G-BiKE webinar on genomic and biotechnological opportunities for conservation

  • Online, CET
    June 22, 2023 15:00 - June 22, 2023 17:00

This webinar on novel genomic tools for conservation is organised by the COST Action G-BiKE's working group 4.

What new technological advancements have been seen as opportunities for conservation by some and are highly controversial among others on synthetic biology? Who are the people, institutions, practitioners, and external actors who gravitate around these questions and challenges? This is a simple question whose answer can be articulated more than we might realize! Your contribution to the discussion is essential, as the results will be used to open one of the first windows of feasibility for current and future potential conservation applications.
Despite ongoing activities to halt biodiversity loss, we are still losing many species at an alarming rate. Currently the post-2030 targets for CBD are developed and the EU biodiversity strategy discussed, both phrasing ambitious goals and milestones. Conservationists seek to identify tools to improve and solve many of the conservation challenges globally, such as managing small populations or controlling invasive species. At the same time a technological revolution is taking place in the field of molecular biology, granting novel opportunities to screen, manipulate and even edit genomic material. However, a careful case-by-case risk assessment for potential applications is required, and ethical and political aspects need to be considered. While some tools are already well established, others still need to be tested and will only be applicable in the future.
Lecture abstracts and keynote speakers' bios are available on the Action's website.

Programme:
  • Opening of the webinar and introduction (5 min)
  • Case study 1: Rats on islands - technological approaches. Keynote speaker: Maud Quinzin (15 min)
  • Case study 2: Gene editing as a conservation tool for the endangered black-footed ferret. Keynote speaker: Samantha Wisley, University of Florida, Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation(15min)
  • Case study 3: Evolutionary aspects of gene drive technology. keynote speaker: Nicky Faber, Wageningen University & Research, Plant Sciences Group, Laboratory of Genetics (15 min)
  • Q&A session (30 min)
The broader community of scientists, practitioners and decision-makers intrerested in the topics are invited to discuss these and other questions related to techniques of genomic screening, cloning, gene editing and gene drive.
Organisers: Elena Buzan, [email protected], and Gernot Segelbacher, [email protected].
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