Non-genomic Mechanisms of Inheritance

Key Sessions

• Epidemiological evidence for epigenetic inheritance in humans : Behavior, metabolism, etc
• Cross- and trans-generational inheritance in animals : The effects of maternal care, stress, trauma, diet, cocaine, exposure to pesticides
• Transmission mechanisms in the germ line : Plausibility and evidence of germ line transfer of non-genomic marks across generations.
• Methodological challenges in epigenetic mapping across generations, mechanisms and computational aspects
• Epigenetic inheritance and evolution : Lessons and considerations from plants, fruit flies and Neanderthals

The conference will focus on the emerging issue of cross and trans-generational inheritance of traits acquired by experience, a major mode of transmission that seems to be working outside classical mechanisms of “natural selection” and Mendelian inheritance of genetic mutations.  Multiple examples from both, epidemiological studies in humans and a growing number of animal studies suggest that maternal care, trauma, stress, and diet as well as phytohormones, steroid hormones, pesticides and chemicals can influence behavioral and physiological phenotypes in future generations. Such inheritance has immense implications for the understanding of basic mechanisms of biology including evolution, particularly in human, medicine, psychiatry, public health, sociology, politics and ethics. Although the data is yet sparse and mechanisms are still poorly explained, it is high time to try and put in perspective the facts and hypotheses as well as the challenges that need to be addressed both at the methodological and theoretical levels. For this, it is essential to gather a wide spectrum of researchers from the different fields touched by this issue to “brain storm” on what is known and what is in question, to identify challenges and dissect possible novel approaches in biochemical and bioinformatics methods, and in the design of epidemiological, ethological and human studies.

It has been postulated that epigenetic processes are involved in the transfer of response to experience from one generation to the next. We will address the question of how epigenetic processes mediate the impact of experience in one generation, across one or multiple generations?  We will discuss both germ line and non-germ line modes of transmission and challenges for DNA methylation, microRNA and chromatin modifications as mechanisms of non-genomic inheritance. Our overall goal is to provide time for critically addressing the inherent difficulties in this extremely complex area as well as for “brain storming” innovative approaches to address these difficulties. 

Educational Objectives

The conference will address the folowing learning objectives:

• To learn about the major questions at stake in epigenetic inheritance.
• To Discuss the different models and methods of study
• To identify the primary challenges that remain unsolved.

Target Audience

The conference will feature a combination of presentations from leaders in the fields of epigenetics, bioinformatics, behavior and animal models, mental health and epidemiology together with poster and mini-symposium presentations from early career trainees and researchers, panel and informal critical discussions. 

Confirmed Invited Speakers

Minoo Rassoulzadegan  (University of Nice)

Vardhman Rakyan  (Blizard Institute, London)

Chris Pierce  (UPenn)

Steve Matthews  (University of Toronto)

Noora Kootaja  (University Turku, Finland)

Carmel Liran  (Hebrew University, Israel)

Yoav Soen  (Weizman Institute of Science, Rehovot)

Elisabeth Binder  (Max Planck Institute)