2004 & 2006 Meiosis Gordon Conference

描述（由申请人提供）：减数分裂戈登会议每两年在新罕布什尔州新伦敦的科尔比索耶学院举行一次。 2004年会议定于6月13日至18日举行。 2006年的会议尚未排定，但可能在6月初举行。 这些会议的重点是旨在了解减数分裂机制的研究，减数分裂是二倍体生物产生单倍体配子的专门细胞分裂过程。 减数分裂对于有性生殖生物体至关重要，因为减数分裂期间染色体的精确分配对于胚胎的正常发育和存活力至关重要。 不正确执行减数分裂程序可能导致染色体非整倍性，这是人类流产和出生缺陷的主要原因之一。 此外，作为减数分裂程序的组成部分的细胞过程，如遗传重组、姐妹染色单体凝聚和细胞周期检查点控制，对于维持体细胞中基因组的完整性也至关重要。 特别是，这些过程修复DNA损伤并防止可能导致癌症的染色体错误分离和重排事件。 因此，了解减数分裂和减数分裂染色体分离的控制是高度相关的努力，以确保人类胚胎的正常发育和预防肿瘤的发展。 减数分裂戈登会议为来自世界各地的140名科学家提供了一个聚会和讨论减数分裂领域最新发展的机会。 大多数与会者是学术研究机构的主要研究人员，但博士后研究员，研究生以及政府和工业实验室的成员也会参加。 特邀演讲者将涵盖模式生物以及人类减数分裂的各个方面。 一系列的方法将被提出，包括细胞学，遗传学，细胞生物学和生物化学。 全体会议将涵盖减数分裂DNA复制和减数分裂重组的启动;减数分裂重组的机制和调节;减数分裂前期的核重组，同源配对和突触;染色体凝聚，凝聚力和减数分裂染色体轴;减数分裂着丝粒和染色体分离;配子发生过程中减数分裂程序的进展;以及减数分裂的进化起源和进化功能。 海报会议和讲习班也将为科学讨论和交流思想提供机会。 下午将有自由时间进行非正式讨论。 戈登会议是仅有的两个定期举行的会议之一，专注于减数分裂。 另一次会议隔年在欧洲举行，参加的机会比较有限，特别是美国的科学家。 因此，减数分裂戈登会议提供了最重要的论坛，介绍和讨论关于有性生殖和维持基因组完整性的核心过程的新发现。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The Meiosis Gordon Conference is held bi-annually at Colby-Sawyer College in New London, New Hampshire. The 2004 meeting is scheduled for June 13-18. The 2006 meeting has yet to be scheduled but is likely to be held in early June. These conferences focus on research aimed at understanding the mechanisms of meiosis, the specialized cell division process by which diploid organisms generate haploid gametes. Meiosis is of central importance to sexually reproducing organisms, since precise partitioning of chromosomes during meiosis is critical for the normal development and viability of an embryo. Failure to execute the meiotic program correctly can lead to chromosomal aneuploidy, one of the leading causes of miscarriages and birth defects in humans. Further, cellular processes that are integral parts of the meiotic program, such as genetic recombination, sister chromatid cohesion, and cell-cycle checkpoint control, are also crucial for maintaining genome integrity in somatic cells. In particular, these processes repair DNA damage and prevent chromosome missegregation and rearrangement events that could otherwise lead to cancer. Thus, understanding the control of meiosis and meiotic chromosome segregation is highly relevant both for efforts to ensure normal development of human embryos and to forestall the development of neoplasia. The Meiosis Gordon Conference provides an opportunity for 140 scientists from throughout the world to meet and discuss the most recent developments in the meiosis field. Most attendees are principal investigators at academic research institutions, but postdoctoral fellows, graduate students, and members of government and industrial laboratories will also attend. Invited speakers will cover all aspects of meiosis in model organisms as well as in humans. A range of approaches will be presented including cytology, genetics, cell biology, and biochemistry. Plenary sessions will cover meiotic DNA replication and initiation of meiotic recombination; mechanisms and regulation of meiotic recombination; nuclear reorganization, homolog pairing, and synapsis during meiotic prophase; chromosome condensation, cohesion, and meiotic chromosome axes; meiotic centromeres and chromosome segregation; progression through the meiotic program during gametogenesis; as well as the evolutionary origins and evolutionary functions of meiosis. Poster sessions and workshops will also provide opportunities for scientific discussion and exchange of ideas. Free time will be provided during the afternoon to allow for informal discussions. The Meiosis Gordon Conference is one of only two regularly held meetings that concentrate on meiosis. The other meeting is held in alternate years in Europe and provides a more limited opportunity for participation, especially for scientists from the United States. The Meiosis Gordon Conference thus provides the most important forum for presenting and discussing new findings regarding a process that is central to sexual reproduction and to maintenance of genome integrity.