Welcome Message

The advent of modern genome-engineering technology has revolutionized basic science leading to medical applications. Showcasing these advances, "The Conference on Transposition and Genome Engineering" (TGE) began in 2003 as "The Annual International Conference on Transposition and Animal Biotechnology". Held annually at the University of Minnesota until 2009, TGE became a biannual, internationally hosted event.　This year, TGE will be held from November 17 to 20 in Nara, the ancient capital of Japan, and will be organized by Takashi Yamamoto (Hiroshima University), Knut Woltjen (Kyoto University), and Junji Takeda (Osaka University).

This year's TGE will bring together an international group of experts who have pioneered transposon technology and artificial site-specific nucleases such as ZFN, TALEN, and CRISPR/Cas9 in the field of functional genomics. Two main genomics approaches define functional genomics. By virtue of random genomic integration, transposon technology has enabled gene discovery using a forward genetics approach. In contrast, genome editing with designer nucleases enables precise modification of a particular gene-of-interest and is therefore a potent reverse genetics approach. Considering these two classic genetic approaches, TGE 2015 will focus on the contribution of cutting-edge transposon and nuclease technologies to our understanding of basic biology and prospective therapies.

We are looking forward to seeing all of you in beautiful Nara very soon.

Takashi Yamamoto (Hiroshima University)
Knut Woltjen (Kyoto University)
Junji Takeda (Osaka University)