Over 700 of the world’s top geneticists, representing around 30 countries, attended HGM2006, the 11th annual conference of The Human Genome Organisation (HUGO), this year held in Helsinki. HUGO is the international organisation for scientists involved in human genetics. Established in 1989 by a collection of the world's leading human geneticists, the primary ethos of HUGO is to promote and sustain international collaboration in the field of human genetics.

Holding to this ethos, the conference agenda contained 4 plenary sessions on topics ranging from the evolution of genes to obsessions in modern society; 7 symposia, including a series on the genetics of cognitive defects; plus nearly 14 workshops and over 300 posters.

The Northbank team of Eva Levin, Lorna Watson, Gemma Bradley, and Adam Michael ran the media relations programme and press office for HGM2006. While attending the conference the Northbank team stayed up very late, not in the bar, but putting together daily newsletters covering the breaking stories of the event - and in the process, stumbled across a few previously undiscovered genes.

View HGM 2006 June 2nd Newsletter.

View HGM 2006 June 3rd Newsletter.