Wild mice in Zurich!
Rob and Jane (from MBE) recently presented their work on wild mouse MUP characterisation at the 4th International Mouse Meeting at the University of Zurich. The conference was brilliantly organised by Barbara König and her colleagues, and had some excellent lessons for future meeting organisers. It was a small meeting - and there was a friendly vibe throughout the proceedings. The breaks (coffee and lunch) were extended (1h each), which gave us plenty of time to talk to each other. The evening events kept us together, we enjoyed a great barbecue on site for the first night in the gardens of the rather lovely UZH campus, and on the second night, we had an ‘after hours’ tour of the Madagascar biosphere at Zurich Zoo followed by a buffet meat, still in the biosphere. It says something for the Zurich public transport system that Barbara instructed us all to find our way there by trams - very straightforward. The talks were broad ranging and excellent - did you know that a lactating mouse needs to produce 100mL of very rich milk - quite a demand on her metabolism! Or that the shape of a mouse pre-molar is under strong selection. That another multi-gene family, the ABPs are also undergoing a merry dance in recent evolutionary time. And that the two subspecies of mice Mus musculus domesticus and Mus musculus musculus are engaged in a genetic battle across a hybrid zone that splits Europe into two!
All in all, a terrific meeting. The 5th meeting will be near Prague, and promises to be equally fascinating.
Thanks to Barbara and her colleagues for a great event!
All in all, a terrific meeting. The 5th meeting will be near Prague, and promises to be equally fascinating.
Thanks to Barbara and her colleagues for a great event!