The socieTy of biology magazine ■ issn 0006-3347Biologist ■ socieTyofbiology.org Vol 59 no 2 ■ JUne 2012

SpeCIAL RepORT wONDeR weeD Inside Britain’s only legal cannabis farm

NATURe OLYmpICS 2012 SCIeNCe ON TV ReINTRODUCTIONS GeNe DOpING ReALITY TV Bringing beavers Towards genetically Are TV science back to Britain altered athletes graphics misleading? TheBiologist The SOCIeTY OF BIOLOGY MAGAZINe

Volume 59 No 2 / June 2012 Contents

8 26 IN ThIS ISSUe 8 2012: an Olympic year 22 Designer athletes News for science Genetically engineered How Usain Bolt wins medals athletes may not be part of 4 society news one stride at a time. this year’s Olympics, but 8 opinion Dr Cristiana Velloso 39 member news 9 empowering women investigates the advances in 42 branch news in Africa genotype research How female African scientists Regulars are overcoming a male- 26 Back to life dominated scientific community Scottish Natural Heritage’s 3 nelson’s column to undertake vital research. Dr Martin Gaywood looks at 10 biofeedback the role of reintroduction 14 Flower power projects as a way to conserve 12 Policy update An in-depth look at the cannabis important species and 34 spotlight plant at the UK’s only legal restore ecosystems. 36 reviews cannabis glasshouse. 47 crossword 30 Sir Stephen Bloom 48 final Word 19 Reality TV The distinguished Professor Brian J Ford asks why and recently knighted broadcasters spend huge sums endocrinologist talks on computer-generated digital to Sue Thorn FSB scientific simulations when the about his research 19

MAIN COVER IMAGE: ALAMY IMAGE: COVER MAIN real thing is available on video. into obesity.

Vol 59 No 2 / The BIOLOGIST / 1 The BIOLOGIST Vol 59 No 2 • June 12 Contacts eDITORIAL BOARD STAFF AND CONTACT DeTAILS editor Chief executive Sue Nelson Dr Mark Downs FSB Society of Biology Assistant editor Jennifer Crosk, PA to Mark Downs Charles Darwin house, Tom Ireland MSB [email protected] 12 Roger Street, [email protected] London wC1N 2JU memBeRShIp, mARkeTING & COmmUNICATIONS Tel: 020 7685 2550 For membership enquiries, call 0844 858 9316 Fax: 020 3514 3204 [email protected] members [email protected] Director of membership, marketing J Ian Blenkharn MSB FRSPh & Communications www.societyofbiology.org Phil Collier MSc PhD CBiol FSB FLS Fhe Jon Kudlick Views expressed in this magazine are Cameron S Crook BSc MPhil CBiol MSB MIeeM FLS marketing manager Adam Timmins not necessarily those of the editorial Rajith Dissanayake MSc PhD FZS AMSB public engagement and events executive Board or the Society of Biology. Catherine Duigan BSc PhD FSB FLS Dr Jenna Stevens-Smith MSB © 2012 Society of Biology John heritage BA DPhil CBiol FSB marketing Assistant Zoë Martin AMSB (Registered charity no. 277981) Sue howarth BSc PhD CBiol FSB press Officer Allan Jamieson BSc PhD CBiol FSB Dr Rebecca Nesbit MSB The Society permits single copying Catherine Jopling BSc PhD MSB editorial Assistant of individual articles for private study Karen Patel AMSB or research, irrespective of where Susan Omar BSc PGCe CBiol MSB MRSPh FRGS the copying is done. Multiple copying Leslie Rose BSc CBiol FSB FICR MAPM eDUCATION AND TRAINING of individual articles for teaching [email protected] purposes is also permitted without head of education specific permission. For copying or Advisory panel Rachel Lambert-Forsyth CBiol MSB reproduction or any other purpose, higher education policy Officer Ian Clarke, horticulture Research International, UK written permission must be sought from Dr eva Sharpe MSB Clive Cornford, Unitec, Auckland, New Zealand the Society. exceptions to the above are Competitions Co-ordinator Sharon Grimster, BioPark, UK Dr Amanda hardy those institutions and non-publishing organisations that have an agreement or Alan Lansdown, Imperial College London, UK Qualifications and Skills Officer Natasha Neill AMSB licence with the UK Copyright Licensing Walter Leal Filho, Agency or the US Copyright Clearance hamburg University of Applied Sciences, Germany SCIeNCe pOLICY Centre. Access to articles is available Marios Kyriazis, [email protected] online; please see the Society’s website Biogerontologist and anti-ageing physician, UK head of Science policy for futher details. Don McManus, Bancroft Centre, Australia Dr Laura Bellingan FSB Senior Science policy Advisers The Biologist is produced on behalf Peter Moore, Kings’ College, London, UK Dr Barbara Knowles FSB of the Society of Biology by Brian Osborne, Australia Dr Caroline Wallace MSB Think Publishing Ltd. John Scott, University of Leicester, UK Science policy Officer 124-128 Barlby Road Jackie Caine MSB London W10 6BL Robert Spooner-hart, University of project Officer(Natural Capital Initiative) Western Sydney, Australia www.thinkpublishing.co.uk Daija Angeli 020 8962 3020 Kathleen Weathers, Institute of BBSRC policy Intern ecosystem Studies, USA Richard Fautley Design Steve Wilson, Pfizer Animal health Director of parliamentary Affairs Alistair McGown Stephen Benn Sub editors Cathi Thacker, Indira Mann A wINDOw ON The LIFe SCIeNCeS Financial Administrator publisher The Biologist is a bi-monthly magazine Surinder Sohal John Innes (published six times per year) that carries the [email protected] [email protected] full richness and diversity of biology. Science is pROFeSSIONAL ReGISTeRS brought to life with stimulating and authoritative professional Registers manager Non-member rates: £116.00 features, while topical pieces discuss science Dr Cliff Collis CBiol FSB policy, new developments or controversial [email protected] ISSN 0006-3347 issues. Aimed at biologists everywhere, its Senior project manager (Technicians’ Register) straightforward style makes it ideal for educators Dr Mike Trevethick MSB Advertising in The Biologist represents and students at all levels, as well as the interested an unparalleled opportunity to reach amateur. Submissions of interesting and timely european Countries Biologists Association (eCBA) Representative a large community of professional articles, short opinion pieces and letters are biologists. welcome. Articles should be aimed at a non- Dr Tony Allen CBiol FSB [email protected] specialist audience and convey your enthusiasm For advertising information contact and expertise. Instructions for authors are hO Licensee Accreditation Board Rosanna Chambers available on the Society of Biology website or on Fraser Darling CBiol FSB [email protected] request from the editorial office. [email protected] 020 8962 3026

2 / The BIOLOGIST / Vol 59 No 2 Nelson’s Column

eed, pot, hash, their medals are gained fairly. The fault with TV’s representation of grass. The names anti-doping authorities have already microscopic science on page 19 and may differ but they voiced concern about the misuse of I suspect will start an interesting are all forms of the gene therapy within athletics, debate on artistic license in biology. same plant. although there is no evidence that Finally, when I became Editor two wCannabis is the UK’s most widely this has ever happened. years ago, it was on condition that I used illegal drug but disagreement Genetically engineered athletes provided a journalistic overview for over its classification or legalisation may be science fiction at the moment, the magazine and the Society looked has often overshadowed its potential but Dr Cristiana Vellosa from King’s after the science. Although I have a medical benefits. College London, discusses on science degree, it is in physics. As cannabis can reduce nausea, it page 22 how knowing our genotype Embarrassingly for this publication, has been suggested for easing the side could one day be used to identify I’ve not studied biology since the age effects of chemotherapy, while its future Olympians. of 16 – after abandoning A-level relaxation properties are known to Incidentally, the Society was close biology due to being constantly on the benefit those with multiple sclerosis. to having its own potential Olympian verge of fainting during dissections. GW Pharmaceuticals grows when Jenna Stevens-Smith made To redress the balance – and maybe cannabis at a secret location in the the final 20 under consideration for as a cure for a weak stomach – I UK. The Biologist went to see it and Team GB’s volleyball team last year. recently applied for a Logan science Dr David Potter shares with us on A former international volleyball journalism fellowship at the Marine page 14 the science and the current player, Jenna knows more than most Biological Laboratory in Cape Cod. It’s good medical applications of the plant, about how the body behaves during As a result, when The Biologist lands to see the especially when it comes to pain sporting excellence and she promotes on your doorsteps, I will be wearing a relief. It’s good to see the politics the importance of science and sport white coat doing a hands-on laboratory politics taken out of potential therapies. on page 8. course in biomedical science. taken out Using drugs to enhance mood or It will be difficult to avoid the I’ll report on my experience in the of potential physical performance is nothing new saturation sports coverage during next edition of The Biologist, which therapies but the athletes competing in the the Olympics but I suspect Brian will arrive slightly earlier than usual, 2012 London Olympics will be under Ford might be watching science in August, as we move to publication particular scrutiny to ensure that documentaries instead. He finds every two months. Wish me well.

sue nelson, editor

Vol 59 No 2 / The BIOLOGIST / 3 Inaugural Society scheme to ‘Biology week’ boost graduate skills he Society is pleased to announce the first ever Society news TBiology Week will be held in the UK from the 13-19 October 2012. Plans for the week include practical experiments in schools, a ‘citizen science’ mass ecology data project, awards ceremonies for our science communication and New membership benefits photography competitions and a launch event in Parliament. fter increasing the frequency of our accredited Animal Licence Our local branches and Member of The Biologist from four to courses. The fourth, a travel bursary, Organisations are also planning a Asix times a year, the Society will be aimed at early career Our new whole range of events during the is also introducing a suite of new researchers, including PhD students. benefits all week, including lectures, outings benefits for members. have one and hands-on demonstrations. The Society has a diverse Competitions and awards If you have an event which you membership and, while it is a We currently run the Science main aim: to would like to include in Biology challenge to introduce benefits that Communication Awards, the support the Week, or if you would like more are of interest to all members, we Photography Competition (see professional information about ways to get have examined the results of the page 47) and the Higher Education development involved, please see the Society recent membership survey (see Bioscience Teacher Award, which of our website or contact Rebecca Nesbit on page 6) and looked at which grades are open to members and non- members ONLINe DeVeLOpmeNTS [email protected] of membership need most support. members. We are introducing five The new members’ area of the or 0207 685 2553. Our new benefits include a mix new membership competitions, website allows you to renew online, of grants, awards and networking including a book award, a school look up other members’ details, events, all with one main aim: essay competition and a school update your profile, browse to support the professional teacher award. More details will be The Biologist in an easy to read, Radio fun development of our members. announced later in the year. page-turning format, update your n conjunction with Fun Kids CPD activity, change your address Radio, the Society has launched a Grants Networking details and book into events. he first universities to achieve The first strides made in the biosciences I15-part radio series, Marina We are launching four new grant Networking lunches for Fellows and accreditation through the programmes recently. Universities and Science Ventura Inside Biology, to introduce schemes. The first is the Biology members and an annual Fellows’ ReDUCeD FeeS Society’s Degree Accreditation to be awarded Minister David Willetts also offered primary school children to biology T accreditation by Undergraduate Research Bursaries Dinner will continue. In September, We have reduced some of our pilot scheme were celebrated at an the society are his support and spoke of the “very and inspire them to continue their Programme, match-funded by we are hosting an evening reception membership fees! Student awards ceremony at the House of (clockwise from serious” absence of bioscience science education. The Nuffield Foundation for the at Charles Darwin House for all membership is now £15 and early Commons in March. top left) the degree accreditation. Fun Kids is the UK’s only radio first two years. The aim is to give members (AMSB, MSB and FSB), career MSBs can pay a lower rate The Society’s accreditation University of Accreditation will be expanded station dedicated to children aged 11 undergraduates research experience and we are also planning to organise of £85 for those with up to five programme is progressing well birmingham, the under the three main constituent and under and their families and has University of and to encourage them to consider two annual networking dinners for years’ paid employment, and £105 following the pilot, which tested the bristol, the areas of the biosciences, based upon over 180,000 listeners tuning in a career in scientific research. Two MSBs outside London (see Member for those with six to 10 years’ paid criteria of the scheme between June University of the QAA Bioscience Benchmarks: each week. Each episode focuses on other grants will help members to News, page 39). employment. Do encourage your 2011 and March 2012. The liverpool and the Molecular Aspects of Biology, a different aspect of biology, from attend CPD accredited courses and Jon Kudlick, sirector of Marketing, colleagues to join. programme has been developed in University of Organisms, and Ecological and exploring the human body to the help undergraduates attend one Membership and Communications order to ensure that a pipeline of sheffield. The Environmental Biology. Specific concept of sustainability. Starring programme skilled graduates are available for representatives criteria will be based primarily on established Fun Kids star Marina research roles in areas of national met science the skills required of graduates as Ventura, and with plenty of humour First International importance, in response to skills gaps minister David described by industry, academia and enthusiasm, the series will help highlighted by the bioscience industry. Willetts. and relevant societies. children learn about the wide role Degree programme The first programmes to be Throughout the pilot, the Society that biology plays in our lives, giving Recognised awarded accreditation by the Society has collected feedback as part of an them the perfect platform for are the University of Birmingham ongoing evaluation, which is now further learning. The Society’s Professor David Coates (MSci in Biochemistry), the available on our website. Marina Ventura Inside Biology FSB, Dr Liz Lakin FSB (right) and University of Bristol (BSc in The Society is now accepting began on Monday 16th April, but the Rachel Lambert-Forsyth CBiol MSB Biochemistry with a Year in formal expressions of interest from series is now available to (left) flew out to the United Arab Industry), the University of institutions with bioscience download at Emirates in April to assess the first Liverpool (MBiolSci Biochemistry) departments interested in gaining funkidslive.com degree programme to go through the and the University of Sheffield Degree Accreditation, with and iTunes. process of International Recognition (MBiolSci Biochemistry). additional details available online Rachel Lambert- by the Society. The University of Andrew Miller MP and Society or by contacting Natasha Neill, Forsyth CBiol Sharjah’s BSc Science in Biotechnology Chief Executive Dr Mark Downs Qualifications and Skills Officer at the MSB, Head of was subsequently recognised for the welcomed over 200 guests at the Society, on natashaneill@ Education academic years 2012-13 to 2017-18. ceremony and highlighted the great societyofbiology.org or 0207 685 2571.

4 / The BIOLOGIST / Vol 59 No 2 Vol 59 No 2 / The BIOLOGIST / 5 SOCIeTY NeWS MeMBeRShIP SURVeY/BIG BANG FAIR/SOCIeTY COMPeTITIONS/CPD/NeW PROFeSSIONAL ReGISTeRS memBeRShIp CpD: make the SURVeY Big Bang in Birmingham Record-breaking year most of your ver 2,800 members took part in our membership survey for Society competitions membership Oearlier this year, and overall the response was extremely positive record-breaking number of new online members’ system with 82% of members believing their students took part in the that allows members to easily membership represents good value A Society’s Biology Challenge A update their continuing for money. and Biology Olympiad competitions professional development (CPD) Members across all grades stated this year. activity is now live. their main reason for joining the Over 29,000 students entered the CPD is an important area of Society was to gain professional Society’s Biology Challenge, more scientific career paths, offering a recognition for their skills and than ever for the curriculum-based way for people to document any work abilities (41%) and to stay up to date science competition for 14-15 year- above and beyond their job role, and with what’s happening in the life olds. Almost 4,000 students from 443 aiding their progression. Almost any sciences (20%) – with a slight schools took part in the online first activity that develops your valuable preference for the latter amongst round of the British Biology Olympiad skills as a life science employee younger members. Unsurprisingly, (BBO) this year, another record for the qualifies for CPD, including training these were also the two benefits of Society. BBO is a highly respected and staff, learning a new practical being a member that respondents challenging test of biology knowledge technique, presenting at a said they valued the most. for students aged 16 and over. conference and self-study in any Most of our membership services, This year’s BBO finalists spent area of biological interest. such as the Continuing Professional three days at the University of Development programme, The Birmingham’s School of Biosciences, points system Biologist, members’ where they took a theory paper Completed CPD years can start e-newsletter and and four practical exams in botany, our four british Winchester, Robert Starley from exciting new stages of members’ our events were cell biology, biochemistry and biology olympiad Reading School and Joshua Hodgson professional careers, helping them rated as either zoology set by BBO volunteers and winners this year: from Godalming College. to progress from RSciTech to RSci 82% freddie Dyke, of members believe good or lecturers from the university. oliver adams, The competitions are organised by to Chartered Status. membership is excellent. or three days in March the NEC above prize winner The four overall BBO winners will robert starley and a small group of volunteers chaired We ask that members attain 50 good value for society chief money Following a in Birmingham was overrun The Society of Biology Prize was represent the UK and compete Joshua hodgson. by Dr Andrew Treharne FSB. CPD points throughout the year, range of with scientists and science- executive mark awarded to James North from against students from 60 countries Anyone who is interested in with between one and three points F Downs (centre) suggestions from loving students for the Big Bang Fair with prize winner Formby High School, one of 360 at the International Biology becoming involved, even if just to allocated per hour, depending on the survey, we have launched several 2012. Over 56,000 attendees saw the James north and talented school students chosen to Olympiad in Singapore next month. submit the occasional question, can the activity. The Society also helps new membership services (see page wonders of science and engineering presenter greg showcase their work to a world-class The students representing the UK find more information on the website members’ annual progression by 4), and more will be announced soon. and explored the variety of careers foot (left). panel of judges. James turned heads are: Freddie Dyke from the Royal www.ukbiologycompetitions.org approving suitable events. These We are also encouraged to see that studying science can with his project on the Grammar School, Guildford, Oliver sr Amanda Hardy Approved Events are worth more that 79% of those surveyed use open up. interaction of up-regulated Adams from Peter Symonds’ College, Competitions Coordinator points, and by attending, you’ll be their post nominal letters where genes in HIV positive able to meet your CPD requirements possible. These letters demonstrate Society takes a stand macrophages. As well as more quickly. that you are a professional biologist, At the Society of Biology receiving £500, a well qualified and subject to a stand, visitors had the certificate and a year’s New professional recognition Online portal rigorous code of conduct, and by chance to handle membership to the Society Using the new online portal, below, using them you are helping us to plastinated hearts, test of Biology, James will visit he Society of Biology is now also apply for Registered Scientist members can now register for and further raise the profile of the their pulse rates, learn one of the UK’s leading able to offer three new (RSci). It is suited to those working at begin their CPD. Members can add biological sciences. about how the ear works, biology research centres Tprofessional registers to a Level 5 qualification in England, activities as frequently as they wish. When asked if the Society has make articulated hands and meet the researchers. members: Registered Science Northern Ireland and Wales or If you have any questions or would improved its public profile over the and investigate sports The next Big Bang Fair Technician, Registered Scientist and Level 8 qualification in Scotland like any further information on CPD last year respondents were split: 42% injuries through models of will be held at Excel in Chartered Scientist. (Foundation degrees, HNDs etc) or Chartered Status, please visit the said yes, 11% said no and the majority joints. The exhibition floor was a live roadshow London on the 14th-16th March All those who are committed to who can also demonstrate the Society website or contact Natasha (48%) were unsure. We still have packed with young scientists and from the team of 2013, and a range of Big Bang Fair the biological sciences in academia, required competences. Neill at 0207 685 2571 or at more work to do in this area, it engineers presenting their projects the bbc science Near Me events will run around industry, education and research are Chartered status is a hallmark of [email protected] show Bang Goes seems. At a policy level, we continue to the judges with the goal of being the Theory was the UK throughout the summer. eligible to join their appropriate excellence in both the UK and the to increase our influence and the crowned young scientist or young one of the fair’s See www.thebigbangfair.co.uk register. Registered Science European Union, open to members appointment of Stephen Benn as engineer of the year. highlights. for more details. Technician (RSciTech) is available to (MSB) and Fellows (FSB) of the our new Director of Parliamentary all members with a Level 3 Society with a Masters level Chartered Affairs will help us to further raise qualification in England, Northern qualification or equivalent. status is a our profile in Westminster. Ireland and Wales or Level 6 Guidance documents and further hallmark of Thank you to all those who Thank you qualification in Scotland (i.e. A-level, details for all our registers and our participated in the membership The Society of Biology would like to thank Dr Alan Malcolm, who has stepped down from BTEC or equivalent) who can also CPD scheme can be found on our excellence survey and thank you for your The Biologist’s Editorial Board after many years. Alan was Chief Executive of the Institute demonstrate evidence of the website. If you would like any more in both the continued support of the Society. of Biology from 1998 until 2009, when he successfully led its m erger with the Biosciences required professional competences information please contact Mike UK and EU Adam Timmins, Federation to form the Society of Biology. He is now Director o f the Oxford International and a commitment to CPD. Trevethick at miketrevethick@ Marketing Manager Biomedical Centre and editor of Science in Parliament . All members of the Society can societyofbiology.org or 0207 685 2568.

6 / The BIOLOGIST / Vol 59 No 2 Vol 59 No 2 / The BIOLOGIST / 7 OPINION SPORT SCIeNCe AND The OLYMPICS/AFRICAN ReSeARCh

his competitors who take on average many will ask what four more strides over 100m. makes Usain bolt Although height was previously Empowering women in Africa the world’s fastest thought to act against fast man this summer. acceleration, Bolt’s body is perfectly designed for long strides and fast Professor Sheila Okoth FSB explains how female scientists in Africa are overcoming the movement. His total leg length, challenges of a male dominated scientific community to undertake lifesaving research relative to his total body height, is long, as is his femur, which acts as a omen produce, process lever to create huge strides. and market the majority Combined with a high strength-to- wof Africa’s food. But only body weight ratio, he is able to propel one in four African agricultural his legs faster. researchers are women and only The fastest sprinters, such as Bolt, 14% hold leadership positions in have up to 90% fast-twitch muscle agricultural research institutions. fibres – slow-twitch fibres are more There are many contributing efficient at continuous, extended factors as to why. Female secondary contractions over time, while fast- school students often drop science twitch help generate a lot of force subjects, which are perceived to be quickly. Most of us have a genetically difficult, and societal expectations determined mix of roughly 50% of that African women remain at home each, and the ratio cannot be altered. make travelling abroad for further So can he go faster? A recent study scientific studies challenging. THELEFTY/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM published in Significance, the Also, most government decision- magazine of the Royal Statistical making positions are occupied Society and the American Statistical by men. Women miss out on key Association, considered Bolt’s opportunities, including training 2012: An olympic potential to run faster from a and participation in prioritising mathematical perspective. Taking institutional and national into account his reaction time and development issues. year for science other external factors, such as I faced such problems as a female achievements helped earn my Women produce altitude and wind conditions, the researcher in Kenya, but my life promotion to Associate Professor the majority of author predicts Bolt is capable of changed when I won a two-year in February 2011. africa’s food but Dr Jenna Stevens- In this Olympic year there are a 1 only one in four shaving a further 0.13s off his time . career-development fellowship from In Kenya, lethal outbreaks of african Smith MSB explains number of initiatives promoting Professor Steve Haake, a sports African Women in Agricultural aflatoxicosis (poisoning by aflatoxin) the science of sport agricultural how this year’s London engineer at Sheffield Hallam Research and Development have been reported yearly since 1981 researchers In the Zone University, looked into ‘the Bolt (AWARD) in 2008. Launched with and the effects of chronic exposure are female. 2012 games will be a A project from the Wellcome Trust effect’: how chasing Bolt has made support from the Bill & Melinda cannot be ignored. Aflatoxin is a celebration of science including an interactive touring the world run faster. By analysing Gates Foundation and the United naturally occurring carcinogenic exhibition and schools kits which the average speeds for the 100m States Agency for International by-product of the fungi that colonise as well as sport have been sent to all schools sprint by the top 25 athletes over the Development, the mentoring certain crops, including maize, the across the UK. http://www.getinthezone.org.uk past century, he found a sudden and programme helped me to design main dietary staple of Kenyans. My hile 2012 may be the year of consistent improvement in a career ‘road map’ to achieving research focuses on understanding Poultry disease research in nairobi. the London Olympics, Blue peter’s Big Olympic Tour performance over the past four my professional goals. A proposal- the distribution of toxigenic fungi wscience and sport don’t The Society of Biology is on tour years: since Bolt came onto the writing course and sponsorship in soil and susceptible plants, and aWarD offers two-year fellowships naturally gravitate together for with the Blue Peter team for three of blocks the top 25 sprinters have for advanced science training at humans’ exposure levels to the toxins focused on fostering mentoring everyone. Yet for me, as a trained these events with hands-on biology improved by nearly 1%. the University of Stellenbosch through food and feed. Working with partnerships, building science scientist and a former international of sport activities. In addition to the individuals enabled me to perfect my research, smallholder farmers in two agro- skills and developing leadership volleyball player, they have always ■ Saffron Walden 7 July who will be vying for Olympic glory write winning, collaborative ecological zones, I have determined capacity. african women working been closely linked. ■ West ham 21 July in London this summer, the teams research proposals and publish in toxigenic and atoxigenic strains of in agricultural research for When Jonathan Edwards broke behind the competitors must not international journals. Aspergillus and Fusarium isolates development from ethiopia, ghana, the triple jump record, by jumping Dr Jenna stevens- Research Councils Uk Cutting edge: be forgotten. Athletes from all The skills obtained from the from soil and maize kernels, and Kenya, liberia, malawi, mozambique, The Research Behind Sport the equivalent length of a double smith msb is the sports, depending on the funding, fellowship’s leadership and established their distribution patterns nigeria, rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda society’s Public RCUK researchers talk about the decker bus, we were all amazed. engagement and science behind different sports, so have a whole team of scientists and management course for women to determine appropriate intervention and zambia, who have completed When Usain Bolt smashed the 100m events executive far covering athletics, basketball, experts around them: when I played enhanced my capacity to overcome methods acceptable to farmers. a bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral sprint world record to 9.58 seconds, and plays triathlon and sailing. volleyball for Great Britain, our obstacles in the male-dominated African women farmers and degree in selected disciplines, are the world was speechless. But what volleyball for support team included a scientific community. Today, I agricultural scientists are already eligible. selection criteria include ■ interests me is: how did they do it? england. Cutting edge 2012: Behind diving physiotherapist, sports masseuse, am sharing my knowledge and making essential contributions to intellectual merit, leadership Thursday 5 July 2012 Anatomically, Bolt’s record- 7pm – 8.30pm nutritionist, sports psychologist, skills with others. In addition to agriculture and we can do much capacity and the potential of the breaking sprints have raised a Plymouth Life Centre, Plymouth strength and conditioning coaches, mentoring university students more to help solve hunger – but we scientist’s research to improve the number of questions in the scientific ■ Cutting edge 2012: Behind cycling lifestyle advisors, biomechanicists, and local farmers, I established must be fully engaged. daily lives of smallholder farmers, world as to what makes him so fast. Thursday 19 July 2012 technical coaches and even a the university’s first mycotoxin especially women. more than Scientists examined his muscle fibre 7pm – 8.30pm sports optician on one occasion. laboratory to answer farmers’ sheila okoth fsb is an associate 2,000 female scientists from 450 ratio, his long stride and lung Scottish exhibition and questions, train postgraduates and Professor of botany at the institutions have applied for one of Conference Centre, Glasgow (1) www.telegraph.co.uk/science/ capacity. His stride length, on science-news/9194096/how-Usain- transfer skills to scientists through University of nairobi’s school the 250 fellowships offered to date. average 2.44m, sets him apart from Bolt-could-run-even-faster.html annual national courses. These of biological sciences.

8 / The BIOLOGIST / Vol 59 No 2 Vol 59 No 2 / The BIOLOGIST / 9 LeTTeRS hOMeOPAThY, POLITICS & SCIeNCe, The MICROBe hUNTeRS •The socie T y of biology magazine magazine biology y of TheThe socieTy of biology magazine ■ issn 0006-3347Biologist ■ socieTyofbiology.org Vol 59 no 1 ■ march 2012 • •

SpeCIAL RepORT TeSTING The wATeR Former homeopathist edzard ernst on the diluted science of homeopathy Biofeedback

FeATURe meDIA BIOGRAphY ChILDReN & NATURe GeT The meSSAGe pAUL De kRUIF how to engage kids Ten years of the Turning science with the outdoors Science Media Centre into an adventure Letters, news and views from our members

Office Ltd, London; 22 February It is highly probable that they will I read with interest and a sense of the D-Day spies by Ben Macintyre I 2010; pp 37–43 recover from the placebo effect of of foreboding Les Rose’s article came across the following description homeopathy as that is their perceived ‘Politics: An unscientific business?’ in of an encounter in Madrid between Author’s response: So, pointing out choice of cure. the March issue (The Biologist, Vol what is it double agent Lily Sergeyev and her that the axioms of homeopathy fly in Moreover, homeopathy has 59 (1) p10). I share many of Mr Rose’s about the German handler Major Kliemann, the face of science is ‘pedantic’? Most become a part of the national fabric concerns and I would like to address political ‘Kliemann, usually so lethargic, scientists would disagree with this of healthcare systems of most his question, ‘Do arts and humanities milieu that was all business. He planned to bizarre notion. countries, including developed graduates have any grasp of objective makes provide her with a radio set hidden Dr. Mathie also accuses me of nations – for instance, at the evidence?’ from a perspective that highly inside a gramophone, with operating ‘flagrant disregard for quality issues’ Royal Homeopathic Hospital, many readers of The Biologist may trained instructions written on a microdot and claims that ‘positive conclusions London, England. not have. graduates of concealed in the case. In order to have been reached for several Will homeopathy ever lose its I have three science degrees and the arts and read it, she would need to buy a small conditions’. In support, he cites the ‘mojo’? Probably not, as it is too worked for five years in academic microscope. She should pretend to ‘House of Commons Science and established in the psyche of most research, and for the last 25 humanities be interested in microbes. Indeed, Technology Committee Evidence nations to be cast aside. years, in industry. In December forget their she should carry a book with her as Check 2: Homeopathy’. This report Dr sohan Jheeta cbiol msb minstP 2011 I was proud to be awarded a training and cover: he recommended The Microbe criticises the misleading fashion in fras, space scientist First in Humanities by the Open its need for Hunters by Paul de Kruif. Lily which lobbyists for homeopathy tend University so I straddle both broad academic declined to say that she thought to present the evidence and concludes POLItICs And sCIEnCE disciplines. In my first two years, evidence? this was a ridiculously ‘…the systematic reviews and meta- Les Rose (The Biologist, Vol 59 before specialising in philosophy and overcomplicated plan.’ analyses conclusively demonstrate (1) p10) is right to be concerned religious studies, I studied history, How fascinating to think that MUddyIng thE wAtEr? placebo or otherwise). There are that homeopathic products perform about the scientific illiteracy among art history, literature, philosophy, The Microbe Hunters might have In his article, ‘Testing the water’ 37 medical conditions for which no better than placebo’. politicians. The problem is reiterated religious studies, classics and music. figured in some small but possibly (The Biologist, Vol 59 (1) p18-21), replicated research in homeopathy edzard ernst, Professor of in the article on the Science Media As a scientist beginning an arts significant way in the context of Professor Ernst presents what has been reported in the peer- complementary medicine, Centre (‘Get your facts straight’) in degree I, too, believed that arts and Second World War espionage. It might seem a cogent scientific reviewed literature: 16 of those Peninsula medical school, exeter the same issue. humanities were short on rigour didn’t, because Major Kliemann and ethical argument against the conditions have benefitted from Very few MPs have a science and evidential support, and I was failed to provide said gramophone use of homeopathic treatment. systematic review and/or meta- Why does homoeopathy refuse to die? degree and hardly any have been wrong. One of the factors that unify to Lily Sergeyev. Leaving aside the pedantic analysis1. Positive conclusions have In general anything and everything working scientists. We live in a all these disciplines is the mandatory Paul f faupel cbiol msb issues with which he begins his been reached for several conditions that is perceived to be nonsensical scientific and technological world, requirement to support all arguments mirm cfiosh commentary, I (as a scientist and to date, though with significant eventually does fade away, yet and managers (in the broadest sense) with evidence from academic non-homeopath) respond briefly to caveats in some cases. The remaining homeopathy still persists. Professor need to have some understanding of research and/or observation. My APOLOgIEs Ernst’s arguments that homeopathy research is mainly non-conclusive. Ernst (The Biologist, Vol 59 (1) p18-21) the nature of scientific evidence. science training stood me in excellent Unfortunately the current position is nothing but placebo medicine This is a reasonable overview is right to draw this subject out in I think the problem is mainly a stead as I automatically did this in and details of the author of ‘Who and that homeopaths ‘cherry-pick of a highly complex research the open, for homeopathy is no more result of our education system in my essays, almost without thought, was Paul de Kruif?’ were omitted positive studies out of a bag of literature, and is more relevant than a placebo by another name. which people have to choose while my fellow students had to learn from this article. Dr H V Wyatt is mostly negative evidence’ in flagrant than Ernst’s analysis of only the One reason as to why it won’t go between ‘arts’ and ‘science’ if they to do this. Honorary Lecturer in Philosophy, disregard for quality issues. Cochrane evidence, some of away may be because it has become wish to progress beyond GCSEs. I would suggest that the real University of Leeds. To find out more It is important to clarify that a which is focused on non- a ‘meme’ to use Professor Richard There are two other educational question to be asked is: what is about his work see http://sites.google. homeopathic practitioner typically individualised homeopathy. Dawkins’ idea of a ‘social gene.’ routes which are worth consideration. it about the political milieu that com/site/vivianwyatt/ or focuses treatment on a patient as Ernst’s superficial approach is Another reason may be because it The Baccalaureate ensures students makes highly trained graduates of email [email protected] an individual with personalised aggravated by ill-judged statements has become a multi-billion dollar have a more rounded education after the arts and humanities forget their symptoms. The prescribed medicine about homeopaths ‘telling lies to industry and so many people have GCSEs and, at its best, the American training? Could it be a function of branch news blackout often retains material quantities of patients’ despite ‘[knowing that a vested interest to promote such Liberal Arts College ensures that all so few politicians having had a job Our sincere apologies to the Send your comments to original ingredient. Clinical trials to the remedy] contains nothing’ bunkum even though it flies in the graduates have studied some science outside politics? Does this mean Northern, Northern Ireland and biofeedback, date have not necessarily reflected and that the ‘trials are not face of empirical science or, for that with laboratory work at, or beyond, that as they progress up the ‘greasy Kent, Sussex and Surrey branches. society of biology, those and other key idiosyncrasies of positive’. The above provides a matter, common sense. A-level standard. For the majority pole’ they begin to believe their own The replacement of our assistant charles Darwin homeopathy, and so any view of ‘the plain and accurate summary of the A third reason may be because of graduates, this route provides a propaganda and that of their parties? editor at the beginning of the year house, 12 roger totality’ of the research evidence is true situation. some people might have an innate better all-round education than a J David hull msb resulted in the loss of their event street, london Wc1n 2JU simplistic and potentially misleading. robert T mathie PhD, research inability to respond to modern specialist degree. reports from October and November or email As a starting point, and prior Development adviser, british medicine – for example if a patient One drawback is that those who strAngEr thAn fICtIOn – these included a fungal foray, an biologist@ to an appraisal of intrinsic quality homeopathic association displays ‘x’ symptoms they probably go on to specialise need, first, to take I read with great interest the AGM and a talk on the marine societyofbiology.org of the original research, we have will not respond to any medicine more advanced courses. excellent article by Dr H V Wyatt fishing industry. Do please keep concentrated our attention on (1) House of Commons Science and let alone respond to a placebo; No doubt, the debate will continue FSB about Paul de Kruif (The sending us your reports as we The Biologist reserves the right the medical conditions for which Technology Committee. Evidence even if they do, this would only be as to which system is better. We need Biologist, Vol 59 (1) p36-38). enjoy hearing from our branch to edit letters homeopathy has been researched Check 2: Homeopathy. Fourth Report temporary as psychosomatically the an informed discussion. Imagine my surprise when later members and seeing what they where appropriate. in randomised trials (controlled by of Session 2009–10. The Stationery symptoms will invariably return. brian hopkins msb reading Double Cross – the true story are up to.

10 / The BIOLOGIST / Vol 59 No 2 Vol 59 No 2 / The BIOLOGIST / 11 policy update COmpeTITION Enter our

respond to the challenges Sir John Science posed. Charles Paton, founder The sexes and science The ‘perfect of Seawater Greenhouse, spoke Communication storm’ about water scarcity and the use he Royal Society hope that gender equality summarises of greenhouses in arid regions to of Edinburgh arrives. But it’s better competition the food, create fresh water from seawater. Tpublished its report that the Society leads by Dr Richard Summers, the European Tapping All our Talents example and sets standards water and Cereal Breeding Coordinator for in April. The framework that help to change the ■ Are you a bioscience researcher? energy RAGT Seeds, addressed the use of aims to increase both culture of STEM by being a ■ Do you communicate science scarcities plant breeding in the sustainable the proportion of model of good practice. to the public? caused by intensification of wheat. Professor women in the science, Dr caroline The Society is committed increasing Iain Donnison, IBERS, University of technology, engineering Wallace msb to ensuring that our own population Aberystwyth, presented his research and mathematics (STEM) senior science house is in order and, If you answer yes to these questions or and the on increasing yield in the biofuel workforce, and the number Policy advisor over the coming months, know someone who does, then why not crop Miscanthus. who rise to senior positions society of biology - we will formulate our apply for the society of Biology science effects of scotland. climate in universities and research plans to improve the Communication Awards 2012? institutes, government, business and gender balance of our membership, change industry. The report is the result of the visibility of women in the nominations are now open for the society of biology a year-long inquiry by a Working organisation and the discipline, communication awards 2012. The awards are an Group chaired by the distinguished and ensure that we are analysing opportunity to recognise the outstanding astrophysicist Professor Dame the necessary data to inform contributions that bioscience researchers make to Jocelyn Bell Burnell, who has not our strategy. communicating science to the public. UK plant scientists only survived, but thrived in a male- We ask that all our members do The competition is open to bioscience researchers dominated scientific arena. their bit to challenge inequality from UK universities and institutes and there are two Beyond food security, Professor As the secretariat to the Working in science wherever it occurs, and categories of award: take on ‘perfect storm’ George Lomonossoff, John Innes Group, I was often quizzed by above all to encourage talented Centre, shared his experience of friends, colleagues and consultees women to join and participate fully new researcher Award (Prize £750) ver 200 plant scientists from Food security plant-made medicine at a workshop about my particular interest in this in the Society. Established researcher Award (Prize £1,500) the lab, field, classroom and Recent food price volatility has on commercialising intellectual issue. Their view: there are lots of Oindustry came together for driven an additional 44 million property. Professor Alison Smith, women in biology, it’s doing okay. The new researcher award is open to bioscience the first ever research conference of people into extreme poverty since University of Cambridge, presented It is true that females Dame Jocelyn’s report makes researchers currently reading for a masters/PhD the UK Plant Sciences Federation 2011. Ensuring future food security the problems and potential dominate biology at school and at a number of recommendations or in the first year of a post-doctoral position. (PlantSci), at the John Innes Centre poses a suite of challenges: solutions in algal bioenergy, and Dr undergraduate level, with around to academies and learned and The established researcher category is open to in April. how to increase food production Christopher McClellan, University of 65% representation. Despite a loss professional bodies. They include: bioscience researchers who are beyond the first Speakers covered a range of topics with less land, less water and with Dundee, spoke about techniques for of around 15% by postgraduate and stages of their research career, as defined in the including plant diversity, plant-soil less energy, fertiliser and pesticide improving bioethanol content from postdoctoral researcher level, there is ■ Publicising a statement new researcher category. interaction, education, genomics, while not increasing greenhouse waste cellulose. still total gender parity at this stage. welcoming and encouraging the stress adaptation and carbon gas emissions. New knowledge, But fast forward to professorial level, full participation of women in the The awards will be presented at a ceremony in london capture – highlighting just technology and practices are Real world implications and women account for only 15% in organisation and its academic as part of biology Week, which runs from the 13-19 a small portion of the great needed at all stages of the food While opinion may be divided on biological sciences. discipline october 2012. expertise we have in research production process to increase the current focus upon research’s Armed with this information, do ■ Allocating responsibility for Download your nomination form from the institutions and industry in the yield, reduce waste and maximise ‘impact’, it’s clear that plant science we still think biology is doing okay? gender issues to a specific society of biology website: UK. But it was the Government’s resource efficiency. has implications in the real world In the past 10 years individual reporting to council www.societyofbiology.org/newsandevents/ Chief Scientific Adviser Sir John Some methods include the that go beyond the Research the number of ■ Being more proactive in scicomm Beddington’s keynote speech that diversification of agricultural Excellence Framework and deserve female professors encouraging applications set the tone for the conference. systems, addressing soil to be highlighted, celebrated in biology has from women applications should be sent to rebecca nesbit by ■ Sir John stressed the importance management for carbon and supported. increased by one ensuring balanced and email to [email protected] of plant science in the context of sequestration, using new varieties We are now busy planning next percentage point transparent processes for his ‘perfect storm’, a term he first or breeds of crops and livestock, year’s PlantSci conference, and each year. We elections and awards coined in 2009 to summarise the and making use of complementary continuing with the work of the could just ■ ensuring adequate food shortages, water scarcity and biological and ecosystem services UK Plant Sciences Federation. sit and representation on decision- insufficient energy supplies that that support agriculture. wait making committees or boards The Society of Biology: Celebrating are being caused by an increasing Over the two-day PlantSci Jackie caine msb for more information on the UK for 35 ■ Collecting and monitoring excellence and recognising the population, consumption and the conference, the vast majority science Policy Plant sciences federation and our years relevant data on a regular basis. importance of science communication effects of climate change. of speakers looked at how to officer. activities, see www.plantsci.org.uk and

12 / The BIOLOGIST / Vol 59 No 2 Vol 59 No 2 / The BIOLOGIST / 13 PhARMACeUTICAL ReSeARCh BRITAIN’S SeCReT CANNABIS FARM FLOweR pOweR Cannabis is the most widely used illegal drug in the UK but its medicinal qualities have been known for thousands of years. GW Pharmaceuticals’ Dr David Potter showed The Biologist around the UK’s only cannabis research farm and explained how the plant could potentially treat conditions as diverse as obesity, brain injury, cancer and even psychosis.

aking a walk in GW originally evolved, although an area of When cannabis is grown indoors, Pharmaceuticals’ glasshouse is a Central Asia – to the north of India and high levels of lighting are needed to Tmemorable and highly sensory just west of westernmost China – is recreate the optimal sub-tropical experience. The leaves from thousands thought likely. Others suggest western late-summer irradiance levels. This of cannabis plants (Cannabis sativa) China itself, where the closely related light is of course used for dance in a breeze produced by hop is thought to have originated. photosynthesis, enabling the plant to constantly humming fans, and the sight Archaeological finds indicate that synthesise the primary metabolites is enhanced by one of the brightest the earliest human use of cannabis needed for structural growth. glasshouse lighting installations in the was possibly as a source of fibre in A large proportion of the light UK. The temperature is a steady 25°C China, as long as 6,000 years ago. energy will go to produce secondary but feels warmer due to the humidity Evidence suggests that around 3,000 metabolites, such as the essential oils and radiant energy. Even before BCE Cannabis sativa was used as an (terpenes) and cannabinoids. These opening the door, there’s a tantalising Ayurvedic and Chinese medicine. In terpenoids only contain carbon, smell – the mixture of essential oils that Egypt, mention of medicinal uses of hydrogen and, in the latter’s case, makes up the characteristic heady cannabis was written in the Papyrus oxygen, and they are energy hungry essence of cannabis. Ramesseum III (circa 1700 BCE). secondary metabolites to Over 1.5 million cannabis plants More detailed uses were recorded in biosynthesise (Gershenzon, 1994). have been grown by GW the Ebers Papyrus (circa 1600 BCE), Hence, indoor growers need massive Pharmaceuticals at its secret BIOGRAPhY which describes the use of cannabis energy levels to produce potent crops. research glasshouse since 1998 – the as a decoction in enemas, applications Much of this is achieved with stolen company’s Sativex oromucosal spray to the eye and topically in the form of electricity, the value of which has was licensed for the treatment of medicated bandages. been estimated at £200 million per multiple sclerosis spasticity in the Discoveries in a tomb in China year in the UK alone (BBC, 2012). UK in 2010. Cannabis is best known indicate its medicinal use 2,700 years by the public in its various forms as ago (Russo et al, 2008). Fig. 1 is a pharmaceutical cultivation an illegally grown recreational drug photomicrograph of a sample from Cannabis grown for pharmaceutical – either solid cannabis ‘hashish’ resin this ancient find. Observing its use by GW Pharmaceuticals in the made from the collected secretions Dr David Potter medicinal use in India, including UK, and Bedrocan in the cbiol fsb fls of the plant, or herbal cannabis is Director of relief of spasticity caused by tetanus, Netherlands, is all grown in (grass) – the more potent upper botanical Dr William O’Shaunessey introduced glasshouses. Around the world, over leaves and flowers of the plant. research and tinctures of cannabis to Britain in 23,000 plant species are used for Recently, cannabis tastes have cultivation at gW 1841. By 1899, the product was listed medicinal purposes, but only about changed: an increasing proportion of Pharmaceuticals, in Merck’s Manual as an efficacious 100 of these will be specifically illicit cannabis is made from having joined as its medicine for the treatment of various grown for the pharmaceutical first employee in unfertilised floral parts of the female 1998. he gained his forms of pain. Over the following industry. Cannabis is perhaps the cannabis plant. This intensively grown PhD in 2009 at hundred years, this medicine fell out only species that is grown indoors. form of herbal cannabis is known King’s college of use, but at the end of the century This provides the extra security that internationally as sinsemilla (from the london, having there was a resurgence of interest. this highly marketable drug requires. Spanish ‘sin’ meaning ‘without’ and researched the In GW Pharmaceuticals’ case, it ‘semilla’ meaning ‘seeds’) or more pharmacognosy of Growing methods enables the company to provide the Cannabis sativa and colloquially in the UK as skunk. has 23 years’ Until the 1980s almost all of the illicit level of control necessary to produce research cannabis used in Europe was grown a botanical medicine like Sativex. Origins and early medicinal use experience as a outdoors and imported from other This multi-component medicine The major areas of outdoor hashish horticulturalist and continents. Now, however, it is contains a range of secondary production are Morocco, Afghanistan agronomist. David mostly grown indoors (Leggett, metabolites and by growing the advises the police and Central Asia, at between 35°N and on cannabis use 2006) where, in a more easily plants in uniform conditions, this 40°N, but the species can survive up to and acts as an controlled environment, cannabis enables a consistent ratio of these 66°N. No clear evidence exists to expert witness in quality is increasingly guaranteed ingredients. In addition, the indicate where Cannabis sativa court. (UNODC, 2009). production of a high-quality

14 / The BIOLOGIST / Vol 59 No 2 Vol 59 No 2 / The BIOLOGIST / 15 PhARMACeUTICAL ReSeARCh BRITAIN’S SeCReT CANNABIS FARM

pharmaceutical crop requires will only carry the x form. The fig. 1 attention to detail by trained staff, progeny resulting from fertilisation and, of course, plant materials with with this pollen are thus all female, desirable genetic profiles. which is a real advantage to The majority of cultivated sinsemilla (skunk) cannabis growers. cannabis species are short-day plants, only starting to flower at the Cannabis and ThC end of summer. A phytochrome- Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is the based system, which actually compound that gives recreational measures night length, detects when users a high. It is just one of several the ‘critical daylength’ has arrived. closely-related terpenophenolic The flowering switch is then thrown. compounds called phytocannabinoids Growers of indoor cannabis exploit produced in Cannabis sativa, all this fact. For the first weeks of unique to this dioecious species. growth the plants are kept in a long Evidence suggests these cannabinoids day length, which prevents flowering are entirely synthesised and and encourages sturdy vegetative sequestered in specialised structures fig. 2 growth and root development. called glandular trichomes (Fig. 4). The GW Pharmaceuticals’ team Three different forms of these prefers to suppress the plant’s trichomes are found on female natural tendency to produce cannabis, and a fourth found excessive height during this exclusively on the anthers. The vegetative phase. Adapting a trick largest form is the capitate stalked from the culinary herb industry, trichome, which is exclusively found known as thigmomorphogenesis, the on the floral tissues (Potter, 2009). stems are brushed almost flat on a The female flowers carry more daily basis for the first two to three trichomes than the male, making weeks (Davis, 2010). Responding as female floral tissue the most potent The Biologist’s they would as if buffeted by wind, the source of the drug. Jon Kudlick (left) and plants produce stockier stems better These trichomes are formed in vast Tom ireland tour gWP’s able to support the coming canopy of numbers and when back illuminated cannabis farm. heavy resinous flowers. ( Fig. 2), a pubescence of trichomes Floral development is then rapid, on the female flower is seen to cannabis plant against a range of solvent-based adhesive. Once the This stimulation can be a helpful aid in favourable conditions. Males are shimmer. While looking simply predators and environmental trichome resin head’s outer to recovery in patients who, perhaps fig. 3 typically first to flower, and over a exquisite, the glistening trichomes stresses (Fig. 3). membrane is ruptured, the fragrant the most useful through chemotherapy, AIDS or period of weeks they easily shed are more importantly deflecting Insects attempting to walk monoterpenes are liberated. Having cannabinoid disappointing hospital food, are not copious amounts of wind-dispersed infrared and ultra-violet light away through this jungle of stalked a high surface area to volume ratio, here is CBd, the eating sufficiently. pollen. These males throw from the delicate reproductive tissue. trichomes find progress is slow. the trichome’s volatile ingredients understated Cannabis use has been increasingly maximum energy into pollen The flowers are thus cooled and given Throughout the plant kingdom, soon turn to vapour, to be lost on the and respectable linked to the development of production and relatively little into sun protection. The cannabinoid trichomes have evolved to impair passing breeze. Prior to the cannabinoid psychosis. This is an unfortunate side defence. Once their pollen is shed, molecule itself actually absorbs insect movement in this way. membrane being ruptured, the solid selected effect of excessive consumption of they rapidly expire and the seed- UV light, adding to the level Cannabis defence is further cannabinoids and oily against by THC, especially in teenagers generations of bearing pollinated females expand of protection. strengthened by the presence of sesquiterpenes are held in a free- recreational predisposed to this condition (Royal into the extra space bequeathed The cannabinoids are not the only sharp cystolythic trichomes on the flowing solution. However, once the cannabis users College of Psychiatrists, 2012). In them. If grown in the absence of chemicals synthesised within the leaf surface (Fig. 3). These rigid volatile monoterpenes have gone, marked contrast, CBD is anti- males, unnaturally chaste females cannabis trichomes. Other important structures deter many mammalian the residue immediately turns psychotic and gives some protection (i.e. sinsemilla) continue to produce ingredients include the two bitter herbivores by piercing the soft glutinous and near solid. to those cannabis users who might be new florets within their tasting sesquiterpenes – α-humulene mouthparts. Many writers have claimed that harmed by THC. inflorescences. Due to the extended and ß-caryophyllene. These are found Trichomes are also seen to trap THC is a gift from nature, here to Two allelic genes control the flowering period, and lack of energy in many species including cloves insects, with victims prevented from give pleasure. The main raison d’être fig. 5 biosynthesis of both THC and CBD. diversion to seed development, these (Syzygium aromaticum), black eating, pupating and spreading for the cannabinoids may purely, and aphid entrapped These are co-dominant, so crosses fig. 1 on trichomes. fig. 4 sinsemilla plants are much more pepper (Piper nigrum) and, as the disease. Some species, like the cotton unromantically, be nothing more between parents carrying opposing ancient chinese cannabinoid-rich. name suggests, the hop Humulus melon aphid, struggle violently as than an ingredient in a simple cannabis specimen. Female plants tend to react to an lupus. The bitterness adds magic to soon as a leg becomes trapped, and solvent-based adhesive. fig. 2 unnatural male-free existence after beer, but when encountered in higher the remaining legs are soon Trichomes on the a few weeks. Production of another concentrations in cannabis flowers, irreversibly glued (Fig. 5). It is Cannabinoid possibilities female flower. generation to preserve the plant’s the chemical acts as a repellent to possible that, during this struggle, The two main cannabinoids, at least genetics is paramount and, without many herbivores. A whole class of the insect emits the same warning in landrace (‘wild’) cannabis, are fig. 3 sem coloured view males to offer their services, life volatile essential oils – the pheromone that it produces when THC and cannabidiol (CBD). Both of the cystolythic finds a way. Females commonly start monoterpenes – are also found in attacked by its own predators, thus have analgesic, anti-inflammatory trichomes that to develop their own anthers, thus cannabis giving its distinctive odour. alerting others in the colony to the and anti-spasmodic properties, as help defend the enabling a final late phase of dangers of cannabis. The plant would well as other virtues, but only the cannabis plant. pollination. Unlike the pollen grains Insect entrapment thus gain some protection from former is psychoactive. THC is also fig. 4 produced by males, which will carry Looking at these structures under further insect attack. an appetite stimulant, users often glandular stalked either female x, or male y sex the microscope, we are better able to In effect, the glandular trichomes finding that their ‘high’ is followed by trichome. chromosomes, pollen from females see how they appear to defend the on cannabis flowers are ampules of hunger – or the so-called ‘munchies’.

16 / The BIOLOGIST / Vol 59 No2 Vol 59 No 2 / The BIOLOGIST / 17 PhARMACeUTICAL ReSeARCh BRITAIN’S SeCReT CANNABIS FARM

ReFeReNCeS Alvarez, F. J. et al. Neuroprotective effects of the nonpsychoactive cannabinoid cannabidiol in hypoxic- ischemic newborn piglets. Pediatr Res. 64(6), 653-8 (2008). http://www.ncbi. nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18679164. BBC News. Cannabis farms’ £200m stolen electricity cost ‘staggering’. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/ uk-england-tyne-17898587 (accessed 2 May 2012). Davis, R. Farming in Lincolnshire: herb horticulture in Bourne. http://www. pridemagazines.co.uk/pages/home/ live-edition/food-and-drink/ lincolnshire-herbs. Gershenzon, J. Metabolic costs of terpenoid accumulation in higher plants. J. Chem. Ecol. 20(6), 1281-1328 (1994). Gray, R. Cannabis could be used to control epilepsy. The Daily Telegraph genes do not produce the classic obesity and associated Type II (2011) http://www.telegraph.co.uk/ Mendelian 3:1 ratio. Instead, the diabetes. A range of other science/science-news/8440303/ homozygous progeny are either cannabinoid molecules and mixtures Cannabis-could-be-used-to-treat- epilepsy.html. THC-dominant, or CBD-dominant, are also undergoing early research. while heterozygous progeny produce These include encouraging results Jones, N. A. et al. Cannabidiol displays a mixture of both cannabinoids. from in-vitro laboratory anti-epileptiform and anti-seizure The hashish used by William experiments with models of epilepsy properties in vitro and in vivo. Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental O’Shaunessey, as well as the resin (Jones, 2010). Therapeutics 332, 569-577 (2010). circulating today, would have Encouraging in-vivo studies contained THC and CBD from a suggest that, because of its anti- Leggett, T. A review of the world mixed population of the homozygous inflammatory properties, CBD may cannabis situation. Bulletin of Narcotics 58 (1-2), 1-36 (2006). and heterozygous genotypes. prove to be useful in treating brain Conversely, high potency skunk injury, both in accident victims and McAllister et al. Pathways mediating the cannabis is grown from seeds newborns experiencing prolonged effects of cannabidiol on the reduction repeatedly selected on their ability hypoxia at birth (Alvarez, 2008). of breast cancer cell proliferation, invasion, and metastasis. Breast Cancer to produce the most psychoactive Early clinical trials, evaluating pain Res. Treat. 129, 37–47 (2011). plants: the gene that switches on relief in late-stage cancer treatment, CBD production has been selected have also clearly demonstrated a Potter, D. J. The Propagation, against. synergistic activity when Sativex is Characterization and Optimization of Cannabis sativa L as a mixed with opiate medicines. Phytopharmaceutical. (PhD thesis. Golden age Extensive trials are evaluating these Kings College London, p47 – 83, 2009). Both the THC and CBD genotypes are mixtures for pain control at this http://www.gwpharm.com/uploads/ important in the pharmaceutical especially distressing time. Perhaps phd_david_potter_jp.pdf. industry. These have been used to even more profoundly, research Royal College of Psychiatrists. produce Sativex, which is now shows that cannabinoids are active Cannabis and Mental health (2012). prescribed in the UK, Canada, New in fighting some forms of cancer http://www.rcpsych.ac.uk/ Zealand and Spain, with six additional itself. The most useful cannabinoid mentalhealthinfo/problems/ European countries soon to follow. It here is once again CBD, the alcoholanddrugs/cannabis.aspx is also showing great promise against seemingly understated and (accessed 2 May 2012) other medical conditions. respectable cannabinoid selected Russo, e. B. et al. Phytochemical and The plant breeding team at GW against by generations of genetic analyses of ancient cannabis Pharmaceuticals have successfully recreational cannabis users from Central Asia. J. Exp. Bot. 59(15), bred cannabis where the dominant (McAllister et al, 2011). 4171-4182 (2008). cannabinoid is delta-9- For at least 8,000 years, the United Nations Office on Drugs and tetrahydrocannabivarin (THCV). stems of Cannabis sativa have been Crime 2009. 2009 World Drug Report Normally only present in minor a great source of fibre, woven into (1.3.2 Why does cannabis potency quantities, THCV is structurally industrial and domestic textiles. matter?) (United Nations Publications, New York, NY, 2009). similar to THC. However, However, in recent decades, many pharmacologically it acts very people have regarded the flowers of http://www.unodc.org/documents/ differently. Instead of inducing the this species a threat to the fabric of wdr/WDR_2009/WDR2009_eng_web. munchies, this cannabinoid society. As profound research with pdf suppresses appetite. As a result, it cannabis comes to fruition, the (online sources accessed has shown promise in pre-clinical golden age of this species may 27-30 March 2012) studies as a potential treatment for have arrived.

18 / The BIOLOGIST / Vol 59 No2 Do yoU haVe an oPinion on This arTicle? CONTACT US AT [email protected] Professor brian J ford asks why television broadcasters spend huge sums on computer- generated scientific simulations when the real thing is so much better

olar bears give birth to their young in only two places on pearth – the Arctic and in zoos. Confuse the two on television and you are in trouble: when the BBC’s Frozen Planet series included a sequence of newborn bear cubs captured by cameras concealed in a cage, in a programme ostensibly filmed in the Arctic, there was an outcry. These programmes, broadcast in December last year, bore the hallmarks of integrity and excellence, and the unacknowledged switch of location was bound to raise hackles. I concede a certain sympathy for the producers; it may simply be that the script implied more than it should. The art of television lies in the skill of the director and creative licence is sometimes necessary to tell a scientific story visually. Many conventions are accepted and we understand how they work. Sequences of fish filmed in the wild may be intercut with details of behaviour that can be observed only in a studio aquarium. Capturing reality with a camera involves such conventions all the time. Fruit may be sprayed with glycerine to add

Vol 59 No 2 / The BIOLOGIST / 19 OPINION SCIeNCe ON TeLeVISION

dividing cells resemble marbles to observe, that the vogue for CGI jostled in a sock. Living human cells is bizarre. I have been told that the are nothing like that. budget for such computer graphics Life under eVeN BeTTeR ThAN What compounds the error probably ran into six figures – yet the is that micrographs of genuine we could watch the real thing at a microscope living cells are available. Videos fraction of the cost. is so The ReAL ThING? reveal spermatozoa as sleek, BBC nature programmes are the appealing, undulating cells with an apparent best in the world, and the corporation so revealing, The cinema film Look Who’s sense of purpose and the living proudly proclaims its ground- and so easy Talking was written and zygote is shown to have a smooth, breaking uniqueness. A recent to observe, directed by amy heckerling limpid surface and a delicate documentary examined previous in 1989. translucence. We can show how the decades and reminded the viewer that the in this vivid fertilisation dividing zygote convulses as each that, not so long ago, there were so vogue for scene, although not entirely asymmetrical cell division takes many aspects of life that could not CgI is bizarre accurate, the translucence place and there is an attractive be captured on film. “Now,” runs of the ovum and the juiciness as this meticulously the script, “we can film everything”. serpentine movements of the choreographed sequence sets in Not so. They cannot effectively film spermatozoa are exquisitely train the development of an embryo. the microscopic world, which is the well conveyed. There is no reason why this should most important aspect of all life be substituted by crude cartoons. on earth. A tiger may eat you, but Worse, there is nothing in the only a living microbe can decimate The bbc’s version of a human commentary that hints at it. your entire nation. Every aspect of blastula used a toad’s egg as The script exalts the viewer to the tiger is familiar to us, from its its reference. Unlike human ova, accept what is about to be unveiled. mating behaviour and voracious those of the toad are opaque “Hidden deep inside you,” Mosley appetite to its cleansing mud-baths; and so the result is misleading. an extra lustre, so it gleams as the misleading and understanding of medicine, health, intones, “is a wonderful dynamic yet when did you last see a real living The pitted opaque surface, public might expect (but as it never unrealistic images human biology and cell science is world”. microorganism on television? which makes the cell seem does in life). Cloud formations are of biological restricted. The media regularly The viewer is presented with Artificial representations are rough and textured, does not processes are sped up to make them interesting; commonplace on screen programmes on nebulae and a forest of tapering columns, widely used in teaching science, exist in reality. collapsing buildings are slowed our TV screens. the elusive Higgs boson, neither of upstanding like bristles on an whether it’s a drawing on a board down to command our attention. which directly influence our lives, unshaven chin, and nothing like any or a diagram in a textbook. Models Some are lesser known. yet the captivating universe that cells in existence. “Tiny movements are routinely employed, from plastic Beautifully lit images of human the microscope alone can disclose trigger immense electrical storms,” balls to show us the structure of embryos can give the impression remains unseen. insists the commentary, as hissing DNA to scale models that reveal the genuine light microscopy that they have been observed Programmes that frequently static discharges leap between lurid proportions of the planets. Not only reveals the early human alive in the womb, when they are feature the inner workings of a metallic rods. are they useful, they are vital. We blastula as translucent, vital actually aborted specimens in a cell often use computer generated We next encounter “raging know these are models, and they are and alive. Digital imagery is tank of preservative on a slab in the imagery (CGI), which has given us a torrents of blood” accompanying the only thing we have to disclose now so pervasive that images laboratory. Glass marbles may have rich litany of images of chromosomes, computer graphic images of the crucial information. of living cells are routinely been added to pond-water so that DNA and enzymes. Whenever we see discs diving through a duct. They The problem with the CGI cells discarded and replaced with elusive organisms, swimming under documentaries on living cells, the CGI are roughly the right shape for we see on television is that these are cgi substitutes. the lens, remain visible rather than convention spills over and replaces erythrocytes, though they lack all we see. The reality is contrived, The subtleties and intricacy sinking in the liquid and being lost reality. Soft, succulent cells are the translucence of the real cells. and sight of the real cells is nowhere of life are replaced with to sight. BIOGRAPhY portrayed as hunks of rock; a delicate These versions are portrayed as to be seen. So fashionable has the simplified digital imagery We know these visual sleights of living tracery is represented by shiny rigid biconcave discs, whereas living electron microscope image become that misrepresents reality. hand happen, and for most of the plastic cylinders. The subtle exchange erythrocytes are highly flexible and that it has replaced the reality. in consequence, the public is time we accept it. Microscopic life, of ions is transmuted into a violent have the consistency of delicate It is curious the most important denied a realistic understanding by contrast, is subject to far more discharge of electricity. Real cells are balloons of cytoplasm that easily aspect of our lives is so crudely of the cell. brutal and misleading portrayals. nowhere to be seen. distort as they squeeze through misrepresented by the media. Cells Living cells are rarely seen on Television companies spend constricting capillaries. The CGI need a better press and, if they are television and programmes can go huge sums of money on digital versions in this BBC programme unable to say so for themselves, then some examples of digital to great lengths to avoid mentioning Professor brian J simulations, even when the real look more like motor-car wheels, I am urging reform on their behalf. imagery are purely imaginary. that they exist. A gardening ford served on subject is readily available on and are similarly inflexible. Those polar bear cubs may have on the bbc’s Inside the Human programme discusses diseases of council at the video. The BBC television series been filmed in a location that the Body, the description of cells plants, though you never see the institute of biology Inside the Human Body , presented Contrived reality producers concealed from the viewers, stated that “tiny movements organisms that cause them. Reports and is the author of by Michael Mosley, contains CGI You might justify broadcasting but they were at least real cubs. Were trigger fierce electrical storms.” on pollution control claim that over thirty books, sequences purporting to exemplify an artist’s impression of a planet the polar bears afforded the same it is impossible to imagine many of them on reed-beds can purify water, without the microscope. he the first divisions of a human zygote. that nobody can see, but images treatment that producers mete out what the bbc producer had mentioning the microorganisms first appeared on It is wrong from beginning to of living cells abound and new to microbes, they’d have used clips of in mind, for nothing like this that actually process the waste. This bbc television 50 end: the sperm cells are modelled sequences could easily be prepared. Winnie the Pooh. Or Paddington Bear. exists in nature. The sequence is like reporting an election without years ago and has from sputtered scanning electron Substituting a CGI version for subsequently showed blue mentioning the candidates. since presented microscope images, and look like reality makes no sense; you might as David Barker, the CGI researcher of sparks flashing as they travel several major rusty nails; the ovum is opaque and well transmit Spitting Image in place the BBC’s Inside the Human Body, along imaginary columns, like series, appearing Crude cartoons in television lacks the translucence of human of a party political broadcast. will be responding to this article in the hair being combed in the dark. As a result, the public are unfamiliar programmes ova; the TV version looks like a Life under the microscope is so next issue of The Biologist. We’d love to with microscopic life and their around the world. corroded cannon ball, and the appealing, so revealing, and so easy hear your thoughts on the issue too.

20 / The BIOLOGIST / Vol 59 No 2 Do yoU haVe an oPinion on This arTicle? CONTACT US AT [email protected] Vol 59 No 2 / The BIOLOGIST / 21 GeNeTICS GeNe DOPING AND SPORT DeSIGNeR AThLeTeS Dr cristiana Velloso explains how gene therapy or ‘gene doping’ looks set to be the next frontier in performance enhancement

ene therapy was first proposed BIOGRAPhY research on rodents has shown that potential limitations almost 50 years ago, but the altering expression levels of single One major difference between the Gissues hampering the genes in skeletal muscles of performance enhancement seen in genetically technology’s progress are only now transgenic animals can result in these animal models and what could engineered being overcome1. Gene doping, the significant performance gains. potentially be achieved in humans is athletes are misuse of gene therapy in sports, is Skeletal muscle is already a target that in most transgenic animals the still a already of concern to anti-doping tissue for performance enhancement altered gene is introduced in the distant authorities. Defined by the World using drugs, since manipulating fertilised egg. As a result, all Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) as the muscle mass has direct benefits for embryonic development and postnatal reality, but non-therapeutic use of cells, genes, Dr cristiana sports disciplines requiring power growth takes place with altered gene knowledge Velloso is a of how genetic elements or the modulation of research (sprinting, weight lifting), whereas expression and is probably not gene expression having the capacity associate at the altering muscle metabolism can predictive of the effects of genetic genotype is to enhance athletic performance, it centre for human bring benefits for endurance events. manipulation in an adult organism. related to has been banned since 2003. and aerospace These characteristics make it Importantly, researchers at the certain The technical principles behind Physiological attractive as a target for genetic University of Pennsylvania showed sciences, King’s aspects of gene therapy and gene doping are manipulation in humans. that significant gains in skeletal college london, health is similar. Both require efficient and has a special Skeletal muscle cells (myofibres), muscle mass and strength could be advancing delivery of an exogenous gene, or interest in skeletal like neurons, are post-mitotic (non- obtained by introducing IGF-I into transgene, into a sufficient number muscle. she is proliferating) and long lived, so that muscles of adult rats 4 using an rapidly of cells, and its efficient expression. currently working stable long-term gene expression can adeno-associated virus, one of the In order for the gene to be read and on molecular be achieved if exogenous nucleic acids key vectors in use for gene therapy mechanisms of expressed, certain elements must be muscle mass can be successfully introduced into a approaches. In addition, the present. Chief amongst these is regulation in cell nucleus. In tissues in which cells presence of the gene curtailed something called the promoter, a humans in health, are constantly being replaced such as muscle loss during a period of short sequence of nucleotides that disease and skin and blood, the genetic material detraining, suggesting a scenario tell the gene expression machinery ageing. can easily be lost if it is not integrated where gene manipulation might be of the cell where and when to start (physically linked) to that of the host. used illicitly by athletes to prevent reading a gene as well as how much Perhaps the most remarkable of performance loss during periods of RNA to make. Some genes, for the transgenic animal phenotypes inactivity or recovery from injury. example, are only expressed in observed to date is that of the One important consideration particular organs or at certain times marathon mouse in which the when trying to imagine the potential in the life of an organism, such as in enzyme Phosphoenolpyruvate application of studies performed on the embryo. Others change in carboxykinase (PEPCK) is over laboratory animals to athletes is the abundance depending on a stimulus, expressed in skeletal muscles. fact that the animals are usually for example producing proteins for These animals are able to run sedentary and certainly not selected increasing muscle mass following virtually non-stop for distances of for their athletic prowess – there is strength training. 5km, compared to an average of likely to be considerable potential for By itself, DNA is not efficiently 0.2km observed in wild types2. functional gains, which may not be taken up by cells, but various This impressive running capacity present in athletes because these methods can be used for its delivery. is accompanied by, among other individuals are already operating at In gene therapy, modified viruses are traits, increased myofibre peak performance. the most promising vectors for this mitochondrial content, In large animals such as humans, purpose. Viruses infect cells by intramuscular fat stores and another key limitation of gene introducing their genetic material aggressiveness. The role of PEPCK in therapy is the cost of producing into them and then using the skeletal muscle is not entirely clear vectors in sufficient purity to meet machinery of the infected cell to but it appears, from the phenotype of clinical standards and sufficient express viral genes. Viruses used in the mice, that fuel availability and quantity to provide adequate dosage. gene therapy are made safe by utilisation, energy generation and Others issues encountered in clinical removing viral genes involved in even ‘personality’ all contribute to trials include obtaining efficient and reproduction and replacing them the increased performance. stable integration, efficient with therapeutic genes. Another notable animal is the expression, and minimising immune IGF-I (insulin-like growth factor I) reactions both to the viral vectors experimental evidence transgenic mouse, which has greatly and to the protein product of the Currently, there is no evidence that increased muscle mass and has been gene. Non-viral vectors such as gene doping has been attempted in the subject of much investigation plasmids, essentially a backbone of or out of sporting competition. Still, over the last ten years3. DNA that carries the gene of interest,

22 / The BIOLOGIST / Vol 59 No 2 Vol 59 No 2 / The BIOLOGIST / 23 GeNeTICS GeNe DOPING AND SPORT

ReFeReNCeS once in every 20 million individuals 6. blood sample would be required, and (1) Kay, M. State-of- the-art gene-based This probability should decrease as it is difficult to imagine a scenario therapies: the road the number of genes included in the where tissue biopsies would be ahead. Nature calculation increases. It would routinely taken without substantial Reviews Genetics 12, 316-328 (2011) therefore seem unlikely that one supporting evidence obtained by less (2) hakimi, P. et al. ideal genotype could determine elite invasive means. Overexpression of athletic performance, and by The introduction of the transgene the cytosolic form of phosphoenol- extension that one gene would result is likely to trigger a cascade of pyruvate in universal performance gains. changes in the expression of several carboxykinase (GTP) in skeletal muscle Given the above, it is surprising how endogenous genes, a few of which repatterns energy few genes have been shown to be might be secreted into the blood metabolism in the associated with one particular aspect stream, even if the expression of the mouse. J Biol Chem. 282, 32844-55 (2007). of adaptation to exercise, namely the transgene itself is confined to the site hanson, R. W. & ability to respond to aerobic training of injection of the vector (for hakimi, P. Born to as evidenced by improvements in example the hamstring muscle of the run; the story of the PePCK-Cmus physiological measurements such as right leg). All such indirect effects of can be produced cheaply, in large mouse. Biochimie 90, resting heart rate. gene doping or indeed drug doping amounts and with relatively simple 838-842 (2008). Using two distinct approaches, are not presently known. Large 5 (3) Musarò, A. et laboratory set-ups . The problem is al Localized Igf-1 one analysing genotype and the scale, high throughput analysis of all that delivery and integrations of transgene expression second looking at expressed mRNAs urine and blood components will these vectors is inefficient – although sustains hypertrophy in skeletal muscle, researchers have become technically and and regeneration in delivery can be improved by various senescent skeletal shown that as few as 20-30 genes can economically feasible in future mechanical manipulations, such as muscle. Nat Genet. be used to predict to what extent an allowing detection initially of application of ultrasound. 27(2), 195-200 (2001). individual will respond to aerobic abnormal patterns of these (4) Lee, S. et al. 7,8 Theoretically, the inefficiency of Viral expression of training . Participants in the above components, leading ultimately to delivery or expression might not be insulin-like growth studies were not athletes, and it will diagnosis of doping involving either a major issue if the aim of the factor-I enhances be interesting to determine whether specific drugs or genes. One such muscle hypertrophy procedure is small gains in in resistance-trained athletes involved in endurance strategy currently being developed performance, as opposed to rats. J Appl Physiol. disciplines, or indeed athletes in by WADA is the Athlete Biological 96(3),1097-104 achieving therapeutic dosages. (2004). general, have the predictive Passport (ABP), where biomarkers Successful transfection of a few (5) Wells, D. J. Gene- genotype/transcriptome of (molecules indicative of a particular myofibres could deliver enough doping, the hype responders to aerobic exercise. The state) for banned practices are and the reality. Br. J improvement to overcome the very Pharmacology 154(3), studies indicate that even if monitored and recorded on an small differences often seen among 623-31 (2008). modulation of expression of one gene individual basis9. competitors (less than 1% in the case (6) Williams, A. & does not turn out to be universally The threat of and opportunity for Folland, J. P. Similarity of 100m sprints, for example). of polygenic profiles beneficial from the perspective of gene doping are real, but the results, limits the potential for performance gains, it would based on current understanding of Gene variants elite human physical probably be effective on a large biological processes, are in no way performance. A potentially bigger problem is the J Physiol. 586(1), 113-21 number of individuals given that the guaranteed. Neither is safety, despite genetic diversity among the human (2008). number of genes which influence the large number of gene therapy population, and the difficulty in (7) Timmons, J. A. et function is likely to be limited. trials and relative paucity of adverse al. Using molecular predicting effects of modulating classification to events reported. expression of specific genes in such predict gains in Detection diverse backgrounds. Although maximal aerobic The question of major concern to the Advancing knowledge capacity following some mutations appear to have endurance exercise anti-doping authorities is whether Ultimately, the health of the athlete, penetrance even among different training in humans. gene doping would be detectable. in addition to fairness in competition, J Appl Physiol 108, species, some phenotypes can be lost 1487–1496 (2010). Unlike most drugs, which are is the goal of anti-doping authorities. when transferring between (8) Bouchard, C. et al. chemical compounds that do not The lack of efficient gene delivery individuals of the same species (for Genomic predictors occur naturally in the body, gene and expression, and the of the maximal O2 example, among the various mouse uptake response to doping would result in the unpredictability of gene expression strains that are used in laboratories standardized exercise production of biological molecules. compared to drugs – which can be worldwide). In humans, many gene training programs. If the genetic manipulation results started, stopped and dosed precisely J Appl Physiol 110, variants (alleles) have been 1160–1170 (2011). in some kind of systemic change – suggest that genetically engineered associated with performance, but (9) Robinson N. et al. which can be measured in blood or athletes are still a distant reality. the associations are not consistently Sottas P-e The Athlete urine, for example the presence of the Yet the knowledge of how genotype is Biological Passport: observed in studies performed by An effective Tool in the particular protein in either of these related to certain aspects of health is different laboratories with different Fight against Doping. body fluids when it is not normally advancing rapidly. The time may not Clinical Chemistry 57, populations. One possible 830-832 (2011). found there, or abnormally high be far off when genotype could be explanation is that this may be due to Coghlan, A. The levels of it, then this could potentially used as an additional tool to identify the interplay between variants of a Biological Passport to be enough evidence for gene doping. performance potential, or shape particular gene and of all the others Catch Sports Cheats, On the other hand, if the training, nutrition and drugging New Scientist 2738 with which it interacts. (2009). expression and the effect of the regimens. The counterpoint is that Based on 23 gene variants thought transgene are localised to a site or this advancing knowledge will also to influence endurance performance, tissue that is not easily sampled, then provide new weapons in the fight it was predicted that the ideal detection will be more difficult. A against doping, whether genetic athletic genotype would only occur tissue biopsy rather than urine or or not.

24 / The BIOLOGIST / Vol 59 No2 Do yoU haVe an oPinion on This arTicle? ContaCt us at [email protected] CONSeRVATION SPeCIeS ReINTRODUCTION

native, and can sometimes result in BIOGRAPhY Bullock, 1997) or to help restore and minimise any conflict with animals or plants becoming invasive, healthy ecosystems. local people. such as Japanese knotweed (Fallopia Secondly there is the potential for The International Union for the japonica) in Britain. increased socio-economic benefits Conservation of Nature Guidelines Reintroduction is just one part of a such as from tourism, education and for Reintroductions (IUCN 1998) BACk conservationist’s toolkit but in interpretation programmes. These were produced to help guide this recent decades it has become an may be supported by cultural links process, “to help ensure that the increasingly well-used method between the species concerned and reintroductions achieve their (EcoText, 2004 and Soorae, 2010). In the local area, perhaps based around intended conservation benefit, and some ways this is surprising as the Dr gaywood is history and literature. Scottish do not cause adverse side effects of manager of the species-focused approach to wildlife species action projects also help to establish an greater impact”. conservation has fallen a little out of framework at enhanced national image of Scotland The guidelines summarise the key TO LIFe fashion, with the bigger habitat, scottish natural as a leader in conservation and activities that should be considered Scottish Natural heritage’s landscape and ecosystem approach heritage. environmental issues, and a nation for any reintroduction project under now judged to be the main direction following his PhD willing to take action to restore the following headings: Dr martin gaywood assesses we should be heading in. on snake ecology past losses. and postdoctoral the role of reintroduction Reintroductions tend to be work at the Thirdly reintroductions can 1(a) Bmolodmcal as a way of conserving species complex projects requiring the University of provide a focus for raising awareness ■ Feasibility study and background consideration of a wide range of southampton, Dr of wider environmental issues and research and restoring ecosystems issues such as ecological gaywood worked encouraging resources for habitat ■ Previous reintroductions requirements, animal husbandry at csiro in restoration programmes. Finally, ■ Choice of release site and type australia on a and plant cultivation, species carefully-managed reintroductions ■ Evaluation of reintroduction site royal society legislation, finance and fund raising, Travelling can provide positive success stories ■ Availability of suitable release consultation with stakeholders, fellowship. on his with the potential for wide public stock education and interpretation, and return he moved to interest and support, nationally ■ Release of captive stock public relations. Usually no single scottish natural or locally. 1(b) Socmo-econommc and organisation can provide such a heritage in 1994 to ledal requmrements work on species breadth of multi-disciplinary conservation and Best practice 2 Plannmnd preparatmon and expertise so projects often require management The challenge is to ensure that any release stades the development of partnerships. issues. reintroduction proposal has a clear 3 Post-release actmvmtmes They also tend to be relatively rationale and that any decision first expensive compared to other involves a careful consideration of These pragmatic and sensible types of conservation work and all the relevant factors. If a decision guidelines are used by conservation may sometimes be seen as is made to release a particular organisations worldwide and have diverting resources from more young white- species, then the right sort of been formally adopted by all the worthwhile causes. tailed eagles in planning and implementation will statutory conservation agencies in their holding cage Critics of reintroductions have at the east of maximise the chances of the species the UK (see the policy for raised other concerns, especially in scotland release establishing long-term, self- conservation translocation in relation to some of our recent, high- site. sustaining and viable populations, Britain produced by the Joint Nature profile projects. Reintroduced etermining the most Two of the most high-profile species are perceived as risking significant conservation work examples at the moment are in unforeseen or unmanageable Din Scotland at the moment Scotland, where sea eagles and damage to other wildlife or habitats isn’t easy. There are the ambitious, beavers are the subject of complex through competition, predation or big-scale projects involving reintroduction projects. Perhaps more indirect effects. Some species woodland restoration and marine part of the reason for the interest may have a direct or indirect effect site protection. Then there is the these projects generate is that there on land use, with resulting economic management of our extensive peat is often so much more to a costs to the land user or public purse. bogs to ensure they remain as vital reintroduction project than just So why is there such continued long-term carbon sinks, water stores returning a particular species back interest in reintroduction? Scottish and habitats for wildlife. to a particular place. Natural Heritage (SNH) believes These types of projects have the some reintroductions can help to potential to make the biggest, why reintroduce species? bring about certain environmental, positive impact on biodiversity. Yet, Reintroductions are used to social and economic benefits in despite this, it is often species- establish species in areas where they Scotland if done in the right way. focused projects that spark the have become extinct that were once Firstly, reintroductions are a way public imagination and generate part of their historical range. This is of meeting conservation objectives, most media attention, and none different to the concept of such as restoring the range of a more so than some of the UK’s introduction, where species are species that has declined as a result current reintroduction projects. moved to areas where they are not of human pressure (Hodder and

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Conservation Committee, 2003). ReFeReNCeS Similar concepts They can be used for any type of ecoText: Review of Our changing environment has led international policy reintroduction, although their and practice for to the development of a similar application might be relatively native species concept to reintroduction called straightforward for some projects conservation ‘conservation introduction’, where seen again (such as reintroducing a rare plant to translocations. species are moved deliberately. This a hillside using donor stock from Scottish Natural involves trying to establish a species, he following examples give an idea has recently decided to allow the animals woolly willow another population in the same hill heritage Report No. for the purpose of conservation, of the range of species to return for the time being, and use the Woolly willow ( 034 (ROAMe No. Salix range) but complex for others (such F03NC04B), Scottish outside its recorded distribution but Treintroductions that are being opportunity to collect further information lanata) is a low shrub that forms part of as reintroducing a top predator). Natural heritage, within an appropriate habitat or carried out in Scotland and the breadth which will also be reported to the Minister sub-arctic, montane scrub habitat which Battleby (2004). geographic area. A good example of of geographic scales that we have been in 2015. was once an important ecotone above the eurasian beaver The way forward hodder, K. h. & this is the transfer of animals or working at. altitudinal limit of forest. However, The controversial issues surrounding Bullock, .J M. plants from populations threatened Wildlife has no interest in political Sea eagle changing land management in the Scottish certain species reintroductions have Translocation of by the spread of disease to isolated boundaries so the term reintroduction can The white-tailed or sea eagle ( Haliaeetus uplands has meant that montane scrub is meant that conservation interests native species in the refuges (e.g. ‘insurance populations’ be used where a species is returned to a albicilla) is the UK’s largest bird of prey. It now restricted to a few fragments, many of have sometimes come into conflict UK: Implications for of Tasmanian devils have been set up country from which it has been lost (such as became extinct in the early 1900s but was them isolated and vulnerable to localised biodiversity. Journal with those of local land users. In of Applied Ecology in response to the spread of Devil sea eagles to Scotland, and indeed the island reintroduced to the west coast of Scotland extinction. Woolly willow cuttings have Scotland, the Scottish Beaver Trial 34, 547-565 (1997). Facial Tumour Disease in Tasmania). of Great Britain), or it might be to a specific from 1975-98 where there are now about been collected and cultivated at the Royal and the west and east coast sea eagle Another important example is river catchment, mountain top or some 60 occupied territories. More recently a Botanic Gardens Edinburgh, with young IUCN Guidelines for reintroduction projects have Re-introductions. ‘assisted colonisation’ in response to other form of localised, geographic area. new and ongoing phase of reintroduction plants planted out at carefully selected sites generated a particularly high level IUCN/SSC climate change, where species with The examples also demonstrate that has focused around Fife in east Scotland, in the Cairngorms and Angus glens. of debate. Re-introduction poor dispersal powers are given a beaver dam built at Knapdale although some high-profile species with 80 birds released since 2007. Arguments have often been Specialist Group, helping hand to move away from reintroductions may be controversial, The return of the sea eagle has Freshwater pearl mussel passionate and intense, with much Gland, Switzerland areas that are becoming climatically many others generate far less heat. generated substantial public interest, Scotland is a European stronghold for the (1998) of it played out in the media and unsuitable. Because of the growing and a recent RSPB study on Mull freshwater pearl mussel (Margaritifera both sides sometimes playing loose Kemp, P. S. et al interest in this type of translocation, eurasian beaver trial suggested that sea eagle tourism boosts margaritifera) but continuing threats with the facts. It became clear that Qualitative and and because it has many similarities The Eurasian beaver ( Castor fiber) is the local economy by about £5 million from illegal pearl fishing, habitat loss, there had to be a more constructive quantitative effects to reintroduction, the IUCN currently the subject of the first formal every year. However some farmers, water pollution and declines in trout and of reintroduced way of trying to engage stakeholders beavers on stream Guidelines on Reintroduction are reintroduction project of a mammal crofters and foresters have reservations, salmon, which act as larval hosts, have in the decision-making process and fish. Fish and being expanded to include species to Britain. Although SNH started and the reintroduction of a large raptor is meant that the population remains under so a ‘National Species Fisheries (2011). conservation introduction as well. feasibility studies on beaver reintroduction an expensive business. In 2010 Natural threat. More recently, attempts have been Reintroduction Forum’ has been set Pre-publication Reintroduction is likely to remain in the mid-1990s, it was not until 2009 that England withdrew from a proposal to made to reintroduce the mussel into rivers up in Scotland made up of land-use version available a useful method for conserving sea eagle the Government finally granted a licence reintroduce them in England largely due where it once lived, using stock judged to online at http:// groups, conservation NGOs and onlinelibrary.wiley. species and restoring ecosystems. to permit the release of four beaver to budget cutbacks. be most genetically similar to the extinct other public bodies. The forum com/doi/10.1111/ Ideally, restoring habitats and families into the wild in Knapdale, Argyll, In Scotland there is a management populations. provides an opportunity for all sides j.1467-2979. enhancing the likelihood of species as part of the Scottish Beaver Trial. scheme that aims to support projects The locations have had to be kept secret to discuss issues important to them, 2011.00421.x/ recolonising areas naturally, should Public consultations have shown that that may benefit the eagles, spread the because of the continued threat of pearl and to try and develop an agreed abstract be the priority. But in situations the majority of members of the Scottish economic benefits arising from their fishing. Animals can be moved as adult way forward. McLean, I. F. G. (on where this is unlikely, for example public surveyed are in favour of presence and assist in the positive mussels, or as larvae on host salmonid fish. By the end of 2012, the Scottish behalf of the Inter- where species have poor dispersal reintroduction, but some groups have management of land and livestock However, so far the results have been Biodiversity Strategy will have been agency abilities or because of the presence particular concerns over the potential which reduces the impact of eagle disappointing, demonstrating how the Translocations revised to have a far bigger focus on Working Group) A of natural barriers, then effects of beaver engineering and foraging behaviour. subtle and complex ecological management at the ecosystem scale. Policy for reintroduction remains a loch skeen release feeding activities. The same activities requirements of some species can often site for vendace But does this ‘ecosystem approach’ Conservation valuable alternative. are seen by some supporters as having Vendace make reintroduction work challenging. mean species reintroductions will Translocations of Reintroductions are also not just potentially important benefits – for The vendace (Coregonus albula) is a Efforts are being made to work out how become redundant? It’s unlikely, Species in Britain, about the species – the involvement example felled trees can be perceived freshwater fish typically associated with future reintroductions can be improved. Joint Nature since there will always be a need Conservation and support of people is also as a lost commercial crop to some people, large, deep, standing waters. Scotland for certain types of targeted species Committee, important and can be vital in but the creation of naturally coppiced lost its last population of vendace in the pine hoverfly management, and reintroduction Peterborough (2003). ensuring eventual success and the woodland as beneficial to wildlife 1960s as its habitat became unsuitable, The larvae of the pine hoverfly ( Blera is likely to remain a useful tool restoration of viable and self- to others. so when reintroduction work began in fallax) have particular requirements – SNh A Five Year when other options, such as trying to Species Action sustaining populations. The trial approach, together with other the 1990s, it was first necessary to identify wet rotting heartwood, caused by butt-rot encourage species to recolonise Framework: Making a ongoing beaver studies (e.g. on beavers lochs where it was believed the conditions fungus within the snapped-off stumps of areas naturally, will not work in Difference for and migratory fish, Kemp et al., 2011) will would enable any new population large pines. Given the lack of large old pines the medium or long term. Scotland’s Species. Most of the projects listed above have Woolly willow therefore allow these factors to be to survive. in Scotland, it is not surprising that several Reintroductions can also Scottish Natural been done under the umbrella of examined and presented to the Minister Since then, vendace has been moved years ago only a few hundred individuals heritage, Battleby contribute to the restoration of (2007). www.snh.gov. Scotland’s Species Action Framework for Environment and Climate Change in into three Scottish lochs using donor were thought to be left at two separate sites healthy and functioning uk/speciesaction (SNH 2007) and further 2015, after which a decision on the future stock from the remaining UK populations in Strathspey, in the Cairngorms. ecosystems, for example by framework information, including details of the of beaver reintroduction will be made. in the Lake District. In fact, stock from A project was therefore launched in returning pollinator or other Soorae, P. S. (ed) numerous partners involved, can be The project continues to receive enormous the Bassenthwaite population in the Lake 2007 involving research, captive breeding ‘keystone’ species to places where Global re-introduction found at www.snh.gov.uk/ amounts of public and media attention. District were moved just in time to and the creation of dozens of man-made they had been lost. People are also perspectives: speciesactionframework In the meantime, beavers have also Loch Skeen in Scotland: shortly breeding sites. The core sites have been an important element of the Additional case- appeared on Tayside, possibly having afterwards the Bassenthwaite population sustained and the three reintroductions ecosystem concept and studies from around Monitoring reports and other originated as escapees from private became extinct as a result of habitat which have been made to historic sites the globe. IUCN/SSC reintroductions, if managed scientific publications are available collections or from deliberate releases. change, but the genetically distinct and are already producing new generations Re-introduction freshwater pearl mussel properly, can provide value to our Specialist Group, Abu online via www.snh.gov.uk/ Following much debate, the Government diverse stock lives on in Scotland. of hoverflies. social, economic and cultural needs. Dhabi, UAe (2010) scottishbeavertrial

28 / The BIOLOGIST / Vol 59 No 2 Vol 59 No 2 / The BIOLOGIST / 29 INTeRVIeW SIR STePheN BLOOM The phILOSOphY OF FAT SIR STepheN BLOOm FSB The distinguished and recently knighted endocrinologist talks to sue Thorn fsb about his research on obesity

The main drivers of obesity are what is the solution, or is there not entirely as it seems. People willpower, genetics and social class no solution? who are hungry really enjoy food, – what’s the current view about To take it to extremes, one option people who aren’t don’t, so one’s their relative importance? is to make food less palatable, force enjoyment is adjusted by what the Obesity is genetic in that if you people to climb stairs and cause body thinks is the need for food. So have obese parents you are more trains to run less frequently and be you get more pleasure when you are likely to be obese. A Swedish study overcrowded [laughs]. My favoured hungry, and the hunger hormone demonstrated that if you were a thin change would be a fat tax – it ghrelin, when infused, increases orphan bought up in a fat household wouldn’t be a perfect instrument, but the appreciation of food – you think you stayed thin, or if you were a fat if high-fat foods were more expensive things are more delicious. This orphan (with fat parents) bought up and everyone knew that it was to help brings us to an interesting side in a household of thin people you with health, then I think it would issue, which is that these peripheral actually stayed fat – so there is a very encourage people to understand fat hormones are controlling basic strong inherited propensity to obesity. content and may even do some good. human drives. So our brain is being In an obesogenic society, i.e. one controlled by our gut. Sex hormones where you don’t need to take any where does oxyntomodulin fit in? control sex drives, so it’s not an exercise and you have high calorie We found that some of the gut unusual principle. It tells us that we delicious food available at all times, hormones, if infused to a physiological are automatic machinery and not as people with a genetic predisposition concentration, have an unexpected free-willed as we wish to believe. will tend to get obese, and those effect of reducing appetite. We think who are more resistant won’t. So this is the gut saying to the brain: “We what is your lifestyle like? it’s an environmental and genetic can’t handle the food, please eat less.” My BMI is about 27, which is outside thing and that plurality is sometimes The elevation of satiety hormones is the healthy range but not seriously difficult to grasp. a feature of chronic gut diseases and overweight. I have trouble controlling Can we do anything by giving leads to a long-term reduction in my appetite. I snack on things like lifestyle advice? Most sensible people food intake. chocolate. So I feel very sympathetic already understand that eating less One of the hormones that we to the overweight, and it should never and doing more exercise would be the worked on was oxyntomodulin, be a case of getting cross with people, a help, and on the whole, they’ve Olympics is meaning it modulates the oxyntic it’s an issue of trying to help with the already taken that advice or failed to. great, it cells and reduces acid secretion physical and social consequences. We know that if you send dieticians really in the stomach, but we noticed it That’s why we’re trying to make an into people’s houses, they lose weight. stimulates did two other things – it increases effective, safe obesity therapy. And as soon as they stop visiting, the people to sit energy expenditure and decreases subject’s weight goes back up. So if on a couch appetite and so led to a reduction in when we worked together, I you make a superhuman effort, you body weight. When we trialled three remember you used to lunch on can lose weight. and watch daily injections of oxyntomodulin lettuce leaves. One of the problems with taking television. in volunteers, after four weeks in Yes, between chocolates I eat more exercise is that people then eat And it’s a double-blind trial, they’d lost a lettuce. I still jog every day, 20 more as they feel they’ve earned it, bound to lot of weight. But no one wants to minutes’ worth on a treadmill. I but people who stay slim do generally have quite have injections three times a day, so find it very boring and now I have a go jogging or whatever. Obesity is an impact – our aim was to make a long-lasting treadmill with a television and lots more serious than a lack of exercise – on oxyntomodulin, which we did, and of recorded programmes. so if you take a lot of exercise and are increasing set up a company called Thiakis, obese you still will have a shorter life. obesity which is now owned by Pfizer. why did you decide to specialise in endocrinology? Do you think the Olympics will make Oxyntomodulin is about supressing I’d always been interested in sex – I any difference to people’s attitude appetite. I tend to snack – it’s not suppose the other option was obs to sport and exercise? that I’m hungry but I eat a chocolate and gynae but that was… the less The Olympics is great, it really because I fancy one. attractive end. stimulates people to sit on a couch Hedonistic eating, eating for and watch television. And it’s pleasure, seems to be because we why science rather than medicine? bound to have quite an impact – on want to get a taste thrill or it gives Despite being a medic I was increasing obesity. us a satisfaction. This however is interested in science – when the

30 / The BIOLOGIST / Vol 59 No 2 Vol 59 No 2 / The BIOLOGIST / 31 INTeRVIeW SIR STePheN BLOOM

opportunity came up to do a BIOGRAPhY On the gravestone one can other hand is now going through research fellowship I volunteered say he contributed such and a retrenchment and that’s painful. straight away and never looked back. such, and in my case it would People going into a medical career Learning clinical medicine was an be a fresh approach to the with an interest in research are enormous help in understanding treatment of obesity and maybe finding they’re having to do more how the whole body fits together and an understanding of the wider and more on the medical side and the effects of things going wrong. areas that regulation of tissues there’s less time to do research. encompasses. In other words, wider Nonetheless, there are various You started off presumably as a endocrinology – trying to stop schemes to allow people time off classical endocrinologist and now Professor sir endocrinology just being all about to do research and, given that the stephen bloom is concentrate on obesity – what path head of Division the thyroid, the adrenal and the prospects for a satisfying job in took you there? for Diabetes, pituitary. On my deathbed I think the NHS are less than they used I was a peculiar endocrinologist endocrinology and I’ll say how interestingly random to be, with less autonomy and because I was interested in diarrhoea metabolism, chair life was and that I’m glad things fell more management protocols, the and got into gut hormones, and of the section of out the way they did. attractiveness of the academic unusual regulatory activities of investigative career has grown greater than medicine at hormones: neurotransmitter imperial college what haven’t you enjoyed? ever. If we think of UK Ltd, the fact peptides, neurotransmitters in london and chief One particular beef is the we are developing more academic the lung and the bladder as well of service for current legislation around drug physicians is nothing but good. as the gut. I only came back into Pathology at development, whereby if I want to We’ve got used to the oil industry endocrinology rather late in my imperial college give a peptide to someone to see making lots of money for the UK, healthcare nhs career, when we realised that if it works, it’s going to cost me a but in the future I think effective Trust. among some of these are neurocrine – i.e. many other roles million pounds doing animal trials. university-based research is going locally-active hormones or paracrine he heads a This means we fail to cure diseases to be a major profit centre. Brain – diffusing to act on nearby cells, 40-strong because of the high administrative rather than brawn should be the and sometimes in the circulation research team burden. If I want to test 20 peptides, future of the UK. in classical hormonal fashion as investigating the all slight variations on each other, I physiology of described by Bayliss and Starling. regulatory would need over £20 million. what advice would you give The whole body depends on these peptides in cns The administrative burden is all someone wanting to be a clinician signals going from one cell type to and periphery. he about absolute safety and because and a scientist? another and the artificial separation was knighted in of this there are people dying today, You have to get used to the idea of a field called endocrinology is last year’s new perhaps millions who we could easily you’re going to be a rotten clinician exactly that, very artificial. year’s honours list cure if it wasn’t so expensive and and a bad scientist because you for his pioneering work on obesity difficult testing drugs. A particular won’t have the time to devote how have you dealt with stress and diabetes. irritation is minor changes to drugs yourself fully to either. Yet you during your career? that help their handling – each minor are valuable because you bring a I seem to be stress resistant. I was change has to go through all the drug holistic understanding of the body taken on by a physician who had an development process before you can and its disorders to the science field unexpected research position, but test it. It is practically impossible to and this is uniquely advantageous. he had no idea what research I was test a family of like agents to see which This bridging field yields important supposed to do. He was far too busy ones are handled best by the human outcomes, actual improvements in to oversee me so I was left entirely body, because every single one of those mankind’s lot and indeed in the lot to my own devices. And I had to has to be an investment of 1, 2 or 3 of animals, who also suffer from invent my own areas, think what to million pounds before you can test it. endless diseases. I’d say it’s a very do, read all about it – possibly that So we’re missing out on opportunities. good career and I’d encourage was excellent training. I suppose When it comes to sending people people to go for it. I don’t get stressed because I’ve to Afghanistan we accept a certain always felt I had a reasonable degree death rate. When it comes to road how do you feel about being Sir of control over what I was doing. traffic we accept a certain accident Stephen Bloom? rate. In drug development you The honours system is interesting. what are your career highlights? can’t have a single problem and, It’s set up to make people jealous One thing that is a little surprising as a result, we’re so risk averse in and to have that effect it has to be is the number of people who are this area that we’re missing out totally random – and it gives every now professors who trained with on a lot of opportunities to cure impression of being totally random. me – I think there is getting on for Alzheimer’s, infections and so on. One’s not going to object when one 30 people who trained with me receives largesse out of the blue, but and are now heads of department. would you recommend an I can’t really feel I deserved it. That’s very pleasing. It suggests ambitious young clinician today to that at least one hasn’t put people enter a research career? Nonsense! how did your family react? off from a successful career. My We’ve recently gone through an The family were impressed because, lab has also tried to provide an unprecedented period of largesse of course, the title has an impact, and environment that supports in research. Despite cutbacks, then they wanted to know if there women: we’ve had about 20 doing research is more feasible was anything in it for them and of researchers who had babies now than it’s ever been, which course there isn’t. At that point, they and none of them have had any must be good for UK Ltd in lost interest! Actually, my daughters, problems with their careers. the long term. The NHS on the in particular, are very proud.

32 / The BIOLOGIST / Vol 59 No2 Do yoU haVe an oPinion on This arTicle? CONTACT US AT [email protected] SCIeNCe PhYSIOLOGY

SpOTLIGhT ON INTeRVIew AT A GLANCe what are you working on at the moment? My main speciality is the role of neurophysiology and psychobiology in people’s perception of effort and phYSIOLOGY how it is nearly always athletes’ perception of fatigue, not muscle or cardiovascular fatigue, which limits performance. Name Professor Also, how mental fatigue limits the body functions to try to find Samuele Marcora performance. Every time a football cures for diseases, such as profession manager’s team performs badly cystic fibrosis and Alzheimer’s. Professor you’ll often hear them say they were Neurophysiologists work on brain of exercise mentally tired or under pressure but function, understanding how we learn Physiology there’s very little science on it, while and remember, and why it sometimes and Director there is an awful lot of research goes wrong. Clinical physiologists of Research at about muscle fatigue. work in hospitals and clinics, the Centre for There are two main theories on diagnosing and managing disease. Sports Studies, how you perceive fatigue: the first however, not all physiologists University is that perception comes from the work in a lab. This summer, exercise of Kent variety of receptors in the muscle/ physiologists will be applying their Qualifications heart and lungs that are stimulated science to help Olympic athletes reach PhD in exercise by physical changes during exercise. the peak of their performance, while Physiology, The receptors send something others apply their knowledge more MSc in human called afferent feedback to the brain Absolutely. If you can better The other group concentrates more broadly to assess how exercise can Performance, that generates a perception of effort. understand and reduce the on physical health and rehabilitation, help the general population combat BSc in Physical The other theory, the one I perception of effort you may be involving both athletes and people like aging and cardiovascular disease. education support, is that how you perceive able to help increase the number of cardiac patients. Research effort is actually based on the people taking exercise. Hopefully what’s the best route into a career in Interests brain’s central motor command – we will receive funding for this area what are the most exciting advances physiology? Neurophysiology how forcefully the brain activates of our research as they have tried or areas of research being studied in If you have studied biology at any of perceived the muscle. If you block afferent everything else – the fact is people physiology generally at the moment? level, you will have studied physiology. exertion and feedback by injecting anaesthetic find exercise too much work There are two hot topics based Most physiologists will have studied a endurance into the muscles of the legs, when and uncomfortable. on how the body responds to biomedical science or sports science exercise you move you will not feel any exercise: there was the BBC Horizon degree at university level. Following performance; signals or pain from them but will how did you get into physiology? programme on the benefits of very university, many will take a post- fatigue in clinical still feel a perception of ‘effort’. It started through sport and then short bursts of intense exercise graduate qualification in the area of populations I moved into physiology. When (Michael Mosley’s The Truth About physiology that most interests them. what applications do you hope your I was young I was a competitive Exercise). It’s very catchy because it however, not everyone will continue research could lead to? athlete – basketball and American sounds so convenient, to just do three to post-graduate level. Many people Working with patients affected by football were my sports. Like minutes of exercise a week instead of choose to go straight into industry rheumatic diseases, kidney disease anyone else I was interested in how three hours or something. But I think or clinical roles, gaining experience and cancer, which cause muscle you can improve your training, your it needs much more research. alongside professional qualifications. wasting problems, the thing that performance and your nutrition; The other is of more industrial Some go on to study medicine or limits their quality of life the most you start to get into the physiology appeal – there are drug companies dentistry, become teachers and is often chronic fatigue, which of it. During my PE degree we had looking at exercise as a cheap way lawyers, and communicate science to makes even the simplest task seem to study anatomy, biochemistry of finding molecular targets for the public. Due to the breadth of the like a massive effort. So I became and physiology, and so I became their drugs. Exercise has a big effect subject, physiologists really can be very interested in their perception interested in it that way. on conditions like, say, diabetes or found in all walks of life. of effort. There is a lot known cardiovascular disease, and they If you can about the perceptions like pain and has your work ever led to working are looking at ways to get the same where can I find out more? understand appetite and their physiology, but with sporting greats or high-profile effects with a drug instead. The Physiological Society offers and not fatigue. teams? information about diverse areas of reduce the My mum got an acute blood I’ve been scientific advisor to Mapei, what do you like about sport what is physiology? how organisms function, from the physiology on its website perception disease and had to have a kidney a professional cycling team that in physiology and does it suit any Often described as the science of life, actions of individual proteins within (www.physoc.org). here you can find of effort, you transplant. Fatigue is one of the the early 2000s was the best in particular type of scientist? physiology is the science of how the cells to how organ systems interact in information on the society’s public may be able worst ways it has affected her the world. We work with humans, not mice! body works. Cellular and molecular the body. engagement activities, meetings to increase quality of life so I have a personal I think it is good for people who biology have enabled us to strip the and training courses. You can also interest in this. what other research does your team like to see the direct application body down to its constituent parts, why is it important? find back issues of the Society’s the number do at the Centre for Sports Studies? of science to humans. Much of my but physiology is about putting those Physiology provides a foundation magazine, Physiology News. Further of people Do you think there is any possibility Like most sport science departments, research is picked up by coaches and components back together and for all of the biological and clinical educational resources and careers exercising your work on the perception of effort we have two main research groups. In athletes and that gives me a lot of understanding how they interact. sciences. Physiologists in the lab use information can be found on could lead to pain-free exercise, our sports performance group we look satisfaction knowing it has improved Physiologists study every aspect of their understanding of how www.understanding-life.org. which could help reduce obesity? at fatigue and endurance in athletes. their lives.

34 / The BIOLOGIST / Vol 59 No 2 Vol 59 No 2 / The BIOLOGIST / 35 Our regular round-up of books Owlet Caterpillars facilitating the treatment of the public resistance to embracing the published in the of eastern North previously untreatable. vast potential benefits for medicine, fields of biology America They, and indeed some biologists, agriculture and industry is often and related sciences David L wagner, will be far less aware of the variety viewed, from the laboratory bench, Dale F Schweitzer, of problems still to be solved before with incredulity. Reviews J Bolling Sullivan & stem cells can find a central place in But, as Jasanoff stresses in her Richard C Reardon clinical medicine. opening chapter, these new levels of Princeton University Press, £59.00 Adopting a systems approach, understanding and technological Over a million insect species are this book surveys the requisite capability have transformed me and the known to science, with anything research on both basic physiology traditional “notions of race, diversity, Biospheres: a between 3-8 million – perhaps as and the technology necessary to kinship, ethnic and social identity, dragonflies memoir by the many as 13 million – still to go. A lot, generate these cells in medically normality, deviance, criminality, and inventor of certainly, are mostly described in useful quantities. The editors justice and human uniqueness”, while damselflies Biosphere 2 the adult stage only. For less than a co-author three of the 12 chapters, biotechnology has, inter alia, created of the East John Allen third we have knowledge of the early on stem cell bioprocessing for “new forms of life, embryos, stem “Of interest synergetic Press, £25.00 stages and many, extinct already, regenerative medicine, the cells and human-animal chimeras”. to all Me and The Biospheres is the we will simply never know. Happily, triggering of neurogenesis by So it is hardly surprising that they autobiography of John Allen, the Lepidoptera are one group endogenous brain stem cells with have enormous political, legal and dragonfly inventor of the world’s largest where the larvae are comparatively DNA nanoplexes, and a common social implications. enthusiasts laboratory of global ecology, well known, at least for the better- integrative nuclear signalling Arguably, most bioethicists’ thanks to Biosphere 2. I’m not surprised studied regions, although often this module for stem cell development. responses to such developments its beautiful Allen’s book was voted best information is scattered and arcane. Overall, the book affords a highly have tended to be rooted in and autobiography of 2010 by the This volume, the latest by Wagner accessible portrait of this nascent deterministic thinking: for example, meticulous Benjamin Franklin Awards for and co-authors, packs an absurd therapy, not only for researchers focusing on the (supposedly close-up independent publishing. He is amount of information about the directly involved but also for inevitable) legal consequences for pictures of the most amazing man I know. larvae of noctuoid moths of eastern biologists and medicos in other safety, privacy, liability, equitable I’ve learned even more about him North America into its 576 pages, areas. Two particularly challenging healthcare provision and both the and his associates from this book with scarcely an inch wasted. After chapters are those on the environmental pollution. But, more male and - and what associates: from a concise introduction it launches engineering of bioactive scaffolds radically, the perspective of the female of Konrad Lorenz and Buckminster straight into the descriptions, genus for vascular therapy and the bioconstitutionalism that runs each Fuller to William Burroughs, by genus, with a large photograph of possible treatment of central through this book acknowledges the species” Sir Ghillean Prance and the mature larva of each species and nervous system disorders using ‘irreducible contingency of life-law Richard Schultes. a brief résumé of key features, stem cells from the human relationships that aims to restore Allen started the Biosphere habitats, distribution, food plants umbilical cord. normative agency to social factors’. enterprise at the Synergia Ranch in and comments, citing from a “Stem cells have an astounding The 13 chapters address issues Santa Fe having bought and bibliography of over 260 references capability to self-renew or such as cloning, forensic uses of DNA renovated – by hand – a great stretch but with plenty of new, unpublished differentiate under a plethora of databases, xenotransplantation, LIFe’S A GAS of Australian outback to prepare and corrected data also. seemingly chaotic external and human population genomics and the Oxygen and the evolution of Life The next three chapters cover the specimens. He did this while In many cases there are internal inductive signals which precautionary principle. Except for a heinz Decker & kensal e van holde biological role of oxygen, notably how building a ship, Heraclitus, setting photographs of the adult moth in may lead to contradicting fate single chapter from the UK, all springer Dordrecht, £53.99 organisms developed mechanisms for up the Vajra hotel in Kathmandu natural repose or as set specimen, decisions,” write the editors. This authors have strong associations All elements are important but some coping with an oxygen-rich and the October Gallery in London. often both. The photographs are book will go a long way to clarify the with one department of government are more important than others. atmosphere, the physiological benefits When it became clear Biosphere 2 uniformly excellent, and the components of the chaos and to at Harvard University. Even so, this Oxygen falls into the latter category, of aerobic conditions and the evolution would need a tropical rainforest, he diversity of forms and habits is facilitate progress towards important book should be available Oxygen and due to its significance in the of multicellular organisms, plus bought a patch of Puerto Rican land, staggering – a real eye-opener. applications that may, in time, in every bioscience library. the Evolution evolution and continuance of life on oxygen transport systems in animals planted hardwood trees and used it Over 800 species are included. become crucial components of ben mepham of Life Earth, and its penchant for involving proteins like haemoglobins. for the source of the rainforest biome This book wouldn’t necessarily routine medical practice. “three combining with other elements. This Chapters six and seven focus on – creating a conservation-focused, as catch the attention of European bernard Dixon Dragonflies and Damselflies short introduction provides synopses oxygen-climate relationships, on long- well as profit-making business. I lepidopterists, but it should – even if of the east chapters of oxygen’s major characteristics. term Earth history with its warm and can’t begin to detail his many other only for the beautiful illustrations. Reframing Rights: Dennis paulson cover the It opens with oxygen’s chemistry: cool stages, and real and potential enterprises here – buy the book! The fact that many of the genera bioconstitutionalism Princeton University Press, £24.95 biological its atomic structure, bonding capacity human impact due to increasing The culmination of it all is share taxa with Europe also gives it in the genetic age A counterpart to Dragonflies and role of and roles in ozone, water and carbon carbon dioxide emissions since the Biosphere 2 in the Arizona desert. real utility beyond its home range. Sheila Jasanoff (ed) Damselflies of the West, together oxygen, dioxide formation, as well as its 1800s. A further chapter examines This was a completely closed system David clements cbiol msb miT Press, £17.95 these books provide a complete, notably how solubility, hydrolysis, dehydration oxygen-related medical conditions in which eight people lived for two concise and encyclopaedic organisms and redox reactions. The subsequent such as hypoxia and oxidative stress years, with air, water and agriculture Stem Cells – From reference work covering all developed chapter begins with cosmic history and their treatment. The final chapter all perfectly recycled, with four mechanisms to Many lab-based bioscientists dragonflies and damselflies in mechanisms and the formation of the solar system, speculates on oxygen and life beyond connected-but-independent biomes Technologies consider that the low level of public continental USA and Canada. for coping then focuses on the early Earth planet Earth as well as problems with including a coral reef, desert and michal k. Stachowiak enthusiasm for recent advances in Dragonflies and Damselflies of the with an with its carbon dioxide rich supplying oxygen to space explorers. rainforest. This is a great book for and emmanual S the life sciences is frustratingly East includes 336 out of the total of oxygen-rich atmosphere, and how that was This book adopts an interesting, biologists. Read it to see just how Tzanakakis (eds) reactionary. Despite biologists’ 462 species of the order Odonata atmosphere” transformed over billions of years indeed risky approach when it comes much can be done during an eclectic World scientific, £84.00 widespread acceptance for over 150 found within the USA and Canada. into an atmosphere with 21 % oxygen. to sales. It is relevant to a wide but life. Did I mention that the author Many people have now heard of stem years of (neo) Darwinian theory, The introduction contains details The development of photosynthesis scientific audience though the cost is is also Johnny Dolphin, the poet cells and their remarkable capacity which has received indisputable of the dragonfly’s lifecycle, habitats, is highlighted as a major biological prohibitive for purchase by individuals. and playwright? to differentiate into mature cells endorsement from recent advances behaviour, and suggested methods and geological force. Dr a m mannion Jack cohen fsb with specific functions, potentially in genomics and biotechnology, of observation and study. This book

36 / The BIOLOGIST / Vol 59 No 2 Vol 59 No 2 / The BIOLOGIST / 37 ReVIeWS BOOKS

will be of interest to all dragonfly now dealt with in the same chapters, specimens collected, including enthusiasts thanks to its beautiful and the book has been expanded to stomach contents and external and meticulous close-up pictures of include some additional statistical parasites, from 516 mammals of at both the male and female of each tests – including logistic regression, least 79 different species; the results species. Anyone able to visit the an increasingly important model of examinations for protozoan and USA and spend time looking for in many sub-disciplines of biology. viral diseases; a list of government dragonflies will find the notes, full Moreover, and perhaps most and university departments; descriptions and labelled line usefully, there are comprehensive and people mentioned in the text diagrams helpful to assist in species instructions on how to perform and a glossary. statistical identification. statistical tests in two of the most Students of tropical medicine and data Information is clearly and common software packages: and anyone curious about east systematically presented with SPSSv19 and MINITABv6. African natural history might find handling species grouped by genus. Habitats There are lots of basic statistics this of interest. skills in are described to assist observations textbooks out there, but this is one sue howarth fsb Biology and locations are identified of the best. “A well- diagrammatically as highlighted ana claudia mendes malhado Birds of written, areas on a thumbnail map of the Seychelles clearly- USA. The use of diagrams make it meat for mice – Adrian Skerrett illustrated ideal for taking out on fieldwork; A vet’s diary of & Tony Disley and user- however it may be better in e-book the London bloomsbury friendly or paperback format. In hardback Natural history Publishing, guidebook edition this book feels like a coffee museum 1962 £24.99 table book, containing as it does expedition to that such a wealth of attractive and Northern explains the vibrant pictures. A list of dragonfly Rhodesia The Seychelles consists of more mysteries of societies, websites and a glossary of Ian keymer than 155 separate islands scattered biostatistics all terms used are given as romney Publications ltd, £45.00 over a vast area of the Indian Ocean without appendices. In 1962, Ian Keymer set out with and, as such, has a rich diversity of scaring off Dr amanda hardy museum staff from the London birdlife, all of which have been first-year Natural History Museum for comprehensively covered in this students Statistical and Data handling Northern Rhodesia (now known as slim volume. Skills in Biology (3rd edition) Zambia) to collect specimens. As a With around 257 species so far with Roland ennos vet and pathologist, his main job was recorded in the Seychelles, equal complex- Pearson, £28.99 to carry out post-mortems on the consideration is given to resident looking For many biology students the animals, checking for zoonoses and species as well as to migrants and equations” least enjoyable and most feared animal diseases communicable to vagrants, and there is also a small part of their university course is humans, though at times he also section on six extinct species. when they have to learn statistics. acted as unofficial doctor to The text is concise yet informative, Part of this may be due to a general expedition members and others. with a great deal of detail about ‘maths phobia’, but I suspect that Based on diaries kept by the key identification features, and the majority of the problems stem author, there is remarkable detail there are over 800 extremely from the inability of professors and on the people, dates and places useful colour illustrations. lecturers to clearly explain how involved in this expedition, which Included in the text for each species to use statistics or to convey the was primarily a hunting safari. are relevant facts on habitat, excitement and sense of satisfaction The idea of killing animals for birdsong, distribution and status. when the data finally yields to your research specimens mostly belongs There is a helpful colour coded analysis. This is unfortunate: not to an era long gone, and as attitudes table at the back of the book that only is a grasp of basic statistics towards animal welfare have shows when to expect bird species an integral part of any biologist’s changed, some of the activities to be found on the main islands, toolkit, it is also essential for robust described are disturbing. although this may prove data collection, experimental design Although the author addresses cumbersome to use in the field and, at the most basic level, the issues to do with apartheid in his and distribution maps adjacent generation of hypotheses. introduction, some terminology to the text for each species might What is required is a well-written, used in the book is also controversial have been preferable. clearly-illustrated and user-friendly e.g. “piccaninnies”. Nevertheless, This is an indispensable bird guidebook that explains the this provides a historical vignette guide for visitors to the Seychelles, mysteries of biostatistics without into how these kinds of expeditions whether they are visiting birders either oversimplifying or scaring off were once run. or nature-loving tourists. It will fit first-year students with complex- Over 90 photos, sketches and maps neatly into pockets or bags and I can looking equations. This is exactly make this a well-illustrated account. see this being used effectively in the what Roland Ennos has produced in Considering most of the photos were field by anyone who wants to identify a well-deserved third edition of his taken over 50 years ago, their quality the birds they encounter. It is basic statistics textbook. is good, but be warned not all are certainly a book I wish I’d had when The new edition differs from the pretty pictures: for example, the I visited the Seychelles some years former in that equivalent parametric puka deer being skinned. ago – it is superb. and non-parametric statistics are Appendices include a list of the Dr alan Woollhead

38 / The BIOLOGIST / Vol 59 No 2

member news Our regular round-up all about you, our Society members

Social Notices neW member Profile members’ and Fellows’ lunches Chief executive Dr Mark Downs FSB FROm SOIL will be holding a series of informal buffet lunches with small groups of TO SAILING members and Fellows in a round table format. Places are on a first Dr Lucy Gilliam mSB come, first served basis. You must be a society member (MSB) or Fellow I am currently workmnd as a to attend. storyteller on a project called New Please contact Zoë Martin on 020 Dawn Traders, sailing the old trade 7685 2564 to attend or email routes on a sailboat imagining what [email protected] the world will look like beyond profligate fossil fuel consumption. 17 July fellows’ lunch - london 12:30-14:00, Charles Darwin house 18 september fellows’ lunch - Prevmously I worked mn the birmingham 12:30-14:00, Internatmonal Chemmcals and Ramada Birmingham City Nanotechnolodmes Team at DEFRA. 8 november members’ lunch – My role was commissioning R&D and london 12:30-14:00, advising policy makers negotiating Charles Darwin house international agreements on the use 20 november fellows’ lunch – of chemicals and nanotechnologies. pointing out all the bugs, animals london 12:30-14:00, and plants en route. Charles Darwin house I have a Fmrst class honours dedree I’m really passionate about members’ reception mn Bmolodmcal Scmences from Exeter biodiversity loss, climate change and charles Darwin house, london Unmversmty and a PhD mn Molecular ocean acidification so I thought 13 september 17:30-19:30 Mmcrobmal Ecolody from Readmnd studying biosciences would be the best We are holding an informal reception Unmversmty. My specialism is the use of way to stick up for the things I care for AMSB, MSB and FSB members of molecular diagnostics to study plant about. I remember being inspired by the Society of Biology here at our hQ in microbe interactions in soil. I then the save the whales campaigns when I London. The reception will provide went on to use molecular diagnostics was about eight and wanting then to members with the opportunity to hear to study greenhouse gas emissions be an environmental scientist or from our Chief executive, Mark Downs from soil under different land use environmental lawyer. FSB, discuss current biological issues My mum is management. My PhD and post-doc a Chartered and the Society’s overall direction, as were based at Rothamsted Research. I jomned the Socmety for contmnumnd well as to meet Society of Biology Biologist professmonal development. I also staff and other members. My mother mnspmred me mnto with the think the Society does great work in You must be a member at the society so AMSB grade or above to be eligible to studymnd bmoscmences. She is an promoting science. attend. Places are limited to 80 and incredible biologist and a Chartered she will are available on a first come, first Biologist with the Society so she will probably In my spare tmme I’m emther on my served basis. Please contact Zoë probably see this. My childhood was see this bmke, on the water samlmnd or mn a Martin on 020 7685 2564 or email spent being dragged up mountains, fmeld mn a rmdmculous outfmt at a music [email protected] along beaches and on country walks and arts festival.

hONORARY FeLLOwS Associate at Oxford University Congratulations to TV entomologist Museum of Natural History. Sir Tom Dr George McGavin (left) and is President of the Science Council biochemist Sir Tom Blundell (right), and has held the posts of President of who have been elected as Honorary the Biosciences Federation, the Sir Fellows by the Society. William Dunn Professor of George is best known for Biochemistry and head of the presenting television programmes Biochemistry department at the on insects and is Honorary Research University of Cambridge.

Vol 59 No 2 / The BIOLOGIST / 39 MeMBeR NeWS NeW MeMBeR PROFILeS/NeW MeMBeRS LIST

member Profiles aPril 2012 elecTion Qualified New, Transfer & Chartered Members Persons BioNet (14-19 year-olds) ella McKnight, Ka an Miah, John Miles, Cornelius, Susan Lilian h Craven, Marion congratulations to Jessica Appleby, Ayodeji Aregbesola, Rory Miles, Owen Miller, Lucy Minshall- Isobel Croy, Joanne Catherine Duffy, our new Qualified James Bapty, Laura Bramwell, Willow Pearson, Justyna Mleczko, Rebecca Marc-emmanuel Dumas, Christopher Persons – Azhar enis Race, Gagan Grewal, Joshua harvey, Molland, Vikki helen Moran, Tan Morgan, eskiw, Stephen John Farrow, Matthew Salahudeen mSB Jenny Jarman, Jeff Youngseouk Lee, Christopher Morton, Farya Mubarik, Field, Ashleigh Filtness, Richard John and David Talbot Amanda Li, Laura Maginley, harriet Lukas Karl Brenton Muller, Gemma Fitzgerald, Adrian Freeman, Adrian CBiol, mSB. Myers, George Ollis-Brown, Ms evie Napaul, Mark Naylor , Andra Necula, Freeman, Alison Frostick, Paolo R Qualified Persons Picton, honor Pollard, Sophie Rennison, Smeret Negassi, Rebecca Newton, Gomez-Pereira, Lee Gonzalez, Adrian play an essential Sophie Robinson, Danial Shirazi, Katie Ruth Offor, Adedeji Ogunlana, Blaine Goodman, Marie Goua, Sarah Naomi role in assuring Smith, Marianne Smith, Lucy Starbuck, Oliver, Timothy Omisanya, James Ord, Gretton, Peter Griffiths, Laith F Gulli, Alan that the medicinal Soorya Sunil, Andrew Taylor, Laura Jayne Parker, Rosamond Parker, hiten Gunn, Steven Guy, Tamryn hassel, Mary Patel, Serena Patel, Jaimie Paterson, and veterinary Taylor, ella Wagland, Nathan Waldie, hughes, Tom Ireland, Adam Robert Natalie Warren, Amber West, Cong Ye. Jessica Patricot, Soraya Marie Payet, Jones, harshad Joshi, Shoaib haroon products made emily Payne, Fay Pearson, Georgina Khan, Nga Sze Kwok, Thomas Laws, and released by Affiliate Peate, Jake Pennington, Rachael Penzo, Sabina Leonelli, Wai Chin Li, Joanne Li the pharmaceutical Georgina podd AmSB Shoaib haroon khan mSB Dr Reinhard Stoger FSB martin Gregory FSB Kathryn Acheson, Michelle Adsett, Islam David Pettiser, Kate Petty, Jennifer Suk Yee, Michael Loughlin, Carol Lynch, industry conform to Uddin Ahmed, Abrar Alharbi, eyman Phillips, Deepa Pindoria, Chris Poonian, Amelia Markey, Tracey Amanda Martin, the high standards I am a bmolodmst and study dmrector I work for the pharmaceutmcal I am an academmc at the School of I qualmfmed as a vet mn 1961, but Almohammed, elizabeth Anderson, Siobhan Porter, Rachel Postlethwaite, Jane Martindale, Douglas McMillan, demanded by wmthmn the department of Aquatmc company Recmpharm, providing Bmoscmences, Unmversmty of dmdn’t really want to be a vet. I Kavetta Arulanantham, Amy Ashe, Jamie Pownall, Giorgio Praulins, Clair Catherine elizabeth Meadowcroft, legislation to Mohammed Atcha, Nigel Atkinson, Preece, Lisa Preece, Katherine Price, Sanjay Mistry, Andrew Morris, Sterghios ensure their Ecotoxmcolody and Bmodedradatmon technical support to various Nottmndham. Research in my lab wanted to do bmolody. I chose the Fiyin Awosoga, Christopher Olanrewaju Allison Proudlove, Luba Prout, Jaskarn Moschos, Diane Carolyn Munday, effectiveness for a larde contract research production areas, which involves aims to discover and describe how veterinary course because it offered Ayanwale, Rehman Baig, Paulina Rai, Pratima Rai, Nilma Ra under, Zoe Denise Geraldine Nemitz, Rebecca and safety. ordanmsatmon. validation, project management and different cell types and different applied biology, and a job. I have Bajko, Yahya Bakar, Gowree Balendran, Raynsford, Batool Raza, Jade Reeves, Nesbit, Chikere Nkwonta, Ilia only individuals Andrew Ball, Daniel Barnes, Daniel Melissa Reyes, Christopher Richardson, Nouretdinov, hemraz Palawan, elizabeth I work with a wide range of aquatic problem solving. organisms interpret their DNA. This never regretted it, but the outcome Louise Richens, Timothy Robbins, Amy- who have Barry, Jasmeet Bhatia, Sezen Bickici, Parker, Surekha Aruna Pasupuleti, Kinga animals and invertebrates to research field – epigenetics – is was that I became several different Sophie Billington, Tom Bishop, Caroline Louise Roberts, Fiona Robins, Janey Piekarczyk, Shirley Price, Mark Rose, demonstrated, in determine the toxicity of chemicals I have a BSc (Hons) and MSc mn relevant for our mechanistic vets in the course of one career. Black, Sam Blacknell, Lisa Bliss, Richard Robins, Nicola Robson, Sarah Rowe, Jill Runciman, David Skingsley, Adam a demanding oral Borne, Yavor Bozhilov, Anneka Bracken, elizabeth Russell, Natalee Ryan, Raya Smith, Melanie Stefan, Neil Swainston, examination, that in the environment. This year I have mmcrobmolody from the Unmversmty of understanding of development, helen Bradbury, Jillian Britton, Joanne Saber, Laurie Salt, Melanie Schneider, Rachel Taylor, Simon Taylor, My-Linh they have had the spent a lot of time outdoors Karachm, Pakmstan. After finishing health and disease in animals. For Vetermnary practmce dmdn’t really Brodie, Sarah Bromley, Callum Brown, Alicia Scott, elizabeth Seabourne, Tran, Adrian Watson, Miles Witham, required training identifying freshwater invertebrates university, I worked in various this reason we study a broad range of sumt me. I never had time to find out William Brown, Aaron Brunt, Alexander Raghavendra Prasadh Selvam, Misbah Jamie Woodhall, Jonathan Wooley, and experience as part of a large project. pharmaceutical and medical device organisms, ranging from honey bees what was really going on. When the Bryant-evans, Alison Bullions, Victoria Shafiq, Zermeen Shah, Zoe Shaw, Daniel Joseph Wright, Matt Zeale. to take on the Bullock, Saskia Burden, James Busby, Shenton, Thomas Shepherd, Rebecca responsible role industries including Johnson & to humans. Currently, our work aims owner was satisfied, that was that – Trudi Button, Vedia Can, Caroline Shields, Niyati Shukla, Lynsey Silvestri, Chartered member (CBiol mSB) can be entered I always enjoyed studymnd scmence Johnson and now have over nine years’ to answer questions of how on to the next client. I always wanted Champion, holly Cheriton, Sonal Josie Slade, Chloe Smith, Olivia Smith, Duncan Armstrong, Martin Brown, onto the Qualified at school and was fortunate professional experience. My areas of environmental stressors influence to look deeper. And I wanted to travel. Choudhary, Neelem Choudry, James Toby Smith, Rachel Spicer, Charles Rory Canavan, Anne Clements, Amanda Persons register. Clark, Louise Clark, Adam Clarke, Joel Stanley, evelina Statkute, Coleen Cooper, Steve Crimes, Tracy Dove, enoudh to have some mnspmratmonal specialty include pharmaceutical the function of genes and energy Clarke, Ashford Clovis, Louise Collard, Suckling , Oliver Summers, hope Swift, Alison Foster, Marc Fox, Clare Garner, teachers alond the way, studying microbiology, sterilisation, clean-room homeostasis. Besides research, I I took a two-year contract mn Kenya, Amanda Collier, Matthew Cook, Simon Daniel Taylor, Liam Thomas, Karen Claire Grant, Nicola Griffin, Frida biology, chemistry, maths and technology and validation. I’m also develop and teach undergraduate looking after livestock loaned to Cooper, Jason Cortis, Jen Cottingham, Thompson, Danielle Thorburn, eleanor Gustafsson, Thomas Laws, Geoff Maud, Paulette Courage, Lucy Cull, Trystan Thornton, Andrew Tindall, Freha Tipu, hemraz Palawan, Patricia Pimlott, computing at A-level. I am fascinated passionate about probiotics. courses that cover topics of cell and African farmers. This changed my Davey, helania Davies, helena Davies, Sarah-Jane Turner, Arni Vaughn, Ashley Sandra Richards. by how things work, especially living developmental biology, as well as life. I learned not just about animals Isobel Davis, Simon Davis, Alex Day, Vey, Sue Wagland, Rosemary Ward, Mark Anthony Warrington, Jackie Wells, Fellow (FSB) Biology week things, which is why I chose Human It was always a dream for me to topics of endocrinology, respiration and habitats, but about peoples – Natalie Day, Jaspreet Kaur Dhaliwal, and Applied Biology when I left high become a scmentmst. Although I can’t and evolution. I’m supervising a African, European and Asian – and Angeliki Ditsiou, Kerry Dixon, Abigail Kezia Whatley, Tara Joyce Wheeler, David James Adams, harrison Atagana, From the 13-19th Doe, Conor eastop, Jessica edmed, Robin Wild, Zoe elizabeth Wilkinson, Rosyln Bill, Alan Stewart Bowman, October, the school. Although my degree was remember any specific moment that number of BSc, MRes and PhD their languages, customs, problems Yasmin edwards, Timothy elton, Paula Willis, Lucy Inez Witter, Abigail Jan Joris Brosens, Brian Burlinson, Society will be quite different from my career path, inspired me to work in biosciences, research projects. and prejudices. I then came home the Benjamin evans, Mel evans, Daniel Wood, Jessica Woods, Tim Wright, Jenny Steve Byford, Paul Clarke, Christine running a range of I learnt an amazing range of skills looking back, I think a number of long way, via Afghanistan, Nepal and Fabbro, Jessica Farrington, Shaun Wyatt, Jialin Xiao, Christopher Yemm, Ann Cochrane, Jean e Crabtree, henry Fell, Sian Finney, Shaun Samuel Matthew Young, Zachary James Young, Terence Donnelly, John Dover, Caroline activities across which I have been able to transfer to fictional comic book characters like Dr I studmed bmolody, mmcrobmolody a dozen other countries. In France I Fletcher, Shona Forge, Oliver Foster, Aristos Zachariades, ella Zakrzewski, Drummond MBe, Mark edwards, the county as part my current role. Bruce Banner (The Incredible Hulk), and denetmcs, followed by a PhD at took a course in tropical veterinary Alexander James Fotheringham, Maria-Theresa Zarzour, Jiusi Zhang, Tim elliott, Maurice Richard elphick, of the first ever Reed Richards (Fantastic Four) and Dr the Unmversmty of Vmenna, Austrma. medicine, and then returned to Timothy Fountain, emily Fowler, Beth Chumin Zhou, Maria Zuckschwert. Jane endicott, Matthew evans, John Fazakerley, Anne Ferguson-Smith, Biology Week I studmed human and applmed Henry Hank (X-Men) inspired me. Later, I carried out research at Kenya. There I taught biology as well Francis, Noelia Garcia, Victoria Gehrke, (see page 5). Sarah Getgood, Dawn Gibbons, Jethro Associate (AmSB) Ian Forsythe, Stephen Forsythe, bmolody at Unmversmty Campus King’s College London, the Fred as animal health, and in my spare Kyrillos Adesina-Georgiadis, Waseem hani Gabra, Judith Goodship, Angela More information Gibbons, Katharina Giebel, Jennifer Suffolk/UEA and draduated wmth I jomned the Socmety because I Hutchinson Cancer Research Center time I studied the local hedgehogs. Gilchrist, Zoe Gillespie, Nikoletta Gkatza, Bashirdeen, Sarah Joanne Beesley, hatton, Paul hayes, Karl herholz, will be available BSc (Hons) mn 2008. I worked as a wanted to be part of a body that and the University of Washington, Sophie Goodier, Ash Grey, Catherine Katy Bell, Natasha Botha, Lucy Brooks- Anthony Craig hilton, Shirley hodgson, over the coming Griffin, Marcus D Griffiths, Peter hacker, Matchant, James Brunel, Nicholas Carey, Michael holdsworth, John hutchinson, weeks, and our laboratory technician in a local high embraces all members of Seattle, USA. My heddehod work helped me to elliott hails, Amanda hardy, Vanina Angela Cooper, James Cooper, Sarah John e hyde, Munira Kadhim, website will be school whilst studying; working with bmolodmcal scmence and represents det the job I wanted – parasitology harel, William harrison, Jacinta harrow, Cotterill, Joanne Amanda Craig, Jason Jim Kaufman, David Kelsell, Stephen children was very rewarding. them whatever their individual roles, At a yound ade I was allowed to research in the Central Veterinary Naomi hartopp, Ben harvey, Amber Fletcher, George Gyamfi-Brobbey, Keyse, Asim Khwaja, eric Wing-Fai Lam, kept updated heath, Lisa hoang, Lorna holtom, Zoe Margaret harris, Jo harrison, Nilli Lavie, Tim Lenton, Louise Leong, about events and in whatever sectors they work. I collect buds and was encouraded to Laboratory, Weybridge. There I Katherine hooton, Ben hubery, emma Matthew henwood, emma Johnson, Richard John Lewis, Kenneth Linton, near you. If you The Socmety of Bmolody was wanted to be a member of a body that do smmple expermments like worked on ovine coccidiosis for 13 hughes, Michael hunter, Fiona hynd, Matthew Jones, Waheed Mahmood, Andrzej Loesch, Ian MacDonald, David have an event recommended to me by a colleadue speaks authoritatively on all aspects phototropism with sunflower fascinating years – pathology, life Lucy Jackson, hussain Jaffery, Joe George Mahoney, Rachael emily Susan Macewan, George MacFarlane, Michael which you would James, Matthew Jarman, Alistair Jones, Mansbridge, Kim Martin, Lindsay Mendl, James Moreland, David Nutt, as a means of valmdatmnd the of biology, protects and represents seedlings. Motivating teachers, good cycles and epidemiology. Lahary Jothinathan, Marina Kamil, McKay, Jonathan Milward, Laura Moody, edward Christien Michael Parsons, like to include in expermence I have damned smnce the interest of members and is both books and David Attenborough’s Katherine Karacaoglu, Maria Kelly, Saneil Amreen Nasim, Mia Kate O’Gorman, Nathan Pike, David John Potter, Colin Biology Week, or draduatmnd. The Society is renowned proactive and reactive in promoting documentaries did the rest. I then started a new career mn Kent, Jackie Kerr, Carla Kerstan, Richa Sarah O’Neill, Mary O’Sullivan, Donna Roberts, Nick Robinson, Adriano Rossi, if you would like worldwide and by joining I am also and supporting the role of biology. vetermnary epmdemmolody, which Khatiwada, Nikul Khunti, Daniel Knevitt, Page, Lisa Pritchard, elliott Roberts, Peter Rothwell, Adele Rowley, Ismail more information Anchala Kuruppu, Ciaran Laverty, Rachel Colin Kenneth Taylor, Samuel Thomas Saadoun, Paul Smith, Olivier Andre able to keep abreast of developments I lmke the spectrum of Socmety has kept me busy in Yemen, Nepal, about ways to Leach, hayley Leech, Leanne Lipscomb, Vaughan, Matthew Watson, ettore Sparagano, Norah Spears, within my area of interest. I enjoy playmnd badmmnton, watchmnd members, including non- Senegal, Pakistan, Armenia and Manuel Loeffler, Insiyah Lotia, Rebecca Woodward. Jane e Taylor, Andrew Taylor-Robinson, get involved, movmes and vmsmtmnd museums and professionals and having access to Albania. Christopher Lucas, elaine Ma, Grace Mike Turner, Charles Tyler, contact Rebecca MacGregor, Kate MacKenzie, Rabiah member (mSB) Mark Ungless, Nicholas James Nesbit on In my spare tmme I spend a lot exhmbmtmons. Whether I am at work or information, which might benefit Mahmood , Dmitri Maiski, Tammy Mak, Omolola Akintoye, hani Al-hallak, Watmough, Dominic Wells, William rebeccanesbit@ of tmme wmth my fammly and home, I participate in several online the career prospects of my students. I stmll redard myself as a bmolodmst. Joanne Makin, Roshni Mansfield, Crystel Wilson Andoh, Martin Baker, eleanor Wisden, Stephen Woodward, Alimuddin societyofbiology. my frmends. I like to get outdoors pharmaceutical forums to help others I expect the Society to be an If I have any spare time I write and Marcos, Poppy Marriott, Jessica Mason, Barnfield-Jones, Richard Bartlett, Ruth Ismail Zumla. Charlotte Maspero, Will Matthews, Bastow, Paul Bolam, Iain Thomas Boyes, org or 0207 685 as much as possible, walking by answering their microbiology and/ influential and sensible voice for life illustrate children’s stories – Lisa McCrellis, Stewart Mcewen, Sally Caveill, Ching-Lung Cheung, Chartered Fellow (CBiol FSB) 2553 and cycling. or validation queries. science policies. biological stories, of course. Dewyme McGarry, Jessica McGugan, Alexander Corbishley, Steven Thomas Jean-Pierre Valentin.

40 / The BIOLOGIST / Vol 59 No 2 Vol 59 No 2 / The BIOLOGIST / 41 Primary schools toured the Seawater Hall, took part in alien species workshops, and learnt about ‘how fish work’ and the world of Branch news seaweed. Secondary school students ❱ news and reports of events going on in your local area toured behind the scenes at the Marine Biological Association and enjoyed a ‘plankton safari’ plus workshops on killer algae and our changing seas. Students were asked to write a Beds, essex & herts Devon & short illustrated poem about their Cornwall experience of the day. The Devon & Cornwall Branch sponsored book prizes for the winners and War horse WalK their schools. 9 september 2012 The winners were: Daniel Wintour, Boringdon Primary School; Steven Spielberg, director of Annie Macklin, Thomas Hardy Up & COmING War Horse, said of the School; Sophie Minns (attended landscape at Dartmoor: without her school). “There’s no place like it in the world. When I got to Dartmoor I realised I had a third character that I had to include in War Horse and that was east Anglia the land and sky.” For those who saw the film, this cambriDge science Sedgwick’s Collections Manager, of life 440–544 million years ago, up event is a must. Ecologist Sue fesTiVal Dan Pemberton, and his Collections to the swampy Carboniferous with Goodfellow is our guide, so biology 17-18 march 2012 Assistant, Matthew Riley, guided us its lush vegetation. will not be left out. Some walking through the galleries and provided Dan and Matthew’s enthusiasm will be over rough open moorlands For the fourth year running, informative commentary and and willingness to share their eVeNT but this is a walk that most people RepORT the East Anglia branch academic anecdotes while we knowledge enabled us all to gain so could enjoy. continued its involvement meandered, nibbled and sipped. much more from the galleries’ For more information and to book with the Cambridge Science Festival, We learnt that Adam Sedgwick exhibits. This was an attention- a place please contact Chris Fry which this year was bigger and became Cambridge’s Woodwardian grabbing visit and a definite must for [email protected], ring better than ever. Professor of Geology in 1818. He scientists across the spectrum. members mUseUm mollUscs Museum for making this a very 01395 278556 or contact the Society. For the first time, we operated on established a major academic school Krystyna zielinski-smith cbiol msb of the beds, 20 march 2012 enjoyable and informative visit. For non-members there is a charge both Saturday and Sunday and and continued collecting specimens essex & Jacky mcPherson msb of £3. Members attend free of numbers exceeded our wildest until the museum ran out of space. In herts group laKenheaTh fen VisiT pictured on their In March members enjoyed charge. Family and friends welcome. expectations, with around 1,700 1904, King Edward VII opened the 16 June 2012 at 10:00 eVeNT natural history RepORT a guided tour of the Spirit baT WalK Meet at 10:00 at Gutter Tor Car visitors on Saturday and 630 on present Sedgwick Museum, built as a museum tour. Collection at the Natural 22 June 2012 at 21:30 Park (SX 578 674) Sheepstor area, Sunday. Activities at our stand memorial to Adam Sedgwick. The RSPB has converted an Up & History Museum in London. south of Burrator Reservoir. included the ever-popular ‘smells Our evening spanned more than COmING area of arable farmland at Guide and society member We have been invited to join quiz’ and mirror tracing, which 500 million years of life on Earth, Lakenheath Fen into a large Up & Alastair Hendry showed us the COmING the Beds Bat Group for a bat naTional science & many families did against the clock from bacterial stromatolites over wetland, consisting mainly of reed ‘real’ museum, home to over walk in Priory Park. During engineering WeeK and with many a child beating their 3,000 million years old, to the beds and grazing marshes, and a 70 million specimens. an interesting evening there last 13 march 2012 parents, to much excitement. The Cambrian and Ordovician explosion haven for wildlife. The new reed beds Alastair’s main interest is in year, we saw Daubentons, Pipistrelles biggest crowd-grabber was Barn Owl molluscs and along the way we were and Noctule bats. The branch has a pellet dissection – some visitors sat intrigued to see some of the different limit of 10 places so if you would like for hours as they identified whole forms this phylum takes, including a to join the walk this time please skeletons from a range of small cone snail whose appearance belies contact our chairman Viv Heys by mammals and birds. its extreme toxicity, a giant squid emailing [email protected]. Venue Once again, the Science Festival caught off the Falkland Islands and a details can be found here: www. was a fantastic event and next year significant portion of a colossal priorycountrypark.co.uk we hope to welcome more Member squid. We discussed the importance Organisations to our stand. of reference collections and the micha Thomas, 6th form college gradual DNA typing of specimens to student representative augment the anatomical detail. When touring some of the secreTs of seDgWicK cramped spaces it became obvious A carousel of free interactive 2 february 2012 eVeNT The Barn owl why numbers are kept so low – we RepORT workshops took place at may try to arrange another visit if Plymouth Marine A giant Iguanodon skeleton pellet dissection eVeNT was a big crowd- interest is shown. All of us would like Laboratory during National Science RepORT greeted us on arrival at the grabber at the to extend a warm thank you to Week where students were invited to Sedgwick Museum of Earth Cambridge Alastair and the Natural History be a marine biologist for a day. Sciences, University of Cambridge. Science Festival.

42 / The BIOLOGIST / Vol 59 No 2 Vol 59 No 2 / The BIOLOGIST / 43 BRANCh NeWS eAST ANGLIA/eAST MIDLANDS/KeNT, SURReY & SUSSeX/NORTh WeSTeRN/YORKShIRe BRANCh CONTACTS e Anglia (contd) east midlands North western BEDS, ESSEX & HERTS Mrs Jacqueline McPherson have attracted hundreds of pairs of [email protected] reed warblers and sedge warblers, as well as bearded tits and marsh DEVON & CORNWALL harriers. Bitterns have been heard Miss Christine Fry and seen increasingly in all seasons [email protected] of the year, and in early summer hobbies catch insects high over the EAST ANGLIA professor Aubrey marshes. Golden orioles breed in the manning with Miss Amanda Burton remnant poplar woods on the students from [email protected] reserve, along with blackcaps, the manchester garden warblers and woodpeckers. Grammar School EAST MIDLANDS Natural history The visit will include an Mrs Rosemary Hall Society. introductory talk followed by a [email protected] guided walk. Footwear for ‘soggy The assembled Years 11-13 writing an essay or university campus of Blackpool and winners in all regional schools aUbrey manning VisiT underfoot’ is recommended and of the various comPeTiTion producing a podcast. All of the 27-28 march 2012 Fylde College, where he explained KENT, SURREY & SUSSEX binoculars/telescopes and a bird age groups. 12 march 2012 posters were impressive but Miriam various aspects of animal behaviour. Dr David Ware guide would be useful. Woods won the £50 first prize with It was our privilege to Students were captivated by the kentsurreysussex@ eVeNT Further details available at During 2012 National her poster on human development, RepORT welcome Professor Aubrey many examples of intrinsic and societyofbiology.org eVeNT www.societyofbiology.org/branches/ RepORT Science and Engineering entitled ‘The Race From Africa’. Manning OBE FSB for a intellectual behaviours. east-anglia/events Week the East Midlands Sarah Parkin and Sophie two-day visit to Manchester They were advised not to confuse LONDON Branch hosted another successful Richardson’s entry, ‘The World of Grammar School (MGS) and intellect with ability: instinct is ‘blind’ Miss Mercy Nimako sanD DUnes anD schools event in March. Hosted by Flight’ came second. Blackpool and the Fylde College, but animals do have intellectual [email protected] salT marshes GENIE (Genetics Education In the senior group, joint first where he shared his passion for the capacity, for example the rook that 7 July 2012 at 10:45 Networking for Innovation and prize went to Komal Joshi for her history of the earth and animal dropped stones in a cylinder of water NORTH WALES Excellence), over 100 people essay on ‘Huntington’s Disease: behaviour with young people and to raise a buoyant treat. Our attention Dr Rosemary Solbé We have arranged a summer streamed into the University of Motor Symptoms and Genetics’ and members of the Society in our region. was drawn to self-awareness in [email protected] Up & COmING visit to the Brancaster Leicester Medical School, with to Charlotte Hall for her podcast on After lunch, staff and students chimpanzees, the importance of play, Sand Dunes and Salt teachers and parents alongside prosthetic limbs. Runners-up prizes listened attentively to Professor cross-species interaction and the NORTH WESTERN Marshes. Committee members pupils from the nine different of £20 went to Harry Bessey- Manning’s lecture, which followed interaction of man and other animals. Mr Glenn Upton-Fletcher Amanda Burton and Ian Harvey will schools taking part. Saldanha for his essay entitled ‘How the history of the planet: the fossil Professor Manning closed with a [email protected] lead a guided walk and talk on how This year’s theme was ‘Our World Do I Get There’ and to Hiba Hasnain evidence of early life, and the impact Richard Attenborough quote from dunes and salt marshes form, the in Motion’ with pupils in Years 8-10 for her podcast ‘Lego Man and the of continental drift on the Jurassic Park 2: “These creatures need NORTHERN wildlife present and the process of producing posters and students from Sliding Filament Theory’. distribution of species and the our absence to survive not our help.” Dr Michael Rowell succession so beautifully illustrated dilemma of exploitation. Thanks The Professor was an inspiration [email protected] by both habitats. The walk is about must be expressed to Dr Peter to the many potential life scientists four miles, mostly over soft sand, but Bowen-Walker FSB, our host at MGS he met, and also heartily promoted NORTHERN IRELAND some of it may be a bit soggy who ensured a most successful day. the importance of being a member Dr David Roberts underfoot. Binoculars and a plant The following day saw Professor of the Society. [email protected] identification guide are useful if you Manning at the Brick Theatre of the Jean Wilson fsb have them. SCOTLAND After the dunes we’ll visit the Dr Jacqueline Nairn RSPB Titchwell Nature Reserve [email protected] three miles down the coast for a bit of Yorkshire bird-watching – and there are some winner miriam THAMES VALLEY nice pubs nearby too. woods with her Road to the Yorkshire Museum of Dr Michael Keith-Lucas CBiol FSB poster on human naTUre anD farming For more details see our website: development, 1 July 2012 at 10:00 and 14:00 Farming at Murton. After lunch, at [email protected] www.societyofbiology.org/branches/ entitled ‘The Race 14:00 there will be an introduction east-anglia/events From Africa’. A tour of St Nicholas Fields, by the director. The museum is the york and WESSEX Up & COmING explaining the dedicated to the history of farming district Ms Rachel Wilson transformation of this in Yorkshire, with agricultural Beekeepers [email protected] former brick pit and landfill site into exhibits around the 16-acre site and a society will kent, Surrey & Sussex a thriving, Community Green Flag range of friendly livestock. be holding an WEST MIDLANDS Award winning, 24-acre urban Additionally, the York and District open day Ms Debbie Dixon lecTUre: The immUne ‘The Immune Response to Infection’. of antibiotics and the challenge of nature reserve. It is a haven for Beekeepers Society will be holding [email protected] resPonse To infecTion Aimed at 6th form students drug-resistant microbes. wildlife and people alike, located just an open day at the museum. Further 7 march 2012 studying biology, the lecture was A wide range of diseases were one mile from the city centre of York. details at www.murtonpark.co.uk. WESTERN engaging and interactive, covering discussed, from those of historical Meet at 10:00 at the urban nature Adults: £5.00; children: £4.00; Ms Joan Ashley To support National Science topics including the basic concepts of significance such as the plague, reserve St Nicholas Fields, York under 3s: free (family ticket £16.00). [email protected] eVeNT RepORT and Engineering Week, microbiology, the history and cholera and cowpox, to current Environment Centre, Rawdon Contact Clive Tiney, 01904760216 Professor Mark Fielder from development of diseases, today’s issues such as MRSA, E. coli 0157, Avenue, York YO10 3ST. The tour [email protected] or see YORKSHIRE Kingston University visited Sutton most prevalent diseases, the swine flu and malaria. starts at 10:30 and is free. www.societyofbiology.org/branches/ Mr Paul Bartlett High and delivered a special lecture on significance of an incomplete course asma raheem (student) At 12:30 we move along the Hull yorkshire/events for more details. [email protected]

44 / The BIOLOGIST / Vol 59 No 2 Vol 59 No 2 / The BIOLOGIST / 45 BRANCh eVeNTS CALeNDAR

Beds, essex and herts Infectious Diseases and Director of Your guide North wales Friday 22 June at 21:30 the Tuberculosis Research Unit at to upcoming Saturday 1 September Bat walk the National Heart and Lung events at your Visit to south stack rsPB reserve local branch. See Beds, Essex and Herts section of Institute, Imperial College, on We will meet in the South Stack Branch News for details. preventing tuberculosis, will follow. for more Visitor Centre, Holyhead, Anglesey, information LL65 1YH at 11:30 for a guided hour- Devon & Cornwall Sunday 1 July on any event, long walk. There will then be a talk Sunday 9 September Visit to the Pannel Valley email the on the geology of South Stack. Grid ‘war horse’ walk nature reserve contacts ref SH210818. See Devon & Cornwall section of Guided tour of the Wetland Trust’s provided in the Branch News for details. Pannel Valley nature reserve, regional list on Friday 9 November Winchelsea, led by the reserve’s page 45, unless AgM east Anglia Conservation Co-ordinator. The otherwise We will be holding a second AGM Saturday 16 June at 10:00 reserve attracts bitterns, avocets, stated here. this year to align ourselves with the Lakenheath fen Visit marsh harriers, water rail and reed end of the society’s financial year. See East Anglia section of Branch warblers, wetland flora and over 840 Our AGM will be held at The Bod News for more. species of moths and butterflies. Erw Hotel, St Asaph, Denbighshire, Contact David Ware david.ware1@ and Dr Claire Drew from npower will Saturday 7 July 10:45-15:00 ntlworld.com for further details. be speaking on wind farms. Brancaster dunes and salt Marsh A guided walk and talk about the Saturday 21 July 10:30 Thames Valley Branch dune and salt marsh ecosystems at Visit to gilbert white Museum Tuesday 9 October Brancaster beach in North Norfolk. Gilbert White was a pioneering AgM & Lecture Only 30 places. Email naturalist who made careful and This free lecture is at Harwell [email protected] detailed notes on the local flora and Oxford science park. Colin fauna. Meet at 10:30 at the Tea Blakemore, Professor of Saturday 6 October 10:00-12:30 Parlour. Dr June Chatfield will show Neuroscience at the University of fungal foray us around the grounds. After lunch, Oxford, will be lecturing on Led by Tony Leech, this event will be members may tour the house. ‘Mad cows and mobile phones: taking place in Lynford Arboretum, Cost: £5.95. More details at whose science is it anyway?’ Mundford, Thetford. Details TBC. www.societyofbiology.org/ Further details online soon at newsandevents/events/view/374 www.societyofbiology.org/ east midlands newsandevents/events/view/413 Sunday 28 October Sunday 5 August 12:00 fungal foray with Jane Ostler tour of rsPCA Centre Mallydams west midlands Held jointly with the Lincolnshire The centre at Mallydams near Saturday 30 June 10:00-16:30 Wildlife Trust, Jane Ostler explains Hastings is where injured and sick wyre forest family day the mushrooms and toadstools we animals are rehabilitated. Manager A family day out in the Wyre Forest find in Twyford Woods, Colsterworth. Bel Deerin will lead a tour around in Worcestershire – free to Society of For details contact the nature reserve and the centre. To Biology members and their guests. [email protected] reduce disturbance they have For further details and to book requested that we exclude dogs, please contact Pamela Speed (tel: Saturday 10 November though children are welcome. 01384 296292; email: pamela. Visit to donna nook, north Peter James Lane, Fairlight, East [email protected]) or Lesley sutton-on-sea, Lincolnshire Sussex, TN35 4AH. Payne (tel: 0121 745 7839; email: See the seals with their pups and [email protected]). meet the wardens. This is an all-day wednesday 22 August 11:00 meet and booking will be necessary. guided tour of rye harbour Yorkshire Contact marianneoverton@ nature reserve Sunday 1 July biosearch.org.uk for details. We have a tour of the flora and fauna summer social Event of the designated SSSI at Rye Tour of St Nicholas Fields nature kent, Surrey & Sussex Harbour nature reserve, led by reserve and trip to Yorkshire Saturday 23 June 11:00 Dr Barry Yates, the Reserve Museum of Farming. See Yorkshire guided wild-flower walk Manager. For details section of Branch News for details. Enjoy a wild-flower walk around contact Dr David Ware Ranscombe Farm Reserve, led by at david.ware1@ Saturday 10 November Richard Moyse, the Ranscombe ntlworld.com Annual symposium and AgM Project Manager. The site is This year’s annual symposium will be renowned for its collection of rare London held in collaboration with the MRC wild plants, especially arable wild Sunday 15 July Centre for Developmental and flowers and orchids. London Zoo Visit Biomedical Genetics at the University There will be a morning visit of Sheffield. Speakers invited include Thursday 28 June 18:00 to London Zoo including an hour- Professor Peter Holland, University AgM and lecture on tB long guided tour and reduced of Oxford, Professor Paul Martin, Our AGM will be held at Charles admission price. Further details at Professor of Cell Biology, University Darwin House. A lecture by www.societyofbiology.org/branches/ of Bristol. Further details will appear Professor Agil Lalvani, Chair of london/events in our next issue.

46 / The BIOLOGIST / Vol 59 No 2 COMPeTITION

Enter our 2012 amateur Photography photography competition Competition Theme: How Biology Can Save the World Photographer of the Year (over 18) £1,000 top prize Young Photographer of the Year (18 and under) How £500 top prize Biology In association with Can Save Closing date: 31 July 2012 the World For more information visit www.societyofbiology.org/photocomp Get ideas and tell us yours at societyofbiologyblog.org and using #BiologySaves

19 With getting edge somehow WIN A outcome is biased (8) £ 25 21 It is a natural source of energy. BOOK After prohibition one’s not Crossword available (6) TOKEN An Olympian challenge for the mind this month 22 OK upset when boxing I’m found with no robe (6) Across 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 24 No longer immature I’m wanting 1 Critic could go so mad to discover a game (5) banned substances (15) 25 Novel aid to retain energy that’s 9 Sadly can cost end of career if 9 10 a thought (4) one’s absorbed banned 11 27 Participating in gymnastics a fizzy

substances (9) 12 drink is needed (4) 10/23 Boo plodding around - you can’t 28 Cut up wrestler does this to allow that in Olympics (5,6) 13 14 15 opponent (4)

11 That’s the way heroic Olympians 16 17 win – taking first places (3) how to enter 18 19 12 Often games set up around what To be in with a chance of winning a is attractive (6) 20 £25 book token please send us your 14 I’m bribed to lose first of races and 21 22 completed puzzles by 20 July 2012. get taken in (7) Please include your name, address 23 24 16 Cider, it stimulates us, not allowed and membership number with your for the Olympics (9) 25 26 27 28 entry – an email address would 20 Count, French one upset me 29 30 be handy too. Post your entries to: with pace (9) Crossword, The Biologist, Society 21 See 15 Down of Biology, Charles Darwin House, 23 See 10 31 12 Roger Street, London, WC1N 2JU. 26 One couldn’t take off medallion once anthem starts (3) winners 29 It does have a good sound gold. 6 We get drawn into opening of Correction Thanks for your completed puzzles I’d be upset getting nothing (5) Olympics BBC broadcast - it’s hard Apologies to last and well done to the winners, who 30 Last-minute exercising squanders to escape it (6) issue’s winner are Margaret Janet McLellan MSB energy, that’s a no-no for Olympic 7 It is used in golf or in swimming (4) Dr K W G and Paul Frederick Micklewright. athletes (9) 8 Some races I’d led having moved Shilliam FSB Book tokens on the way. 31 I isolated carbon compound that only slowly (6) who is in fact shouldn’t be found in athletes (8,7) 13 One acrobatically coming down a Fellow of the from a height requires I have Society rather Down doctor around (5) than a member. 1 Many have edge over youth picked 14 One trace of substance use to join early Olympians (8) unfortunately can become the 2 Run over, then I finish off arranging main topic (5) to take things down (5) 15/21A To wager on bloke throwing race 3 Do more running around outside of before the finish – that’s not event – it’ll clock up the distance (8) allowed (4,7) 4 exclude one in leaders of Olympic 17 Taking part in run does loosen medal table (4) things (4) Last issue’s 5 Make a botch of shot, the result’s 18 Lose, true to form not lacking Solution rubbish (4) determination you find (8) Vol 59 No1 ➜

Vol 59 No 2 / The BIOLOGIST / 47 FINAL WORD DR MARK DOWNS FSB, ChIeF eXeCUTIVe, SOCIeTY OF BIOLOGY

pRImARY pASSIONS

see more science graduates entering Once schools are engaged they primary education and better are always keen to do more and support for non-scientists. Having at teaching resources such as least one science graduate in every the Biochemical Society’s school could provide support for ‘Scibermonkey’ (www.scibermonkey. peers and help with the increasing org) are a good place to start. The wealth of material that is there to real challenge, however, is reaching help science become more accessible. large numbers of primary school Learned Societies have a key children and their parents, given role to play here. The Wellcome the resource implications of trying Trust does a great deal, producing to deliver projects such as Gopher educational material for all schools, Science Lab on a large scale. but so do the many professional This means working closely with bodies within the Society of Biology the media, and the Society recently – our Member Organisations. Our teamed up with Fun Kids Radio role is to help bring this together and its 180,000 weekly listeners to ny parent will have wherever possible, signpost teachers develop an Introduction to Biology seen how enthusiastic to these rich sources of help and to series. Fun Kids Radio is the only young children are look at new approaches wherever station aimed exclusively at children about science at possible. One such initiative is under 11, and we are delighted with school. If we want to the Gopher Science Lab project, the Marina Ventura Inside Biology seeA more students studying science, which we have partnered with the series of short broadcasts that and a greater understanding of the Biochemical Society. went live to air on the 16th April. scientific method in civil society, we Gopher Science Lab, with its own Each episode focuses on a different surely need to harness this passion quirky cartoon character, allows aspect of biology, with the first from the earliest age possible. Sir 8- to 9-year-olds to spend a morning based around how we hear. They are David Attenborough Hon FSB made in a secondary school science lab deliberately short and told through clear his views at the launch of the enjoying hands-on, practical science. the adventures of ‘Marina Ventura’ If specialist Society in March 2010: collecting When they return to their primary to help maintain attention and science bugs, fossils and basic taxonomy school, they explain the experience ensure a fun approach. Links are skills are excites and entrances young to their classmates, showing them available on the Society’s website seen as children – and it’s something we what they can do themselves and are available to download for important need to build on. using cheap and easily available free on iTunes. for The National Curriculum provides materials. Feedback from a pilot Supporting primary teachers secondary a good framework for primary at Aylesbury Grammar School has and education is a relatively new, education, science education but most primary been fantastic, from both the sixth- but certainly exciting, area for teachers have not studied science form demonstrators and the young the Society. We hope that this the same to any advanced level and often feel children. Local MP and Foreign will help children pick up on Sir should apply uneasy with the subject. If specialist Office Minister David Lidington David’s passion for recognising to primary science skills are seen as important dropped by to see for himself and and identifying organisms and for secondary education, the same was delighted to see a project like have the courage to try their own should apply to primary. We need to this starting in his locality. experiments.

48 / The BIOLOGIST / Vol 59 No 2