WORKSHOP ANNOUNCEMENT:
Genotype-by-Environment Interactions and Adaptation of
Farm Animals on Phenotypic and Molecular Level
7th-8th of November, 2012
Tuusula, Finland
Workshop contents
Nordic Genetic Resource Center (NordGen) arranges a two-day workshop which
aims to deepen the understanding of genotype-by-environment interactions and
adaptation potential of farm animal genetic resources (AnGR) in the face of climate
change, and to stimulate networking between stakeholders for future research
strategy building. The workshop is organized in three sessions each having three or
four invited speakers:
1. Genotype-by-Environment Interactions
2. Farm Animal Adaptation on Phenotypic and Genetic Level
3. Genotype-by-Environment Interactions in Practical Breeding and Conservation
Programs
The workshop provides a multidisciplinary view merging state of the art knowledge
on quantitative, population and molecular genetics within both breeding and natural
populations to increase understanding of the climate change impacts, adaptation and
mitigation with respect to the sustainable use of farm AnGR.
The workshop is directed to scientists, PhD students and young scientists, national
gene resource coordinators, breeding association representatives, government
officials and other stakeholders with special interest in AnGR and changing
environment.
Organizers
Nordic Genetic Resource Center (NordGen), Farm Animals, Ås, Norway
University of Helsinki, Department of Agricultural Sciences, Finland
WORKSHOP PROGRAM
Wednesday, 7th of November
09:30 - 11:30
11:30 - 12:30
12:30 - 13:00
Registration of the participants
Lunch
Opening of the workshop (Prof. Jarmo Juga, University of Helsinki
and Section Leader NordGen Farm Animals, Peer Berg)
SESSION I: Genotype-by-Environment Interactions
Chair: Jarmo Juga
13:00 - 13:30
13:30 - 14:15
14:15 - 15:00
15:00 - 15:45
Genotype-by-environment interactions investigated using the
model organism Drosophila melanogaster (Torsten Nygård
Kristensen)
Genotype-by-environment interactions in farm animals with focus
on heat stress (Ignacy Misztal)
Are geographic and climatic gradients across Nordic countries
affecting cow fertility? (Peter Løvendahl, Erling Strandberg)
Coffee break
SESSION II: Farm Animal Adaptation on Phenotypic and Genetic Level
Chair: Juha Kantanen
15:45 - 16:30
16:30 - 17:00
17:30 - 19:00
Adaptation of animal populations (Scott McCairns)
Livestock landscape genomics to detect adaptive loci in 43
European and Near Eastern goat breeds (Stéphane Joost)
Whole genome scanning in cattle breeds to detect selection
signatures (Terhi Iso-Touru)
Poster session
19:00 
Dinner
17:00 - 17:30
Thursday, 8th of November, 2012
08:30-09:00
Coffee
SESSION III: Genotype-by-Environment Interactions in Practical
Breeding and Conservation Programs
Chair: Peer Berg
09:00 - 09:30
09:30 - 10:00
10:00 - 10:30
10:30 - 11:00
11:00 - 11:30
11:30 - 12:30
Challenges and solutions of genotype-by-environment interactions
in plant breeding (Odd-Arne Rognli)
Importance of genotype-by-environment interactions in fish
selective breeding programs (Bjarne Gjerde)
GxE in commercial pig breeding: reaction norms and selection for
the response environment (Pieter Knap)
Strategy building in AnGR-NordicNET, look into the future (Theo
Meuwissen)
Summing up and closing (Peer Berg)
Lunch
List of speakers
Dr. Torsten Nygård Kristensen, Nordic Genetic Resource Center, Norway
Professor Ignacy Misztal, College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences,
University of Georgia, USA
Dr. Peter Løvendahl, Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Aarhus
University, Denmark
Professor Erling Strandberg, Department of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Swedish
University of Agricultural Sciences, Sweden
Dr. Scott McCairns, Department of Biosciences, University of Helsinki, Finland
Dr. Stéphane Joost, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Switzerland
Research Scientist Terhi Iso-Touru, MTT Agrifood Research Finland, Biotechnology
and Food Research, Finland
Professor Odd-Arne Rognli, Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences,
Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Norway
Senior Scientist Bjarne Gjerde, Nofima, Norway
Dr. Pieter W. Knap, PIC International Group, Germany
Professor Theo Meuwissen, Department of Animal and Aquacultural Sciences,
Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Norway
Registration
In order to register, please fill in and return the attached registration form to NordGen
latest 5th of October 2012 by e-mail (anne.praebel@nordgen.org) or by mail
(NordGen, P.O. Box 115, N-1431 Ås, Norway).
There is no registration fee but the participants take care of their own
accommodation and travelling costs. Lunches, coffee breaks and dinner are provided
by the organizer.
Notify if you need extra nights of accommodation at Gustavelund Hotel and
Conference Centre. We have made preliminary booking from the 7th to the 8th of
November. The price of a Standard single room is 79 €/night and Standard double
room 99 €/night. Please, let us know if you request a special diet.
For further information, please contact Anne Præbel, anne.praebel@nordgen.org.
Sponsors
The workshop is sponsored by the The European Science Foundation (ESF)
Advances in Farm Animal Genomic Resources (GENOMIC-RESOURCES) Network
(http://www.esf.org/index.php?id=7009 ).
NordGen is a Nordic knowledge and service center dedicated to safeguarding and
sustainable use of plant, farm animal and forest genetic resources. NordGen’s
primary task is to contribute to securing the broad diversity of genetic resources
linked to food and agriculture (http://www.nordgen.org).
NordForsk is an organization under the Nordic Council of Ministers that provides
funding for Nordic research cooperation as well as advice and input on Nordic
research policy. “Nordic Research Network on Animal Genetic Resources in the
Adaptation to Climate Change (AnGR-NordicNET )”, a research network financed by
NordForsk, contributes to developing a Nordic knowledge-base for policy making for
the conservation, utilization and investigation of animal genetic resources within
adaptation and mitigation issues (http://www.nordforsk.org).
Venue
The workshop will be arranged in Gustavelund Hotel and Conference Centre in
Tuusula (http://www.gustavelund.fi/en), a town with a rich cultural heritage.
Gustavelund offers modern meeting room together with accommodation for all
participants with only 15-minute distance from the Helsinki-Vantaa International
Airport.
How to reach Gustavelund Hotel and Conference Centre?
Taxi: The quickest way to get to Gustavelund from the airport is by taxi. The 15minute ride costs approximately 30 €.
Bus: Buses leave from Helsinki bus station on average twice an hour. The bus trip to
Gustavelund takes approximately 50 min. There are also direct connections from the
airport. Please, check the schedules at http://www.matkahuolto.info/lippu/en/. Enter
your place of departure, the destination is Gustavelund (Tuusula). Fare for both trips
is 7.2 €.
Train: The nearest railway station is Kerava, located 4 km from Gustavelund. There
are on average four trains an hour from the Helsinki railway station to Kerava (trains
H, K, N, R, Z, T), peak periods every 10 min. Trip from Helsinki to Kerava takes 2040 min, depending on the train and costs 6.2 €. You can buy tickets from the station
ticket office, vending machines or conductors in the train (a carriage with ticket-sale).
From the airport, take first bus number 61 to Tikkurila railway station. Bus leaves
from Terminal 1, platform 3 and from Terminal 2, platform 22. Please, check
timetable at http://aikataulut.hsl.fi/linjat/en/v61.html. All trains to Kerava (H, K, N, R,
Z, T) stop in Tikkurila as well. You can buy a 3-zone extended regional ticket for the
whole journey for € 7. All train schedules can be found at
http://www.vr.fi/en/index.html.
The quickest way to get from Kerava railway station to Gustavelund is by taxi;
journey time 10 minutes and costs approximately 12 €.
REGISTRATION FORM
NordGen and ESF GENOMIC-RESOURCES workshop
Genotype-by-Environment Interactions and Adaptation of Farm
Animals on Phenotypic and Molecular Level
7th-8th of November, 2012
Tuusula, Finland
Please return this registration form latest 5th October 2012 either by
email: anne.praebel@nordgen.org or by mail: NordGen, P. O. Box
115, NO-1431 Ås, Norway
Name:
Position/title:
Nationality:
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Date of arrival:
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Special requests (sharing/no need for accommodation, diet etc.):