2010 Genes & Behavior

描述（由申请人提供）：要求资金帮助支持第四届戈登基因与行为研究会议（2010年3月14日至18日）和相关的戈登研究研讨会（3月13日至14日），这两场会议都将在加州文图拉举行。从NIH收到的资金将用于支持参与者的注册费和/或旅行支持，包括但不限于博士后和/或研究生。会议和研讨会将重点关注动物行为学、神经生物学、遗传学、分子生物学、生态学和进化生物学的交叉领域，并将强调整合的主题：跨生物模型（无脊椎动物到人类）、实验背景（野外与实验室）、时间尺度（生理学与进化）和分析水平（基因、大脑、生物行为、种群和生态学）的整合。所有受邀的演讲者和讨论领导都是各自领域备受尊敬的专家，他们是由会议主席与代表上述利益范围的十几名经验丰富的科学家组成的咨询小组协商后选出的。特别注意实现性别平衡，并邀请来自不同学科的专家参加，以便对基因对行为的影响有广泛的了解。相关的戈登研究研讨会由研究生和博士后组织，并由主要会议的资深核心参与者指导，目的是培养和准备年轻科学家，使他们能够更积极有效地参与主要的GRC。会议与研讨会的具体目标可以概括为：1)为基因与行为联系的最新研究提供一个论坛；2)将主要研究模式行为系统的研究人员聚集在一起，这些研究人员被选中回答行为中的一般问题，而那些研究模式遗传系统的研究人员被选中是因为他们的遗传可追溯性；3)促进分子遗传学和基因组学技术从模式遗传系统向模式行为系统的转移；4)扩大在模式遗传生物中被问到的行为问题的范围；5)确定阻碍基因组学和行为生物学整合的知识差距以及可以促进这种整合的联系。优先考虑（参加会议）代表性不足的群体成员和初级同事（研究生，博士后助理和新助理教授）。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Funds are requested to help support the Fourth Gordon Research Conference on Genes and Behavior (March 14-18, 2010) and the associated Gordon Research Seminar (March 13-14), both to be held at Ventura, CA. Funds received from NIH would be used to support registration fee and/or travel support for participants, including but not limited to post docs and/or graduate students. The Conference and Seminar will focus on topics at the interface of animal behavior, neurobiology, genetics, molecular biology, ecology and evolutionary biology and will emphasize the theme of integration: integration across organismal models (invertebrates to humans), experimental contexts (field vs laboratory), timescales (physiology vs evolution), and levels of analysis (gene, brain, organismal behavior, populations and ecologies). All of the invited speakers and discussion leaders are highly regarded experts in their fields, and they were selected by the Conference Chair in consultation with an advisory group of a dozen experienced scientists representing the range of interests above. Special attention has been given to achieving gender balance and to include experts from the diverse disciplines that must be represented to achieve a broadly based understanding of the influences of genes on behavior. The associated Gordon Research Seminar is being organized by and for graduate students and postdocs, with mentorship from a core of senior participants in the main Conference, with the goal of nurturing and preparing junior scientists so they can participate more actively and effectively in the main GRC. The specific objectives of the combined conference and seminar may be summarized: 1) To provide a forum for the latest research linking genes to behavior; 2) To bring together researchers working primarily on model behavioral systems, chosen to answer general questions in behavior, with those working on behavior in model genetic systems, chosen for their genetic tractability; 3) To promote transfer of molecular genetic and genomic techniques from model genetic systems to model behavioral systems; 4) To expand the range of behavioral questions being asked in model genetic organisms; and 5) To identify both gaps in knowledge that hinder the integration of genomics and behavioral biology and links that could enhance this integration. Preference (for attending the conference) will be given to members of under-represented groups and junior colleagues (graduate students, postdoctoral associates, and new assistant professors). PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: One of the major challenges of the post-genomic era is to understand the genetic basis of complex traits, especially behavior. Understanding the relationships between genes and behavior will be key for advancing in the prevention and treatment of mental illnesses and for illuminating behavioral processes important to human health, including life-style decisions affecting the risk of heart disease or substance abuse. This conference will promote progress towards this understanding by bringing together both experts and trainees working with a variety of organismal models, human populations and technical approaches.