Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics, and Developmental Toxicology in the 21^st Century

Recent developments in genomics (global analysis of genes) and proteomics (global analysis of proteins and their expression) have set the stage for a revolution in biomedical science in the 21st century. It is now possible to simultaneously assess the levels of expression of thousands of different genes using DNA microarrays. Upon completion of the human genome project and the sequencing of the genomes of other species, it will be possible to analyze the expression of all genes transcribed in a specific cell/tissue/organ at any specific time in growth/differentiation/development. Similar developments in proteomics now allow investigators to assess the level of expression at the protein level. The ability to monitor tens of thousands of mRNAs/proteins will generate enormous volumes of data that need to be analyzed. This need has generated a new discipline called bioinformatics.

Developments in genomics/proteomics/bioinformatics clearly offer unique opportunities in the field of birth defects research. To bring these developments to the community of Reproductive/Developmental Toxicologists and other interested scientists, a satellite symposium has been organized in association with the year 2000 Teratology Society meeting. This symposium, entitled Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics and Developmental Toxicology in the 21st Century, will begin at 1:00 p.m. on Thursday June 29 and will end at 5:00 p.m. the following day. The program is now complete (see below), with an outstanding list of speakers. The last half-day will be devoted to talks emphasizing the application of these new fields to developmental toxicology.

This symposium provides an outstanding opportunity to learn about the exciting new advances in genomics, proteomics and bioinformatics and how these advances will impact birth defects research in the next millennium. Make plans now to attend this satellite symposium. Registration (separate from the registration for the Teratology Society) and hotel registration forms can be downloaded from this web site.

To facilitate the attendance of pre and postdoctoral students to this symposium, the Teratology Society will award up to 10-$500 travel awards. To apply for these travel awards, applicants should submit a brief (1-page) essay describing how they have applied or could apply approaches in genomics, proteomics, and/or bioinformatics in their research. A cover letter of application and the essay should be sent to: Philip E. Mirkes, Ph.D., Department of Pediatrics, 1959 NE Pacific Street, Seattle, WA 98195. Deadline for receipt of applications is May 1, 2000.

PROGRAM

GENOMICS, PROTEOMICS, BIOINFORMATICS AND DEVELOPMENTAL TOXICOLOGY IN THE 21ST CENTURY

THURSDAY JUNE 29, 2000 GENOMICS
1:00 - 2:00	Genomics in the 21st Century Eric Green National Human Genome Research Institute
2:00 - 3:00	Making and reading microarrays Helmut Zarbl Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center
3:00 - 4:00	Genome analysis with gene expression microarrays Elizabeth Winzeler Novartis Institute for Functional Genomics
4:00 - 5:00	Population genetics-making sense out of sequence Aravinda Chakavarti Case Western Reserve University
FRIDAY JUNE 30, 2000 PROTEOMICS
8:00 - 9:00	Proteome and Proteomics: New technologies, new concepts, and new words N. Leigh Anderson Large Scale Biology Corporation
9:00 - 10:00	Mass spectroscopy and the age of the proteome John R. Yates Scripps Research Institute
BIOINFORMATICS
10:00 - 11:00	Bioinformatics: A new era Mark S. Boguski National Center for Biotechnology Information, NIH
11:00 - 12:00	Functional Genomics: Going forward from the databases William B. Mattes, Pharmacia & Upjohn
12:00 - 1:00	LUNCH
APPLICATIONS TO DEVELOPMENTAL TOXICOLOGY
1:00 - 2:00	Laser Capture Microdissection: Molecular analysis of tissue Lance Liotta NICHD
2:00 - 5:00 PM Genomic/Proteomic/Bioinformatic applications to developmental toxicology
2:00 - 2:45	Fluorescent cDNA microarray hybridization reveals multigenic responses of the mouse embryo to methylmercury exposure Thomas Knudsen Jefferson Medical College
2:45 - 3:30	Phenytoin, microarrays and craniofacial abnormalities Janee Van Waes University of Nebraska
3:30-4:15	Mass Spectrometry and proteomic approaches to identify protein targets of environmental chemicals Dan Liebler University of Arizona
4:15 - 5:00	Data mining for folate receptors and vitamin transporters Jim Eudy University of Nebraska