Molecular Genetics workshops

Transposable-element biology and evolution are connected with practical bioinformatic methods for identifying and analysing repetitive DNA. Participants examine how these mobile sequences influence genome structure, gene regulation and epigenetic states, and why their rapid evolution complicates computational annotation. The programme combines conceptual instruction with analysis exercises across the published five-day schedule. Teaching runs online from 14:00 to 19:00 Berlin time. The listed course package costs €480.

Build a small-RNA analysis workflow from raw reads to curated microRNA annotations. Participants assess sequencing quality with miRTrace, retrieve public datasets and reproduce analyses and figures from published studies. Practical work combines MirMachine, miRTrace and MirMiner with genomic context and annotation standards, then examines false positives and missing genes through manual curation. The emphasis is on defensible identification of regulatory microRNAs and critical assessment of published predictions. Sessions: 23–26 November, 12:00–17:00 daily, Europe/Berlin (CET, UTC+01:00). Live online training; fee €480. Basic small-RNA biology and genomics, Unix/Linux shell and conda familiarity are expected.

Detect and interpret genomic alterations of at least 50 bases using short and long reads. Lectures and practical exercises compare assembly-based and reference-mapping workflows, evaluate sequencing and assembly quality, and filter and annotate structural variants. Participants build trio or population VCF datasets, examine mosaic and somatic variation, and prioritise possible functional effects using human-genome examples. Linux and cloud exercises connect raw data processing with interpretation of disease and phenotype associations. Sessions: 30 November–2 December, 14:00–20:00 daily, Europe/Berlin (CET, UTC+01:00). Live online training; fee €450. A biology background and familiarity with genomic data formats are expected. Command-line Linux practical work is introduced during the course.

Brain-restricted somatic variants can cause cortical malformations, developmental tumors and other focal epilepsies while escaping routine germline tests. This investigators workshop examines sensitive methods for detecting variants present in only a small fraction of cells. Sessions cover minimally invasive sampling, genomic assays, single-nucleus RNA sequencing and spatial analysis of brain tissue, then connect these approaches to genotype–phenotype relationships and mechanistic studies in human cells and mosaic mouse models. The aim is to improve diagnosis and identify more targeted therapeutic strategies. Saturday 5 December, 14:30–16:00 Mountain Standard Time (America/Denver). Part of the 2026 American Epilepsy Society Annual Meeting. In-person meeting registration and a free myAES account are required. Standard full-meeting rates are USD 800 for member scientists and USD 1,075 for non-member scientists; student rates are USD 250 and USD 360, respectively. Other professional and one-day categories are available. Seating priority goes to registered attendees.

Many epilepsies remain unexplained after exome or genome sequencing. This workshop investigates mechanisms that conventional testing may miss: somatic mosaicism, repeat expansions, epigenetic changes and microRNA regulation. It relates biological and technical detection limits to neuronal excitability, clinical heterogeneity and treatment resistance. Thematic presentations and an interactive panel address multi-omics study design, clinical phenotyping, biomarkers and therapeutic development, connecting molecular mechanisms to precision medicine and surgical decisions. Sunday 6 December, 08:30–10:00 Mountain Standard Time (America/Denver). Part of the 2026 American Epilepsy Society Annual Meeting. In-person meeting registration and a free myAES account are required. Standard full-meeting rates are USD 800 for member scientists and USD 1,075 for non-member scientists; student rates are USD 250 and USD 360, respectively. Other professional and one-day categories are available. Seating priority goes to registered attendees.

This workshop connects cellular mechanics and three-dimensional genome regulation with machine learning. It examines how mechanical environments activate transcription factors, move regulatory molecules into nuclei, couple the cytoskeleton to nuclear architecture, alter chromatin dynamics and influence genome maintenance and disease. High-resolution imaging, live-cell tracking, engineered microenvironments, ultrasensitive detection, single-cell and spatial omics, and computational models provide complementary approaches. Physicists, engineers, computer scientists, biologists and clinicians will discuss how these methods can reveal causal links between nuclear mechanics and gene regulation.