Meetings- Shared traits, extended phenotypes or G x G x E interactions, Paris, Dec 5, 2007

Shared traits, extended phenotypes or G x G x E interactions: the role of the environment in the evolutionary ecology of host- parasite interactions

During one day of presentations and discussions, we hope to promote the emergence of synthetic ideas on the role of the environment (sensu lato) in the evolutionary ecology of host parasite interactions.

Paris (France), December 5th, 2007

Invited speakers:

Michael Hochberg
Olivier Restif
Peter Tiffin
Fabrice Vavre

More information:

- - - - - http://simonfellous.free.fr/wgge.html - - - - - - -

Registration on a 'first come, first served basis' & before Nov. 15th : Write to: Simon Fellous simonfellous@free.fr or Lucie Salvaudon lucie.salvaudon@u-psud.fr

Framework:

The "environment" of parasites is made of many different types of factors. First, the genotype of the host itself produces the background of the parasite's development. Moreover, the interactions between host and parasite genotypes (i.e. GxG interactions) can result in the shared control of their traits. Finally, as for any type of organism, other biotic and abiotic factors, occurring inside and outside the host, can affect the translation of genotypic variations into phenotypes. Such sensu stricto environmental factors add another layer of complexity to the determinism of phenotypes as they can affect the interactions between host and parasite genotypes' leading to GxGxE interactions. The number of "statistically significant" environmental factors (e.g. temperature, within host competitors, GxG interactions') never stops growing. But how important they are remains obscure. Planning:

The presentations will be followed by two general discussions on:

Morning: The coevolutionary process and what variability studies tell us of evolution in dynamic environments
Afternoon: Integrating environmental fluctuations into mathematical models of host and parasite evolution.

+ Conference diner in the evening

When you apply, please mention that you saw the adv. at thesciencejobs.com, premier Science Jobs website