Global Chinese scientists gather in Hangzhou to discuss genetics achievements

More than 400 Chinese geneticists from home and abroad have gathered in Hangzhou, capital of east China's Zhejiang Province, over the past three days to discuss genetics studies.

At the first Global Conference of Chinese Geneticists, which concluded on Monday, they exchanged views on topics ranging from human genetics and genome studies to biomedicine, according to Guan Minxin, head of the College of Life Sciences under the Hangzhou-based Zhejiang University (ZJU).

The conference was co-organized by the Genetics Society of China, ZJU and the Association of Chinese Geneticists in America.

Yang Huanming, an academic at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, said Chinese scientists have been making greater contributions to global life science research, adding that China has become a leader in genetics.

Last year, China's national natural science foundation earmarked 170 million yuan (26.7 million US dollars) in funding for nearly 300 projects related to genetic and biological studies, double the amount spent in 2010, according to Yang.