Major International Conferences to Hear About the Risks and Rewards of Synthetic Biology

Representatives from Integrated DNA Technologies (IDT), a world leader in oligonucleotide synthesis, will be describing efforts to prevent the misuse of synthetic genomics, and presenting recent developments in RNAi research, at Analytica, Munich, 1-4 April and the RNAi World Congress, Boston, MA, 30 April – 2 May.

At Analytica, Damon Terrill, Sr. VP International Legal and Regulatory Affairs, will present on the cooperative efforts of government and industry to counter the potential misuse of synthetic genomics for harmful purposes. IDT is at the forefront of work by companies to develop improved gene sequence screening methods and more effective protocols for reporting and responding to possible security and safety risks. IDT’s leadership in the U.S. prompted the European Industry Association on Synthetic Biology (IASB) to invite IDT to discuss with Analytica attendees from around the world the benefits of a truly international approach.

At the end of April, the emphasis shifts to exciting new areas in basic scientific research with Dr Mark Behlke, IDT’s Sr. Vice President of Molecular Genetics & Biophysics and Chief Scientific Officer, presenting on the “Use of Dicer-Substrate siRNAs in Animal Research” and “Evolution of miRNAs in the Marsupial Monodelphis domestica”. New research carried out by Dr Behlke’s group reports on a number of interesting findings in RNAi research in several different model systems, including studies done in rats, mice and opossums.