LISBON 4th International Conference on Genetics, Cellular & Molecular Biology: LGCMB-27

Call for papers/Topics

Topics of Interest for Submission include, but are Not Limited to:

1. Molecular Biology: 

This area focuses on the structure, function, and regulation of macromolecules essential to life, centering on the "Central Dogma" of molecular biology.

• Nucleic Acid Structure and Biochemistry

  • DNA double helix structure, alternative conformations (A, B, Z DNA)

  • RNA types (mRNA, tRNA, rRNA, snRNA, miRNA, lncRNA) and secondary structures

  • Nucleosome structure, chromatin packing, and histone modifications

• DNA Replication and Repair

  • Mechanism of semi-conservative replication (initiation, elongation, termination)

  • Replication fork dynamics, DNA polymerases, and okazaki fragments

  • Telomere maintenance and telomerase function

  • DNA damage and repair pathways (Mismatch repair, Base Excision, Nucleotide Excision, Double-Strand Break repair)

• Transcription and RNA Processing

  • Prokaryotic vs. eukaryotic transcription mechanisms

  • Promoters, enhancers, transcription factors, and RNA polymerases

  • Post-transcriptional modifications: 5' capping, 3' polyadenylation, and constitutive/alternative splicing

• Translation and Protein Synthesis

  • The genetic code, codon bias, and wobble hypothesis

  • Ribosome structure and the phases of translation (initiation, elongation, termination)

  • Post-translational modifications (phosphorylation, glycosylation, ubiquitination) and protein folding chaperones

2. Genetics: Heredity, Variation, and Regulation

Genetics bridges the gap between molecular mechanisms and organismal traits, exploring how genetic information is passed down and modified.

• Transmission (Classical) Genetics

  • Mendelian laws of inheritance (segregation, independent assortment)

  • Non-Mendelian inheritance: Incomplete dominance, codominance, lethal alleles, and epistasis

  • Sex-linked inheritance, pedigree analysis, and genetic mapping

• Cytogenetics and Chromosomal Biology

  • Karyotyping and chromosome morphology

  • Chromosomal aberrations: Aneuploidy, polyploidy, deletions, duplications, inversions, and translocations

  • Meiotic recombination, non-disjunction, and crossing over

• Gene Regulation and Epigenetics

  • Prokaryotic gene regulation (operon models like lac and trp)

  • Eukaryotic transcriptional regulation, chromatin remodeling, and pioneer factors

  • Epigenetic mechanisms: DNA methylation, genomic imprinting, and X-chromosome inactivation

• Population and Evolutionary Genetics

  • Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium and forces causing deviation (mutation, migration, genetic drift, natural selection)

  • Quantitative genetics: Polygenic traits, heritability, and QTL mapping

  • Molecular evolution, phylogenetic analysis, and speciation

3. Cellular Biology: Structure, Function, and Dynamics

Cell biology studies the structural components of cells, how they maintain homeostasis, and how they interact with their environment.

• Cellular Membranes and Transport

  • Fluid mosaic model, lipid raft composition, and membrane fluidity

  • Passive transport (simple and facilitated diffusion, osmosis)

  • Active transport (primary/secondary active transport, endocytosis, exocytosis)

• Organelle Structure and Function

  • Nucleus: Nuclear envelope, pore complexes, and nucleolus

  • Endomembrane system: Rough/smooth endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi apparatus, and lysosomes

  • Energy transducers: Mitochondria (oxidative phosphorylation) and Chloroplasts (photosynthesis)

  • Peroxisomes, vacuoles, and proteasomes

• Cytoskeleton and Cellular Motility

  • Microtubules, microfilaments (actin), and intermediate filaments

  • Motor proteins (kinesin, dynein, myosin) and intracellular transport

  • Cilia, flagella, and cell migration mechanisms

• Cell Signaling and Communication

  • Types of signaling (autocrine, paracrine, endocrine, juxtacrine)

  • Receptor classes: G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs), Receptor Tyrosine Kinases (RTKs), ion channel receptors, and intracellular receptors

  • Second messengers (cAMP, Ca²⁺, IP₃/DAG) and kinase cascades (MAPK, PI3K/Akt)

4. Interrelated and Interdisciplinary Subtopics

These topics represent the massive overlap where molecular mechanisms directly dictate cellular behavior and genetic outcomes.

• The Cell Cycle, Mitosis, and Meiosis

  • Phases of the cell cycle (G₁, S, G₂, M)

  • Cell cycle checkpoints (G₁/S, G2/M, spindle assembly) and cyclins/CDKs

  • Mechanisms of mitosis (somatic division) vs. meiosis (germline division and genetic diversity)

• Cell Death, Aging, and Cancer Biology

  • Apoptosis (intrinsic and extrinsic pathways), necrosis, and autophagy

  • Cellular senescence, telomere shortening, and aging

  • Oncogenes, tumor suppressor genes (e.g., p53, Rb), and the hallmarks of cancer (metastasis, angiogenesis)

• Developmental Biology and Stem Cells

  • Cell potency: Totipotency, pluripotency, multipotency

  • Embryonic stem cells vs. induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs)

  • Morphogens, homeobox (Hox) genes, and pattern formation during development

• Immunology and Host-Pathogen Interactions

  • Innate vs. adaptive immunity at the cellular level (T-cells, B-cells, macrophages)

  • V(D)J recombination (genetic rearrangement for antibody diversity)

  • Viral replication cycles and bacterial defense systems (e.g., CRISPR-Cas systems in nature)

• Genomics, Proteomics, and Biotechnology

  • Recombinant DNA technology, cloning, and PCR

  • Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) and functional genomics

  • Genome editing technologies (CRISPR-Cas9, base editing)

  • Bioinformatics, comparative genomics, and systems biology