Wednesday, April 30, 2025
4/30/2025
Genetic Recombination and Genome Rearrangements - Project Summary/Abstract This application seeks partial support for the Federation of American Societies of Experimental Biology (FASEB) Summer Research Conference (SRC) on Genetic Recombination and Genome Rearrangements, to be held July 14-19, 2024 in Tucson, Arizona. This will be the 20th in a series of highly successful biennial conferences de- voted to these topics. This conference brings together diverse investigators studying broad aspects of genetic recombination and genome rearrangements in a range of biological systems and using different experimental approaches. Presentations will describe cutting-edge unpublished work on timely questions in the field and will foster discussions among participants at all career stages. This conference will provide unique opportunities for the open exchange of data and technological innovations that can be assimilated and exploited across the entire field. Genetic recombination covers many areas directly relevant for understanding the biology of aging, cellular senescence, telomere maintenance, and the etiology of aging-related diseases. Homologous recombination is essential for maintaining genome stability and limiting genome rearrangements that can promote disease, and many recombination proteins act as suppressors of cancer and premature aging. Conversely, recombination mediates processes promoting disease, including complex genome rearrangements leading to cancer and neu- rological disorders, frequent crossing-over associated with premature aging, and alternative lengthening of telo- meres (ALT), which allows cells lacking telomerase to escape senescence. Recombination pathways repair dou- ble-strand DNA breaks and inter-strand crosslinks resulting from exposure to environmental stressors such as gamma-rays, ionizing irradiation, alkylating agents, and UV light. Hence understanding recombination is para- mount to understanding the biology of aging and aging-associated human disease, including the role of environ- mental exposure. The FASEB conference brings together investigators interested in genetic recombination from diverse disciplines, including biochemistry, biophysics, genetics, genomics, and cell biology. Key topics to be covered in 2024 include: (i) the molecular mechanisms of recombination, (ii) meiotic recombination, (iii) telomere dynamics, and the role of ALT in escaping senescence; (iv) complex genome rearrangements and their role in neurological diseases and cancer, (v) repair of replication-associated DNA lesions, (vi) the influence of chromatin structure on recombination, and (vii) DNA damage signaling. Special emphasis on these topics is reflected in our initial speaker invitations. In addition, about one-third of plenary session talks will be selected from abstracts with an emphasis on late-breaking advances from underrepresented and early-stage scientists. A number of innovations to the conference plan and program aim to further enhance participation, interaction, exchange and discussion among a diverse group of participants; and increase the exposure of younger scientists. In sum, the FASEB SRC on Genetic Recombination and Genome Rearrangements remains the most important conference on a topic of the high interest and importance to research on age-related diseases and the scientific community.
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