In this First Okazaki Biological Conference of "The Biology of Extinction",
we will discuss a wide range of aspects in biological sciences which are
related to the extinction of species. The purpose of the conference is to explore the possibility of forming a new research field of basic biology centered around this theme.
Scientists from diverse fields of biological
sciences, including evolution, ecology, genetics, developmental biology,
molecular biology, taxonomy, and paleontology, will present different faces
of the problem, and join the discussion. We will start with a session of
pre-historic extinction of species, based on paleobiological analysis and
DNA sampled from fossils. We then discuss phylogenetic and molecular evolutionary
approaches to speciation and extinction, followed by sessions on the maintenance
and production of species diversity and on ecological and genetical approaches
to the mechanism of population extinction. We will also ponder on the possible
study field of developmental and molecular biology on the propensity of
species extinction. The conference will end with a session on the consequences
of species extinction, including those on the ecosystem function.
All the participants except for speakers
are requested to give a poster paper on Wednesday. Poster presenters are
also expected to prepare for a short talk, because a limited number among
them will be selected and requested to give an oral presentation on Friday.