The sequencing of the genome of several species is allowing a better understanding of the structure and dynamics of biological systems. This research is also challenging researchers with new ethical issues about the use of this information and the sharing of the benefits. At the same time, genomic advances are challenging the development of new curricular programs that can adapt to new advances. In this regard, the ethics and education track will provide an open forum for researchers, educators and ethics worldwide to discuss the challenges and opportunities dealing with training of a new generation of researchers and the social implications of the genomics, bioinformatics and nanotechnology.

Panel Discussion:
Scott Little, University of South Carolina, USA
John Rose, University of South Carolina, USA
Deanne Taylor, Serono Reproductive Institute. USA
Vivian Stojanoff, Brookhaven National Laboratory. USA
The X6A workbench experience Slides
John Baynes, University of South Carolina, USA

Genomics of Cancer and Bioinformatics for Toxicogenomics
Discussion Leader:Willy A. Valdivia-Granda, Orion Integrated Biosciences, Inc.

The goals of the toxicogenomics track is to feature researchers trying to elucidate molecular mechanisms of involved in studying: a) cellular responses to environmental stresses, b) how responses to environmental stressors extrapolate from one species to another; c) identify toxicant-specific and adverse effects-specific patterns of gene expression; d) develop gene expression-based biomarkers to particular toxic components; e) develop a bioinformatic tools to integrate genomic data dealing with the effects of toxicological compounds.

Systems biology and biocomplexity aims to integrate the knowledge of biologists, mathematicians, engineers, and computer scientists with those of evolutionary biologists, pharmacologists, and pathologists to produce a robust and comprehensive understanding of the multiresulution interactions within living cells. This track will focus on research that has a computational component, but is strongly coupled with and relevant for experimental investigationsgations and advanced visualization tools.

This track will feature researchers studying life through the use of human-made analogs of living systems. The synthetic life aspect of this track will feature researchers focus in stretching the boundaries of life and machines until the two overlap to yield truly programmable organisms.

Less than 10% of the world's resources for health research are devoted to 90% of the world's health problems. The infectious diseases track will aim to present the recent developments in the application of genomic and computational tools to find relevant targets for vaccines and drugs against tropical, sexually transmitted diseases and other pathogens afflicting large number of people. This track will also focus in the understanding of signaling, regulatory and metabolic pathways involved in immunity and molecular aspects of host-parasite relationships.