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The University of Western Australia is hosting 80 scientists from 13 countries whose skills will help revolutionise plant breeding - and vital food production.

It is the first time an OECD-sponsored conference has been held in WA.  UWA and the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) are the event's co-sponsors.

The keynote speaker is a world expert in the human genome: Professor Bruce Weir, Chair and Professor of Biostatistics, and Adjunct Professor of Genome Sciences, at the University of Washington, USA.  Professor Weir is director of the GENEVA project, a consortium of 14 whole-genome studies.

Conference convener, Associate Professor Wallace Cowling, of the University's International Centre for Plant Breeding Education and Research (ICPBER), said the invitation to Professor Weir to spearhead the conference was motivated by his bio-statistical experience - considered to be invaluable in guiding plant scientists in the area of association genetics, which while highly developed in humans, is just starting in plants.

The conference is of vital importance to plant breeders and molecular geneticists and will challenge plant breeders with the new technologies of genome association-mapping emerging from human and animal genetics.

The OECD-invited speakers are international experts in molecular marker discovery, plant genetic mapping, new biometrical approaches to plant breeding, human genetics and animal breeding.

The OECD Co-operative Research Program's Biological Resource Management for Sustainable Agricultural Systems funded the 16 invited international speakers to travel to Perth.

WHAT: OECD Genome Association OZ 09

WHEN: Monday to Thursday November 9-12

WHERE: University Club (Carpark 3, Hackett Entrance 1, Crawley)

A full program is available at https://www.oecd-genomeassociation-oz09.com/

Media references

Esther Price (Esther Price Promotions)  (+61 4) 18 931 938
Janine MacDonald (UWA Public Affairs)  (+61 8)  6488 5563  /  (+61 4) 32 637 716