharged any arrears the might be members in order to qualify for Life Membership. The names Danny Thorogood (IBERS) who Society, helping to run a Sectional at the earliest opportunity. due to the Society, then you might will represent Genomics (Area Interest Group, or volunteering to consider applying to become a Life of those accepted into Life Member of the Society. Genetics Society Medal will also be Membership shall be published on offered Life Membership. Should the Society’s website. Life members will continue to you require additional information receive notices and remain eligible about becoming a Life Member, A7. Professional misconduct Genetics Society President to vote in the Society AGM, but please contact The Genetics The society reserves the right to will not be required to pay further Society Office revoke the membership of any Laurence was elected Fellow of both use computational techniques to subscriptions. Recipients of the ([email protected]). member who has been sanctioned the Royal Society and the Academy understand the way genes and for professional misconduct. of Medical Science in 2015, with many evolve. other awards, prizes, fellowships, lectures, scientific publications, and Presently, Laurence is especially board and committee memberships interested in understanding whether to his name. Public engagement selection might operate on what Medal and Prize Lecture activities also feature highly in have commonly been assumed to Laurence’s outstanding career to date. be unimportant mutations (e.g. synonymous mutations, small Announcements Laurence graduated with a degree genome re-arrangements) and if in Natural Sciences (Zoology) from so why. This has relevance for the Churchill College, Cambridge, in 1987, diagnosis of genetic diseases and followed only ten years later by a for gene and genome manipulation. 2017 JBS Haldane Lecture - he Genetics Society is delighted Chair in Evolutionary Genetics at the He is the founding director of the Tto announce that . Genetics and Evolution Teaching Professor Laurence Hurst, Director of the Project, which is devoted to large Milner Centre for Evolution at the He did his doctoral studies under scale studies that test methods for his public lecture will be held on the evening of the 21st November 2017 University of Bath, has agreed the supervision of Bill Hamilton teaching genetics and evolution from Tin the Lecture Theatre. Further details will be posted to take over as Society President FRS and Alan Grafen FRS in Oxford. Primary School onward. on the Society’s website, and ticket booking will be available on the Royal from Wendy Bickmore in 2018. As Laurence’s research interests Institution website (http://www.rigb.org/whats-on) nearer the date. such, Laurence will be joining the have covered a broad span of Laurence will be steering the Genetics committee in May 2017 to shadow evolution, genetics and genomics, Society during its centenary year Wendy for the coming year. and his lab now predominantly celebrations (2019) and is very much looking forward to his involvement.

8 . GENETICS SOCIETY NEWS . ISSUE 77 www.genetics.org.uk . 9 GENETICS SOCIETY BUSINESS GENETICS SOCIETY BUSINESS 10 11

Genetics Society Local Representatives Local representative Location Institute Dr Anne Donaldson Aberdeen University of Aberdeen Dr Dylan Phillips Aberystwyth Aberystwyth University Local Representatives Vacant Ascot Dr Araxi Urrutia Bath University of Bath Dr Declan McKenna Belfast University of Ulster Dr Lindsey Leach Birmingham University of Birmingham he Local Representative acts as a key liaison between the membership and the Society’s Office and Committee Dr Charlotte Rutledge Birmingham University of Birmingham Tby helping to recruit new members, publicising the Society’s scientific meetings and other activities, and Dr Felicity Z Watts Brighton University of Sussex Dr Colin M Lazarus Bristol University of Bristol (Biol. Sci) in providing feedback from the membership on matters of professional concern. The Society normally appoints Professor Patricia Kuwabara Bristol University of Bristol (SOMs) only one local representative per company, institution or department, but exceptions can be made when there are Howard Baylis Cambridge Zoology Department, University of Cambridge semi-autonomous sub-divisions containing a substantial number of members or potential members. Philip Wigge Cambridge Sainsbury Laboratory, Cambridge University Dr Ben Longdon Cambridge Genetics Department, Cambridge University Dr Bénédicte Sanson Cambridge Phys, Dev and Neuro Department, Cambridge University Currently, we have local representative vacancies in Ascot, Hinxton, Manchester and Plymouth. We seek to fill Ian Henderson Cambridge Plant Sci Department, University of Cambridge Dr Simon C Harvey Canterbury Canterbury Christ Church University vacancies and to update our database of Local Representatives on a yearly basis. Should you wish to volunteer Dr Timothy Bowen Cardiff University of Wales College of Medicine as a local representative or if existing representatives wish to update their contact details, please contact the Dr William Davies Cardiff Cardiff University Honorary Secretary, Jonathan Pettitt, by e-mail at [email protected]. Oliver Blacque Dublin University College Dublin Professor Michael JR Stark Dundee Dr Ian Jackson Edinburgh MRC Human Genetics Unit Dr Douglas Vernimmen Edinburgh The Roslin Institute Dr Antonio Marco Essex University of Essex Dr Sarah Flanagan Exeter University of Exeter Dr Iain Johnstone Glasgow University of Glasgow Dr Kevin O'Dell Glasgow University of Glasgow Dr Fiona Green Guildford University of Surrey Dr Paul Potter Harwell MRC Harwell Vacant Hinxton Dr Heather M Sealy-Lewis Hull University of Hull Prof Mick F Tuite Kent University of Kent Prof Tony Plagge Liverpool University of Liverpool Dr Craig Wilding Liverpool Liverpool John Moores Dr Paul Ashton Lancashire Edge Hill University Dr Andrew Peel Leeds University of Leeds, School of Biology Dr Ed Hollox Leicester University of Leicester Dr Marie Nugent Leicester University of Leicester Dr Claire Russell London Royal Veterinary College Professor Simon Hughes London King's College London Dr Francesca Mackenzie London Kingston University Professor Harald Schneider London The Natural History Museum Professor E M C Fisher London UCL Institute of Neurology Professor Andrew Pomiankowski London UCL Department of Genetics, Evolution and Environment Professor Richard A Nichols London Queen Mary and Westfield College Dr Emanuela Volpi London University of Westminster Dr Yalda Jamshidi London St George's University of London Dr Michalis Barkoulas London Imperial College (Hammersmith) Dr James Turner London Francis Crick Institute Dr Catherine Walton Manchester Vacant Manchester University of Manchester Dr Kirsten Wolff Newcastle upon Tyne University of Newcastle (Biol Sci) Professor Enrico Coen Norwich John Innes Centre Dr Tracey Chapman Norwich University of East Anglia Dr Richard Emes Nottingham University of Nottingham (Sutton Bonnington Campus) Professor John Brookfield Nottingham University of Nottingham (University Park Campus) Dr S. L. Kearsey Oxford University of Oxford (Zoology) Professor Andrew O M Wilkie Oxford University of Oxford (John Radcliffe Hosp) Professor Liam Dolan Oxford University of Oxford (Plant Sciences) Dr Paul Potter Oxford MRC Harwell Professor Oxford University of Oxford Dr Ravinder Kanda Oxford Oxford Brookes University Vacant Plymouth Dr Mairi Knight Plymouth University of Plymouth Dr Louise Johnson Reading University of Reading Dr Alexander Papadopulos Richmond Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew Dr Jon Slate Sheffield University of Sheffield Dr Mark A Chapman Southampton University of Southampton Professor Mike Ritchie St Andrews Dr Mario Vallejo-Marin Stirling University of Stirling Dr Lewis Bingle Sunderland University of Sunderland Dr George Johnson Swansea Swansea University Dr Peter Glen Walley Warwick University of Warwick Dr Jose Gutierrez-Marcos Warwickshire University of Warwick Dr Gonzalo Blanco York University of York www.genetics.org.uk . 11 GENETICS SOCIETY MEETING REPORTS GENETICS SOCIETY MEETING REPORTS 12 13

table sessions with representatives on how to plan our scientific careers. present my research to the scientific The Genetics Society, British Society for from an excellent mix of career types Talking to Ben Steventon (Henry Dale community and meet fellow students including academic and industrial Fellow) and Victoria Moreno (Group from all over the country. and British Society roles, and others such as portfolio leader at King’s College London) was management and patent law. These especially motivating, as I would like Louise Cleal, University of for Cell Biology Joint Spring Meeting 2017 were very useful for PhD students and to stay in academia after my postdoc. Edinburgh postdocs planning the next stages of The session about Neurons, networks As a final year PhD student, this their career. and behaviour was of particular meeting was highly beneficial to me in A session which I found particularly interest to me with highlights several ways. engaging was ‘Newly Tractable including Gregory Jefferis’ talk on For a significant proportion of the A joint spring meeting between The Genetics Society, the Systems’, which included how the manipulation of specific time, there were three talks occurring British Society for Developmental Biology (BSDB) and presentations discussing the use interneurons modulates the response simultaneously, based around of model organisms not commonly to pheromones in Drosophila and the British Society for Cell Biology (BSCB) was held at different themes, meaning there was studied, for example the talk by Dr Stephen Goodwin’s on how dsx / a lot of choice. I attended a multitude the University of Warwick at the beginning of April. Eamonn Mallon on the important glutamatergic and dsx/GABAergic of engaging talks and a number The three learned societies scheduled a fantastic multi- role of DNA methylation and neurons regulate male copulation also of additional medal lectures. I also imprinting in social insects such as in the fly. disciplinary 4 day programme which consisted of a range presented a poster outlining my PhD bumble bees. Another highlight was In addition, I had the opportunity project, aimed at understanding the of talks, posters, medal lectures, social events and a careers the Cheryll Tickle Medal Lecture, of presenting my recent work in molecular mechanisms underpinning workshop. Approximately 400 delegates attended this where Jenny Nichols discussed her a poster session, on the second the development of Congenital career in the stem cell biology field, meeting, the first of its kind between these societies. To give day of the conference. I received Diaphragmatic Hernia in mice with highlighting important findings positive feedback and interest from conditional deletion of the gene: Wt1. our membership an overview of how delegates enjoyed the regarding the requirement of specific other researchers, and was greatly The opening plenary lecture, experience, the meeting is covered here through the words factors at different stages throughout honoured to be awarded the post- development. presented by Professor Bonnie of some of the conference attendees who received the Junior doc poster prize from the Genetics Bassler, discussed bacterial This conference also offered me the Society - it made the memories of this Scientist Joint Meeting Grant. quorum sensing; the process of opportunity to present my research conference unforgettable. cell-cell communication in bacteria. on dissecting the role of epigenetic Considering the ever-increasing global machineries in chromatin compaction Liisa Parts, University of Oxford problem of antibiotic resistance, in ground state pluripotent cells. This I had a chance to give a short talk as understanding such a process, which Federico Rossi opportunity was hugely valuable as I The newly tractable session speakers sincerely thank the Genetics Society part of the Newly Tractable Systems is fundamental in microbiology, King’s College London was able to have discussions with top showed how the continuous advances for their support, enabling me to session. My PhD project focuses is essential. Following on from As a PhD student, I particularly in genetics and genomics techniques attend the conference and to present researchers from a range of relevant this, Professor Marisa Bartolomei fields, a feature unique to a broad on the molecular mechanisms and enjoyed the informal atmosphere of allow us to identify the biological my poster. evolution of pesticide resistance presented the Genetics Society Medal the event, which encouraged young features of an increasing number meeting such as this one. I am very lecture on the epigenetic regulation grateful to the Genetics Society for using C. elegans as a . attendees to interact with well- of organisms. Of particular note Katy McLaughlin of genomic imprinting, which is giving me this opportunity. Whilst pesticide resistance is a rising established scientists. were Richard Buggs (QMUL, UK), University of Edinburgh problem, the understanding of the important in development and in The first plenary session speaker, who showed how the translation This 4 day conference consisted of a early stages of resitance remains many disease settings. The sheer Bonnie Bassler (Princeton University, of genomics and transcriptomic range of talks, posters, medal lectures, Laura Molina-Garcia, University poor. Therefore this was an excellent diversity of the meeting was evident USA), gave a fascinating talk about studies efficiently contribute to the social events and a careers workshop. College London opportunity to share my findings, and after just the first two talks. quorum sensing in bacteria. Bassler management of ash dieback disease, Topics covered included epigenetics, This conference provides a an invaluable experience that I greatly The highlight for me was undoubtedly showed how the integration of and Reiner Schulz (KCL, UK), who evolution and development, gene unique forum to network and get benefitted from. Poster sessions, the presentation of the Waddington microbiology, molecular biology reported preliminary advances in oak expression and many others. The knowledge on different topics encompassing about 180 projects, Medal to Professor Bill Harris, and physics expertise significantly genomics that may elucidate adaptive attendees incorporated every career related with genetics, as well as were also held, creating the possibility followed by his highly entertaining advanced the comprehension mechanisms in response to past stage, from top scientists in the field to cell and developmental biology. I to meet other researches in my own talk entitled “Fate choice in the of bacterial inter-individual environmental conditions. early PhD students and included non- had the opportunity to attend a field of study. I am truly grateful to retina, Stalin is not involved”. Other communication and of the relevance Overall, I found the conference academics such as those involved in career workshop in which different the Genetics Society for providing me presentations which really stood out of biofilms in the establishment of inspiring and a valuable academic and science communication. The careers professional scientists shared their with the opportunity to attend this for me included a humorous talk bacteria communities. personal experience. I would like to session consisted of informal round own experiences and gave us advice Joint Meeting, thus enabling me to by Dr Eamonn Mallon discussing

12 . GENETICS SOCIETY NEWS . ISSUE 77 www.genetics.org.uk . 13 GENETICS SOCIETY MEETING REPORTS GENETICS SOCIETY MEETING REPORTS 14 15

epigenetics in social insects, as well Outwith the talks, my conversation wait to relay back to my colleagues as an intriguing talk by PhD student, with Aidan Maartens (manager was presented in talks I attended Bryony Leeke, describing her work of the Node) at the Roundtable purely out of curiosity. on X inactivation in Career Workshop really stoked Opossums. my enthusiasm for science Yannic Chen, University of Leeds communication and public I am a first-year PhD student, engagement. This is something that Rachel Bonnington, University studying epigenetic chromatin I now want to develop further during College London modifications using Caenorhabditis my career. As a developmental , this elegans as a model system, for which meeting was the perfect opportunity I presented a poster. As such, I was to present my work investigating Rosamund Clifford, University of mostly, but not exclusively, interested the cellular and genetic mechanisms Leeds in the genetics topics in each session that regulate a glia-to-neuron cell This joint meeting provided an of the conference. fate switch in C. elegans. I was able to opportunity to step back from the The talk by Rebecca Oakley (King’s gather valuable feedback on my work, intense focus of a PhD and be inspired College London) about intragenic CpG David Baulcombe Marisa Bartolomei Alewo Idoko-Akoh and came away buzzing with ideas for by others’ stories. Indeed, one of the islands was interesting and relevant to Winner of the Mendel Medal Winner of the Genetics Society Medal Winner of the Genetics Society Poster Prize new experiments I want to try, and main things that struck me about the my research, as R-loops require high new techniques that I want to apply to meeting was the friendly, community- GC skew, which are mainly found at my own project. like atmosphere. It really opened my CpG islands. She mentioned a method eyes to some fascinating research called epi-CRISPR, to study epigenetic The highlight of the conference Awards present research via the medium and evolution in different for me was the Beddington Medal from a diverse range of disciplines. mechanisms which is mainly used for DNA methylation. This stuck in my The spring meeting was also as an of poster presentation. All three developmental contexts. Lecture, awarded to Erik Clark for I gained some fascinating insight from opportunity to host talks from two of societies awarded prizes, with the best PhD thesis. In his thesis, Erik the Epigenetics session, including a head like an earworm, as methods to The prize for best postdoc poster was study epigenetics is limited and new our 2017 medal winners. the Genetics Society awarding a awarded to Laura Molina-Garicia of used a combination of modelling and very absorbing talk about the impact poster prize for the best overall experiments to better understand of an imprinted foetally-expressed tools can open gateways to uncharted David Baulcombe of Cambridge University College London for her areas. The Plenary session by Xiaowei University delivered the Mendel Medal poster, best student poster and poster Sexy learning in C. elegans. how the Drosophila pair-rule network gene on maternal metabolism. In best postdoc poster. The Genetics generates the expression that lead addition, at the Newly Tractable Zhuang (Harvard University) about Lecture entitled, When genomes meet: Both best student and best postdoc new super-resolution imaging also left RNA, epigenetics and the phenotypes Society overall poster prize went to to the patterning of segmental Systems session, I was introduced Alewo Idoko-Akoh of The Roslin posters were awarded a cash prize of boundaries. This work reveals a to epigenetic models I’d never a strong and long lasting impression. of hybrid plants. The Mendel Medal £100 (sponsored by BioMed Central). Her ultimate goal is to image single is awarded by the President of the Institute, University of Edinburgh. previously unrecognised role for considered, including oak tree growth Mr Idoko-Akoh (pictured) was Information on BSDB and BSCB temporal information during spatial rings, opossums, bumblebees, fire ants cell transcriptomes using a method Genetics Society, usually twice within called MERFISH (multiplex error- the President’s term of office, to an awarded The Genetics Society prize winners can be found at: bsdb. patterning, shedding new light upon and Ciona. Junior Scientist Conference Grant org/2017/04/11/awards-spring17/ the evolutionary relationship between robust FISH), which is able to identify individual who has made outstanding For me, the highlight of the whole the gene regulatory network and the contributions to research in any field (Scheme A) for his poster CXCR4 The next Genetics Society meeting the simulataneous, “long-germ” experience was the poster session near and c-Kit signalling are required segmentation seen in Drosophila, and spatial distribution of RNA in a single of genetics. Marisa Bartolomei of the will be held on 23rd - 24th November the end of the first day. It was thrilling cell. University of Pennsylvania delivered for directed migration of chicken 2017, at The Royal Society in London. the sequential, “short-germ” mode to be able to discuss my own (very primordial germ cells through the of patterning seen in most other Overall, this conference, being the Genetics Society Medal Lecture The focus of this meeting will be The preliminary!) research in relation to on Epigenetic Regulation of Genomic chick embryonic vascular system. Human Genome in Healthcare. To arthropods. their findings, and then return to my my first conference, left a positive impression on me and reminded me Imprinting in Development and Mr. Alewo Idoko-Akoh is pictured register or submit an abstract, visit Highlights from the short talks PhD supervisor with ideas of my own Disease. The Genetics Society Medal is with his PhD supervisor Dr. Mike the Genetics Society website. included talks from Annick Sawala, about how to direct my project next. how exciting the current science and future scientific progress is. I hope an award that recognises outstanding McGrew and two members of The The deadline for abstract submission Stephen Goodwin and Arantza Barrios It was a defining moment of my PhD research contributions to genetics Genetics Society Committee - Dr. on the development of sex-specific and I must thank the Genetics Society that by the end of my PhD I will be is 25th September 2017. Junior able to leave an impression to others by an individual who is still active in Douglas Verminnen and Dr. Kay scientists are eligible to apply for differences in the nervous system, as for the assistance that led me to this. research at the time of award.Details Boulton. part of the Neurons, Networks and through my research similar to financial assistance from the Genetics It was remarked upon at the the impression I received from this of our other 2017 award winners can The prize for best student poster Society to facilitate their attendance Behaviour session. I also enjoyed the plenary session that broad- be found on the Genetics Society fascinating Newly Tractable Systems conference. was awarded to Alexandra Buffry at the meeting. Further information spectrum conferences are becoming website. of Oxford Brookes University, on our grant schemes are provided on session, in which the potential of increasingly rare. This was sad to using social insects as model systems In addition to talks and lectures, for her poster Investigating gene page 41 of the newsletter. hear, because some of the most there was also the opportunity to regulatory network architecture to study epigenetics was discussed. extraordinary research that I couldn’t

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It was an incredible day The UK Dictyostelium Meeting 27th Mammalian Genetics and of taking in pioneering Dr Jonathan Chubb, University College London and emerging data, Development Workshop which sparked exciting Professor Nicholas Greene, University College London he UK Dictyostelium meeting of individual genes in single living conversations. All Treturned to Central London for cells. Several talks spanned participants had the the first time in nearly 20 years with this rapidly expanding subject, ver 70 delegates gathered opportunity to unwind, a very diverse programme, sampling including two introducing single Ofor the one day meeting the full range of biological interest cell transcriptomics as a means to consisting of 22 short talks, a network and discuss that the organism, and its genetic and globally interrogate the processes higher number than in recent further at the wine biochemical tractability, generates. that make cells different during years. In-keeping with tradition, development. Unlike many recent reception, during which Much the heart and soul of single cell transcriptomics studies in the programme featured talks Dictyostelium research over the from PhD students and early time the judges had a mammalian systems, which appear past several decades has been the to be restricted to cell taxonomy, career postdoctoral researchers, as very tough time deciding contribution of the organism to our well as technology talks. the Dictyostelium work is making the prizewinners. understanding of cell motility and mechanistic discoveries. Morning highlights included Sara chemotaxis, where the organism Pozzi (UCL) presenting data on is far easier to make progress with Whilst a number of experimental the function of Hesx1 in the pre- (KCL) presented the identification than the disease-relevant leukocytes models may feel invigorated by implantation mammalian , of gene candidates that may be that attempt to emulate it. The recent advances in genome editing, describing how it interacts responsible for Branchio-Oto- motility session did not disappoint, for example, by finally allowing with core factors to maintain Renal syndrome when mutated. introducing mechanisms and models the analysis of targeted mutations pluripotency and self-renewal. As SIX1 mutations underlie this that may open the door to historically in your favourite sick cancer cell Continuing with pluripotency, syndrome in some of the patients, intractable problems, such as how line, the strength of Dictyostelium Harry Leitch (Imperial) described genomic and in vivo approaches in neuronal growth cones can migrate research continues to be: a) its a model for induction of chick where combined to identify metres in the correct direction diversity- researchers of a single primordial germ cells and the role targets of Six1 and the group during development. Linked to biological sphere of interest rarely of Nanog in this process, through Prize Winners and Meeting Organisers (left to right): Sara Pozzi, Cynthia found that a large proportion of the experimental strength of the get forced to consider so many a very elegant series of in vivo Andoniadou, Ramya Ranganathan, Tessa Bertozzi, Nick Greene these mapped to deafness loci. system in uncovering the mechanism diverse forms of biology beyond their genetic approaches. underlying cell motility, is a rich favourite protein complex, b) its It was an incredible day of taking vein of signal transduction research, relative simplicity- which means it This year we were treated to a in pioneering and emerging where the signalling matmos is is far more likely one can interpret Midmorning, Tessa Bertozzi in the recently closed neural tube. data, which sparked exciting lecture by a guest speaker, Suneel (Cambridge) delivered a talk on He gained insights into how the strongly reminiscent of more complex the effects of any perturbation one Apte. From the Lerner Research conversations. All participants eukaryotes- contrasting yeast, where makes, and c) the wholeness of the behalf of the Ferguson-Smith lab neural folds are drawn together to had the opportunity to unwind, Institute at the Cleveland Clinic, on identifying novel endogenous facilitate initiation and progression there is some molecular overlap, model from cell to development- Ohio, Suneel is an extracellular network and discuss further at but major differences in regulatory one is understanding a complete retroviruses with features of of neural tube closure, through very the wine reception, during which matrix expert and presented metastable epialleles. These challenging laser ablation and live connectivity. The current “hot” functioning system, not an isolated insights on the genetic regulation time the judges had a very tough signalling molecule is inorganic cancer or stem cell in culture that regions are generally heavily imaging experiments in mouse. time deciding the prizewinners. of extracelluar matrix remodelling, methylated and silenced, preventing polyphosphate or polyP, research has little hope of fulfilling the which can underlie birth defects. Afternoon highlights included The array of high quality talks into which began decades ago but has potential prescribed by evolution. retrotransposition. Remarkably, they was exceptional, and the prizes Specifically he guided us through found these methylation patterns to Noreen Eder (Crick), who presented progressed little since, in any system. data from ADAMTS mutant mice, her data manipulating the expression for best presentations went to: be conserved across generations and Tessa Bertozzi (Cambridge), A more recent major contribution which are incapable of efficient reconstructed after demethylation. of LATS kinases in excitatory proteolysis and remodelling of neurons of the developing cortex who received the Mammalian of the organism has been in the versican and thus have deficient Professor Apte was a tough act to and hippocampus and identifying Genome & Springer prize; Ramya world of single cell biology, where ECM processing, in turn leading to follow, but Gabriel Galea (UCL) that their function is necessary for Ranganathan (KCL) and Sara Pozzi the organism was used to pioneer widespread severe developmental did an excellent job describing the neuronal integrity and overall brain (UCL). Congratulations to all! methods to image the transcription defects. biomechanical properties of regions structure. Ramya Ranganathan

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British Meiosis Meeting The South West Fly Meeting Dr Alexander Lorenz, University of Aberdeen Dr James Hodge, University of Bristol

or the 9th iteration of their Recombination’ comprising 4 talks lab, University of Sussex; prize he South West Fly meeting results of his experiments where he and pharmacology he showed that Fannual meeting, 77 meiosis on research projects using both generously sponsored by Labtech) Tbrings together nearly 30 labs injected 50 different species of flies the synapse signaled via nicotinic researchers from the yeasts (Saccharomyces cerevisiae and the best poster to Rachael in the South West using as a model with 3 different Drosophila viruses acetylcholine receptors. and beyond descended on Dundee & Schizosaccharomyces pombe), Barton (Marston lab, University of for their research, with this being and then measured their virulence To round things up Andy Saxon in the North-East of Scotland to Arabidopsis thaliana, and barley. Edinburgh). the third meeting of the group at (how many flies killed in 24hours) (University of Bristol) discussed his present and discuss their most The first day concluded with a Thanks to our amazing research the University of Bristol. and the molecular consequences of work on male reproductive success recent research. Delegates included session of 5 talks on ‘Chromosome community the 9th British Meiosis Dr Helen Weavers (University infections were determined by qRT- under fluctuating vs constant British researchers, stakeholders Segregation and Cell Division’ Meeting was extremely enjoyable, of Bristol) started the meeting PCR and RNA-Seq. environments. Andy is interested from the crop breeding industry, and (chaired by Enrique Martinez-Perez, and indeed the Discovery Centre discussing her work on the The next talk was on bHLH network in life history trade-offs and studies participants from France, Germany, Imperial College, London) presenting generously provided by the induction of wound protection and regulation of intestinal stem cell a tropical rain forest species of and the Republic of Ireland. research on budding yeast, University of Dundee was the perfect tolerance in fly . Helen self-renewal and differentiation by Drosophila found in Australia. One The meeting comprised four , Drosophila venue for these two days of meiotic showed some beautiful live imaging Aleix Puigin (Cardiff University). example of such a trade-off would sessions of talks covering meiotic melanogaster, and human oocytes. talks and poster sessions. We are showing the multiple steps involved Aleix described his thesis work be between males trying to mate recombination, chromosome Bernard de Massy started the second extremely grateful to all the people in migration of haemocytes/ using daughterless, notch, the whole time but also not wasting organization, synaptonemal day with his keynote discussing from the James Hutton Institute, macrophages to wounds and delta and escargo’s genetics their precious resources of sperm complex formation, chromosome determinants of double-stranded Dundee and the University of Dundee the subsequent repair process. and immunohistochemistry to that can be up to 200 times longer segregation, checkpoint control, DNA break formation in mammals for their support before and during The effect of different chemo- understand the signaling hierarchies than human sperm. He found that and cell division. Following the focussing on PRDM9, a histone H3K4 the meeting. attractants, the experience of involved in regulating stem cells. the flies’ reproduction varies with traditional ethos of the British trimethyltransferase with a highly We would also like to thank all the apoptotic cells, and manipulation of Drosophila workers from further altitude and that flies do best at Meiosis Meeting the talks, apart variable zinc-finger domain giving academics who chaired sessions cell signaling was discussed as well a field are always welcome at the certain temperatures, like 25oC, from the keynote lectures, were it specificity for particular DNA (see above) and served as talk as a computational collaboration South West Fly meetings, and the temperature Drosophila’s set given by early career researchers. sequences which in turn become and poster judges (Owen Davies, that harnessed the power of 3D Oliver Barnstedt (University of our incubators. However, flies did This year’s keynote speakers were sites of increased DNA breakage Newcastle University; Ian Henderson, automated cell tracking. Oxford) gave a beautiful talk on less well when the environmental Mathilde Grelon from the Institute (hotspots). This was followed by University of Cambridge; Hiro Dr Ben Longdon (University of how the Drosophila mushroom conditions were variable, possibly Jean-Pierre Bourgin in Versailles a session of 3 talks on ‘Crossover Ohkura, University of Edinburgh; Exeter) discussed his team’s work body output neurons mediate highlighting further implications of (France) and Bernard de Massy Control’ (chaired by Robbie Waugh, Luke Ramsay, James Hutton on virus host shifts in 50 different memory and are cholinergic. He climate change on the reproductive from the Institute of Human James Hutton Institute, Dundee) Institute, Dundee). Lastly, we are species of fly. Understanding the described how the dopamine input, success of vulnerable species. Genetics in Montpellier (France). showcasing research done in plants also very grateful to the Genetics fundamental principles of how mushroom body and output neurons Discussion of all things fly continued Mathilde started the whole meeting (Arabidopsis, Brassica). Society for their sponsorship of RNA viruses interact with their form a tripartite synapse that afterwards with drinks, kindly presenting her recent story on provided by the Genetics Society. After a coffee break with an this meeting, allowing early-career hosts is important given the effects underwent presynaptic long term a DNA topoisomerase VI-like researchers to develop fundamental of Ebola, HIV and SARS and flies depression during learning. Using complex required to initiate meiotic additional opportunity to discuss the posters, the final session, presentation skills, to build their get viral infections in all the same an elegant mix of genetics, behavior, recombination by inducing double- professional network and to increase ways as humans. Ben described the optogenetics, immunohistochemistry stranded DNA breaks and the with 3 talks on ‘Synaptonemal Complex and Checkpoints’ (chaired their visibility nationally and bioinformatics and experimental internationally. detective story to identify the non- by Mary Herbert, Newcastle catalytic subunit of this complex University) included research We are all looking forward to next (the catalytic subunit has long been on mouse spermatocytes and year’s gathering in Brighton, the Understanding the fundamental principles of how RNA known as Spo11). This was followed biophysical analysis of mammalian 10th anniversary British Meiosis viruses interact with their hosts is important given by the first session (chaired by synaptonemal complex proteins. Meeting which will be organized by Ian Adams, MRC Human Genetics The meeting concluded with awards Matt Neale (University of Sussex) the effects of Ebola, HIV and SARS and flies get viral Unit, Edinburgh) on ‘Genetic and and prizes for the best talk which who originally started this series of infections in all the same ways as humans. Environmental Determinants of went to Kayleigh Wardell (Neale conferences in 2009.

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The International Conference for Limb Development Genomics, Epigenetics and Gene Regulation British Neuroscience Festival and Regeneration 2017- with the Limb Development Symposium Clinical Workshop Date: 14th September 2017 Silvia Paracchini, University of St Andrews Date: 23rd - 26th July 2017 Location: University of Essex Location: TBC Abstract deadline: 25th June 2017 The science presented at the ICLDR meeting will Website: gate.essex.ac.uk am extremely grateful to encompasses the full variety of themes and organisms The Genomics, Epigenetics and Gene Regulation I the Genetics Society for which comprise of Developmental Biology, including Symposium at the University of Essex aims to sponsoring our symposium evolution, genomics, genetics, the initiation gather researchers to present their work on this on language genetics during of organogenesis, patterning, stem cell niches, fast growing field. This one-day symposium on the the BNA2017 conference. The regeneration, network modelling, mathematical biology. 14th of September will cover DNA-based regulation aim of the symposium was (chromatin and methylation) and RNA-based gene to take the audience through 30th European Congress for Arachnology regulation (regulatory RNAs). the different levels of human Date: 20-25 August 2017 genetics research: starting from Location: Nottingham European Drosophila Research Conference the definition of the phenotype This meeting will cover topics in genetics, genomics, Date: 22nd - 25th September 2017 of interest until the dissection of physiology, neuroscience, ecology, evolution, Location: Imperial College London the underlying biology. biodiversity, conservation and taxonomy. Website: www.edrc2017.com/19402 Our line-up included Prof Tim The European Drosophila Research Conference is Bates (University of Edinburgh) 16th International Conference on Pseudomonas the main scientific conference for the European who described the importance From left: Silvia Paracchini, Dianne Newbury, Sonja Vernes and Date: 5-9 September 2017 fruit fly research community. It covers the whole of careful planning and design Tim Bates at the end of our symposium Location: St George’s Hall, Liverpool breadth of Drosophila research, from evolution and for the success of genome-wide This meeting historically brings together around 400 development through to neurobiology, immunology, association studies in the context scientists from around the world to present and discuss metabolism and cancer research. of complex phenotypes as in the of how animal models can help to around specific topics as well as scientific advancements relating to Pseudomonas case of language-related disorders. understand language biology. In more generally science-related. bacteria, one of the most ubiquitous and genetically 51st Population Genetics Group Dr Dianne Newbury (Oxford particular, the newly established Among the latter type we had our adaptable bacteria on the planet - with some species Date: 3rd - 6th January 2018 Brookes University) presented a Bat1K Consortium will generate own BNA Brexit session with a being beneficial, others being pathogens and some being Location: University of Bristol fascinating account of how next genomic data to study how language discussion panel that included opportunists. All aspects of the genus are covered within Registration opens: Autumn 2017 generation sequencing approaches evolved. It was great to hear from representatives of funding bodies the meeting, with a large component of genetics-based The 51st Population Genetics Group meeting is one allowed resolving the genetics of the feedback that the audience and learnt Societies. science, especially within the Ecology, Evolution and of the longest running evolutionary biology meetings a very specific backward speech appreciated particularly the logical One message I took away from Environment theme in the world. The subject area is broad and includes ability (in contrast to the usual that connected the talks. this session is that the scientific and all aspects of population and evolutionary focus on disorders) observed In addition to presenting our work community has been relatively quiet Conservation of adaptive potential and functional genetics, but particularly their relevance to genomic in one family. I described how and interacting with the audience, in the pre-Brexit vote, but we can no diversity architecture, understanding selection on quantitative genetic association studies are this meeting was an opportunity to longer afford to do that and it has Date: 7th - 8th September 2017 traits, the evolution of mating systems, and contributing to dissect the link reconnect and discuss in person with become a necessity for us to engage Location: University of Durham ecological speciation. between brain asymmetries and many colleagues and collaborators. more with the public. It was great to This meeting will focus on the significant advances neurodevelopmental disorders The conference program itself see that the BNA, in line with this, in the application of genetic methods to conservation and how follow-up studies in was excellent. The public lectures endorsed the March for Science held issues, incorporating inference that provides a better cellular models are necessary and plenary sessions have been on 22nd April around the world. understanding of evolutionary process and facilitates the to make sense of such genetic outstanding. For example, I was able conservation of adaptive genetic diversity. associations. Finally, Dr Sonja for the first time to hear May-Britt Vernes (Max Plank Institute for Moser speaking about her work that Psycholinguistics in Nijmegen) led to the award of the Nobel Prize. I presented recent exciting data felt privileged to be in the audience describing the function of rare and could see for myself why she variants implicated in language is The Queen of Neuroscience. I disorders and gave the examples attended various symposia, both

20 . GENETICS SOCIETY NEWS . ISSUE 77 www.genetics.org.uk . 21 FEATURES FEATURES 22 23

The first of our features is from Jonathan Smith who attended our Communicating Your Science workshop this year. This is an annual workshop, aimed at PhD students and postdocs, which brings together experts in different fields - writers, broadcasters, publishers, industrialists, computer scientists, and presenters - to help participants explore and develop their communication skills. The course has space for 20 participants who, over three days, learn how to structure presentations, develop writing skills, bridge disciplines and have hands-on experience of broadcasting. We hope you enjoy Jonathan’s Feature piece. If you are interesting in attending our 2018 workshop, the application process is open and can be found on the Genetics Society website.

Participants of the 2017 Communicating Your Science workshop, at Chichley Hall. Say it out loud: Communicating

yourselves: ‘What is the premise of their different styles of humour, completely outside of our comfort Your Science 2017 my story?’”. To illustrate this point, ranging from song and dance to zones, The Apprentice-style. In we discussed the 1957 film Twelve funny lab anecdotes. Furthermore, groups, attendees produced podcasts Jonathan Smith, University of Leicester Angry Men, which masterfully anyone interested in trying this on their chosen subject to a tight unravels a tense situation with a out themselves can look at science deadline, and these productions ow can you give an engaging the wider world outside of our lab. meaningful premise hidden within. comedy nights held by the Bright were then published on the Naked interview about your research In groups, we then performed a brief Club in locations across the UK. Scientist web site. This forced us H What is your premise? dramatic story. These activities all to think hard about what makes on the radio? What makes a good Radio didn’t kill the science star story? How can you use comedy On the first day of the workshop, emphasised the importance of the an engaging podcast and how to be when talking about science to the Professor Enrico Coen of the premise, and of a natural logical On the second day of the workshop, creative about content. Even more public? These are just some of the John Innes Centre told us how flow in our presentations. staff from the Naked Scientists unexpectedly, it inspired me and podcast gave us vital training on others to consider podcasting in the questions discussed in this year’s crucial storytelling is for effective Always keen for laughs Communicating Your Science communication. “Telling a lively, interview skills for radio. They future. On the second day of the workshop, individually interviewed each of workshop, which took place in April engaging story about your research And so the story ends… at Chicheley Hall. is very effective for keeping people the science comedian Helen Keen us about our research, teaching us hooked,” he enthused. “Storytelling showed us the power of comedy in tricks on how to control the flow of This workshop was an unmissable Gathered at the beautiful grounds as a whole is wrongly overlooked presenting science to the public. the interview. There were broadly experience for everyone there, giving was a diverse group of researchers and undervalued by the academic “Jokes in talks lighten up the mood two take home messages, as the us vital training in presenting our and industrial experts, including community.” This principle and relax your audience,” she podcasters explained: “First avoid research and letting us mix with PhD students, postdocs, university is relevant in both academic explained. “Humour reminds the any jargon; the interviewer will others showing a similar passion for engagement officers, podcasters, communications and public audience that scientists are just derail you by asking you to explain communicating your science. As we and authors. Our topics of research engagement, as humans in every normal people, with their own quirks it”. And the second? “Right at the had been reminded time and again, ranged from cancer, forensics and walk of life all like to hear a good and idiosyncrasies.” Applied with outset of the interview, say, in one this workshop did not just apply to structural biology to the genetics story. care, this form of storytelling can sentence, what you are exploring in public engagement, but also across of bat migration. What we all even work in academic presentations layman’s terms.” By applying these the world of academia. I now go had in common, however, was a For many researchers, distilling to other scientists; we all appreciate golden rules, researchers can learn back to my lab bench thinking more passion for communicating science their entire project into a single, a good joke from time to time. to take control of the interview and about the premise of my work and to the public. Thus, academic flowing story can be intimidating. steer the interviewer towards their how I can explain it most effectively Jonathan Smith performing and industrial experts provided However, Prof. Coen suggested a Our training in using comedy was chosen message. extensive. Attendees were each to others. I’ve ordered a Tommy stand-up at the Communicating us invaluable training on how to simple solution for this: “At every Cooper-esque fez too, ready for my Your Science workshop. effectively share our research with stage of the communication, ask given five minutes to make the The next day, the Naked Scientist others laugh, and everyone revealed podcast team took all of us next departmental presentation.

22 . GENETICS SOCIETY NEWS . ISSUE 77 www.genetics.org.uk . 23 FEATURES 24 Join the online debate

Sectional Interest Group Spotlight: Keep in touch with your colleagues via the 14th Annual UK Workshop on Archaea Genetics Society’s social media groups

Dr Tom Williams and Dr. Thorsten Allers

analyses of cell surface structures, urther to the website and approved, but as long as we can see CRISPR/Cas, DNA replication and Fnewsletter, the Genetics you are active in a genetics related repair, transcription and non-coding Society has been engaging with area this is not a problem. This RNAs. The archaeal halophiles its membership via the social prevents a lot of indiscriminate and hyperthermophiles were well media platforms LinkedIn, Twitter postings from online recruiters that represented, in particular the and Facebook. In order to ensure have affected some of the Genetics workhorse models for archaeal that all content on the groups are related groups. As a member of the molecular biology, Haloferax volcanii meaningful to you, both LinkedIn LinkedIn and Facebook groups you and Sulfolobus acidocaldarius. and Facebook groups are moderated. will be updated on our activities but This means that when you join the you can also comment and add you Friday morning saw sessions on group this needs to be formally own events. DNA replication in halophiles and on the evolution and mechanisms of prokaryotic immunity. The DNA replication talks included new insights into how Haloferax Since 2002, the archaeal community greater representation of archaeal DNA replication can proceed in the in the UK has held its annual ecology and evolution, perhaps absence of replication origins and the workshop in January. It is convened due in part to the recent surge in molecular biology of the halophilic at a different venue each year but interest in archaeal genomics, and of replicative helicase. has maintained the same format: an the discovery of the Lokiarchaeota The meeting concluded with two linkedin.com/groups/ facebook.com/pages/ twitter.com/ afternoon of talks by PhD students and other evolutionarily important fascinating talks about the CRISPR/ Genetics-Society-UK-4574262 The-Genetics-Society/144832825530721 GenSocUK and young postdocs, a poster session groups. Cas system that approached the and conference dinner, and a morning The meeting kicked off with a session topic from differing perspectives: of talks. Since 2007, the UK Archaea focused on archaeal evolution, experimental evolution to study workshop has been generously with talks on inferring a timescale host-virus co-evolutionary dynamics, supported by the Genetics Society for the deepest splits in the tree of and molecular biology to unravel the and is the annual meeting of the life, comparative genomics of the detailed mechanisms of CRISPR/Cas Archaeal Sectional Interest Group. “Asgard” Archaea (which includes adaptive immunity in S. solfataricus. The 14th Annual UK Workshop on Lokiarchaeum), and a report on the As in previous years, the conference Archaea was held in January 2017 environmental diversity of marine provoked scientific debate and in the Life Sciences Building of the Thaumarchaeota. After coffee, stimulated new collaborations. We University of Bristol. The conference delegates heard two talks about the are very grateful to the Genetics attracted a total of 41 attendees structural biology of the archaellum Society for their considerable from UK and continental European (the archaeal analogue of the support as well as to our industrial laboratories. The programme of bacterial flagellum), including the sponsors New England Biolabs and talks highlighted the research keynote lecture, which was delivered Electrolab. contributions of PhD and younger by Prof. Sonja-Verena Albers from postdoctoral investigators in archaeal the University of Freiburg. The next UK Workshop on Archaea at the University of Lancaster in molecular biology, ecology and The poster session was held on evolution. Compared to past years, January 2018, when it will be hosted Thursday evening. Topics covered by Nick Robinson. the programme featured a slightly included genetic and biochemical

24 . GENETICS SOCIETY NEWS . ISSUE 77 TRAVEL GRANTS FOR JUNIOR SCIENTISTS TRAVEL GRANTS FOR JUNIOR SCIENTISTS 26 27

These reports are from Junior Scientists, who the Genetic Society has Gordon Research Seminar and Conference funded (up to £750) to attend non-Society genetics meetings. Further information on how to apply for these grants can be found in the Grant Surangi Perera . University of Cambridge

Schemes section of the newsletter or on the Genetics Society website. n February 2017, I attended the platform to share and discuss my promoting rich discussions and IGordon Research Seminar and research with peers and learn about fostering a sense of community Gordon Research Conference on my peers’ research. I greatly enjoyed within specific fields. The conference Neural Crest & Cranial Placodes in these discussions with a diverse group encouraged the presentation of Ventura, CA, USA. For my PhD, I am of people studying different aspects primarily new data that had not studying the development of olfactory of neural crest cells, and feel it helped yet been published, so it provided a ensheathing cells which are derived broaden my perspectives. I also got wonderful opportunity to learn about from the neural crest and as such this invaluable feedback to further develop exciting new discoveries in the field. seminar and conference was highly my research project in the final year Attending the Gordon Research The BNA Festival of relevant to my research project. It of my PhD studies. Furthermore, Seminar and Conference has greatly provided me a fantastic opportunity the Career Developmental panel at impacted my current (and possibly to share and discuss my research, the seminar where well-established future) research work, and I am Neuroscience 2017 learn about some of the most recent scientists at diverse institutions extremely grateful to the Genetics advances in the field and network talked about their career paths Society for awarding me a Junior Tulsi Patel . University of Nottingham with peers and pioneers in the field. and provided advice for developing Scientist Travel Grant to fund my I was invited to give a talk at the a career in the sciences was an travel expenses. extremely insightful session. he British Neuroscience knitting neurons, brain painting, from ‘Corpus callawesome’ to Gordon Research Seminar (which TAssociation (BNA) held the perception playground and more! ‘Axons speak louder than words’. is held specifically for students and The Gordon Research Seminar was biennial Festival of Neuroscience Our lab spent the day in Birmingham We were the ‘Nerds of Ranvier’. Half postdocs) and presented a poster as followed by the Gordon Research at the Birmingham ICC this April. helping with several events and expecting a third year undergraduate well. The seminar provided a unique Conference which is known for With over 40 symposia across 12 also showcasing our joint initiative neuroscience exam, all of the scientific themes, just about every ‘Where did you last have it?’ with teams were desperately reciting neuroscience topic or interest was An Invisible Man Theatre Company. neuroanatomy, not prepared for any Programming and re-programming the brain covered so there was something for The work is a series of living of the actual questions. Let’s just say everyone. I had the opportunity to sculptures, each with an audio line that I found out neuroscientist Oliver Ayman Alzu’bi . Newcastle University attend the meeting and present my and headphones attached to them. Sacks once squat 600lb… poster entitled, Investigating genetic The audience were invited to listen variation in Alzheimer’s disease using in to the thoughts of family members rogramming and re-programming and maintenance of cell identity and GABAergic interneuron whole-exome sequencing, thanks to affected by dementia. Attending the conference was an Pthe brain Conference (April 2017 in the CNS, development-inspired specification in the early human fetal amazing experience as there was so Munich, Germany) was a meeting reprogramming of the brain, and telencephalon. Presenting my works travel funding from the Genetics The student games night on the last Society. much variety in terms of research. I which aimed to facilitate scientific decoding CNS complexity with in international conference gave me night of the conference was great enjoyed hearing about work on other discussion between research single-cell resolution). In addition to more confidence of my research work A whole host of public events were fun and we even had a neuroscience disorders and even found myself scientists within the field of brain the very interesting talks presented and allowed me to discuss this work being held alongside the conference quiz. You could tell it was a room attending some talks on different development, reprogramming from group leaders, the conference with fellow researchers. in the Library of Birmingham. There of PhD students as the team names strands of neuroscience altogether. and modeling. A large number of programs also included poster were plenty of fun activities like were absolutely brilliant, ranging Therefore I had a great opportunity participants from all over the world sessions in the field of in vivo and in to receive feedback on my current attended this meeting. vitro programming cell identity in research and to generate ideas for The meeting provided an appropriate the CNS. future works. I would like to thank Attending the conference was an amazing experience as there was so environment for researchers to My PhD research project is focussed the Genetic Society for giving me much variety in terms of research. I enjoyed hearing about work on other meet and network with colleagues on the differentiation pathways the chance to attend this meeting, disorders and even found myself attending some talks on different strands in the field. During these events of human cortical GABAergic and I would also like to thank the many topics were discussed and interneurons. At the meeting, I organizer for such interesting of neuroscience altogether. covered (such as are modeling presented a poster with my recent meeting which was quietly worthy human brain development from findings titled COUP-TFI and COUP- and valuable for me. pluripotent stem cells, programming TFII have distinct roles in arealisation

26 . GENETICS SOCIETY NEWS . ISSUE 77 www.genetics.org.uk . 27 TRAVEL GRANTS FOR JUNIOR SCIENTISTS TRAVEL GRANTS FOR JUNIOR SCIENTISTS 28 29

Osteoarthritis development to improve human Fly high! The Annual Drosophila Association for Research health in general, but that Research Society this can also be applied to osteoarthritis. Research Conference (DGRC) in Otolaryngology (ARO) International - Of particular interest to me was Joanna Hagen . Oxford Brookes University World Congress a talk given by Katja Heinemeier Midwinter meeting of The Institute of Sports Andy Blease Medicine, Copenhagen, and GRC is a renowned with a new spring in your Elisa Martelletti . King’s College London MRC Harwell was entitled; “Type II collagen; Dinternational conference – the scientific step. designed to last a lifetime?” cream of the crop for Drosophila Since returning back to Oxford, I t the end of April I travelled Katja’s research involved using research. It is organised by the have started to put some of the ideas My research project was selected as oral the 14C bomb-pulse method Genetics Society of America, Ato Las Vegas to attend the that occurred to me during DGRC presentation and I had the amazing opportunity Osteoarthritis Research Society to evaluate collagen and GAG and is host to over 150 platform into motion. Namely, a technique International (OARSI) World turnover rates. The 14C +bomb- presentations in a diverse range developed by Patricia Wittkopp, to present it in the Genetics session. I received Congress. This global forum for pulse method takes advantage of of Drosophila research, including whose students I met during the positive comments from international scientists those involved in osteoarthritis the high atmospherics levels of the regulation of gene expression, poster sessions. This is a technique research and treatment included radiocarbon (14C) caused by the chromatin and epigenetics and which utilises species-specific and I could discuss my research even after my featured speakers from a wide numerous nuclear bomb tests the evolution of developmental transcript levels in F1 hybrids of talk because different researchers came to ask array of disciplines ranging above ground in the 50’s and 60’s. pathways. There are over a dozen different species, in order to deduce from basic scientist and clinical The levels have subsequently plenary sessions, including keynote whether changes in gene expression some extra questions. investigators to bioengineers and fallen, and the changing speaker Sean B. Carroll, training regulation has evolved in cis or trans orthopaedic surgeons. atmospheric levels of workshops, outreach and networking coding elements. After proposing events. rom 11st-15th February I My research project was selected The congress spanned 4 days and radiocarbon (14C), is reflected this technique for my project in lab Fattended the 40th Association as oral presentation and I had the covered a variety of topics within in all living organisms. Tissues I managed to get a talk slot by meeting, my supervisors liked the for Research in Otolaryngology amazing opportunity to present the field, including Cartilage that are constantly renewed will cancellation. I also opted to bring idea and gave me the go ahead. (ARO) Midwinter meeting in it in the Genetics session. I Biology, Biomechanics, Cartilage contain amounts of 14C close to my poster along as well, since it In addition to these research Baltimore (Maryland, US). This is received positive comments from repair, Genetics and Epigenetics, the current atmospheric level of was ready to go and they still had a ideas, the DGRC was inspiring in the major conference in the field, international scientists and I could Inflammation, Matrix and OA 14C, while tissues with very slow poster slot booked for me. terms of my approach to scientific with over 1000 presentations and discuss my research even after my treatments, and this year due turnover will retain 14C from the I was lucky enough to attend the outreach. On the 31st March, 2000 researchers presenting the talk because different researchers to popular demand a hand OA years close to the formation of plenary talks of Virginie and Nitin I attended the How I Fly (HIF) state-of the art of hearing research. came to ask some extra questions. plenary session was also added. the tissue. during the conference, and to receive ScienceSlam workshop. This is a I had the great opportunity to hear Overall, attending the ARO meeting I was particularly fortunate that They were able to conclude interest and feedback from leaders workshop chaired by Prof. Mike outstanding talks from scientists all was an excellent opportunity to my abstract was selected for an that due to the high 14C levels, in the field was brilliant. This is Eisen, who aims to bring together around the world and discuss other disseminate my own research, and oral presentation in the Matrix the collagen matrix of human something that struck me a lot the ideas of researchers on how to people’s work during the poster get valuable feedback from peers session, which enabled me to cartilage is an essentially whilst at DGRC, is that despite being communicate the importance and sessions. I was extremely fascinated and world leading researchers in share my work and gain valuable permanent structure with no a second year PhD student, I could value of Drosophila research to by the new available technologies the field. I meet with a number feedback from a wide variety of significant replacement in adult talk to people who are by far my the general public. The event was for analysis on single cell, such as of lab heads to discuss potential people in the field. life either in healthy or OA superior, and be treated as equals. a great success, with scientists cartilage. performing speeches, singing RNA-seq, RiboTag sequencing and future collaborations and ask for The keynote address was In the poster session after giving even mass spectrometry. A really career advice. I extremely enjoyed I would like to thank the Genetics my talk, I was overwhelmed with songs, and writing poems about given by Lindsay Hall from the their work! successful in vivo study for Usher this conference and I came back to University of East Anglia, on Society for awarding me a junior the amount of people who made syndrome was presented by Dr. the lab full of new enthusiasm and the Microbiome and its effects scientist travel grant, giving me the effort to come and chat to me None of these developments in my Geleoc from Harvard University. ideas for my projects. I would like to on disease, an increasingly hot the opportunity to attend this and ask more questions of what I confidence, scientific rigour and Her group and her collaborators truly thank the Genetics Society for topic in the osteoarthritis field. meeting and present my work to had presented. Living in your PhD technical knowledge would have evaluated different way of delivery helping fund my attendance at this The take away message was that such a diverse group of experts. bubble, it can be easy to loose site of been possible if not for the Junior antisense oligonucleotides, meeting. the microbiota can be harnessed what you are doing and why you are Scientist Travel Grant award of the targeting the known Type 1 Usher for therapeutic and biomarker doing it. You leave the conference Genetics Society. I thank you for syndrome mutation, and they could ready to crack on, feeling inspired, your support in attending the DGRC. rescue the phenotype in mice.

28 . GENETICS SOCIETY NEWS . ISSUE 77 www.genetics.org.uk . 29 TRAVEL GRANTS FOR JUNIOR SCIENTISTS TRAVEL GRANTS FOR JUNIOR SCIENTISTS 30 31

Keystone Symposia on American Society Nearly eight- The 50th Population for Human thousand people Genetics Group Genomic Instability and Genetics meeting were present in the annual meeting of Amy Lee Slender . Flinders University, Australia Dulce Lima Cunha DNA repair University of Huddersfield the American Society s a PhD student in my final to both ecological differences of Human Genetics Dalia Tarantino . King’s College London Ayear, I was thrilled to give across the landscape (e.g. early eight-thousand people (ASHG) held in a talk at the 50th popgroup vegetation type) and behavioural Nwere present in the annual meeting held at Churchill College, differences (e.g. competiveness) Our discussions have provided me with new meeting of the American Society Vancouver in the past Cambridge University. This was between subspecies. of Human Genetics (ASHG) held my first time presenting my insights into the future directions of my project, in Vancouver in the past month month of October. Talks and posters included research outside of Australia, both empirical and theoretical and into how our two laboratories could of October. Considered to be one which was particularly important of the biggest Human Genetics with iPS cell-derived melanocytes. research with a diverse range of collaborate in the future. for me because the subject of topics such as the evolution of meetings worldwide, it included ARCI itself is a rare inherited my research is an endemic researchers, clinicians, genetic skin disorder with a very broad heterogametic sexes, evidence Australian bird. There is a of inbreeding depression, the he Keystone Symposia on the conference broadened my counsellors and others from all range of clinical features and paucity of evolutionary research Genomic Instability and DNA understanding of additional emerging over the world. genetic causes. Hence, establishing evolution of the gut microbiome T on southern hemisphere birds, related to changes in diet, genes repair gathered worldwide experts to roles for these proteins. For example, As a first-time attendee at the clear phenotype/genotype which may be effected by different discuss fundamental and cutting-edge I learnt that FANCD2 facilitates correlations, understanding disease related to sociality, and the ASHG, I was very enthusiastic to evolutionary processes compared peopling of the Americas. DNA replication and repair biology, at DNA replication through Common participate and present a poster mechanisms, as well as finding to northern hemisphere birds, so an unparalleled level of depth. With Fragile Sites (a known source of there, albeit feeling at times more suitable treatments for the it was great to be able to introduce There were a few stand out talks regards to my project, I have greatly Genomic Instability in Cancer) via slightly overwhelmed with its patients are very necessary. the Thick-billed Grasswren and that were closely related to my benefited from the talks involving the recruitment of POLH. The latter magnitude. It consisted of five very Of particular interest for me were talk about patterns affecting gene own work. Adam Eyre-Walker the roles of Fanconi Anemia proteins can bypass secondary DNA structures intense days, each starting with the sessions focused on Mendelian flow between two subspecies. showed there was little evidence (i.e. FANCD2) in conjunction with forming at these sites (DNA-RNA for 1) mito-nuclear co-adaptation invited workshops in the early disorders and stem cell-based My talk was entitled Barriers to Translesion Synthesis polymerases hybrids), thus preventing replication morning followed by Concurrent model systems, as well as gene and 2) mito-nuclear discordance (i.e. Pol eta, POLH) in DNA replication stalling. arid zone gene flow create genetic causing deleterious effects in Platform and Invited sessions (a discovery and regulation. However, divergence in parapatric subspecies. and replication stress. A PhD student from Pennsylvania total of 89 sessions combining more there were talks of all sorts of hybrids. Hannes Svardal talked This study investigates patterns about a method for calculating I am currently investigating the State University College of Medicine than 320 oral presentations) in genetic-related fields: from more related to the maintenance of DNA repair pathways causing has discussed the role of POLH the mornings and afternoons and technical talks presenting new reticulation scores, which are a hybrid zone between two arid helpful for estimating time since synthetic sensitivity upon HORMAD1 in alleviating replication stress Poster sessions during lunch time. tools and methods for better NGS zone subspecies. Historically, expression, a gene recently shown at common fragile sites in a Rad- In the evenings there were mainly analysis, to presentations on more hybridization following secondary animal hybrid zones were not contact. by our group to induce genomic 18 independent manner, thus social events, like the Opening “trendy” topics such as genome recognized as significant entities instability in breast cancer cells independently from the canonical Reception and the ASHG Reception editing and the ethical implications involved in speciation. Nowadays, There were many different via inhibition of homologous translesion synthesis pathway. on Career paths in Genetics. involved, and also talks on cases that document animal perspectives of evolution and recombination. Depletion of POLH or Our discussions have provided me I presented a poster on novel advances on the genetic basis and hybrid zones are becoming ecology represented at this other Fanconi Anemia proteins causes with new insights into the future mutations detected in Saudi mechanisms of several human more common and could be of popgroup meeting. Exposure high levels of synthetic sensitivity directions of my project, and into how Arabian and Pakistani individuals diseases, just to name a few. particular importance in harsh to this research was a great upon HORMAD1 expression, therefore our two laboratories could collaborate affected with different forms of I am grateful for the opportunity to environments where high genetic opportunity for me to develop I am investigating the biological in the future. Moreover, I have autosomal recessive congenital attend the ASHG meeting, which diversity may increase species new ideas and expand my own mechanism underlying these established personal contacts with ichthyosis (ARCI), as part of my allowed me to acquire valuable persistence. My results show that research. Thank you to the sensitivities. group leaders from the Danish Cancer PhD project on developing iPSC- insights for my scientific work and the parapatric subspecies, which Genetics Society for providing As well as consolidating my Society Research Centre (Copenhagen, based cellular ARCI models to improve my technical, professional we predicted would interbreed, the opportunity to attend the 50th knowledge of the canonical pathways Denmark) and from Weill Cornell study the disease and test future and social skills. I would like to only had a small amount of gene Population Genetics Group. in which these proteins are involved Medical College (New York, USA) who therapies, and was second author thank once more the Genetics flow between them. Barriers and (i.e. Translesion Synthesis in the might represent valuable connections of a poster on the generation of Society for awarding me a Junior patterns of gene flow were related context of normal DNA replication), for my future career. pigmented skin models made Scientist travel grant.

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the field samples to be used for this zoo measuring their Immunoglobulin With help from the Genetics Society, The evolution of host work. Whilst it was not possible to A (IgA) levels as an indicator of stress. I am now able to return to the conduct additional sampling this I was taught how to optimize ELISAs University of Exeter fully trained year, the grant enabled me to travel to for a range of sample types and target in ELISA techniques as well as a Chicago and gain an understanding molecules. thorough knowledge of the fieldwork resistance mechanisms in of the field methods used to sample involved for this experiment and I ran IgA assays on sheep and house finches and allowed me to work chimpanzee fecal samples in order to techniques applicable to other wild with Dr. Staley to optimize and run familiarize myself with the process avian systems. Moreover, it enabled North American house finches total bird IgY and MG-specific ELISAs before discussing in depth the steps me to experience working in a zoo at the endocrinology department of necessary to optimize assays for setting and the caveats of designing Brookfield zoo. passerine species. Additionally, assays for different vertebrate species. to mycoplasmal conjunctivitis During my stay I enjoyed an Dr Staley also taught me the best I would like to thank the Genetics unforgettable experience in learning practice for maintaining feeders Society for making this field and techniques essential to my own in order to trap birds for study and lab work possible, Dr Molly Staley Daisy Gates . University of Exeter research. In order to practice with how best to standardize the way we for the training in my lab skills, my ELISA and learn about the breadth diagnose the severity of mycoplasmal supervisors Dr Camille Bonneaud and of its application, I observed Dr conjunctivitis with morphometric Dr Mario Recker for their support and Staley collecting fecal samples scaling to avoid the subjectivity to all the staff at Brookfield zoo for Host populations can differ from bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops caused by previously used methods of being so accommodating. geographically and temporally in House finches suffer from a conjunctivitis truncatus) as part of a project at the eye scoring. their ability respond to infection by and respiratory tract infection that a novel pathogen. The aim of our research is to explore the innate and is caused by the bacterial pathogen adaptive immune changes that occur following infection by an emerging Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG) infectious disease, as it moves from epizootic outbreak to an endemic state within a well characterised Some populations of house finches assays (ELISA) to examine the avian study system. have remained unexposed to the relationship between antibody Our study species is the wild infection in the Western United concentration, disease severity passerine, the North American house States (Arizona). This provides an and immune gene expression. By finch (Haemorhus mexicanus). House opportunity for researching the combining measures of immune gene finches suffer from a conjunctivitis reciprocal genetic changes that have expression and antibody production, and respiratory tract infection that occurred in MG and house finches we will obtain a unique picture of is caused by the bacterial pathogen as a result of exposure. We are the evolution of innate and adaptive Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG). utilising blood samples from birds responses to the novel pathogen. The MG jumped from domestic poultry originating from both disease naive data collected will also contribute to H.mexicanus in the mid-1990s. and disease exposed host populations to the production of a mathematical Following its emergence in the novel to investigate the evolutionary model that will be used to investigate finch population, MG caused massive changes in hosts over twenty years co-evolutionary changes in host declines in house finch abundance, post-outbreak. We take advantage of resistance and pathogen virulence largely through blindness-associated the fact that there remain disease- over time. predation or starvation. As a result, unexposed populations of house This project has been facilitated by host resistance spread rapidly from finches to test the immune processes funding from the Genetics Society, standing genetic variation within that have mediated the spread of as it has given me the opportunity only 12 years post exposure, but the resistance. to undertake essential training in precise immune mechanisms by In conjunction with comparative the US working alongside Dr Molly which this was achieved are yet to be experimental infection, we intend to Staley, who is an expert in the field fully elucidated. use enzyme linked immunosorbent and was instrumental in collecting A male North American house finch.

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The Genetics Society Training Grants are available to enable members to go Methodologies in statistical and on short training courses in the area of Genetics research. This newsletter, we have two reports from successful applicants on how they found their training course experiences. quantitative genetics applied to psychiatry

Lauren Chessum . MRC Harwell Institute

am a post-doctoral training valuable opportunity. Importantly, other internationally-renowned Clinical genomics and next I fellow studying the auditory the results gained from these auditory groups on-site at the system & the genetic basis of experiments in the Hertzano lab Maryland BioPark, participating hearing loss using mouse models. will be incorporated into my first- in group lab meetings & generation sequencing In February 2017, I undertook a author manuscript, which are presenting my own research to short training placement in Dr hoping to submit for publication the larger team. This not only Ronna Hertzano’s laboratory at within the next few months, enabled me to discuss ideas & Dr. Harsh Sheth . Newcastle University the University of Maryland School highlighting the importance & receive feedback on my work, of Medicine (USA). Dr Hertzano is timely nature of this lab visit. but it also helped me to build he clinical genomics and next and Prof. Andrew Read on the sequencing technologies of the leading clinician-scientist in the In the future, I hope to share this my research network & further Tgeneration sequencing course combinations of genotype-phenotype future. On the penultimate day, auditory field, with an established specialist inner ear gene delivery strengthen our collaborative is one of the most popular courses correlations and methods of classical students were asked to present a & successful research group technique with my colleagues at relationships with the teams at organised by the European Society gene identification. Dr. Alexander poster on the topic they are currently based in the university’s BioPark the MRC Harwell Institute. This the University of Maryland. of Human Genetics. This is the 30th Hoischen, Prof. Evan Eichler and working on. facility. will enable us to further study Overall, this training placement year of the course, which delivers a Dr. John Tyson’s talk on novel My poster titled “Identification of During my visit, I was trained genes of interest & enhance our was a wonderful opportunity combination of lectures, workshops applications of NGS and future mismatch repair deficient tumours in carrying out posterior canal knowledge of the pathways & that will ultimately enable me and interactive sessions in the field NGS technologies. Prof. Sir John using molecular inversion probe injections for viral-mediated gene mechanisms underlying hearing to enhance my research into the of genomics and transcriptomics. Burn’s talk on cancer diagnosis and based sequencing assay of short delivery into the mouse inner ear. loss. The experience gained genes & mechanisms involved in The course is aimed at senior results of his latest CAPP2 trial on mononucleotide repeats” was This consisted of initial from my laboratory visit may hearing loss. I am very grateful to PhD students, postdocs, clinical chemoprevention of colorectal cancer awarded first prize for the best demonstrations of the technique, also help our team to assess & the Genetics Society for awarding laboratory scientists, medics and using aspirin. poster and platform presentation. followed by a comprehensive undertake targeted gene therapy me a Training Grant to support clinical geneticists. Prof. Nicholas Katsanis’s talk on Overall, the course was a perfect programme of supervised & experiments in our mouse models, my visit. The main focus of the course was oligogenic diseases and functional blend of hands-on workshops with independent practice. Currently, as a potential strategy to treat introduce and acclimatise us to these analysis of novel disease variants high quality lectures providing only a small number of labs in hearing loss. latest developments and gain insight using zebrafish models. plenty of opportunities for gaining the auditory field have experience In addition to working closely into analysing large data. Topics for The afternoon workshops comprised in-depth knowledge on the latest in this pioneering gene delivery with members of the Hertzano the morning lectures ranged from- of lively debates on the ethics of developments and applications of protocol, so this was an extremely lab, I also interacted with two principles and concepts of Mendelian non-invasive prenatal testing; NGS technology. genetics, application of sequencing hands on experience at carrying Lastly, I would like to thank the in Mendelian disorder diagnosis, out bioinformatics analysis of Genetics Society for awarding me In addition to working closely with members of the Hertzano lab, therapy and prenatal diagnosis in whole genome and exome sequence the training grant and I would like the NGS era, complex mechanisms data from patients with autosomal to thank the organisers for putting I also interacted with two other internationally-renowned auditory of disease, novel applications of NGS dominant, autosomal recessive and together this wonderful course. and large scale NGS projects. cancer and; interactive discussions groups on-site at the Maryland BioPark, participating in group lab Some of the highlights included on the topics ranging from how talks from Prof. Han Brunner to set up a sequencing lab to the meetings & presenting my own research to the larger team.

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The Genetics Society Summer Studentships, sponsored by Genes and P<0.01 in both homozygous and heterozygous APP/PSEN1 mice. Development, are grants provided to support vacation research by Expression of genes in different undergraduate geneticists (usually in their penultimate year). This cell types within the brain were assessed using the Barres Brain newsletter, we have reports from two students, Lisa Yu and Sophie Ng. RNA-seq project, by focussing on genes expressed predominantly in neurons and microglia.

Genes identified were Hebp1, Thy1, Improving mouse models Atf4 and Lgmn. Genes previously studied in APP/PSEN1 mice Bdnf, Gfap, Cort, Faim2, Trem2 and of Alzheimer’s disease: Rab4a expression levels were also explored in the APPKI model. I designed new primers for some of Characterisation of Amyloid the genes not previously tested in my lab using Primer3-Blast to precursor protein knock-in identify specific primer sequences against the entire mouse genome. In parallel, to determine the (APPKI) mice protein level variations, I carried out western blots for GFAP and Recent evidence suggests that and transgenic insertion of APP Lisa Yu the PU. 1 transcription factor. the triggering receptor expressed and PSEN1 likely produce artefacts, Immunohistochemistry on brain on myeloid cells 2 (TREM2) is and that the disease initiates slices from mice using GFAP, IBA-1 associated with the immune system, differently in the APPKI mouse Background Traditionally transgenic mouse These mutations for this new and IGF-1 antibodies was also particularly microglial cells, model. However, gene expression models were often used in AD model were inserted in the original performed to visualise number and and inflammation that could be changes associated with microglia 850,000 people in the UK today suffer morphology of different cell types. from dementia of which Alzheimer’s research. Generally, these models mouse APP locus under the control triggered by the build-up of plaques and astrocytes at later stages of disease (AD) is the most common overexpress APP (Amyloid of the endogenous promoter, Result and tangles. In both mice models disease appear to be similar for both form. This disease manifests by Precursor Protein) and PSEN1 which bypasses the artificial Trem2 expression in the cortex is the APPKI and APP/PSEN1 mice. (Presenilin-1) genes with mutations overexpression of APP, and allows Brain-derived neurotrophic factor raised, particularly at advanced Further studies will be conducted to the progressive loss of cognitive (BDNF) has been previously found functions initially presenting that are associated with early-onset expression of humanized APP in the stages. characterise the APPKI model using disease. A microarray database was correct cells and at the correct time. to have neuroprotective properties. microarrays to identify the drivers with memory deficits, and Bdnf showed decreased expression Protein levels of the glial fibrillary towards later stages also affecting set up by the research group with acidic protein (GFAP) in the APPKI of pathology. The long-term goal is which I was working, where the AD Mouse model comparison in the 2-month old homozygous to work towards improved mouse motor functions. Pathologically, APP/PSEN1 mice in cortex and model is increased, consistent with AD is characterised by two gene expression of around 15,000 The project goal was to characterise that of the APP/PSEN1 mice. models of AD that better mimic the genes of 5 different transgenic the novel APPKI mouse model hippocampus at earliest stages. human pathology. cardinal lesions: amyloid plaques However, qRT-PCR results from the In addition, the PU.1, transcription extracellularly and neurofibrillary mouse lines was compared with at genetic, protein and tissue I like to thank Dr Frances Edwards age-matched wild-type mice. This levels, and evaluate against the 2-month old APPKI cortex showed factor expressed by microglia tangles formed of Tau (MAPT) no significant variation of this gene. was also shown to be elevated for giving me the opportunity to within neurons which leads to database is available freely at www. traditional APP/PSEN1 transgenic work in her lab. Dr Dervis Salih’s mouseac.org. mice characterised previously. Thy1 cell surface antigen appears in both APPKI and APP/PSEN1 neuronal death. mice. Morphological alterations in help and support throughout my However, very recently a new APP Quantitative RT-PCR (qRT-PCR) to be mostly expressed within placement. I am also very grateful There are currently no mouse was used to analyse gene expression neurons with increased levels in astrocytes were also observed. models that recapitulate both of “knock-in” (APPKI) mouse was to the Genetics Society who funded created by Takaomi Saido (RIKEN in the cortex of APPKI mice at 2- and 4-month old APP/PSEN1 Conclusion my project. these disease features, which has different stages of pathology. mice. My experiments with APPKI caused a devastating block in Institute, Japan), containing the Early gene expression changes Swedish, Iberian and the Arctic Genes were selected using the 2-month old cortex samples indicate pharmaceutical and translational Mouseac database with criteria a significant decrease in expression in neurons appear to be different studies, resulting in us having mutations found in families with between the APPKI and APP/PSEN1 early-onset AD. of gene expression decreased or returning to normal expression at 4 still no effective treatments. increased by more than 20% and months. mice suggesting that overexpression

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Examining the localisation of asymmetric cell to cell interactions

Sophie Ng

evelopment is a complicated core protein complex consists of However, it is not fully understood Dprocess. There are a number six proteins: strabismus, frizzled, how this protein signalling occurs. of different factors that can flamingo, diego, dishevelled and During my project clone boundaries cause misregulation of normal prickled, which forms a complex on were created on the wings of development to cause a variety of the apical side of the cell. drosophila melanogaster, a common different diseases, such as neural Flamingo, strabismus and frizzled model organism for studying planar tube closure and heart defects. are transmembrane proteins, cell polarity. Clone boundaries are Recently, planar cell polarity has while dishevelled, prickled and regions whereby the core protein been identified as important feature diego are cytoplasmic proteins. complex was forced into a certain of normal development. Planar cell The transmembrane proteins orientation. In addition I conducted polarity refers to the polarity within provide the majority of the stability chromosomal crossover to remove the apical side of the epithelial within the complex. Past studies components of the core complex. plane. Planar cell polarity is a key have demonstrated that flamingo The objective of this project was factor required for correct cell and frizzled are more stable than to see the relationship between migration. The polarisation allows flamingo and strabismus, and the removal of frizzled in the core the cells to know their orientation, the removal of flamingo loses the protein complex and its affect on in order for the cells to travel in the entire stability of the complex. the stability of strabismus, along photobleaching (FRAP) determined strabismus; there was no indication to Samantha Warrington for correct direction for convergent It is understood that the specific with the effect on the planar extension during gastrulation the stability of strabismus that the previously stable strabismus supervising me. I would also like position of the proteins within polarity of the wing. The effect within the clone boundaries. This protein changed to an unstable to thank the other members of - one of the essential stages for the complex help cells determine of strabismus as an inner core development. stability was quantified using protein state upon removal of the Strutt lab who made my time their orientation by understanding protein has not been studied in immunofluorescence to determine frizzled. Future experiments can memorable and enjoyable. My project focused on one of the which side will be proximal, distal, detail, unlike other members of the localisation of select proteins investigate the unexpected the result two different pathways for planar anterior and posterior. In addition, the core protein complex. Two The next application deadline for the (flamingo, frizzled and strabismus). of the relationship between frizzled Genes and Development Summer cell polarity, which is called the the components signal to each other techniques were used during my and strabismus and hopefully core protein complex pathway. This to help organise the protein complex. project. Fluorescent recovery after In conclusion, the N number School will be on the 31st of March (relating to the number of flies understand the role of strabismus in 2018. See the Grant Schemes section used) was too low, leading to the more depth within the core protein of the newsletter or the Genetics The objective of this project was to see the relationship between the results being inconclusive. But the complex. Society website for further details on data so far determined that the I would like to thank the Genetics eligibility. removal of frizzled in the core protein complex and its affect on the removal of frizzled from the core Society for funding this project planar protein complex causes a and enabling me to attend a highly stability of strabismus, along with the effect on the planar polarity high level of instability in the core enjoyable summer studentship of the wing. The effect of strabismus as an inner core protein has protein complex. Furthermore, workshop, as well as to Professor the removal of frizzled also caused David Strutt for providing me not been studied in detail, unlike other members of the core protein a reduction in the stability of with this project in his lab, and complex.

38 . GENETICS SOCIETY NEWS . ISSUE 77 www.genetics.org.uk . 39 41 GRANTS SCHEMES

To apply for any of our grant schemes, instructions and downloadable funding application forms are available from the drop down Funding tab on the Genetics Society website - www.genetics.org.uk

One-off Meeting Sponsorship

Purpose Sponsorship of genetic research meetings not organised by the Genetics Society.

The Genetics Society receives several requests from members each year to sponsor meetings in the field of genetics. These meetings are usually one-off meetings with an ad hoc organising committee and may be partly sponsored by another Society. The guidelines below indicate a review process for applications and the conditions that must be met for the award of Genetics Society sponsorship.

Review of applications 1) Members may make applications at any time visiting the following website: http://gensoc.fluidreview.com/ 2) The application will be circulated to the full committee for review. The review will cover suitability of the Submit to Heredity and receive an excellent authorship experience: Follow us on Twitter meeting for Genetics Society sponsorship and level of support requested. Submit to Heredity and receive an excellent authorship experience: Follow us on Twitter 3) The committee will be asked to respond within two weeks and the Society aims to respond to requests within @HeredityJournal • 2012 Impact Factor of 4.110* and ranked 25/136 Ecology, @HeredityJournal four weeks. • 13/472012 Impact Evolutionary Factor ofBiology 4.110 and* and 38/161 ranked Genetics25/136 Ecology & Heredity, 13/47 Evolutionary Biology and 38/161 Genetics & Heredity Conditions of sponsorship • Open Access option • Open Access option 4) Several levels of sponsorship are possible: (a) single lecture: £200 (b) session: £500-1000 • 25 days to Online Publication (c) major sponsor: £1500-2000. • 25 days to Online Publication • Scientific excellence for scientists and researchers 5) Genetics Society sponsorship must be mentioned in all pre-meeting publicity (e.g. posters, flyers, website) and • Scientific excellence for scientists and researchers in the meeting programme. If the Genetics Society is the major sponsor the meeting should be advertised as a • High exposure on nature.com to a global audience • High exposure on nature.com to a global audience “Genetics Society-sponsored meeting”. • Widely read by the global audience 6) Details of the programme of the meeting and registration forms should be sent as far in advance as possible • Widely read by the global audience • Inclusion in the Heredity Podcast which features interviews with people to [email protected], for inclusion in the Society’s newsletter and on the website. • behind the science and a digest of breaking news Inclusion in the Heredity Podcast which features interviews with people 7) A short report on a meeting that receives sponsorship of £1000 or more, for possible publication in the newsletter behind the science and a digest of breaking news and on the website, should be sent to [email protected] within one month of the conference taking place. 8) Genetics Society sponsorship may be used at the organiser’s discretion, but budget travel and accommodation The Genetics Society and NPG are also delighted to offer all Heredity The Genetics Society and NPG are also delighted to offer all Heredity options should normally be insisted upon. Any unused grant should be returned to the Genetics Society. authors free deposition into Dryad. The Society will not be responsible for any losses incurred by the meeting organisers. authors free deposition into Dryad. 9) An invoice for the grant awarded should be submitted to [email protected]. The grant may be claimed in advance of the meeting and no longer than one month after the meeting. Submit online: nature.com/hdy 10) The meeting organisers agree to make details of how to apply for Genetics Society membership available to non- Submit online: nature.com/hdy members attending the sponsored meeting. Meetings that receive maximum sponsorship will be expected to offer a discounted registration fee to Genetics Society members to encourage non-members to join the Society at *2012 Journal Citation Reports® (Thomson Reuters, 2013.) the same time. New members may then attend at the discounted rate, once confirmation of their application for *2012 Journal Citation Reports® (Thomson Reuters, 2013.) membership of the Genetics Society has been received from the Society’s Office.

www.genetics.org.uk . 41

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New Sectional Interest Groups New Sectional Interest Groups (continued)

Purpose 8) If the meeting is advertised on the Internet a link to the Genetics Society website (www.genetics.org.uk) Regular sponsorship of genetic research meetings on particular themes. should be included. Regular (e.g. annual) funding is available for genetics research communities who wish to run regular series of 9) For those groupings holding their first such meeting with Genetics Society support, it is understood that meetings. Current examples include Arabidopsis, the Population Genetics Group and the Zebrafish Forum. the Society’s support for future meetings of the series will be decided on the basis of the success of the first meeting, including adherence to all of the conditions listed above. The first meeting is hence supported on a Members may make applications for new Sectional Interest Groups at any time. Applications should be submitted pilot basis only. on the GS Funding Application Form and emailed to [email protected] using message subject ‘New Sectional 10) The meeting organizers will nominate a responsible person who will liaise with the Genetics Society on all Interest Group’ and your surname. The award of Genetics Society support will be subject to review of applications by matters relating to the meeting, and whose contact details will be supplied to the Society’s Office. This person the committee and subject to the following conditions. will inform the Society if he/she resigns or passes on his/her responsibility for the meeting or series to another 1) The sponsorship of the Genetics Society must be mentioned in all pre-meeting publicity (e.g. posters, flyers, person, whose contact details shall also be supplied. website). It should also be acknowledged in the meeting programme booklet. It is understood that wherever possible, the meeting should be advertised as ‘A Genetics Society Meeting’, however, where the Society’s financial contribution support is only partial, and where this formula of words would conflict with the interests Junior Scientist Grants of other sponsors, it is acceptable for the meeting to be advertised as a ‘Genetics Society-Sponsored Meeting’. 2) Details of the programme of the meeting should be made available to all Genetics Society members via the Purpose Society’s newsletter, and electronic copy should be sent as far in advance as possible to the newsletter editor, at the latest by the advertised copy date for the newsletter preceding the close of registrations for the meeting. To support attendance at genetics research meetings by junior scientists. In this section, junior scientists are defined The same details will appear on the Genetics Society website. This information should include the programme of as graduate students and postdoctoral scientists within three years of their PhD viva. speakers, the topics to be covered, plus details of how to register for the meeting. 3) A report on the meeting, once it has taken place, should be submitted for publication in the newsletter, which Travel and accommodation to the Genetics Society meetings is the official record of the Society’s activities. This should be sent as soon as possible after the meeting to Grants up to £150 are available for travel and essential overnight accommodation costs to attend all Genetics Society [email protected], and should include brief factual information about it (where and when it took place, meetings, including the Genetics Society’s own bi-annual meetings and meetings of our Sectional Interest Groups. how many people attended and so on), together with a summary of the main scientific issues covered. The cheapest form of travel should be used if possible and student railcards used if travel is by train. Airfares will 4) Genetics Society funds may be used to support speaker travel, accommodation, publicity or any other direct only be funded under exceptional circumstances. meeting costs, at the organizers’ discretion. It is understood that budget travel and accommodation options will How to apply: For the Genetics Society’s own Spring and Autumn meetings, applications should be submitted online normally be insisted upon. Any unused funds should be returned to the Society. The Society will not be liable for (https://gensoc.myreviewroom.com) before the registration deadline of the meeting. any financial losses incurred by the meeting organizers. Any profits should be retained solely for the support of similar, future meetings, as approved by the Society. For meetings of our Sectional Interest Groups (e.g. Arabidopsis, Population Genetics Group, Zebrafish Forum), 5) A written invoice for the agreed amount of Genetics Society sponsorship should be forwarded to junior scientist travel claims should be submitted on the GS Funding Application Form at any time and emailed to [email protected], no later than one month after the meeting date. Funds may be claimed in advance of [email protected] using message subject “Travel to GS meeting” and your surname. the meeting, as soon as the amount of support has been notified in writing. There is no limit to the maximum frequency at which the grants can be awarded for attending the Genetics 6) Meeting organizers may levy a registration charge for attendance at the meeting as they see fit. However, it Society meetings. is understood that Genetics Society members will be offered a substantial discount, so as to encourage non- members wishing to attend to join the Society at the same time. The meeting organizers agree to make available Travel, accommodation and registration cost at other meetings to non-member registrants full details of how to apply for Genetics Society membership, such as appear on the website and in the newsletter, and may charge such persons the same registration fee as charged to members, Grants of up to £750 to attend conferences in the area of Genetics that are not Genetics Society meetings (including upon confirmation from the Society’s Office that their application and remittance or direct debit mandate for sectional meetings) are available to junior scientists. membership fees has been received. How to apply: Please visit the website https://gensoc.myreviewroom.com in time for one of the quarterly deadlines 7) The meeting organizers are free to apply to other organizations for sponsorship of the meeting, as they see fit. (1st day of February, May, August and November). The application must be accompanied by a supporting statement However, organizations whose policies or practices conflict with those of the Genetics Society should not be from the applicant’s supervisor or head of department, which must be uploaded via the online application form approached. In cases of doubt, the officers of the Genetics Society should be consulted for advice. before the deadline.

Other conditions: Recipients of these grants will be asked to write a short report that may be included in the newsletter. A maximum of one grant per individual per two years will be awarded.

42 . GENETICS SOCIETY NEWS . ISSUE 77 www.genetics.org.uk . 43 GRANT SCHEMES GRANT SCHEMES 44 45

Training Grants Genes and Development Summer Studentships

Purpose Purpose To support attendance at short training courses. To support vacation research by undergraduate geneticists.

Grants of up to £1,000 are available to enable members to go on short training courses in the area of Genetics Grants of up to £2,350 are available to provide financial support for undergraduate students interested in gaining research. Eligible expenses include travel, accommodation, subsistence and tuition fees. research experience in any area of genetics by carrying out a research project over the long vacation, usually prior to their final year. How to apply: Applications should be made online via the Genetics Society Grants application site. Deadlines are bi-monthly (1 February, 1 April, 1 June, 1 August, 1 October and 1 December). To apply please visit the website Applications must be made by Principal Investigators at Universities or Research Institutes. The application must be https://gensoc.myreviewroom.com. for a named student. Studentships will only be awarded to students who have yet to complete their first degree i.e. those who will still be undergraduates during the long vacation when the studentship is undertaken. There are no Closing date: awards will be announced within two months of the closing date. A maximum of one Training Grant restrictions concerning the nationality, and the student does not have to attend a UK university. per individual per three years will be awarded. How to apply: there is one closing date of 31st March each year. The student’s tutor or equivalent must also send a reference. Undergraduate students who wish to do vacation research projects are encouraged to seek a PI to sponsor them and to develop a project application with the sponsor. Both the PI and the student involved must be members of Heredity Fieldwork Grants the Genetics Society.

Purpose The studentship will consist of an award of £200 per week for up to 8 weeks to the student plus a grant of up to £750 To support field-based genetic research and training. to cover expenses incurred by the host laboratory. Both elements of cost must be justified. The award will be made to the host institution. Grants of up to £1,500 are available to cover the travel and accommodation costs associated with pursuing a field- based genetic research project or to visit another laboratory for training. The research field should be one from which A panel of members of the Genetics Society committee will review applications including both information on the results would typically be suitable for publication in the Society’s journal Heredity. The scheme is not intended to student and the proposed project. Feedback on unsuccessful applications will not be provided. cover the costs of salaries for those engaged in fieldwork or training, or to fund attendance at conferences. Other conditions: Recipients of these grants will be asked to write a short report within two months of completion of How to apply: Applications should be made online via the Genetics Society Grants application site. Deadlines are the project that may be included in the newsletter. bi-monthly (1 February, 1 April, 1 June, 1 August, 1 October and 1 December). To apply please visit the website https://gensoc.myreviewroom.com.

A panel of members of the Genetics Society committee will review applications including both information on the student and the proposed project. Feedback on unsuccessful applications will not be provided. Awards will be announced within two months of the closing date.

Other conditions: Only one application from any research group will be admissible in any one year. Recipients of these grants will be asked to write a short report within two months of completion of the project that may be included in the newsletter. A maximum of one grant per individual per three years will be awarded.

44 . GENETICS SOCIETY NEWS . ISSUE 77 www.genetics.org.uk . 45 GENERAL INFORMATION GENERAL INFORMATION 46 47

The Genetics Society Contacting the Genetics Society

The Genetics Society was founded­ in 1919 and is one of the world’s Members and potential members can If you are interested in joining first societies devoted to the study of the ­mechanisms of inheritance. the Society, if you are a current contact the Genetics Society membership member and have any queries team in the following ways: about your membership Aims at a Genetics Society Meeting by Specialist interests subscription, or if you would an internationally distinguished like to advise us of a change The Genetics Society was ­founded geneticist. Six specialist interest areas are By phone: of name, address or member in 1919 and is one of the world’s covered by ­elected Committee The Society also awards the Genetics 0203 793 7850 ship status, please contact the first societies ­devoted to the study Members: Gene Structure, Function membership team. of the mechanisms of inheritance. Society Medal, the Mary Lyon Medal, and Regulation; Genomics; Cell & Famous founder ­members included Balfour Lecture and JBS Haldane Developmental Genetics; Applied By email: William Bateson, JBS Haldane lecture on an annual basis. Winners and Quantitative Genetics; [email protected] If you are looking for an and AW Sutton. Membership is of the Genetics Society Medal and Evolutionary, Ecological and easy way to manage your open to anyone with an interest in Balfour lectures present their lecture Population Genetics; Corporate By post: membership payment and at a Genetics Society Meeting. genetical research or teaching, or Genetics and Biotechnology. The The Genetics Society, c/o The Royal Society of Biology, wish to set up an annual Direct in the practical breeding of plants International links Committee Members are ­responsible Charles Darwin House, 12 Roger Street, London, WC1N 2JU Debit, a simple form can be and ­animals. for ensuring that the various local downloaded from the Genetics The Society has many overseas and national ­meetings cover all Society website at http://bit. Meetings members and maintains links with organisms within the broad spectrum ly/2aLRlOF. Please complete The main annual event of the genetics societies in other ­countries of our members’ interests. The Genetics Society offers a wide range and return the original to Society is the Spring Meeting. This through the International Genetics the membership team by has at least one major symposium Federation, the Federation of of benefits to its members including: post at the address above. theme with invited speakers, and a European Genetics Societies and Postgraduate and full members number of contributed papers and/ through the International Union of • Access to generous grants paying by Direct Debit will or poster sessions. Microbiological Societies. receive a discount of £5 off their • Discounted rates for attendance at prestigious Genetics annual fee. One day mini-symposia are held Publications Society meetings during the year in ­different regions The Society publishes two so that members from different major international ­scientific • A biannual newsletter via post ­catchment areas and specialist journals: Heredity, concerned with • Free online access to the Society’s journal Heredity groups within the ­society can be ­cytogenetics, with ecological, informed about subjects of topical, evolutionary and ­bio-metrical local and specialist interest. Like genetics and also with plant and the spring ­symposia these include animal breeding; and Genes and Thank you for your support! papers both from local ­members Development, which is jointly and from invited speakers. One of owned with Cold Spring Harbor these meetings always takes place Laboratories and which is concerned in London in November. with ­molecular and ­developmental Medals and Lectures aspects of genetics. The Mendel Medal, named in honour A newsletter is sent out twice a year of the founder of modern genetics, to inform members about meetings, is usually given on alternative years symposia and other items of interest.

46 . GENETICS SOCIETY NEWS . ISSUE 77 www.genetics.org.uk . 47 Heredity has a new look: a new front cover every month!

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