Conference report: An important event in Saint Petersburg

The IIR-co-sponsored International Conference on the "Conservation of Genetic Resources", was held in Saint Petersburg at the prestigious Institute of Cytology (Russian Academy of Sciences), on October 19-22, 2004. There were 120 participants from 8 countries, with 100 presentations. Ten cryobiological equipment manufacturers ran stands. In addition to the plenary meetings, 5 separate sessions were held on fundamental cryobioloby and cryotechnological applications, mammals, plants, aquatic species, and population and molecular genetics in relation to the creation of cryocollections and cryobanks for animals. This successful conference on a promising subject took place thanks to Dr Valentin Ananiev, Vice-President of Commission C1. Prof. Dr Saijo Sumida, Past President of Commission C1, presented a paper. Daniel Viard, Deputy Director, represented the IIR.