Contact: Sammy McDavid
Next week, Mississippi State and the university's Institute for Digital Biology welcome to campus some 60 scientists and researchers for an international conference on avian genomics and gene ontology.
An interdisciplinary MSU program, the IDB was created in 2004 to apply high-performance computational biology to investigate genome structure and function in humans, animals and plants, as well as the prevention of food-borne disease and bio-fuel production, among other areas.
In addition to locations throughout the United States, participants at the May 19-22 conference will be arriving from Australia and the United Kingdom. Daily sessions will take place at the Hunter Henry Center. (Complete schedule at www.idb.msstate.edu/events.html.)
In biology, a genome contains an organism's entire hereditary information. Study of the properties of genomes of related organisms--in this case the avian species that includes all birds--is known as genomics, which is distinct from genetics, the study of properties of single or groups of genes.
"Modern methods in biology enable scientists to study all of the genes of a species at one time, and computer analysis of these massive data sets has led to major advances in medicine, food production, wildlife conservation, and disease prevention," said Susan Bridges, a conference organizer.
"MSU is honored to host this group of the world's premier research scientists in avian genomics to discuss how to utilize genomics to develop new medical procedures and understand diseases such as bird flu, as well as improve poultry and egg production and conserve endangered species such as the California condor," she added.
Bridges, a professor of computer science and engineering, co-directs the IDB with Dr. Shane Burgess, an associate professor in the College of Veterinary Medicine. Among other MSU departments represented in the campus institute are biochemistry and molecular biology, plant and soil sciences, mathematics and statistics, and biological sciences.
While not a public event, the Monday-Thursday conference is open to all interested members of the news media. For additional information, contact Bridges at 662-325-7505 or bridges@cse.msstate.edu.
For more information about Mississippi State University, see http://www.msstate.edu/.