Project Summary The 2024 Gordon Research Conference on Mutagenesis will explore cutting edge research into the mechanisms and consequences of changes in the genomic sequence of organisms across species. Despite being a well- established conference, “Mutagenesis” remains a forefront topic, bridging the traditional boundaries of many fields that do not usually interact with each other. Alterations to the genetic blueprint of an organisms drives many aspects of biology such as viral restriction and effective adaptive immunity and can have serious pathological consequences such as antimicrobial resistance development, aging and related diseases, to driving cancer, and dampening the effectivity of anti-cancer therapeutics. Importantly, common molecular mechanisms link these apparently diverse processes. To explore critical mutagenesis mechanisms, the meeting will highlight a wide range of experimental approaches from basic genetic and molecular approaches, to deep sequencing and single molecule biophysics, bringing together scientists of all career stages and backgrounds. The GRC will comprise of 27 invited speakers (junior and senior), 28 slots for talks to be selected from the abstracts, as well as an interactive poster session which will be summarized orally by the presenter in two “flash talk” presentations. In addition, the GRS, which precedes the main conference will have further oral and poster presentation opportunities specifically for graduate students and post-docs, as well as a career panel discussion. A ‘power hour’ in the main meeting will focus on the challenges facing women in science, the usage of appropriate pronouns (and the LGBT+ community), and navigating communication-related challenges between trainees and mentors. We aim to foster an interactive, friendly environment in which ideas can be freely exchanged independently of background or seniority. To that end, the sessions and working meals will be supplemented with a vigorous social program to foster these interactions. The GRC program will be organized into nine morning and evening sessions titled: (1) Critical mutagenesis mechanisms (Keynote session); (2) Replication fork- associated mutations (3) DNA damage and mutagenesis (4) Transcription associated mutagenesis (5) The influence of DNA sequence on mutagenesis (6) Mutagenesis mechanisms in cancer (7) How exogenous and endogenous DNA damage leads to mutagenesis (8) Barrier induced mutagenesis and (9) The ultimate consequences of mutations and evolution. The GRC and GRS will thus promote exchange of the latest ideas and techniques in the broad field of mutagenesis and drive new ideas and cross-field collaborations while enhancing and promoting the careers of the next generation of scientists in this exciting and important field.

Project Narrative Mutagenesis, changes in the DNA which can occur due to endogenous cellular event and environmental stresses, has wide-ranging impacts from the development of cancer and aging to the acquisition of antibiotic resistance in microorganisms. This meeting will bring together scientists from various countries from a wide range of disciplines to discuss the fundamental mechanisms driving mutagenesis across species. We aim to promote cross-field fertilization of ideas, the establishment of new collaborations, and based on what we are learning at the fundamental level, ultimately, the identification of potential new avenues for therapeutic intervention.