Working Group 2 Workshop in Tovetorp, Sweden, 9th-13th March, 2020
To answer how humans have affected genetic diversity across species, both positively and negatively, a group of G-BiKE members teamed up with other conservation genetics specialists to embark on a global meta-analysis of trends in genetic diversity, on a scale never attempted before. For this to happen, they needed to screen a shortlist of more than 30 thousand scientific articles that may contain valuable genetic trend data, before actual data analysis. All biomes and all multicellular taxonomic groups are included, with wild and domesticated species, endangered and common species, etc.
The workshop in the ethological research station of Stockholm University at Tovetorp (Sweden) was set up to train 15 specialists of WG 2 (genetic monitoring) to screen papers and extract data in a standardized way for later analyses.
Overall, they screened nearly 9000 articles, and extracted temporal genetic data from more than 200 species. They will continue to work on this programme for the next few weeks, albeit in isolation. Other G-BiKErs will be recruited with the aim of completing this endeavour in a couple of months.
Here some pictures.
WG4 Workshop for practitioners and scientists “New developments in the field of genomics technologies for solving practical conservation issues” 4th – 6th March 2020, Portorož – Portorose, Slovenia
G-BiKE Working Group 4 hold a workshop entitled “New developments in the field of genomics technologies for solving practical conservation issues” in Portorož – Portorose, Slovenia from 4th-6th March 2020, organized by Prof. Dr. Elena Bužan (University of Primorska, Slovenia) and her group. There were 5 invited speakers and 15 participants from 14 different countries. During talks and discussions participants were provided an overview about: new gene modification techniques, gene drive techniques, recent biotechnology approaches, what contributes to inbreeding depression and how to translate research on to wildlife management. The role of biobanking, reproductive science and genomics for genetic rescue in highly endangered species was further discussed along with the importance of ancient DNA and how can we control malaria using gene drive mosquitoes. The main outcome of the workshop will be a scientific paper where we are supposed to provide an overview of potential use of new genomic technologies for addressing practical conservation issues in which we will emphasize what is feasibly now and what is far ahead as well as possibilities to implement these techniques in different countries.
Here some pictures
Working Group 2 Meeting “Tools for monitoring genetic diversity”, 21st – 22nd November 2019, Vrdnik, Serbia
G-BiKE Working Group 2 "Monitoring of genetic diversity" had 1st meeting in Granting Period 1 from 20th to 22nd November in National Park “Fruška Gora” in Serbia. In total, 29 G-BiKErs from 23 countries were participated to this event that has been organized by Dr Nevena Veličković (SCM of G-BiKE) and Milomir Sefanović on behalf of Wildlife and Game Management Scientific Society and Department of Biology and Ecology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Novi Sad. There were two very intensive and lively days where G-BiKErs were reviewing the current available data of genetic monitoring, discussing what does an ideal monitoring program look like and if currently we have any examples of it. Participants were also working in different groups, reviewing available data per geographical regions, synthesising the results, and working on the ideal monitoring activity and how the current results map on to this. On the second day of the meeting, participants were reviewing current monitoring indicators and discussing about needs for new one. One of the important outcomes of the meeting is workshop that will be organized in March 2020, that will be meta-analyses on thousands of paper dealing with change in genetic diversity. This event attracted Serbian journalists and Serbian National Television crew came for filming TV show about G-BiKE Cost Action. Eleven G-BiKErs from different countries and with different scientific backgrounds were giving interviews for TV.
You can see how it was on meeting in Serbia: https://photos.app.goo.gl/8HpghbuMK8gqhMhi9
G-BiKE MEETING IN SARAJEVO
2nd Management Committee Meeting & Working Group Meetings WERE HELD IN Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina in period 4th – 6th September 2019
Here some pictures.
KICK OFF MEETING
The First Management Committee Meeting (i.e. kick off meeting) of G-BiKE COST Action was held in Brussels on 8th March 2019. Representatives from 27 countries attended it. The main aims of the meeting were to set the frame of the Action, elect management structure and plan project implementation.