It is now clear that three-dimensional packaging of DNA exerts previously unimagined regulation of the organism by controlling processes such as development, sex determination, the DNA damage response and cancer, among many others. In doing so, chromatin plays a seminal role in the regulation and transmission of the epigenetic information. Although old in concept, chromatin is perhaps the newest frontier of genome and epigenetics research.
The enthusiasm for chromatin is evident in its increasing presence at national and international meetings. However, few meetings are devoted to the topic of chromatin. Rather, it is embedded within the larger scope of gene regulation and not covered in depth. Further, the larger meetings are generally designed to “inform”, but they do not necessarily foster sharing of ideas about chromatin, nor do they support a mechanism for direct interactions among students, fellows and field leaders.
The mission of the Asilomar Chromatin, Chromosomes and Epigenetics Conference (ACCEC) is to fill these gaps. The ACCEC has evolved over the past four decades as an important forum for bringing together established and young investigators from around the world in an informal atmosphere conducive to intellectual dialog and the sharing of ideas and research interests.