2010 Genes & Behavior

资金要求帮助支持第四届戈登基因和行为研究会议（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），都将在文图拉，加利福尼亚州举行。从NIH收到的资金将用于支持注册费和/或参与者的旅行支持，包括但不限于博士后和/或研究生。会议和研讨会将集中在动物行为，神经生物学，遗传学，分子生物学，生态学和进化生物学的界面上的主题，并将强调整合的主题：跨有机体模型（无脊椎动物到人类），实验环境（现场与实验室），时间尺度（生理学与进化）和分析水平（基因，大脑，有机体行为，种群和生态）的整合。所有受邀的演讲者和讨论领导人都是各自领域备受推崇的专家，他们是由会议主席与代表上述利益范围的十几位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，并包括来自不同学科的专家，这些专家必须有代表，以广泛了解基因对行为的影响。相关的戈登研究研讨会由研究生和博士后组织，由主要会议的高级参与者核心指导，目标是培养和准备初级科学家，使他们能够更积极有效地参与主要GRC。联合会议和研讨会的具体目标可以概括为：1）为最新的研究提供一个论坛，将基因与行为联系起来; 2）将主要研究模型行为系统的研究人员聚集在一起，回答行为中的一般问题，与那些在模型遗传系统中研究行为的研究人员聚集在一起，选择他们的遗传易处理性; 3）促进分子遗传学和基因组学技术从模型遗传系统向模型行为系统的转移; 4）扩大模型遗传生物中被问到的行为问题的范围;以及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加强这种整合的联系。优先（参加会议）将给予代表性不足的群体和初级同事（研究生，博士后助理和新的助理教授）的成员。 公共卫生相关性：后基因组时代的主要挑战之一是了解复杂性状的遗传基础，特别是行为。了解基因与行为之间的关系将是推进精神疾病预防和治疗的关键，也是阐明对人类健康至关重要的行为过程的关键，包括影响心脏病或药物滥用风险的生活方式决定。本次会议将通过汇集专家和学员，与各种生物模型，人类和技术方法一起工作，促进这一理解的进展。

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.