GENETICS SOCIETY NEWS - JANUARY 2015 | ISSUE 72
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JANUARY 2015 | ISSUE 72
GENETICS SOCIETY NEWS
In this issue The Genetics Society News is edited by
Manuela Marescotti and items for future
• Medal awarded
issues can be sent to the editor, by email
• Meetings to m.marescotti@brainwave-discovery.
• Student and Travel Reports com. The Newsletter is published twice a
year, with copy dates of July and January.
Cover image from the Genetics Society forthcoming Spring Meeting
Breeding for Bacon, Beer and Biofuels.
A WORD FROM THE EDITOR
A word from the editor
Welcome to issue 72. is included in this newsletter.
The speakers invited to this
Welcome to a new issue of the conference have granted
Genetics Society newsletter! In interviews about their research to
the following pages, you will the Naked Genetics podcaster Kat
find interesting articles and the Arney. You will find all of them
most recent news from the world in the Naked Genetics December
of genetics. This newsletter is a http://www.thenakedscientists.
platform where Genetics Society com/HTML/podcasts/genetics/
members can really see how show/20141214/. The interview
much this society supports them granted by Dr Elizabeth
in advancing in their studies Murchison has also been reported
and their growth as scientists. in this newsletter. Dr. Murchison
In fact, the Genetics Society has been awarded the Genetics
has grant schemes allowing the Society 2014 Balfour prize lecture
successful applicants to take part that is given every year to a
in international conferences, successful young independent
workshops and training researcher with less than ten
experiences. Moreover, this society years postdoctoral experience.
organizes meetings to which Her research focuses on the rare
speakers from all over the world transmittable cancers that can
are invited, enabling them to be passed between individuals
show how their achievements are by the transfer of living cancer
contributing to the enhancement of cells. This type of cancer has been
the knowledge of genetics. identified in dogs and Tasmanian
devils. Please, look out for this
In November, the Autumn 2014 article in the newsletter.
Genetics Society Conference was
hosted by the Royal Society in Read on and enjoy.
London: an enthusiastic report Best wishes,
of the highlights of this event Manuela Marescotti
the Genetics Society has grant schemes allowing the successful
applicants to take part in international conferences, workshops
and training experiences.
2 . GENETICS SOCIETY NEWS . ISSUE 72
Issue 72 . January 2015
For more details please contact:
The Genetics Society
C/o-Portland Customer Services
Commerce Way
Colchester
CONTENTS
CO2 8HP
Switchboard: +44 (0)1206 796 351
Fax: +44 (0)1206 798 650
Email: theteam@genetics.org.uk Meeting Announcements 4-7
Web: www.genetics.org.uk
2015 Spring Meeting
The Genetics Society Journals 2015 Autumn Meeting
Heredity External Meetings Diary
www.nature.com/hdy
Managing Editor: Professor Michael Bruford Sectional Interest Groups 8
Heredity Editorial Office, Cardiff University, Cathays Park,
Cardiff, CF10 3AX , Wales Genetics Society Business 9 - 16
Genes and Development Genetics Society Meeting Report 24 - 25
www.genesdev.org Genetic Approaches to Study the
Editor: T. Grodzicker, Genes & Development, Cold Spring Neurobiology of Learning Memory
Harbor Laboratory Press, 500 Sunnyside Boulevard,
Woodbury, New York, 11797, USA Genetics Society Sponsored Events 26 - 32
President Travel Reports 43 - 52
Prof Enrico Coen, John Innes Centre, Norwich
VIth International Mycobacterium
President-elect bovis Conference
Prof Wendy Bickmore, University of Edinburgh SMBE 2014 Meeting
Vice-Presidents
Evolution Meeting 2014
Prof Malcolm Logan, King’s College London The Society for Research in Biological Rhythms 2014
Prof Rebecca Oakey, King’s College London Meeting
Prof Chris Smith, University of Cambridge The 10th International Conference and Workshop on
Honorary Secretary
Lobster Biology
Dr Tanya Whitfield, University of Sheffield 16th international conference on the cell and
molecular biology of Chlamydomonas
Honorary Treasurer Endocrine Society’s Annual Meeting and Expo
Prof. Anne Donaldson, University of Aberdeen
Canadian Conference on Epigenetics: Epigenetics,
Scientific Meetings Secretary Eh! 2014
Prof Dirk-Jan de Koning, Swedish University of Agricultural XVI International Congress on Molecular
Sciences, Uppsala
Plant-Microbe Interactions
Newsletter Editor The 5th European Society for Evolutionary
Dr Manuela Marescotti, The Brainwave-Discovery Ltd, Developmental Biology Conference
Edinburgh The 5th European Design of Experiment User
Postgraduate Representative Meeting
Dr Kay Boulton, University of Edinburgh 11th EMBL Conference: Transcription and
Chromatin
Ordinary Committee Members
Dr Ian Henderson, University of Cambridge
FEBS EMBO 2014 Conference
Prof Elizabeth Fisher, University College London
Heredity Fieldwork Grant Report 53 - 54
Prof Richard Flavell, London
Prof Mark Jobling, University of Leicester
Reproduction in plants
Mrs Dominique Kleyn, Bioindustry Association
Training Grants 55 - 60
Prof Judith Mank, University College London
Dr Jonathan Pettitt, University of Aberdeen
Evolutionary Biology
Prof Jane Rogers, The Genome Analysis Centre, Norwich Small/non-coding RNA
Prof Jon Slate, University of Sheffield Exome Sequencing
Dr Martin Taylor, University of Edinburgh
Prof Colum Walsh, University of Ulster Studentship Reports 61 - 62
Prof Eleftheria Zeggini, Wellcome Trust Genome Campus, Cambridge Transcribed ultra-conserved regions
5’ human specific L1 Ta-1d subfamily
Design and Print
Collaborate Agency
Immune signalling components in Arabidopsis
01372 274068 thaliana
www.collaborate.agency Role of Stc1 in RNA interference
Epistatic Y-linked Variation in Drosophila
Advertising in Genetics Society News Innate immunity and synaptic transmission
represents an opportunity to reach Impact of genetic variants in endometriosis
a large community of professional Kynurenine pathway and tryptophan metabolism
geneticists. For rates please email using C. elegans
mail@genetics.org.uk Queen succession in Polistes lanio
Embryonic stress and the maternal environment
Reduce age-related pathologies in Caenorhabditis
elegans
www.genetics.org.uk . 3
2015 Genetics Society Spring Meeting
Breeding for Bacon,
Beer and Biofuels
16 –17 April 2015. The Roslin Institute, Edinburgh
The growing world population demands a sustainable Speakers
intensification of agricultural production across the globe. Li-Hua Zhu, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
At the same time there is competition for land use and Thomas Lubberstedt, Iowa State University
we have to mitigate both the causes and consequences of Jennie Pryce, La Trobe University
climate change. This poses a range of challenges for plant Helen Sang, The Roslin Institute, University of Edinburgh
and animal breeders who have to select the genotypes Chris-Carolin Schön, Technische Universität München
that are best suited to future production circumstances Alison Bentley, The John Bingham Laboratory
which are uncertain. Graham Moore, John Innes Centre
At the same time, technological and methodological Catherine Howarth, University of Aberystwyth
advances provide breeders with a range of tools to John Hickey, The Roslin Institute, University of Edinburgh
accelerate genetic progress and enable ‘precision Anna Sonesson, Nofima
breeding’. This meeting will bring together scientists
Scientific Organisers
from different disciplines related to artificial selection and
Helen Sang, Roslin Institute, University of Edinburgh
highlight different aspects on how genetics continues
Alan Archibald, Roslin Institute, University of Edinburgh
to be a cornerstone of food production. The topics of
Ian Mackay, NIAB
the meeting will be across plant and animal species and
DJ de Koning, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
range from domestication of new species for agriculture
to genomic selection, genetic modification and novel
phenotyping approaches.
for registration, visit
www.genetics.org.uk
2015 Genetics Society Autumn Meeting
Building the brain:
from genes to circuits and cognition
19 – 20 November 2015, The Royal Society, London
The aim of this conference is to discuss current progress on the Speakers
genetics underlying the formation and function of the brain. In Pasko Rakic Yale, USA
contrast to other contemporary conferences, a comparative and hence Detlev Arendt EMBL, Germany
evolutionary perspective will be applied to review recent findings from Benny Hochner Hebrew University Jerusalem, Israel
major phyla of the animal kingdom to uncover conserved or divergent Corinne Houart King’s College London, UK
genetic mechanisms underlying the functional anatomy of the brain: Richard Benton University of Lausanne, Switzerland
from genes to circuits and cognition. The program of invited speakers Rui M Costa Champalimaud Center for the Unknown, Lisbon
comprises a balance of specialists using non-model as well as classical Gaia Tavosanis Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Bonn, Germany
invertebrate and vertebrate model organisms. Speakers have been Gerhart Schratt Marburg, Germany
chosen to cover the following areas: Sten Grillner Karolinska Institutet, Sweden
Patrick Callaerts VIB Laboratory of Behavorial and Developmental
Functional anatomy of the brain: Genetics and evolution: Genetics, Leuven
Evolutionary origin of the central nervous system and of brain Liliana Minichiello University of Oxford, UK
modules; comparative anatomy of the brain; cellular organisation Bruno Van Swinderen University of Queensland, Australia
and cell number control; neural circuit topology; identification and Birte Forstmann University of Amsterdam, Netherlands
visualization of circuits in action; experience-dependent structural Gene Robinson University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, USA
plasticity and circuit remodelling. Dianne Newbury Wellcome Trust Centre for Human Genetics, Oxford
Martin Heisenberg University of Wuerzburg, Germany
Genetics of behaviour and cognition: Genes, cell lineages and
the emergence of innate circuits and behaviors; adaptive motor Scientific Organisers
behaviour; aggression and social behaviour; attention and decision Alicia Hidalgo University of Birmingham, UK
making; genetics of language; learning and memory. Frank Hirth King’s College London, UK
for registration, visit
www.genetics.org.uk
EXTERNAL MEETINGS DIARY 6
We will happily include any announcements for genetics-based
meetings in this section. Please send any items to the editor.
Genomics Medicine for Clinicians The Challenge of Chronic Pain
28-30 January 2015 11-13 March 2015
Wellcome Trust Genome Campus, Hinxton, UK Wellcome Trust Genome Campus, Hinxton, UK
https://registration.hinxton.wellcome.ac.uk/ https://registration.hinxton.wellcome.ac.uk/
display_info.asp?id=458 display_info.asp?id=451
Biomarkers for Brain Disorders: Proteomic Forum 2015
Challenges and Opportunities 22-25 March 2015
1-3 February 2015 Technical University, Berlin, Germany
Wellcome Trust Genome Campus, Hinxton, UK https://registration.hinxton.wellcome.ac.uk/
https://registration.hinxton.wellcome.ac.uk/ display_info.asp?id=451
display_info.asp?id=303
Epigenetics - in dialogue with the genome
Biophysical Society 59th Annual Meeting 1-5 June 2015
7-11 February 2015 “Dynamic Earth”, Holyrood, Edinburgh
Baltimore, Maryland http://www.biophysics.org/2015meeting/Main/
http://www.biophysics.org/2015meeting/Main/ tabid/4837/Default.aspx
tabid/4837/Default.aspx
13th Symposium on Bacterial Genetics and Ecology
Monogenic Diabetes Symposium 2015 14-18 June 2015
11-12 February 2015 University of Milan, Italy
University of Exeter Medical School, Exeter, Devon http://www.bageco2015.org
http://www.diabetesgenes.org/content/
monogenic-diabetes-symposium-2015
6 . GENETICS SOCIETY NEWS . ISSUE 72
7 SECTIONAL INTEREST GROUPS
The Genetics Society helps support several
sectional interest groups by providing
meeting sponsorship. We currently have
11 groups who organise sectional interest
meetings with the organizers and dates of
any forthcoming meetings are listed below.
If you are interested in any of these areas,
please contact the relevant organiser.
Groups who wish to be considered for
sectional interest group status should see
the Society website for further details.
Arabidopsis London Fly meetings
Organiser: Ruth Bastow Organisers: Manolis Fanto and Nic Tapon
(ruth@garnetcommunity.org.uk) (manolis.fanto@kcl.ac.uk) and
www.garnetcommunity.org.uk (nic.tapon@cancer.org.uk)
Archaea group Mammalian Genetics and Development
Organiser: Thorsten Allers Organisers: Nick Greene, Andrew Copp,
(Thorsten.Allers@nottingham.ac.uk) Andrew Ward
(mgd.workshop@ich.ucl.ac.uk)
British Yeast Group
Organiser: Jane Usher Mammalian Genes, Development and Disease
(j.usher@exeter.ac.uk) Organisers: Rosalind M John and David Tosh
(JohnRM@cf.ac.uk)
C. elegans
Organiser: Stephen Nurrish
Meiosis group
(s.nurrish@ucl.ac.uk)
Organisers: Hiro Ohkura
(h.okhura.ed.ac.uk)
Drosophila
Organiser: David Ish-Horowicz
Population Genetics Group
(david.horowicz@cancer.org.uk)
Organiser: Dr Barbara Mable
Monthly meetings are organised by:
(pgg@populationgeneticsgroup.org)
Joe Bateman
(joseph_matthew.bateman@kcl.ac.uk)
The Zebrafish Forum
Organiser: Rachel Ashworth (r.ashworth@ucl.ac.uk),
Ecological Genetics
Caroline Brennan (C.H.Brennan@qmul.ac.uk),
Organiser: Paul Ashton
Corinne Houart (corinne.houart@kcl.ac.uk).
(Genetics@BritishEcologicalSociety.org)
There are meetings at 5:30pm-8.00pm on the first
Genetics Society Pombe Club
Thursday of every other month. Room G12, New
Organiser: Jacky Hayles
Hunt’s House, King’s College - London SE1 1UL
(j.hayles@cancer.org.uk)
www.genetics.org.uk . 7
GENETICS SOCIETY BUSINESS 8
Honorary Secretary’s Notices
Tanya Whitfield . Honorary Secretary, University of Sheffield
The Genetics Society
Annual General Meeting
Minutes of the April 2014 AGM can be found on the Society’s website. Current Committee members are listed in
this Newsletter and can also be found on the Society’s website.
Provisional Agenda
T he 2015 Annual General
Meeting of the Genetics Society
will take place on Thursday,
1. Minutes of previous Annual General Meeting (Friday, 4th April 2014);
matters arising
16th April 2015, in the context of 2. President’s Report
the Society’s Spring Meeting on 3. Honorary Treasurer’s Report
‘Breeding for Bacon, Beer and 4. Honorary Secretary’s Report and Business for Transaction
Biofuels’ at the Roslin Institute, a. Genetics Society Medal 2016
Edinburgh (16-17 April 2015). b. Mary Lyon Medal 2016
c. Balfour Lecture 2016
The business includes the d. JBS Haldane Lecture 2016
election of new members to the e. Applications for new membership
Society, and of new members f. Election of new Executive sub-Committee officers:
to the Society’s Committee and Vice-President, Public Understanding of Genetics
Executive sub-Committee. Scientific Meetings Secretary
Nominations for Committee Postgraduate Representative
and Executive sub-Committee g. Election of new Ordinary Committee members:
vacancies for 2015 are now closed. Area ‘A’ (Gene structure, function and regulation)
Nominees will be publicised in Area ‘B’ (Genomics)
advance of the AGM by emails Area ‘C’ (Cell and developmental genetics)
to members, and on the Society’s Area ‘D’ (Applied and quantitative genetics)
website www.genetics.org.uk. Area ‘F’ (Corporate genetics and biotechnology)
5. Any other business
Important Note
The 2015 AGM will allow advance voting on the Society’s website for those unable to attend in person.
Members will be notified by email of the motions to be voted on in this way, and of the mechanisms for
online voting. To ensure your involvement in the AGM by this mechanism, please check that the Society has
your correct email address.
8 . GENETICS SOCIETY NEWS . ISSUE 72
GENETICS SOCIETY BUSINESS
9
Life Membership in
the Genetics Society
H ave you reached the age of
retirement (65), but wish to
continue with your involvement
remain eligible to vote in the Society
AGM, but will not be required to pay
further subscriptions. Recipients of
in the Society? If so, and you are the Genetics Society Medal will also
an ordinary member who has be offered Life Membership. Should
discharged any arrears the might be you require additional information
due to the Society, then you might about becoming a Life Member,
consider applying to become a Life please contact The Genetics Society
Member of the Society. Life members Office (theteam@genetics.org.uk).
Upcoming will continue to receive notices and
committee
vacancies Genetics Society Medal
The Genetics Society Medal is an Newsletter for a profile of Alan’s
Four Committee posts will be award that recognises outstanding career. Professor Ashworth will
falling vacant as of 1st May 2016: research contributions to genetics. present his lecture at the Genetics
1. Vice President The Medal recipient, who should Society Autumn Meeting, November
Corporate Affairs still be active in research at the 2015, at the Royal Society.
time the Medal is awarded, will be The winner of the 2016 Genetics
2. Vice President elected annually by the Committee Society Medal will be announced at
External Relations on the basis of nominations the AGM.
made by any individual member
3. Honorary Secretary of the Society. Those making Call for Nominations
nominations must be members of Nominations are now being invited
4. Ordinary Committee mem- the Genetics Society, but there is no for the 2017 Genetics Society Medal.
ber, Area ‘E’ requirement for the nominee to be To make a nomination, please
Evolutionary, ecological and popula- a member, nor any restriction on confirm that your candidate is willing
tion genetics nationality or residence. Neither to be nominated, and then forward
current members of the Committee a two-page CV of the candidate,
The nomination deadline for these nor those who have retired from together with a list of his or her ten
posts is Friday 27th November 2015. office in the past four years may most important publications, plus a
All members in good standing are be nominated for the award. The one-page letter of recommendation
welcome to nominate individuals recipient will be invited to deliver outlining why you feel their
for these upcoming vacancies a lecture at a Genetics Society contributions to the field have been
from members of the Society. meeting, where the medal will be outstanding. Please submit these
Nominations should be sent to awarded. supporting documents via email
the Honorary Secretary, Tanya The 2015 Genetics Society Medal to the Honorary Secretary of the
Whitfield (t.whitfield@sheffield. is awarded to Professor Alan Genetics Society, Tanya Whitfield
ac.uk), and must be made with the Ashworth (Institute of Cancer (t.whitfield@sheffield.ac.uk), by
nominee’s consent. Research). See the July 2014 Friday, November 27th, 2015.
www.genetics.org.uk . 9
GENETICS SOCIETY BUSINESS
10
The Mendel Medal 2015
Professor John Doebley
and knowledgeable expert on the
role of genetic variation in crop
domestication. He is recognized as
a theoretical visionary for grasping
the evolutionary significance of
plant domestication, and as an
experimental pioneer for developing
methods to identify the individual
genes involved. Although best
known for his landmark work
identifying genes responsible for the
domestication of maize, Professor
Doebley is also recognized for his
work investigating how such genes
behave in populations in response
to selective pressures, geographic
isolation and linkage to other genes.
Although initially trained as an
anthropologist, Doebley earned
his PhD in plant biology at the
University of Wisconsin-Madison and
did postdoctoral work in molecular
J ohn Doebley is a Professor of
Genetics and a member of the
Plant Breeding Faculty at the
domestication of cultivated maize
from its wild ancestor, teosinte, a
species of grass native to Mexico and
and statistical genetics at North
Carolina State University. With
this diverse background, Doebley
University of Wisconsin-Madison. Central America. Maize and teosinte devised genetic tools and methods
Doebley and his laboratory group are differ profoundly in morphology that enabled him to identify the
working to understand the genetic although they are members of the genes responsible for the striking
basis of morphological evolution same biological species and diverged morphological differences between
in plants, which is a fundamental from one another only 10,000 years corn and teosinte. This research was
challenge for evolutionary biologists. ago. Using a combination of classical, undertaken with the expectation that
The questions that they are quantitative and molecular genetic each dissimilar trait would be due
addressing include: How many genes approaches, Doebley’s group has been to the collective effects of mutations
contribute to the evolution of a new able to isolate several of the major in multiple genes. Surprisingly, he
trait? Are these genes regulatory genes involved in the domestication discovered that many traits are
or structural? Do the alterations in of maize and reveal the nature of the governed primarily by just a single
these genes affect protein function changes in these genes that occurred gene, such as the teosinte branched
or gene expression? To investigate during maize domestication. (tb1) gene, which largely controls
these questions, Doebley and Professor Doebley is considered by the differences in plant architecture
his laboratory group study the many to be the most accomplished between corn and teosinte.
10 . GENETICS SOCIETY NEWS . ISSUE 72GENETICS SOCIETY BUSINESS
11
The Mary
This landmark work reshaped the Professor Doebley is a member of
thinking of evolutionary biologists the National Academy of Sciences
by demonstrating that morphological USA (2002), a Fellow of the American
evolution in plants can occur by the
large effects of single mutations,
Association for the Advancement
of Science (1991), and a member of
Lyon Medal
as opposed to the summing of
small effects of many mutations.
More importantly, it established
Phi Kappa Phi (1975) and Sigma Xi
(1980). He has received the Gamma
Sigma Delta’s Award of Merit for
T his award, named after the
distinguished geneticist Mary
Lyon FRS, has been established to
an experimental paradigm for Outstanding Service to Agriculture reward outstanding research in
identifying individual genes (1992) and the Kellet Mid-Career genetics to scientists who are in the
responsible for discrete evolutionary Award at the University of Wisconsin- middle of their research career. The
steps. Doebley’s ideas, methods and Madison (2000). In 2005, he served as Mary Lyon medal will be awarded
findings have had a lasting impact President of the American Genetic annually, and the winner will be
on evolutionary biology and plant Association. He has also served a invited to present a lecture at one
breeding. The tb1 gene has been member of several editorial boards, of the Genetics Society scientific
recognized as the first domestication advisor boards and panels. meetings.
gene to have been isolated. Since While Professor Doebley’s The inaugural 2015 Mary Lyon Medal
then, his lab has isolated two others accomplishments to date have is awarded to Professor Loeske
domestication genes, tga1 and zfl2. changed our understanding of plant Kruuk (University of Edinburgh).
Beyond isolating the genes that genetics and evolution, the best is See the July 2014 Newsletter for a
underlie maize domestication, yet to come. In March 2009, Doebley profile of Loeske’s career. Professor
Doebley has done path-breaking work and his collaborators received a Kruuk will present her lecture at the
in the molecular and biochemical major grant from the NSF to take Genetics Society Population Genetics
dissection of the underlying causative our understanding of the genetics (PopGroup) Meeting, December 2015,
differences between the wild and of domestication to the next level. in Edinburgh.
domesticated versions of these Using high-throughput genomic The winner of the 2016 Mary Lyon
genes. His lab identified the first long technologies, this group will isolate Medal will be announced at the AGM.
distance cis regulatory element (CRE) 20 additional crop domestication and
in any plant species. Prior to this improvement genes, but even more Call for Nominations
discovery, it was thought that that importantly, they will develop a set
long distance CREs were a feature of of genetic and genomic resources to Nominations are now being invited for
animal genomes but lacking in plants. allow other researchers to identify the 2017 Mary Lyon Medal. To make a
hundreds more such genes. This nomination, please confirm that your
Doebley’s discovery has changed candidate is willing to be nominated,
that view; since his pioneering study, work promises to change the way in
which geneticists, agronomists, and and then forward a two-page CV of
several additional long distance the candidate, together with a list
CREs have been found in plants. His evolutionary biologists do business,
and to set the stage for understanding of his or her five most important
work changed our understanding of publications, plus a one-page letter of
how plant genomes are constructed. how the tens-of-thousands of genes
within each cell work in concert to recommendation outlining why you
Similarly, his lab has narrowed down feel their contributions to the field
the causative difference in one of control evolutionary and agronomic
traits. have been outstanding. Please submit
the maize domestication genes to a these supporting documents via
single amino acid change that alters Professor Doebley will deliver his 2015 email to the Honorary Secretary of
a regulatory protein such that it acts Mendel Medal Lecture at the Genetics the Genetics Society, Tanya Whitfield
as a repressor of its target genes. Society Spring Meeting ‘Breeding (t.whitfield@sheffield.ac.uk), by
This exquisite biochemical work for Bacon, Beer and Biofuels’ at the Friday, November 27th, 2015.
demonstrates how a subtle change Roslin Institute, Edinburgh, 16-17
in a single gene or protein can have April 2015. Do not miss it! It is with sadness that we report that Mary
Lyon died on December 25th 2014, aged 89.
profound effects on development and
A full obituary, detailing her outstanding
agronomic phenotypes. contributions to Genetics, will be published
in the July newsletter.
www.genetics.org.uk . 11GENETICS SOCIETY BUSINESS
12
The Balfour Lecture Call for Nominations
Nominations are now being invited
for the 2017 Balfour Lecture. Note
that there is no restriction on
T he Balfour Lecture, named
after the Genetics Society’s
first President, is an award to mark
members of the Genetics Society,
but there is no requirement for the
nominee to be a member, nor is there
the subject matter of the Balfour
Lecture. To make a nomination,
the contributions to genetics of an any restriction on nationality or please confirm that your candidate
outstanding young investigator. The residence. is willing to be nominated, and
Balfour Lecturer is elected by the then forward a two-page CV of
The 2015 Balfour Lecturer is the candidate, together with a list
Society’s Committee on the basis of Professor Ben Lehner, from the
nominations made by any individual of his or her ten most important
Centre for Genomic Regulation publications, plus a one-page letter
member of the Society. The only (Barcelona). Ben was profiled in the
conditions are that the recipient of of recommendation outlining why
July 2014 Newsletter, and will present you feel their contributions to the
the award must normally have less his lecture at the Genetics Society
than 10 years’ postdoctoral research field have been outstanding. Please
Meeting in 2016. submit these supporting documents
experience at the time of nomination.
Any nomination must be made The winner of the 2016 Balfour via email to the Honorary Secretary,
with the consent of the nominee. Lecture will be announced at the Tanya Whitfield (t.whitfield@
Those making nominations must be AGM. sheffield.ac.uk), by Friday, November
27th, 2015.
The JBS Haldane Lecture Call for Nominations
Nominations are now being invited
for the 2017 JBS Haldane Lecture.
T he JBS Haldane Lecture
recognises an individual for
outstanding ability to communicate
The Genetics Society is delighted to
announce that the winner of the 2015
JBS Haldane Lecture is Professor
The recipient will be selected by a
committee chaired by the Genetics
Society’s Vice President for the
topical subjects in genetics research, Alison Woollard (University of Public Understanding of Genetics
widely interpreted, to an interested Oxford). Alison will be delivering from nominations made by Society
lay audience. This speaker will have her JBS Haldane Lecture at the members. Nominees need not be
a flair for conveying the relevance British Science Festival, Bradford, members of the Society, but should
and excitement of recent advances in September 2015. A profile of be active researchers working in the
in genetics in an informative and Professor Woollard will appear in the UK. To make a nomination, please
engaging way. The annual open July 2015 Newsletter. confirm that your candidate is willing
lecture will be delivered on a topic, The winner of the 2016 JBS Haldane to be nominated, and then submit
and in a place, agreed with the Lecture will be announced at the both a two-page CV and a short
Genetics Society. In addition to AGM. explanation of how the candidate
delivering the Lecture, the recipient meets the criteria above. Please
will receive an honorarium of £1000 submit nominations to the Honorary
and a three-year membership of the Secretary, Tanya Whitfield, by email
Society. (t.whitfield@sheffield.ac.uk), by
Friday 27th November 2015.
12 . GENETICS SOCIETY NEWS . ISSUE 72GENETICS SOCIETY BUSINESS
13
Local Representatives
The Local Representative acts as a key liaison between the membership and the Society’s Office and Committee
by helping to recruit new members, publicising the Society’s scientific meetings and other activities, and in
providing feedback from the membership on matters of professional concern. The Society normally appoints only
one local representative per company, institution or department, but exceptions can be made when there are
semi-autonomous sub-divisions containing a substantial number of members or potential members.
We seek to fill vacancies and to update our database of Local Representatives on a yearly basis. Should you wish
to volunteer as a local representative or if existing representatives wish to update their contact details, please
contact the Honorary Secretary, Tanya Whitfield, by e-mail at t.whitfield@sheffield.ac.uk.
SEE FULL LIST ON PAGE 14
www.genetics.org.uk . 13GENETICS SOCIETY BUSINESS
14
Genetics Society Local Representatives
Location Local representative Institute
Aberdeen Prof. Anne Donaldson University of Aberdeen
Aberystwyth Dr Glyn Jenkins University of Wales
Bath Dr Araxi Urrutia University of Bath
Belfast Dr Declan McKenna University of Ulster, Belfast
Birmingham Prof FCH Franklin University of Birmingham
Birmingham Dr Charlotte Rutledge University of Birmingham
Brighton Dr Felicity Z Watts University of Sussex
Bristol Prof Patty Kuwabara University of Bristol (SOMs)
Bristol Dr Colin M Lazarus University of Bristol (Biol. Sci)
Cardiff Dr Timothy Bowen University of Wales College of Medicine
Cardiff Dr William Davies University of Cardiff
Coventry Dr Jose Gutierrez-Marcos University of Warwick
Coventry Dr Peter Glen Walley University of Warwick
Dundee Prof Micahel JR Stark University of Dundee
Edinburgh Dr David Burt Roslin Institute
Edinburgh Prof Ian Jackson MRC Human Genetics Unit, Edinburgh
Exeter Sarah E. Flanagan PhD University of Exeter
Glasgow Dr Iain L Johnstone University of Glasgow
Glasgow Dr Kevin O'Dell University of Glasgow
Harwell Dr Paul Potter MRC Harwell
Hull Heather Sealy-Lewis University of Hull
Kent Prof Mick F Tuite University of Kent
Leeds Dr Andrew Peel University of Leeds, School of Biology
Leicester Dr Ed Hollox University of Leicester
London Prof EMC Fisher Nat'l Hosp for Neurology & Neurosurgery
London Dr Richard A Nichols Queen Mary and Westfield College
London Dr Stephen Ansell The Natural History Museum
London Prof EMC Fisher UCL Institute of Neurology
London Dr Francesca Mackenzie University College London
London Dr Claire Russell Royal Veterinary College
Manchester Dr Catherine Walton University of Manchester
Newcastle Dr Kirsten Wolff University of Newcastle (Biol Sci)
Norwich Dr Tracey Chapman University of East Anglia
Norwich Prof Enrico Coen John Innes Institute
Nottingham Dr John FY Brookfield University of Nottingham (University Park campus)
Nottingham Dr Richard D. Emes University of Nottingham (Sutton Bonnington)
Oxford Prof Liam Dolan Dept of plant sciences
Oxford Prof Andrew OM Wilkie University of Oxford (John Radcliffe Hosp)
Oxford Prof Jonathan Hodgkin University of Oxford (Biochemistry)
Plymouth Dr Mairi Knight University of Plymouth
Reading Dr Louise Johnson University of Reading
Sheffield Dr Jon Slate University of Sheffield
Southampton Dr Richard Edwards University of Southampton
St Andrews Prof Mike Ritchie University of St Andrews
Stirling Dr Mario Vallejo-Marin University of Stirling
Swansea Dr George E Johnson Swansea University
York Dr Gonzola Blanco University of York
Ascot -vacant- Imperial College
Belfast -vacant- Queen's University of Belfast
Cambridge -vacant- University of Cambridge
Dublin -vacant- University of Dublin
Guildford -vacant-
London -vacant- Imperial College (Hammersmith)
Manchester -vacant- University of Manchester
Norwich -vacant- University of East Anglia
Norwich -vacant- John Innes Centre
Ulster -vacant-
Warwick -vacant-
Richmond -vacant- Royal Botanic Gardens Kew
14 . GENETICS SOCIETY NEWS . ISSUE 7215 GENETICS SOCIETY MEETING REPORT
The Genetics Society Autumn Meeting 2014
Genetic Approaches to
Study the Neurobiology of
Learning Memory
Christoph Treiber, University of Oxford . Julia Heckenast, University of Bristol
and optogenetics, she suggested that
neurons compete for inclusion in a
memory trace. This is particularly
intriguing in light of a later talk by
Thomas Preat, who presented an
model for memory consolidation
in Drosophila, linking calcium
oscillations in dopaminergic neurons
after olfactory conditioning with the
metabolic demands of neural coding.
Scott Waddell’s results further
demonstrated the value of Drosophila
as a model, showing how bi-
directional plasticity in a few cells
of the fly brain steers their learned
behaviour in an olfactory choice
assay. Later in the afternoon Ron
Tanimoto described how he identified
subsets of dopaminergic neurons
that encode reward in flies. These
Drosophila studies linked to Ilana
Witten’s work dissecting the circuitry
T he Royal Society in London
played host to the 2014 Genetics
Society Autumn Meeting, uniting an
mechanisms of memory at molecular,
cellular, synaptic and systems
levels. The meeting also included
of the ventral striatum in the rat:
optogenetic control of the cholinergic
influence of dopaminergic neurons
interdisciplinary and international short presentations by selected PhD impaired cocaine place preference
crowd of neuroscientists in pursuit students, postdocs and new PIs, and a conditioning. Also using optogenetics
of the neural bases of learning and number of poster sessions. to identify dopaminergic and
memory. Sheena Josselyn kicked off with GABA neurons in the VTA of the
Organizers Matt Jones and Scott her own “search for the engram”, mouse, Naoshige Uchida probed
Waddell selected speakers using focussed on the neurons of the lateral prediction error signalling, moving
genetic approaches in Drosophila, amygdala during fear learning. Using electrophysiology beyond the “stamp
rodents, fish and humans to probe the genetic tools including DREADDs collecting” belittled by Francis Crick.
www.genetics.org.uk . 15GENETICS SOCIETY MEETING REPORT
16
Karla Kaun, one of the selected mouse models of mental disorders. studies to understand the genetics
presenters, discussed how Drosophila Thomas McHugh discussed the of the only two known transmissible
can be used to identify molecular often overlooked CA2 region of the forms of cancer in higher organisms,
pathways that underlie alcohol hippocampus, and suggested its a facial cancer in the Tasmanian
addiction. Flies initially show role in spatial memory is a unique devil, and a venereal tumour in dogs.
aversive behaviour following alcohol sensitivity to small changes in Some of the slides were not pretty,
exposure, which later switches to context. but the science was very elegant.
long-term attraction. Danielle Posthuma highlighted In conclusion, the 2014 meeting
Rumour has it that aversive the importance of the aftermath highlighted how different
behaviour to alcohol was not of the latest GWAS studies for genetic approaches in several
observed during the conference schizophrenia risk genes, which model organisms contribute
dinner. drives the development of new to understanding principles of
Matt Jones attempted to rouse the genetic models. David Bannerman, learning and memory, leaving the
audience on the second morning, working on one such model, delegates confident that our growing
describing the hippocampal concluded the meeting discussing genetic toolkit and understanding
and prefrontal neural network a remarkable behaviour in Gria1 will continue to drive fascinating
oscillations that define our sleep, and knockout mice, which is associated neuroscience for years to come.
their roles in memory consolidation with aberrant salience, an element of
and neuropsychiatric disease. Kazu psychosis.
Nakazawa also highlighted neural The meeting also featured the
oscillations, exploring the outcomes 2014 Balfour lecture, presented by
of genetic ablation of cortical Elizabeth Murchison. She explained
and hippocampal interneurons in next-generation genome sequencing
Karla Kaun, one of the
selected presenters,
discussed how
Drosophila can be used
to identify molecular
pathways that underlie
alcohol addiction. Flies
initially show aversive
behaviour following
alcohol exposure, which
later switches to long-
term attraction. Rumour
has it that aversive
behaviour to alcohol was
not observed during the
conference dinner.
16 . GENETICS SOCIETY NEWS . ISSUE 72Published
Published on behalf of The Genetics Society
Published on behalf of The Genetics Society
on behalf of The Genetics Society
Published on behalf of The Genetics Society
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Published
The onresource
essential behalf of The Genetics Society
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SocietyGENETIC SOCIETY SPONSORED EVENTS 18
8th Mammalian Genes, Development
and Disease Meeting
4th July, 2014, Bristol
T his year’s meeting attracted
over 75 participants from
Bath, Cardiff, Exeter and Bristol
the phenomenon termed “neighbour
suppression”. He reported how
normal cells in a physiologically
Universities. In opening, Dr. Malik relevant mouse model of pancreatic
thanked the Genetics Society for cancer progression, cause a
their support, and encouraged substantial delay in the onset of
attendees to consider the value of preneoplastic lesion formation in
Genetics Society membership. vivo. Microarray analyses showed
Talks were presented by PhD that co-culture of primary mouse
students, invited principal pancreatic ductal epithelial cells
investigators and the Keynote expressing KRAS-G12D with their
speaker. Together they delivered normal counterparts normalizes
a series of fascinating and varied expression of a subset of genes
talks, further supported by poster modulated by KRAS-G12D and discuss how cell-cycle regulating
presentations. leads to growth arrest of oncogene- factors such as E2F1 are exquisitely
transformed cells. Normalization sensitive to post-translation
Talks in the first session focused of expression of certain genes in
on genes and mechanisms involved modifications of arginine residues
tumorigenic cells is thus a key block mediated by protein arginine
in tumorigenesis. The first invited to preneoplastic lesion development.
speaker, Dr Abderrahmane Kaidi methyltransferases (PRMTs). A
(Bristol) began proceedings, Eleanor Star (Bristol, PhD student) balance of these modifications was
reporting on the application of super introduced the importance of able to regulate E2F1 protein stability
resolution microscopy to visualise alternative splicing (AS) aberrations and “toggle” its functions between
complexes involved in the repair of in cancer, and how factors promoting cell-cycle progression and
DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs). influencing AS might be monitored inhibiting growth.
This allows direct visualization using bichromatic splicing-sensitive After lunch, Dr Catherine
of previously hidden repair fluorescent reporters (SSFRs), which Hogan (European Cancer Stem
complexes at virtually any type of allow alternative splicing events to be Cell Research Institute, Cardiff
DSB, including those induced by easily visualized in vitro. SSFRs have University) continued the theme
anticancer agents. He illustrated how been constructed to mimic vascular of normal-tumour cell interactions
these methods can be used to define endothelial growth factor (VEGF) demonstrating that RasV12
cellular sensitivities and resistance terminal exon splicing, which is transformed epithelial cells
mechanisms to anticancer agents. associated with cancer progression. communicate with the normal
Such vectors can be used to screen neighbouring epithelia through
Tulay Gulsen, (Bath, PhD new anti-cancer compounds.
student), then, presented data on EphA-ephrinA signaling. This cell-
characterisation of Ras association The Keynote speaker, Professor cell communication signal triggers
(RA) domain–containing protein Nicholas la Thangue (University RasV12 cells to shrink, segregate
(RASSF7) functional domains of Oxford) presentation was titled and extrude from normal epithelia.
that might regulate subcellular “Epigenetics and the cancer cell Specifically, EphA2 expressed on
localization and be involved in cycle”. Following an overview RasV12 cells is activated following
centrosome amplifications, defects of the importance of cell cycle binding to ephrinA ligands expressed
which are common in tumours. Dr. dysregulation in tumorigenesis, on the surrounding normal cells.
David Allard (Exeter) elaborated on Professor La Thangue went on to This suggests that in order to expand
18 . GENETICS SOCIETY NEWS . ISSUE 72GENETIC SOCIETY SPONSORED EVENTS
19
within a tissue, transformed cells The Keynote speaker, Professor Nicholas la Thangue
must first overcome a suppressive
barrier imposed by the normal cells. (University of Oxford) presentation was titled
Dr. Rob Nunan (Bristol), then, talked “Epigenetics and the cancer cell cycle”.
about the role of ephrinBs (EphB)
in the wound re-epithelialisation.
EphrinB1 and its receptor EphB2 In the final session the focus how in the mouse model of multiple
are upregulated in the front 50 diverted from cancer. Dr Silvia sclerosis, glycogen synthase kinase-3
rows of keratinocytes during the Muñoz-Descalzo (Bath), used a (GSK3) inhibition induces expression
migratory phase with reciprocal multidisciplinary approach including of IL-10 in TH1/TH17 cells. Disease
down regulation of E-Cadherin. single cell immunofluorescence tolerance has been shown to be IL-
Loosening of migrating cells quantifications on embryos 10 dependent, and the pathogenic
may provide shuffle room for expressing different β-catenin levels potential of GSK3 inhibitor treated
lamellipodia and thus cell crawling. in order to explore how β-catenin murine Th1 cells was significantly
Interestingly, EphB knock-out mice regulates the dynamics between self- reduced. IL-10 promoter analysis
exhibit increased junctions, reduced renewal and differentiation through after GSK3 inhibition in Th1 cells
intercellular spaces and hindered a network of protein complexes, showed a switch to permissive
re-epithelialisation. Dr. Nobue Itasaki involving also Nanog, Oct4 and Tcf3. histone modifications, ie an
(Bristol) also presented work on Dr. Martin Schepelmann (Cardiff) increase in H3 acetylation and H3K4
cell-cell interactions, specifically elaborated on a knock-out model trimethylation, and a decrease
an in vitro 3D system where cancer for extracellular-calcium sensing in H3K9 dimethylation and K27
cells and non-cancerous epithelial receptor (CaSR) where the receptor trimethylation. Understanding
cells are co-cultured. In the 3D is deleted specifically from vascular the regulatory processes of IL-10
culture, cancer cells have greater smooth muscle cells (VSMC) and secretion will enable new drug
freedom of movement whereas cardiomyocytes. Cardiac magnetic targets to be identified and allow the
epithelial cells form a spherical resonance imaging, and ex vivo modulation of the immune system
morphology (epithelial sphere) wire myography showed that blood towards a tolerant phenotype in
thus providing cancer cells with the vessels from knock-out animals autoimmune diseases such as MS.
accessibility to the basal surface were less contractile. Thus VSMC In closing, special thanks were
of epithelia similarly to the in vivo CaSR is a direct modulator of blood given to Kate Davies for her help
condition. Time-lapse analysis of vessel contractility, highlighting in organising the meeting. Five
co-cultures revealed that cancer the importance of the CaSR in the individual prizes were awarded to
cells displayed a strong attraction to regulation of blood vessel tone and postdocs and PhD students due to
the epithelial spheres, surrounding blood pressure control. Dr. Polina the excellent presentations made. A
and engulfing them. This culture Yarova, (Cardiff) also presented convivial drinks reception was held
method is a powerful technique work on CaSR, but in the context of after the meeting, allowing an open
to assess cancer cell dynamics in airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) exchange of ideas.
response to the microenvironment. and inflammation. It was shown that
certain polycations, such as spermine The meeting was organised by Dr.
Rosie Jones (Bristol, PhD student) Karim Malik (Bristol), Dr. Andrew
then presented data showing that and eosinophil cationic protein
may trigger AHR by acting via the Chalmers (Bath) and Dr. Rosalind
the stem cell marker and Wnt John (Cardiff).
pathway regulator LGR5 can be calcium/cation-sensing receptor,
down-regulated in colorectal cancer CaSR. Thus, the CaSR pathway may
cells by dietary butyrate, and that represent a potential novel treatment
this likely involves specific classes of chronic inflammatory lung
of histone deacteylases. Therefore, disorders.
she, proposed a role for epigenetics Finally, Mr. Tien Haeng Sky Ng,
and chemo preventive dietary (Bristol, Phd Student) presented his
components in the regulation of work showing
cancer stem cells.
www.genetics.org.uk . 19GENETIC SOCIETY SPONSORED EVENTS
20
Harwell United Kingdom Clock Club
27th May, 2014, Oxford
T he Mammalian Genetics Unit,
MRC Harwell hosted the Harwell
UK Clock club meeting. This meeting,
molecular clock. Dr. Michael Parsons
(MRC Harwell) next discussed the role
that a novel circadian transcription
for the longitudinal measurement
and analysis of activity in mice
(Dr. Laurence Brown, University
organized by Dr. Patrick Nolan, factor plays in regulating the of Oxford), the characterization of
provided an opportunity for the expression of neuropeptide networks circadian rhythms in developing Sea
United Kingdom circadian community critical for normal functioning of Urchin (Dr. Libero Petrone, University
to share and discuss their diverse the core molecular clock. Dr. Kofan College London) and studies
research interests. Chen (University of Cambridge), investigating circadian influences on
The conference consisted of two presented work on a Drosophila sports performance (Ms. Elise Facer-
invited international speakers, Prof. genetic model of Alzheimer’s disease Childs, University of Birmingham)
Paul Franken from the University showing a weakening of peripheral and slow wave oscillations during
of Lausanne (Switzerland) and Dr. clock robustness in the presence sleep (Dr. Alpar Lazar, University of
Valter Tucci from the Istituto Italiano of a strong central molecular Surrey).
di Technologia (Genoa, Italy), as well clock, suggesting that a decrease Other presenters included Dr. Lynsey
as 11 additional speakers, consisting in key signalling pathways likely Atkinson (University of Kent) who
primarily of students and young underlies the presence of behavioural demonstrated that photoentrainment
investigators, selected to represent arrhythmia in this model. Dr. relies on the Kcnk9 potassium
the wide range of both research Edgar Buhl (University of Bristol) channel, Dr. Marco Brancaccio (LMB
interests and groups of the United used a combined optogenetic and Cambridge) who presented a number
Kingdom circadian field. All of these electrophysiological approaches to of elegant lentivirus based genetic
speakers presented their diverse work determine specific influences on the studies showing the relationship of
in front of an encouraging audience Drosophila clock. glutamate and calcium rhythms in
consisting of the 160 circadian Finally, Dr. Valter Tucci (Genoa, Italy) the SCN in both neurons and glial
biologists in attendance. gave an invited lecture discussing the cells, and Dr. Xiao Yu (Imperial
The meeting started with a special role of epigenetics in the modulation College) who found that a local clock
Genetics Society sponsored session of sleep. He specifically discussed the in hypothalamic neurons regulates
including work encompassing the role that genetic imprinting of the the release of the “wakefulness
genetics underpinnings of sleep and Gnas locus plays in sleep phenotypes, transmitter” histamine.
circadian rhythmicity in Drosophila, as well as the converging data from Finally, the keynote speaker, Dr. Paul
mouse and human. Dr. Qing-Jun both human patients and a mouse Franken discussed his impressive
Meng (University of Manchester) genetic model suggest that the body of work on the role of clock
started the session by discussing the Snord116 gene underlies the REM genes in sleep homeostasis. Using
role that the ubiquitin ligase UBE3A sleep deficits seen in Prader-Willi a wide range of experimental
plays in regulating the circadian clock syndrome. approaches including gene expression,
in both fly and mouse models, thus The afternoon sessions again quantitative mapping and transgenic
furthering the existing literature represented the wide range models, he showed that a number of
showing that ubiquitin ligases play of research within the field of core clock genes play dual roles in
an important role in regulating the chronobiology. They ranged from governing both circadian rhythms and
clearance of key regulators of the the presentation of novel technology sleep homeostasis.
Using a wide range of experimental approaches including gene expression, quantitative
mapping and transgenic models, Dr. Paul Franken showed that a number of core clock genes
play dual roles in governing both circadian rhythms and sleep homeostasis.
20 . GENETICS SOCIETY NEWS . ISSUE 72GENETIC SOCIETY SPONSORED EVENTS
21
Genetic Alliance UK’s annual conference
10th July, 2014, Genetic Alliance UK, London
T his year Genetic Alliance UK’s
annual conference was held at Next up was Mark Bale, Deputy Director in
the beginning of July at Amnesty the Health Science & Bioethics Division at
International UK’s headquarters in
Shoreditch, London. Most attendees the Department of Health, who told us about
came from our patient organisation
membership, and there were also how the NHS is responding to advances in
representatives from non-member genomic sequencing technology and what
patient organisations, academia,
healthcare and the pharmaceutical is likely to change with regards to genetic
industry in attendance. Genomic
sequencing was the theme of this testing in the future.
year’s conference, and we were very
pleased to invite people working in
this field to give us a greater insight
into this topic. groups for diagnosed conditions and data being stored for future use in
The day began with Vivienne Parry, an indication of the future for Alysia. research. This is the first time we have
broadcaster and Head of Engagement Ed’s story put the content of the hosted an interactive session at our
at Genomics England, who spoke previous talks into context, which annual conference we have received
about the history of diagnosis and many people the room could strongly unanimous positive feedback -
how much medicine has evolved since relate to. attendees loved the chance to interact
the time of Hippocrates. Next up was With genomic medicine already here with others and further explore
Mark Bale, Deputy Director in the and initiatives such as the 100,000 some of the issues that had been
Health Science & Bioethics Division Genomes Project already taking off highlighted in the morning’s talks.
at the Department of Health, who told we then took the opportunity to ask We’re already excited about next
us about how the NHS is responding our members about their thoughts year’s conference and will be speaking
to advances in genomic sequencing on genomic sequencing and its with our membership to ensure that
technology and what is likely to related ethical issues. Our afternoon the chosen theme will be informative,
change with regards to genetic testing interactive session was facilitated by engaging and insightful.
in the future. Saskia Sanderson who works in the
After a sandwich lunch and Department of Genetics and Genomic
networking session, we all sat down to Sciences at Mount Sinai School of
hear about the experience of Edward Medicine.
Sherley-Price and his family. Ed’s We asked attendees a variety of
daughter, Alysia, had a previously questions relating to whole genome
undiagnosed genetic condition sequencing including whether
that was eventually diagnosed via they’d be willing to have their own
the Deciphering Developmental genome sequenced, their child’s
Disorders (DDD) study. Ed spoke of or that of an unborn baby. We also
the importance of having a diagnosis explored whether people would
and what it meant for his family in want to know about any incidental
terms of having a focus for research, findings that could arise as a result
finding other families in a similar of whole genome sequencing or
situation, the potential for support what they thought about their
www.genetics.org.uk . 21You can also read
