Once geneticists examined individual genes and studied how they functioned. Now that biologists have the complete genome for organisms ranging from bacteria to humans, researchers are developing new understandings of the evolution of the genome as a whole by comparing those from different organisms. The resulting discoveries will provide insights into the relationships among living organisms and have a profound impact on agriculture, medicine, and engineering.
"Faster than anyone expected, we've been able to sequence the complete blueprint of life for dozens of organisms," said Michael Nachman, conference co-organizer and professor of ecology and evolutionary biology at the University of Arizona. "The information will be useful for identifying the genes underlying complicated diseases, telling us how various pathogens work and identifying the genes that make us uniquely human."
The meeting, one of the first to bring together researchers who study organisms from many branches of the evolutionary tree, will feature talks from noted researchers from the United States and Europe. There also will be a poster session for contributed papers. The meeting is structured with free time for interactions among participants, in the style of a Gordon Conference.
Registration is free for bona fide media. You are welcome to attend all conference sessions.
For registration information or administrative inquiries, contact: Kate Riley, ksriley@u.arizona.edu, IGERT Coordinator, Dept. of Ecology and
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Contact: Kate Riley
ksriley@u.arizona.edu
520-626-5525
University of Arizona
9-Jan-2004