Event - 1st International Conference 2008 of the Cyprus Society of Human Genetics

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.