Abstract
The EMBO Workshop on Genomic Imprinting took place between 21 and 24 September 2008, in Singapore, and was organized by F. Berger, M. Bartolomei and R. Feil. This painting, entitled ‘Back of Telok Ayer Street 2007’ and painted by C. Ek Kay, was the image included in the meeting poster. ![][1] See Glossary for abbreviations used in this article The organizers of the European Molecular Biology Organization Workshop on Genomic Imprinting chose a truly trans‐kingdom selection of speakers; there was a strong representation of those working in plants and mammals, with a sprinkling of those studying flies and worms. This organismal diversity was layered further with talks on topics ranging from germ cells, genomic imprinting and dosage compensation to genome‐wide screens, evolution and human disease. These areas dovetailed well, converging ideas from various species and unifying seemingly divergent fields. Here, we highlight a few of the topics from an excellent programme of riveting news and novel findings. One of the main themes threading through this workshop was that of commitment, reprogramming and pluripotency. A. Surani (Cambridge, UK) discussed the initiation of epigenetic reprogramming in the germline. The main focus was on BLIMP1, which is an important regulator of germ cells that has roles in diverse processes, including the initiation of the PGC‐specification programme and exit from the pluripotent state. In this plenary address, Surani drew from several studies that illustrate the induction of cells to exit the pluripotent state and initiate the PGC‐specific programme, including the role of STELLA —a mammalian maternal‐effect gene that probably has a role in chromosomal organization. The BLIMP1 protein sets up chromatin signatures and influences the epigenetic reprogramming associated with X‐chromosome reactivation (Chuva de Sousa et al , 2008) and imprinting, emphasizing the links among pluripotency, reprogramming and commitment that were reiterated in several other talks. W. … [1]: /embed/graphic-1.gif
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