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BIO 2006 to Highlight Recent Advances in Animal Biotechnology

WASHINGTON, D.C. (March 30, 2006) – Consumers have increasingly heard about the potential health benefits of foods from biotech-improved and cloned animals, such as biotech pigs with increased omega-3 fatty acids. As agricultural biotechnology continues to advance and provide more examples of improved animal health and more nutritious consumer products, experts in animal science will meet at the BIO 2006 Annual International Convention to discuss the progress in agricultural animal biotechnology and animal genomics. The BIO 2006 Annual International Convention will take place April 9-12, 2006 at McCormick Place Convention Center in Chicago.

The Food and Agriculture program at BIO 2006 is the largest and most comprehensive agricultural biotechnology venue in BIO’s history. For the first time, the conference will include an Animal Biotechnology subtrack, which includes six sessions that specifically address animal biotechnology issues. Scientists, regulators, company CEOs, and animal producer groups will discuss the latest research, including the potential consumer health benefits that will come from biotech and cloned animals.

Additionally, the Food and Agriculture Pavilion on the exhibit floor will showcase the role biotechnology has played in revolutionizing agriculture throughout the food chain. On display in the Pavilion will be the world’s largest indoor cornfield, along with farmers from around the world who will discuss the benefits of biotech crops, and the Green Kitchen, a kitchen built with materials from bioproducts.

The following sessions are part of the Animal Biotechnology subtrack at BIO 2006 (for complete descriptions, go to http://www.bio.org/events/2006/speakers/sessionlist.asp?id=13):

· Impact of Genomics on Animal Agriculture, Monday, April 10 at 11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., Room 402A

· Consumer Opinion’s Impact on Regulation, Marketing, Funding and Business Survivability in Animal Biotech, Tuesday, April 11 at 9:15 – 10:45 a.m., Room 402A

· Agricultural Applications of Transgenic Livestock, Tuesday, April 11 at 11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., Room 402A

· Livestock Cloning: Producer Applications, Consumer Benefits, Tuesday, April 11 at 2:00 – 3:30 p.m., Room 402A

· Animal ID and DNA Verification: Their Role in Health, Safety, Quality and Consistency, Tuesday, April 11 at 4:00 – 5:30 p.m., Room 402A

· Driving New Vaccine Technologies from Concept to Market: The Animal Health Model, Wednesday, April 12 at 11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., Room 402B

BIO 2006, the Biotechnology Industry Organization’s annual convention is April 9-12, 2006 in Chicago at McCormick Place. The convention is expected to draw 18,000 CEOs, researchers, policymakers, journalists, and venture capitalists for three days of networking and learning. BIO 2006 will feature more than 180 educational sessions and workshops on finance, partnering, R&D, science and policy.

Advance media registration for BIO 2006 is now available online. Registration is complimentary for credential members of the news media. To register, please visit http://www.bio.org/events/2006/reg/. Only reporters and editors working full-time for print or broadcast news organizations may register onsite with valid media credentials. All freelancers and online publications must register in advance by Friday, March 31, 2006.

BIO represents more than 1,100 biotechnology companies, academic institutions, state biotechnology centers and related organizations across the United States and 31 other nations. BIO members are involved in the research and development of health-care, agricultural, industrial and environmental biotechnology products.

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