M. Duguet ( Chairman), M. Bolotin-Fukuhara, F. Confalonieri, P. Forterre, Y. Zivanovic IGM Orsay
B. Dujon, Institut Pasteur, Paris, A. Goffeau, ENS Paris
Biological sciences have undergo profund mutations in the recent years. Technical developments and upscaling in DNA sequencing result in the determination of the complete nucleotide sequence of a number of genomes. The tremendous amount of sequence informations presently available allows to address new fundamental questions on the functioning of a living cell. At the same time, new global approaches are developped, allowing to monitor the level of expression of thousands of genes, the way their protein (or RNA) products interact, and in many cases the cellular localisation and spacial structure of these products. Moreover, multi-genome comparisons can now be made and have profund interest to understand the history and evolution of fundamental cellular mechanisms.
These various global approaches in biology, now designated under the general term of GENOMICS, have been developped at the interface between several sciences, Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Informatics. These new modes of thinking diffuse rapidly in biological sciences and, as a consequence, many traditional research fields are reactivated or stimulated. This is the case for studies on metabolic pathways, physiology, development, evolution ...
The genome-wide approaches also have a major socio-economical impact. One of the most spectacular is the detection of hereditary diseases and the further possibility of gene therapy, but there are more general issues towards the knowledge of human beings, with its benefits and dangers. The other major impact on health involves genomic studies on pathogenic and infectious micro-organisms, viruses, bacteria, parasites. Finally, genomics will have profund consequences on economy, especially agriculture and food.
Because of the unexpectedly fast evolution of the new genomic approaches, there is a special need of training in this field. The aim of the present project of summer school is to offer a comprehensive, high level view on different aspects of genomics, as developped thereafter in the tentative programme, with emphasis on multidisciplinar approaches. The school will mostly enlight fundamental aspects of genomics, whithout excluding the many possible impacts on economy and health.
Although non exhaustive, the programme of the school, putting together eminent scientists, will stimulate discussions and communications between researchers and students of different fields, and try to foster the development of new collaborations.
BURSARIES OFFERED FROM THE ESF PROGRAMME IN FUNCTIONAL GENOMICS
The programme will support up to 10 students with bursaries of up to 600 Euros each to assist with accommodation and/or registration to attend this summer school. In order to apply for these bursaries, please fill in the registraion form on the school web site.