Next Horizons for Gamete Biology

The Gordon Research Conference on Fertilization and Activation of Development started in 1974, and has met every other year since 1977, making 2011 the 19th of these conferences. This Gordon Research Conference brings together scientists addressing one of the most transformative moments in cell and developmental biology - the merger of sperm and egg for the creation of a totipotent cell, namely the zygote. At its core, this Gordon Research Conference is about the molecular and cell biology of the gametes. Topics include biological factors and phenomena that render the gametes "fertilization-competent," the central events of fertilization itself, and the transition into early embryonic development. We address both the basic science and the broader implications for reproductive health. Several themes running through the 2011 program are impacts of the male and female reproductive tract environments on gamete function and fertilization; how advanced imaging techniques have lead to new discoveries, particularly of gamete function in a physiological context; and intriguing evolutionarily conserved processes in fertilization. The 2011 program is diverse, including presentations on a wide array of species and by speakers at all career stages, established investigator to graduate student. Several late-breaking stories have been selected for presentations from abstract submissions, and there are two poster sessions, each with nearly 50 poster presentations. Platform sessions are moderated by discussion leaders, to facilitate exchange of ideas and discussion of research findings. In the great Gordon Research Conference tradition, open afternoon and evening time are provided for informal interactions between conferees; this conference has a rich tradition of being the place in the field for meeting colleagues and developing collaborations. Finally, the keynote session by Dr. Greg Kopf will be an opportunity to discuss where the field has been and where it is going, with consideration of how the basic science can mesh with translational science and ever-evolving priorities for advances in reproductive health.