The Gordon Conference on Motile and Contractile Systems has, for many years, been an important forum for presenting the newest, most exciting work on cytoskeletal systems and the roles they play in cell biology; embryonic development; and human disease. This meeting brings together investigators from diverse backgrounds and institutions who work on all aspects of the cytoskeleton, including: actin filaments, microtubules, intermediate filaments, nucleoskeletal networks, and prokaryotic filament systems. Participants attack problems of fundamental importance using a range of experimental approaches from structural biology and single molecule studies to live cell imaging to classical genetics to mathematical modeling and numerical simulation. The past ten years have witnessed remarkable growth in our understanding of how these nano-scale biological polymers work to convert rowdy mobs of macromolecules into organized, living cells. The "Motile and Contractile Systems" Gordon Research Conference has played a critical role in this growth by facilitating the exchange of ideas between investigators working in different disciplines. We particularly encourage participation of young investigators, postdoctoral fellows, and graduate students. This year we will select several poster presenters to give short talks and we will provide a forum for more informal chalk talks. The collegial atmosphere of this long-running conference, with its combination of programmed discussions and informal gatherings, provides a unique opportunity for scientists from different disciplines to brainstorm and engage in cross-disciplinary collaboration.