Chromosome-2009: a large symposium and an unusual photo exhibition

Evgeny Markov, Academy of NewsOn Tuesday, September 1, in the Small Hall of the House of Scientists 

SB RAS (Novosibirsk) opened the International Conference "Chromosome-2009". The conference program includes about 120 reports. Participants and guests of this large-scale forum represent scientific centers in Europe, America and Asia.

Symposiums on the structural and functional organization of chromosomes have not been held in our country for about 20 years. According to its plan, this conference is a revival of scientific seminars, the ideological inspirer and organizer of which was corresponding member of the USSR Academy of Medical Sciences, Doctor of Biological Sciences, Professor, laureate of the USSR State Prize, founder of the Soviet school of Human Cytogenetics and medical cytogenetics Alexandra Prokofieva-Belgovskaya (1903-1984).

"A chromosome is a specialized cellular structure in which genes are packed and in which these genes work. The organization of the chromosome is a very important general genetic problem. In the Soviet Union and in Russia, research in the field of chromosome organization has always been a priority and widely recognized abroad. This is an area of genetics in which the achievements of our scientists have always been in demand since the 20s of the last century, – said the head of the organizing committee of the conference, Academician Igor Fedorovich Zhimulev. – After the beginning of the revival of genetics, this field recovered earlier than others, the first conferences of this series took place already in the late 60s, and they have been held quite regularly for 20 years. Since the beginning of the "dashing 1990s" there have been no conferences on chromosomes. Today this conference is relevant. There are many young people present at it, despite the fact that hundreds and thousands of young scientists from our country have gone abroad. It is high time to establish ties in the field of science between emigrant Russia and between those who remained."

As a souvenir, each registered participant of the conference will receive a book "Chromosomes: structure and functions".

"For several years, I.F. Zhimulev and I have been writing the book "Chromosomes: Structure and Functions" – a textbook for undergraduates and postgraduates, today we present it to the scientific community," said Dmitry Koryakov, senior researcher at the Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine. – It is interesting to any person who is interested in the current state of the science of genetics. It summarizes all modern ideas about the structure and functioning of the chromosome, as well as gives brief excursions into history. The book "Chromosomes: structure and functions" was published by the publishing house of the SB RAS in excellent printing quality, with many color illustrations, I hope that it will be useful for people who are just starting to do science. In it, you can learn in a concise form about the state of cytogenetic research."

An unusual part of the conference is a photo exhibition in the Winter Garden. "The exhibition tells about how modern biologists see the cell now. For non-specialists, these photos look fantastic, and scientists see these pictures almost daily. The exhibition is beautiful, emotionally attractive, and a brochure will be published in addition," commented Igor Zhimulev.

Portal "Eternal youth" http://vechnayamolodost.ru02.09.2009