World Congress of Malacology - EvoDevo

[Prof. Dr. Gerhard HASZPRUNAR]

Dear colleagues,

please spread the following information to all possibly interested
scientists.

For all further details of the World Congress of Malacology (WCM) 2001 in
Vienna see http://www.univie.ac.at/WCM2001/index.htm.

Thank you in advance and see you in Vienna.

Gerhard Haszprunar

P.S.: I excuse for crossposting with MOLLUSCA

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        EVO-DEVO IN MOLLUSCS
        AMS-symposium at WCM 2001 in Vienna, Austria organized by
        Gerhard Haszprunar and Wim J.A.G. Dictus

Each organism (including ourselves) is the result of an ontogenetic and
phylogenetic process. Due to major progress in the methodology of
developmental genetics and high-tech morphology comparative studies of
developmental processes have become major tools during the last years.
Although the variability of developmental modes in the Mollusca is extremely
high and even traceable in the fossil record, most contributions in the
field are based on examples other than molluscs, and many systematic
malacologists are unaware of this field of research.
        In addition, "Nothing in biology [molluscan development] makes sense except
in the light of evolution" [i.e. phylogeny] (Dobzhansky). Again the recent
progresses in molluscan phylogeny (particularly gastropods) makes the
Mollusca ideal for „Evo-Devo"-Studies  and the results important for all
malacologists.

Accordingly, the objectives of the symposium are two-fold:
        (i) To spread the available knowledge on the evolution of molluscan
development.
        (ii) To show molluscs as extremely suitable models for future evo-devo
studies.

Major topics that we intend to address during this symposium include:
        (1) New data on molluscan development being interpreted in a phylogenetic
framework.
        (2) The understanding of molluscan phylogeny as an evolution of
life-cycles.
        (3) Evolutionary interaction between larval and adult stages by means of
heterochrony (paedomorphosis versus recapitulation).

We want to invite also two young, outstanding scientists (graduate students
or post-docs, maximum age 32 years) to contribute to the symposium. These
will receive financial support of US$ 300,-- each. If you are interested
please send (best via e-mail):
        (1) short (!) curriculum
        (2) publication list
        (3) abstract of proposed contribution

U N T I L   D E C E M B E R    31st   2 0 0 0

We plan to complement this symposium with a section of the congress, where
additional contributions, oral lectures or (strongly preferred) posters, are
welcome. We invite everyone, who would like to contribute to the symposium
or would like to comment to contact us.

Gerhard Haszprunar and Wim J.A.G. Dictus

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Prof. Dr. Gerhard Haszprunar
Zoologische Staatssammlung Muenchen
Muenchhausentr. 21
D-81247 Muenchen, Germany
e-mail: haszi at zi.biologie.uni-muenchen.de
http://www.zsm.mwn.de/Direktor
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