Letter from the Editors

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The regular world congress of the International Union of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (IUBMB) was held in Shanghai in august 2009. This forum takes place regularly every three years and brings together thousands of scientists from all over the world. The sweep of considered questions is broad and covers almost every possible topic, which can be brought under the general umbrella of Life Sciences. It is worth admitting that the World and European International versions of the congress have become less attractive. This is mostly because of the absence of the “stars,” the researchers who have initiated the development of dramatically new trends in science. Scientists with great interest attend more specialized forums, and the ability of the Internet and modern telecommunication often eliminate the necessity for personal communication. In the present case, the Shanghai congress was a pleasant exception. Suffice to say that plenary lectures were given by four Nobel Prize winners – Kurt Wuthrich, Aaron Ciechanover, Sidney Altman, and Luc Montagnier. Three of them made their reports a summary of their work for the Nobel Prize discovery, namely NMR proteins, ubiquitin-dependent processing of proteins, and the world of RN A. Luc Montagnier, the man who discovered the human immunodeficiency virus (2008 prize in physiology and medicine), disappointed the audience because he did not speak on immunodeficiencies but chose to lecture on electromagnetic waves conduction through DNA.