Conférence Jacques Monod – The mechanistic and evolutionary basis of programmed DNA elimination

PDE is widespread in eukaryotes and plays roles in a variety of cellular processes, including gene silencing, germline differentiation, genome defence, and non-Mendelian inheritance. It manifests in diverse biological contexts, including the formation of germline-limited genomes, meiotic elimination of parental chromosomes, and sex determination via X-chromosome loss.

In recent years, it has become increasingly clear that PDE occurs across a wide range of phylogenetic groups, and involves diverse mechanisms.  These findings underscore the overlooked plasticity of genome integrity, and reveal significant gaps in our understanding of why PDE has evolved repeatedly and is maintained across the Tree of Life.

This conference is designed to present the latest research on the mechanisms and evolution of PDE – from the molecular pathways that control genome stability and chromosome segregation, to genomic conflicts and the long-term evolutionary consequences of PDE on population dynamics and species diversification. We also welcome researchers studying related phenomena, such as meiotic drive, B chromosomes, and those that work on the mechanisms and regulation of genome stability, chromosome segregation and germline development.

The meeting will address the following key topics:

1.  Mechanisms and regulation of genome stability and instability
2. Mechanisms of chromosome segregation and missegregation
3. Genomic conflicts
4. Evolutionary dynamics of programmed DNA elimination