COMS

The 21st century presents global challenges in the environment, resources, energy, health, and sustainability. The Institute of Biological Engineering supports the community of scientists and engineers that are addressing these problems through biological systems analysis and design. We do this through enhancing and promoting biological engineering in the broadest manner through research, education, and professional development.

The emerging discipline of biological engineering lies at the interfaces of biological sciences, engineering sciences, mathematics and computational sciences. It applies biological systems to enhance of the quality and diversity of life.

Analyses of gene expression during senescence mainly performed on the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana revealed a massive reprogramming of gene expression indicating chromatin remodelling and epigenetic control. Similar higher order regulatory processes have been associated with genes influencing postharvest processes such as fruit ripening and likely figure prominently in postharvest activities. This conference will include sessions highlighting recent advances in senescence and post-harvest biology including environmental effects. A major focus will be on higher order regulation of senescence and postharvest processes involving genetic and epigenetic factors (chromatin remodelling, methylation and miRNAs). The meeting will integrate high order regulation of senescence and postharvest biology with approaches aimed to elucidate the function of associated gene products using the methodologies of various disciplines such as cell biology, biochemistry, physiology genetics and genomics where systems approaches will be emphasized.

Our goal is to bring together researchers and students of diverse disciplines to promote an integrated understanding of these important processes intimately associated with crop quality and productivity so as to enhance our understanding of plant senescence and postharvest biology and to provide information for crop scientists to develop improved varieties and postharvest procedures.