Developments and Current Challenges in Stochastic Gene Expression

The working group will focus on the study of stochastic gene expression, emphasizing the investigation of intrinsic fluctuations in cellular processes and the significant role both intrinsic and extrinsic factors (such as cell size) in gene expression variability. It aims to bring together theorists and experimentalists to discuss recent advances, share data, and explore new questions in areas such as cell-cycle dynamics, the impact of measurement techniques on cell health, and the development of models that explain evolutionarily how the behaviors of gene expression can be explained by thermodynamics. The working group will also address underexplored topics, including the effects of stress on gene expression and the link between model prescribed and model-free theoretical approaches to explaining gene expression data. Participants from various backgrounds will contribute to a comprehensive discussion on both established and emerging concepts in the field.