The autism community is invited to join a free online symposium: "Special Genes, Special Functions: All about genomic imprinting and its implications for autism research, on May 4, 2016, from 1 to 2 pm Eastern.
The lecture and question period that follows are part of the ongoing “New Frontiers in Autism Research: Environmental Epigenetics Symposium” series. Autism Speaks is pleased to collaborate with the Escher Fund for Autism and the Autism Science Foundation in sponsoring these free webinars.
On May 4, geneticist and neurobiologist Christopher Gregg, of the University of Utah, will present and discuss:
* An overview of genomic imprinting
* It’s role in brain development
* Related scientific advances
* Implications for autism research
Chromosomes from the mother and father do not express themselves equally in a child due to heritable epigenetic marks, called genomic imprints, which form at genetic sites in the egg and sperm. Imprinted genes preferentially express either the maternally or the paternally inherited gene copy (allele). The Gregg Lab has uncovered a vast array of complex mechanisms that suggest distinct maternal and paternal gene expression patterns in the brain.
Pre-registration is required and free here.
You can watch past epigenetics of autism webinars. Just click on the hyperlinked titles:
Early Germline Events in the Heritable Etiology of ASDs, featuring germ cell biologist Amander Clark and geneticist Ryan Yuen, of the University of Toronto and the Autism Speaks MSSNG project.
Environmental Exposures and the Germline: Investigating Causes of Epigenomic and Genomic Errors, with developmental biologist Dana Dolinoy, of the University of Michigan, and genetic toxicologist Carole Yauk, of Health Canada.
For more information on this free symposium series, contact Autism Science Foundation Chief Science Officer Alycia Halladay: ahalladay@autismsciencefoundation.org.