Symposium on genome stability

Genome instability refers to a high frequency of alterations within the genome of a cell. These include modifications in nucleic acid sequences, chromosomal rearrangements or aneuploidy. Genome instability is central to carcinogenesis but also is a factor in some neurodegenerative diseases.

The sources of genome instability are exogenous or endogenous. For example genome instability can be caused by DNA damage due to external agents or to genome replication and segregation errors. Another source of genome instability may be epigenetic, due to changes of the chromatin.

This meeting will bring together researchers investigating how genome instability is generated, and is dealt with the molecular, cellular and whole-organism levels.

In addition to addressing well-studied but as yet incompletely understood research areas, the meeting will feature scientists who are linking DNA-damage, cell cycle, chromatin regulation and other important cellular homeostatic responses to diverse new areas of biology.