Basic Gene Mapping Course July 17-21, 2006 Max Delbrueck Center (MDC) for Molecular Medicine Berlin, Germany A basic gene mapping course will be held at the Max Debrueck Center in Berlin from July 17-21, 2006. This course was previously called the basic linkage course, the name has been changed to reflect the expanded scope of the course in the past few years. The goal of the course is to teach the course participants both theory and application of methods for linkage analysis (parametric and nonparametric) and association studies. The cost of the 5 day course is 850 EUR for researchers from an academic institution, and 1,650 EUR for individuals from private (for profit) companies. This fee covers tuition and course related expenses (handouts, etc.) but not room, board or meals. Inexpensive housing is available for course participants at the MDC. The maximum number of participants is 30. Emphasis in this course is on strategies for genetic mapping of human Mendelian and complex traits. It will include theory as well as practical exercises. The exercises will be carried out using a variety of computer programs (LINKAGE, GENEHUNTER, MERLIN, ALLEGRO, SIMWALK2, SLINK, SIMULATE, SNPHAP, UNPHASED, etc.) and with pencil and paper. TOPICS include: parametric methods (two-point and multipoint analysis); allele sharing (nonparametric) methods for sib-pairs and extended families (two-point and multipoint analysis); fine mapping; linkage admixture (heterogeneity); association studies (trios and case-control); simulation; sample size estimation (extended families, sib-pairs and case-control data) and estimating empirical p-value. The organizers and instructors for the course are Suzanne Leal (Baylor College of Medicine) and Michael Nothnagel (Kiel University & Max Delbrueck Center). For additional course information, schedule and application form please visit the course website http://www.hgsc.bcm.tmc.edu/genemapping/Berlin06/gmc2006.htm. The application deadline is May 15, 2006