Modern approaches in genetic modification are opening many ethical and legal questions that are to be debated at the conference, said the Faculty for Mathematics, Natural science and IT of the University of Primorska.

The four main topics of the conference entitled "Could genetic engineering be the saviour of extinct species? Will mammoth roam the Earth again?" will be genetic engineering and endangered species, biotechnological approaches in situ and ex situ, control over invasive species, and the role of synthetic biology in the preservation and protection of species.

The conference will also be attended by scientists who are researching wild animals which can transmit diseases to humans, as well as viruses that can be transmitted from animals to humans such as MERS from the species of coronavirus that can be transmitted from camel to human.

The conference is being held as part of the COST Action Genomic Biodiversity Knowledge for Resilient Ecosystems (G-BiKE), which is setting up a network to connect scientists and experts from the EU and wider who are working on including genetic tools in efforts to preserve biodiversity.