SYMPOSIUM CANCELLED / New advances in epigenetics: what consequences?

As a precautionary measure in the face of the coronavirus pandemic, the French Academie des sciences is forced to cancel this session, as well as all its events open to the public until Monday, April 20, 2020 in the morning. The reading room of the Academy's archives will also be exceptionally closed to the public during this period.

Symposium in English of the Royal Society and the French Académie des sciences, on March 24, 2020, from 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m, in the Grande salle des séances Institut de France - Registration required before March 24, 2020

Presentation
Our chromosomes carry our entire genetic makeup, i.e. our genes. They are made of a double stranded DNA whose structure comprises a succession of bases or "DNA sequence". This double helix is wrapped around proteins called histones. Genetics is the study of genes and their functions or dysfunctions. The analysis of gene mutations has helped to understand the function of genes.
Genes can either be expressed constitutively (always on, seemingly unregulated) or regulated. This regulation can take place at the DNA level via regulatory proteins that can activate or inhibit gene expression (transcription), generally on a short term. Another type of regulation can occur through epigenetic factors or epigenetic modifications. The most studied include DNA methylation, variations in histone selection, multiple histone modifications, and non-coding RNAs. The discipline that studies the nature of these factors and modifications - called epigenetics - seeks to understand the molecular mechanisms that allow changes in heritable gene expression without necessarily altering the DNA sequence, which can be maintained across cell divisions or possibly even generations. Epigenetics also seeks to explore how the environment can modulate long-term gene expression. For example, environmental factors affecting stress resistance in mammals or flowering control in plants can alter epigenetic parameters. Thus, this field concerns all living organisms and their ability to adapt.
Closely linked to genetics, epigenetics enables us to understand the function and regulation of genes over time in relation to different environmental conditions. Epigenetics is a fast-growing discipline that pushes us to reflect on our daily lives and the links between generations: much remains to be discovered!

Organisers
Pascale Cossart, Royal Society and Académie des sciences, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
Geneviève Almouzni, Académie des sciences, Institut Curie, Paris, France

Speakers
Geneviève Almouzni, Académie des sciences, Institut Curie, Paris, France
Susan Gasser, Académie des sciences, University of Basel, Switzerland
Pascale Cossart, Royal Society and Académie des sciences, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
Edith Heard, Royal Society, EMBL, Heidelberg, Germany
Adrian Bird, Royal Society, University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom
Caroline Dean, Royal Society, John Innes Centre, Norwich, United Kingdom
Wolf Reik, Royal Society, Babraham Institute, Cambridge, United Kingdom
Wendy Bickmore, Royal Society, University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom