Thomas R. Gingeras is professor in genomes studies at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory. During his interview with local Guangzhou media outlets, he said that the cooperation between his team and Guangzhou is a "natural thing", and that the genetic research by his team may help improve the happiness index of people in the later years of their lives.

Aaron Ciechanover, an Israeli biochemist and former Nobel Prize winner in 2004, delivers a speech. [Photo/Guangzhou Daily]

"What we are doing is collecting information, understanding the changing of different human genes, and how genetic inheritance is achieved," he said. The professor expressed hope that they could do something to help spread the gene knowledge among children and adults in China.

Other important speakers at the convention include Chen Jianrong, deputy director of the Guangzhou development and reform commission, Shi Yigong, president of Westlake University, and Rocky S. Tuan, president of the Chinese University of Hong Kong.

The 12th China Bioindustry Convention has the theme of "Toward a new era of biological economy: innovation, benefiting mankind and sustainable development." It got underway in the Guangdong province capital of Guangzhou on June 10 and will run until June 12.

Thomas R.Gingeras, professor in genomes studies at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, speaks at the 12th China Bioindustry Convention. [Photo/Guangzhou Daily]