Issue 65.qxd:Genetic Society News 27/6/11 10:06 Page 1 JULYJULLYY 2011 | ISSUE 65 GENETICSGENNETICSS SOCIETYSOCIEETY NENEWSEWS In this issue The Genetics Society News is edited s Spring Meeting by David Hosken and items for futurfuturee s SponsoredSponsored Meetings Meetings issues can be sent to the editoreditor,, by email to [email protected]@exeter.ac.uk.exeter.ac.uk. s Summer Student and TravelTravel Reports The Newsletter is publishedblished twice a s 2012 AwardsAwards Announced Announced yearyear,, with copy dates of 1st June s Edinburghg 2012 and 26th NovemberNovember.. The 2012 Genetics SpringSprinng Meeting Supermodel Organisms: Chemical Genetics and Synthetic LifeLiffe See page 5 for registrationregistratiion information Issue 65.qxd:Genetic Society News 27/6/11 10:06 Page 2 A WORD FROM THE EDITOR A word from the editor Welcome to issue 65. interested, search for and read “Promiscuity is key to survival” As usual this issue is packed and then read the research full of interesting reports from underpinning it as one case in students, young researchers point. and we have meetings reports past and future! Thanks once Perhaps the quality of science again to all of those who kindly reporting is partly why non- contributed. As is usual in the scientists, and administrators Editorial, it’s time to wax in particular, think they should lyrical, and there are two and can direct research. This is themes I want to mention here, not new, but as public spending science journalism and cuts continue in the UK, calls to deciding who should determine direct research are becoming many headed shotgun approach the research to be funded by more vociferous, with because no one knows where the taxpayer, as in a way they bureaucrats rather than the next break through will be, are linked. scientists making funding PCR being a classic example. decisions. This is dangerous, Science journalism is especially when those making I guess the take-home message important. It not only conveys the calls have never done an is for all of us to be better messages to the public about experiment let alone run a advocates of science in the what science and scientists do, research programme and public domain and to ensure but it also helps provide hideously highlights a general that blue skies research justification for the ignorance about how science continues to be supported. We considerable public funding works, while also conveying an need to personally engage when that supports much research. appalling confusion of science we have time, support learned There are some fantastic and technology. I can only societies like the Genetics science journalists (or at least quote from a speech by the late, Society for their advocacy and some great vehicles that great Professor Bert Main communication of science, and accurately report science in the (University of Western encourage able students to media), but on the whole, the Australia) in a speech to consider employment in the quality of reporting is graduandes in 1987 "… we live media. We must also ensure disappointing. Even the most in a world ruled by accountants that funders find the right fundamental aspects of science and tally-keepers, for whom balance between accountability are apparently misunderstood form-filling is the peak of and free scientific enquiry so and inaccurately reported - intellectual endeavour. Such that science does not fall to the scientists “prove” something or ciphers have no knowledge of tally-keepers. other being a classic headline history, nor any concept of how Best wishes example (as every good long it may be before pieces of David Hosken undergraduate knows science information fall into place. It cannot prove, it can only will need good presentation and disprove). But even worse is outstanding advocacy to the trivialisation of research convince them that inquiry in programmes and some of the the form of research must go more bizarre reporting of on.". And directed research research findings that are cannot be taken as a guarantee found in the media - if you are to solve anything. It needs the 2 . GENETICS SOCIETY NEWS . ISSUE 65 Issue 65.qxd:Genetic Society News 27/6/11 10:07 Page 3 Issue 65 . July 2011 For more details please contact: NEWS . FEATURES . REPORTS . LISTINGS The Genetics Society . Roslin BioCentre Wallace Building . Roslin . Midlothian . EH25 9PP Tel: 0131 200 6391 . Fax: 0131 200 6394 Email: [email protected] Website: www.genetics.org.uk CONTENTS The Genetics Society Journals Heredity (www.nature.com/hdy) Managing Editor: Professor Roger Butlin Heredity Editorial Office, The University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield, S10 2TN Genes and Development (www.genesdev.org) Editor: T. Grodzicker, Genes & Development, Cold Spring Harbor REGULARS Laboratory Press, 500 Sunnyside Boulevard, Woodbury, New York, 11797, USA Meeting Announcements 4 - 7 President Prof. Veronica van Heyningen, MRC Human Genetics Unit, Edinburgh Epigenetics Supermodel Organisms President Elect Prof. Enrico Coen, John Innes Centre, Norwich Quantitative Genetics External meetings Diary Vice-Presidents Dr. Chris Smith, University of Cambridge Sectional Interest Groups 8 Prof. John Brookfield, University of Nottingham Prof. Ian Jackson, MRC Human Genetics Unit, Edinburgh Genetics Society Business 9 - 19 Honorary Secretary Honorary Secretary Notices Prof. Patricia E Kuwabara, University of Bristol Life Membership Honorary Treasurer Lecture and Medal nominations Prof. Josephine Pemberton, University of Edinburgh ResearchGATE Honorary Treasurer Elect Local Representatives Dr. Hiro Ohkura, University of Edinburgh Postgraduate Representative Scientific Meetings Secretary 2012 Society Award Winners Prof. Dirk-Jan de Koning, Swedish University of Agricultural 4th International Conference on Sciences, Uppsala Quantitative Genetics Newsletter Editor Prof. David Hosken, University of Exeter Genetics Society Meeting Reports 20 - 24 Postgraduate Representative Transposable Elements: Are they Lynne Harris, University of Edinburgh good for you after all? Ordinary Committee Members Genetics Society Sponsored Events 26 - 35 Dr. Rebecca Oakey, King’s College London Dr. Anne Donaldson, University of Aberdeen Gene Jury Pupil Conference Prof. Chris Ponting, University of Oxford 21st Mammalian Genetics and Dr. Jane Rogers, The Genome Analysis Centre, Norwich Development Workshop Prof. Julian Lewis, CRUK London Laboratories Dr. Ian Henderson, University of Cambridge 10th UK Archea Genetics Dr. Jon Slate, University of Sheffield London Fly Meetings Prof. Gilean McVean, University of Oxford London Area Worms Prof. Adam Eyre-Walker, University of Sussex Dr. Tom Weaver, MRC Mary Lyon Centre, Harwell British Meiosis Group Dr. Matthew Hurles, The Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute Prof. John Whittaker, GlaxoSmithKline, Harlow Features 36 - 39 Prof. Josephine Pemberton, University of Edinburgh Heredity podcasts Design and Print The life of Sir Kenneth Mather Round & Red Creative . 15 Poole Road A taxi driver writes Woking . Surrey . GU21 6BB Get Involved Tel: 01483 596 226 . www.roundandred.com Student Travel Reports 40 - 47 ALS/MND 2010 Analysis of Complex Traits The Genetics Society News is printed on FSC approved paper. General Microbiology 2011 Stem Cells, Cancer, Metastasis NeuroScience 2010 Functional Genomics 2010 Studentship Reports 48 - 53 Drosophila Vasa Advertising in Genetics Society News represents an Breast cancer radiotherapy opportunity to reach a large community of professional YAPI and tumours geneticists. For rates please email [email protected] www.genetics.org.uk . 3 Issue 65.qxd:Genetic Society News 27/6/11 10:07 Page 4 2011 Autumnn Meeting PhenotypePhenottype and the flexibleflexible genome:genoome: theh rolerolel of f epigenetic e i i processes processes ini development ddevelopm l ment and d human h diseasedi Friday 11th NovemberNovvember 2011. The RoyalRooyal Society,Societyy,, London Epigenetics refersrefers to the e study of heritable SpeakersSppeakers changes in genome functionfunnction that occur ProfessorPrrofessor Azim Surani Dr AndrewAndrew Ward Ward without a change in primaryprimary DNA sequence. UniversityUnniversity of Cambridge University of Bath Epigenetics is emerging as a critical areaarea ProfessorPrrofessor Emma Whitelaw Dr Dietmar Spengler off modernmoder d n research researchh and d there ththere haveh been b QueenslandQQuueenslandl d InstituteI tit t of f MedicalM di l MaxM PlanckPl k InstituteI tit t of f PsychiatryP hi t rapid advances in our understandingunderstanding of the ResearchReesearch ProfessorProfessor Barry Keverne Keverne functional consequencesconsequencees of alterations in Drr Miriam Hemberger Cambridge University epigenetic gene regulationregulattion and the response response TheThhe Babraham Institute ProfessorProfessor Andrew Andrew Feinberg Feinberg of epigenetic marks to environmentaleenvironmental cues. ProfessorPrrofessor Alan Clarke Johns Hopkins UniversityUniversitty School of ToTo address address these exciting exciting new discoveries, CardiffCaardiff University Medicine we areare hosting a one day daay meeting that will focus specifically onn the phenotypic ScientificSccientific Organisers consequences of alterationsalterattions in epigenetic RosalindRoosalind John and gene regulationregulation in mammals. mammmals. AnthonyAnnthony Isles for registration,registrattion, visit www.genetics.org.ukwww.genetiics.org.uk Issue 65.qxd:Genetic Society News 27/6/11 10:07 Page 5 2012 Spring Meeting SupermodelSupeermoddel OrganismsOrrganismms ChemicalCh