First south-north human genome conference

Abstract

Easi ly 75% of the human genome is in the possession of those inhabi tan t s of this globe who live in developing countries. I t seems evident t ha t these peoples and the nat ions to which they belong have a s take in the human genome project. The F i r s t S o u t h N o r t h Human Genome Conference discussed the appropr ia te role for one developing area, Lat in America. The conference was a useful exercise in examining the problems, opportunit ies , challenges, and solutions. The conference was sponsored pr imar i ly by UNESCO and the Brazi l ian Society of Biochemist ry and Molecular Biology. There were, however, a number of o ther sponsors, including the Human Genome Organisat ion (HUGO) and the Thi rd Wor ld Academy of Sciences (TWAS). The cha i rman of the local organizing commit tee was Professor S@rgio D. J. Pena of Belo Horizonte, Brazil. I t was held in Caxamb6, Brazil, May 12-15, 1992, and attended by about 200 par t ic ipants . F rom discussions in the pas t a t several in ternat ional conferences, such as the two at Valencia, Spain, organized by Professor S. Grisolia, it is clear tha t all the peoples of the world must have access to the informat ion and knowledge coming out of the H u m a n Genome Project and be given an oppor tuni ty to benefit from it. Fur thermore , all peoples of the world must be represented in discussions of the ethical and societal implicat ions of the new-found knowledge. All peoples of the world should have a chance to profit from the appl icat ion of this knowledge in medicine, in the forensic setting, and in the s tudy of nonhuman genomes, such as those of economic p lants and animals and of paras i tes and other infectious agents. The Caxambfi conference provided an oppor tuni ty to survey what is being done in the area of molecular genetics in Lat in America and what could and should be done. I t pointed up the problems and proposed tenta t ive solutions. The invited speakers included several working on various aspects of the human genome project in developed countries, others who are doing research in molecular biology under difficult condit ions in the developing world, and many representat ives from Lat in American countries. Human biological diversi ty was one focus of the conference. Developing countries must be involved, and can be usefully involved, in any studies of genetic diversi ty tha t are undertaken. Background