The 2nd International Conference on the Bioinformatics of Genome Regulation and Structure (BGRS-2000), Novosibirsk, August 2000.

摘要

Whereas the first conference in this series (see Bioinformatics 15, 527-714 (1999)) established Genome Regulation and Structure as a distinct area of investigation, the second developed the theme by presenting more of the systems' view now made feasible through the availability of whole-genome data. BGRS-2000 was a larger and more varied event. Attracting substantial industrial sponsorship, a host of leading figures gave oral presentations in the sessions on analysis of regulatory genomic sequences, structural genomics, regulatory genomic sequence and protein databases, comparative and evolutionary genomics, gene and metabolic networks, and functional genomics. There were also sessions arising from the activities of the International Association (http://www. intas.be/) which promotes East-West scientific co-operation and on Bioinformatics education. Out of all these activities, a number of speakers were invited to submit follow-up articles for peer review and appearance in this conference issue. They provide a flavour of the breadth the event. Finally, the event was dedicated to the memory of Chris Overton (Director of the Center for Bioinformatics, Univ. Pennsylvania and conference co-chairman) whose untimely death in June 2000 came as a shock to all those who knew him. He is rightly recognised as a pioneer in genomic research and the application of computational approaches to biological problems.