What
The Cyprus Society of Human Genetics held its
1st International Conference 3-4 October 2008 in Nicosia, Cyprus. The
majority of the participants were from Cyprus, but a large number of colleagues
from various European countiries and the US had also found their way to
this very interesting meeting. Topics varied from local views (eg "The
Genetic Heritage of Cypriots" by Prof. Constantinos Deltas) to more
general perspectives. Issues related to clinical as well as basic
science topics were included.
The
presentation that seemed to create the most enhusiastic discussion
during coffee breaks was that of Prof. Douglas Wallace, University of
California- Irvine, USA. He presented in a most inspiring way his view
of a "new" paradigm for common multifactorial diseases, as well as
cancer and ageing. He regards the role of mithochondria -or energy- as
a key component, in addition to the more commonly discussed
"anatomical" and "Mendelian" components.
In
one of the sessions, EuroGentest had two presentations. Dr. Simon
Patton's title was "Quality assurance in molecular genetic testing" and
Prof. Helena Kääriäinen's "EuroGentest and quality genetic
counselling". Both presentations were followed by several questions and
comments demonstrating that quality issues were considered important by
conference participants.
After
the conference, the Cyprus Society of Human Genetics kindly provided
the foreign participants with a walking tour to the old city of
Nicosia. The beautiful city has numerous historical sites and also
demonstrated the city's current problems with a tightly enforced,
though fortunately peaceful border dividing it into two distinct parts.