Division of Population Genetics / Saitou Group

Family Hominidae includes humans and great apes. We analyzed whole genome sequences to find Hominidae-specific genes and highly conserved noncoding sequences (HCNSs). We discovered that Down syndrome critical region 4 (DSCR4) is the only experimentally verified gene uniquely present in Hominidae. DSCR4 has no structural homology to any known protein and was inferred to have emerged in several steps. We also identified 1,658 Hominidae-specific HCNSs. These HCNSs were found to be under purifying selection, indicating that they may harbor important functions. They are in close proximity of genes involved in sensory perception of sound and developmental process, and also showed a significantly lower nucleosome occupancy probability. Interestingly, many ancestral sequences of the Hominidae-specific HCNSs showed very high evolutionary rates. This suggests that new functions emerged through some kind of positive selection, and then purifying selection started to operate to keep these functions.

Evolutionary rates of each branch of Hominidae and their outgroups. Values are divergence times (million years). Although within-Hominidae rate is zero (identical sequences), rates for branches α, β, and γ 5.5, 2.0, and 1.9, respectively. In particular, the rate of branch α, which is common ancestor of Hominidae, is more than five times higher than neutral rate (1.0), and at least some ancestral sequences seem to experience positive selection.

1-2 July, 2016 | National Institute of Genetics (NIG), Mishima Application Deadline: June 17th

Objectives and Outline

Oral presentation is an integral part of scientific research and serves as an opportunity to disseminate your research to the scientific community. However scientific presentation is not an oral version of your research paper; presentation transmits not only research accomplishments but also valuable information about the presenters themselves: the breadth of their research interests, logical and critical thinking skills, future directions, and personality. To meet these hidden needs of scientific presentation we have developed a new methodology of scientific presentation, based on our experience of making many research presentations as well as attending numerous seminars. This workshop introduces essential elements of this methodology, called the “NIG Method”. NIG Method is aimed not only at nurturing skills to get your message across, but also at improving the quality of your science itself.

This two-day workshop consists of lectures and a “masterclass”. In lectures (day 1), we will discuss how research presentation differs from lectures, and describe two key structural elements of scientific presentation: “key question” and “perspective frame”. We will then introduce several techniques to aid comprehension — i.e. techniques to demonstrate your intelligence to the audience.

Masterclass session (day 2) is an opportunity to put the theory into practice. Selected participants will make a 10-minute presentation in English to receive advice from instructors and other researchers.

All activities will be conducted in English; fluency in Japanese is not required for participation.

Instructors

• Tatsumi Hirata (professor, Division of Brain Function)
• Todd Gorman (English Specialist)
• Yasushi Hiromi (professor emeritus, SOKENDAI)

Program (tentative)

Friday, 1 July

13:30-14:00:	lecture 1	“Essence of scientific presentation”
14:00-15:00:	lecture 2	“Structure of scientific presentation”
15:15-16:15:	lecture 3	“Various techniques in scientific presentation”

16:30-19:30:

Mixer

(NIG Poster Workshop)

Saturday, 2 July

9:00-11:30:	Presentation masterclass
11:30-12:00:	lecture 4	“Humor in scientific presentation”

Eligibility

Researchers (Graduate Student, Postdoc, Faculty) in natural sciences
Maximum number of participants: 50

How to Apply

Please email the information listed below ask-ord@nig.ac.jp with the subject line: NIGmethod2016.

1. Name
2. Affiliation
3. Current position
4. Current Lab
5. Brief description of your research (2-3 sentences)
6. Would you like to make a 10-minute presentation in masterclass? (Yes/No)
   If you wish to make a presentation on your research, please submit tentative title and abstract.

Fee

Participation free: None

Need-based Travel Grant Available

We will be offering need-based travel grant. This grant is based on the financial need and distance required for travel to attend the workshop. To be considered, you should be registered at the time of application. Please send the information listed below with your application mail. Applicants will be notified of the results of their application by email by 21 June.

1. A brief budget for the workshop including your anticipated expenses (lodging, travel costs, etc.)
2. Other funds and their sources (e.g. department, advisor’s grant, etc) you already have to partially cover your travel expenses.
3. A brief explanation (2-3 sentences) about why you are attending and what you are most expecting to the Workshop.

If you have any questions, write to ask-ord@nig.ac.jp