The exploitation of genetic variation in gene network inference

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The combined study of gene expression and marker genotypes in a segregating population (genetical genomics) is now making an important contribution to the dissection of complex traits. Genetical genomics methods detect genomic loci that control variation in gene expression, so called expression QTL or eQTL ( to distinguish them from functional QTL that affect traits at the whole-organism level). A major promise of genetical genomics is that by examining the relationship between transcript location, location of eQTL and pleiotrpic effects of eQTL, it might be possible to reconstruct genetic pathways that underline phenotypic variation. The major challenge in reverse engineering gene regulatroy networks is the successful integration of biological knowledge, (e) QTL mapping results, bioformatics tools and mathematical modelling approaches. The goal of the proposed network is to promote the required integration between genetics, bioinformatics and mathematics to facilitate the reverse-engineering of regulatrory networks using genetic mapping data and high throughput data,such as transcriptomics. This is an important step toward systems biology approaches where these regulatory networks will be refined and evolve into quantitative models of regulation. The network will organise three annual meetings for the duration of the grant. Each meeting will have an interactive workshop with a training component followed by a scientific conference. For the workshop part, attendance will be limited to 50 participants with a core participitation of the network members and additional participants via invitation or application. The workshops will include a clear training aspect will be structured to facilitate active participation of PhD students and post-docs. The conference part will be open to the research comminity with an expected number of attendees between 100 and 200. The conference will feture mainly invited contributions from key note speakers.

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