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Paranoid plants, productive sheep, queen bees, wheat, barley, rice, bin chickens, flower and fruit yield

Agricultural genetic stories from the International Congress of Genetics in Melbourne.

Read on for more information about each story.

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Antidepressants, bowel cancer, ancient DNA, liver, heart, short stature, and Indigenous inequity

Friday at the Genetics Congress

Genetic health stories from the International Congress of Genetics in Melbourne. Read on for more information about each story.

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Bin chickens; platypus threat; bilby poo; isolated koalas; sex changing fish

Thursday at the Genetics Congress

More on all these stories below.

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$442 billion economic loss by 2100: the economic impact of sea level rise and storm surge on Victoria revealed

By 2100, the impacts of sea level rise and storm surge are predicted to result in a $442 billion economic loss according to a study led by the University of Melbourne and commissioned by the Victorian Marine & Coastal Council and Life Saving Victoria.

  • Impacts on land and property along the Victorian coast are predicted to reach a loss of $337 billion, with a further loss of up to $105 billion for wetlands.
  • More than 80,000 existing residential, commercial, and industrial properties covering 45,000 hectares will be impacted.
  • 144,000 hectares of coastal reserves will be affected as will 288,000 hectares of Victoria’s wetlands.
  • The cumulative impact will be about $40 billion by 2040. Without action, it will grow ten times as 2100 approaches.
  • Appropriate action over the next decade will dramatically reduce the long-term costs.
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Powerful new network to ensure Indigenous Australians can benefit from genomic medicine

Media release from the Australian Alliance for Indigenous Genomics (ALIGN)

A national alliance of the brightest minds in genomic science, academia, policy makers, industry and Indigenous leaders will work to break down barriers to ensure Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people can benefit from advances in genomic medicine if they choose.

The Australian Alliance for Indigenous Genomics (ALIGN) has been formed to ensure Indigenous Australians are considered and included in the application of genomic medicine – where information from DNA is used to better inform patient risk, diagnosis and care. Supported by Telethon Kids Institute, the Australian National University and 28 other key partners, ALIGN will be governed by an Indigenous Council to ensure every ‘gift’ of DNA provided by Indigenous Australians is treated with respect.

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Today: from $3 billion genome to the $1,000 genome. Tomorrow: your code on your phone?

The International Congress of Genetics returns to Australia

Today

  • 4 pm: Evensong celebrating science and faith at St Pauls Cathedral – more below
  • 6 pm: Congress opening ceremony with Victorian Health Minister Mary-Anne Thomas, and Congress Chair Kathryn North, Melbourne Convention Centre

Monday

  • Capturing the genetic code of every species in the Tree of Life.
  • Nobel Laureate Christiane Nüsslein-Volhard, African Biogenome Project leader Anne Muigai, Science Executive Editor Valda Vinson on Women in Science – unique journeys to different peaks, with Jen Martin.

Media welcome

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Precision medicine for Indigenous communities

“Nothing about us, without us”

National Indigenous genomics initiative launch

Sunday 16 July 2023 10 am

Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre

A national centre launched today will bring the benefits of genomics medicine to Indigenous Australians, who still have a life expectancy 10 years less that the general population.

“80 per cent of this life expectancy gap is due to chronic disease,” says Alex Brown, Lead of The Australian Alliance for Indigenous Genomics (ALIGN) and Professor of Indigenous Genomics at the Telethon Kids Institute and the Australian National University. Alex is a member of the Yuin Nation and grew on the NSW South Coast.

“Australia is on the cusp of a new era in personalised medicine that will bring deeper insights into common diseases like heart disease, diabetes, and cancer,” he says.

“ALIGN is a commitment designed by Indigenous people, for Indigenous people, to offer the benefit of genomic medicine to all,” he says.

“Its basic premise is ‘nothing about us, without us.’ This is critical to ensure equity is achieved in health outcomes,” he says.

[Read more…] about Precision medicine for Indigenous communities

Dreamliner composites. Hearing loss. AI valuations. Healing chronic wounds. Mercury-free teeth.

Innovation winners from Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Brisbane

Six Excellence in Innovation awards were presented last night at the Collaborate Innovate 2023 conference in Adelaide, held by Collaborative Research Australia. The awards are sponsored by UNSW.

“The winners have each shown how Australian research can be transformed through collaboration into impactful organisations and businesses, creating jobs and improving lives,” says Jane O’Dwyer, the CEO of Cooperative Research Australia.

[Read more…] about Dreamliner composites. Hearing loss. AI valuations. Healing chronic wounds. Mercury-free teeth.