The aim of the congress is to reflect on progress made in genetics, to celebrate the best of contemporary research and to anticipate future developments in the discipline.
Also, the benefits and wider implications of genetic research to societies at large are explored.
The Congress has been held in many major cities around the world, such as London, New York City, Paris, Ithaca, Edinburgh, Stockholm, Bellagio, Montreal, The Hague, Tokyo, Berkeley, Moscow, New Delhi, Toronto, Birmingham, Beijing, Melbourne, Berlin and Singapore.
In 2018, the 22nd International Congress of Genetics will be held in Foz de Iguaçu, Brazil.
The IGF is governed by a representative council that meets every five years at the International Congress of Genetics (ICG) to choose the venue of the next Congress, to elect IGF officers and members of the Executive Board, and to set dues, make or affirm policy decisions, and amend the IGF Constitution as needed.