2010 Genes & Behavior

描述(由申请者提供)：申请资助将在加利福尼亚州文图拉举行的第四届戈登基因和行为研究会议(2010年3月14-18日)和相关的戈登研究研讨会(3月13-14日)。从国立卫生研究院收到的资金将用于支持参与者的注册费和/或旅行支助，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：跨越生物模型(从无脊椎动物到人类)、实验背景(野外与实验室)、时间尺度(生理学与进化论)和分析水平(基因、大脑、生物行为、种群和生态)的整合。所有受邀的发言者和讨论负责人都是各自领域内备受推崇的专家，他们是由会议主席与代表上述各种利益的十几名经验丰富的科学家组成的咨询小组协商后挑选出来的。已经特别注意实现性别平衡，并包括来自不同学科的专家，这些专家必须具有代表性，以实现对基因对行为的影响的广泛了解。相关的戈登研究研讨会由研究生和博士后为研究生和博士后组织，由主要会议的高级参与者组成的核心成员提供指导，目的是培养和准备初级科学家，使他们能够更积极和有效地参与主要的GRC。联合会议和研讨会的具体目标可以概括为：1)为将基因与行为联系起来的最新研究提供一个论坛；2)将主要致力于模拟行为系统的研究人员与那些研究模型遗传系统中的行为的研究人员聚集在一起，这些研究人员被选来回答行为中的一般问题，而模型遗传系统中的行为研究是因为他们的遗传易操纵性；3)促进分子遗传和基因组技术从模型遗传系统向模型行为系统的转移；4)扩大在模型遗传有机体中提出的行为问题的范围；以及5)找出阻碍基因组学和行为生物学整合的知识差距和可加强这种整合的联系。代表人数不足的小组成员和初级同事(研究生、博士后助理和新的助理教授)将优先参加(参加会议)。 公共卫生相关性：后基因组时代的主要挑战之一是理解复杂特征的遗传基础，特别是行为。了解基因和行为之间的关系将是推动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。这次会议将通过将从事各种组织模型、人类种群和技术方法工作的专家和受训人员聚集在一起，促进在这方面的进展。

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.