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Will our genetic heritage
disappear overseas?
8 February 2006, 10.30 am, Senate Alcove, Parliament House Canberra
Genetics revolution at Parliament House
Minister Macfarlane opens forum with a precipitation of DNA
Australian geneticists are meeting in Canberra today to
discuss how we can harvest Australia’s unique genetic heritage, before other
countries do it for us.
Industry Minister Macfarlane will open the forum at 11.30
am with a precipitation of DNA. Media are invited to attend any or all of the
meeting – details below.
“Already the platypus and eucalypt genomes are being
decoded by other countries. The wallaby genome is Australia’s only major
contribution, and that’s underfunded” says Phil Batterham, the forum’s convenor.
From wheat to wallabies, cows to corals, Australian
researchers are working to understand and harness the genetic makeup of plants,
animals and people, for the economic, environmental and social benefit of
Australia.
“But we’ve not got access to the biological infrastructure
we need to do the job properly says Batterham. And that’s what has brought
geneticists together in Canberra today.
“We will hear what the opportunities are,” says Phil
Batterham.
“We will hear of how genetics is transforming agriculture.
We will hear how the genetics of coral is informing human health and of the move
to understand individual genetics.
We will lean how insects could reveal the real extent of
climate change and how our wheat farms and forests could be a future source of
pharmaceuticals?”
“But we will also hear of important opportunities that are
being missed due to a lack of critical biological infrastructure. And we will
discuss what’s needed for a real national effort to enable researchers to read
and interpret the genetic code of plants, animals and microbes essential to
Australia's long term economic development and care for the environment,” says
Phil Batterham.
Phil is available to talk about the issue today – or
tomorrow, he can talk about the outcomes.
Media are invited to join them for sessions through the day
on food and agriculture (11.45 am), environment (12.30), health (2 pm), pests
and plagues (2.45), business and biotech (3.45), and science (4.15) – and for a
drink from 6pm – all in the Senate Alcove. Details at www.genomealliance.org.au
A release on the outcomes will be issued Thursday morning.
For further information call Niall Byrne on 0417 131 977,
niall@scienceinpublic.com
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