From April 20 to 23, the 2024 Annual Symposium of the Cytogenetics Branch of the Genetics Society of China was successfully held in Kaifeng, Henan. The symposium welcomed nearly 100 experts and scholars from over 30 institutions, including the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Peking University, and Lanzhou University. Among the attendees were 41 members of the Cytogenetics Branch. Notable attendees included Academician Weicai Yang, President of the Genetics Society of China and member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Researcher Wei Li, Director of the Cytogenetics Branch of the Genetics Society of China, Professor Lixin Zhang, Vice President for Academic Affairs at Henan University (HENU), Professor Zhongnan Yang from HENU, and Professor Zhukuan Cheng from HENU. The opening ceremony was presided over by Professor Gang Wang, Executive Dean of the School of Life Sciences, HENU.

Professor Lixin Zhang extended a warm welcome to all the experts and briefly introduced HENU. He expressed his hope that, in addition to engaging in academic exchanges, the experts would provide valuable suggestions for the development of the University and its related disciplines, particularly in further advancing the discipline construction in biology.

Academician Weicai Yang expressed his gratitude to HENU and all the experts for their support of the symposium. He emphasized that the event not only facilitated the sharing and exchange of the latest research achievements in cytogenetics but also provided a platform for jointly exploring the future direction of the field, ultimately promoting the in-depth development of cytogenetics research in China. Researcher Wei Li added that the sharing of recent research findings and advancements by numerous experts during the conference would undoubtedly inspire new research ideas among the participants.

The symposium featured 16 academic presentations, including one plenary lecture and 15 thematic reports, which comprehensively showcased the latest achievements in cytogenetics research from diverse perspectives and levels.

The symposium was hosted by the Cytogenetics Branch of the Genetics Society of China and organized by the School of Life Sciences of HENU, the Henan Key Laboratory of Synthetic Biology and Bio-manufacturing, and the State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Adaptation and Improvement. The Cytogenetics Branch is dedicated to advancing academic research and promoting public understanding of cytogenetics in China. It strives to establish collaborative research initiatives and facilitate the exchange of research findings among experts and scholars within the field. Furthermore, the Branch aims to build cooperative platforms that foster the integration of industry, education, and research, ultimately driving the implementation of new productive forces and fostering innovation in science and technology. The symposium provided a valuable platform for teachers and students at HENU to engage in academic exchanges and learning, bringing new insights and practices to the development of biology as a first-class discipline at the university.