Please see recordings at our YouTube channel here.
Background
What is non-genetic inheritance?
Many phenotypes depend not only on germline DNA sequence, but also regulatory mechanisms present within germ cells, including what is known as the epigenome. Mounting evidence suggests that a whole germ cell approach, including epigenetic and other non-genetic factors, may be critical for a robust understanding of origins of many traits and pathologies considered heritable or innate.
Featuring leading researchers, this conference explored how non-genetic factors contribute to heritable pathology, and probes key questions for research and public health. We also addressed germline mutagenesis.
The conference is a collaborative of researchers across several disciplines, clinicians and research advocates. It features both invited speakers and talks selected from abstracts.
Program
See the full program here.
The 2020 sessions were as follows:
Session 1: Friday, October 9 Introduction; Mechanisms, Part 1 See abstracts
Session 2: Wednesday, October 21 Mechanisms, Part 2 See abstracts
Session 3: Friday, November 6 Short Talks See abstracts
Session 4: Friday, November 20 Heritable Impacts of Tobacco, Cannabis, and Related Products See abstracts
Session 5: Friday, December 4 Heritable Impacts of Endocrine Disrupting Compounds, and DES See abstracts
Session 6: Friday, December 11 Heritable Impacts of General Anesthesia See abstracts
Please see recordings at our YouTube channel here.
Themes
The conference focused on four primary factors involved in non-genetic intergenerational inheritance of pathology:
Toxicological or other stressor to male or female germline, from embryonic to pre-conception stages
Molecular perturbation of germ cells, involving transcription factors, histone modifications, DNA methylation, ncRNAs and/or other mechanisms, including de novo mutation
Transcriptional or other dysregulation in offspring development and function
Abnormal offspring phenotype (eg, autism, ADHD, asthma, obesity)
In some cases, transgenerational effects persisting beyond direct germline exposure were discussed.
The conference closed with three informal Holiday Hangouts with senior researchers.
Steering Committee
Patrick Allard, PhD, UCLA
Jordan Buck, PhD, University of Colorado
Mathia Colwell, PhD candidate, University of Minnesota
Jill Escher, MA, JD, Escher Fund for Autism (conference chair)
Isabelle Mansuy, PhD, University and ETH Zürich
Suzanne Robotti, DES Action and MedShadow Foundation
Rose Schrott, PhD candidate, Duke University
Matthew Smith-Raska, MD, PhD, Weill Cornell Medicine
Roxane Verdikt, PhD, UCLA
Wei Yan, MD, PhD, UCLA
