August 26-29, 2008, Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands.

Organisers: Dr. Mark Aarts, Prof. Maarten Koornneef (Laboratory of Genetics, Wageningen University)

Content:
Natural variation has been the subject of study for ecologists and taxonomists for a long time already. Plant breeders often make use of natural variation to find new traits to incorporate into crop varieties. Until little over a decade ago, the study and evaluation of natural variation mainly relied on the phenotypic description of plant specimens. The advent of molecular techniques allowed a much more detailed description of the genetic variation within species. The current increase in high-throughput genomics methods offers a range of exciting possibilities. With high density molecular marker identification techniques individuals can be univocally distinguished within a large population, the division between taxonomic groups can be substantiated with more objective evidence, plant varieties can be more easily distinguished and rare natural variants can be rapidly detected. Especially intriguing from a genetic point of view is the possibility to make a direct correlation of plant phenotypes and plant genotypes by genetic mapping. This enables the identification of Quantitative Trait Loci, originally in especially constructed genetically segregating populations, but nowadays also in representative sets of more distantly related accessions using association mapping. The high map densities and the efficient mapping techniques that are increasingly based on physical maps and genomic sequences, substantially reduce the time needed to clone the genes corresponding to trait variation. While initially mostly employed for model species, gradually these techniques are used for the analysis of wild and crop plant species.

The workshop will consist of 16 lectures by international experts in their field who will anticipate on the latest developments in natural variation research. Lively interaction between experts and PhD students or post-docs is expected and especially encouraged by four afternoon oral presentation sessions and two poster sessions in which young scientists can present and discuss their own work. The workshop is expected to appeal to plant scientists that are interested to learn more about plant evolution, molecular population genetics, plant breeding and the molecular analysis of plant gene function.
 

Tentative programme: click here

Target group: PhD students and post-docs
Language: English
Course credits: 1.2 ECTS
Number of participants: maximum 50
Fee:
EPS PhD Students and post-docs with an approved Education Plan € 200,-- (excluding B&B)
Other PhD Students and post-docs € 300,-- (excluding B&B)
All others participants € 400,-- (excluding B&B)

After your registration you will receive an invoice. Payment only possible by invoice (NO credit cards and NO cash payments on site).

Registration fees cover expenses for course materials, lunches, coffee/tea, and a course dinner at Thursday August 28. Accommodation is not included. Participants must organise their own travel and accommodation. There are possibilities to stay at the WICC hotel in Wageningen. The WICC hotel is located at walking distance from the Botanical Centre of Wageningen University. If you require accomodation it is advised to book the hotel as soon as possible (approximately € 76, -- for a single room per night, including breakfast; approximately € 100,50 for a double room per night, including breakfast).

Venue:
Botanical Centre (WUR building no. 352), Arboretumlaan 4, 6703 BD Wageningen (The Netherlands). For route directions: click here

Registration (extended deadline till June 16, 2008):
Send an email to This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it with ‘PhD WORKSHOP NATURAL VARIATION’ in the subject line and specify or include in the body of your email message the following items:

1) Your professional status
I am a [ ] 1st year, [ ] 2nd year, [ ] 3rd year, [ ] 4th year PhD student, [ ] post doc, [ ] other ………
2) Home Institute (+ full address for invoice) ...........................................................................
3) Name Graduate School (if applicable) ..................................................................................
4) Approved TSP (Education Plan) (if applicable) YES/NO
5) Title of my research project is: .................................................................................................

6) A PhD workshop implies that active participation of all participants is required. All participants will present their work, either by a poster or by a 20-minute oral presentation. The organizers will select oral presentations from the supplied abstracts. Indicate if you do NOT want to give an oral presentation, and if so, why not.
You will be notified later if your presentation is selected for either oral or poster presentation.
Include your abstract (max 200words): ...........................................................................................
.................................................................................................................................................................
.................................................................................................................................................................

(all abstracts will be collected and put together in an abstract book)