The socieTy of biology magazine ■ issn 0006-3347Biologist ■ socieTyofbiology.org Vol 61 no 1 ■ feb/mar 2014

ThE FUTURE OF FUEl Could biofuel from algae reduce our need for oil?

URBAN ENVIRONMENT MICROBIOTA INTERVIEW DEEP ROOTS GUT INSTINCT AGE OF SUCCESS Saving trees during The body's bacteria and Linda Partridge on the urban development its impact on our health biology of ageing New from Garland Science Lyle Armstrong

The concept of epigenetics has been about since the 1940s, but it is only in the last 10 years that research has shown just how wide-ranging its effects are. It is now a widely-used term, but there is still confusion surrounding what it actually is and does. Epigenetics is a new textbook that brings together the structure and machinery of epigenetic modification, how epigenetic modification controls cellular functions, and the evidence for the relationship between epigenetics and disease. It is a valuable source of information about all aspects of the subject for undergraduate students, graduate students, and professionals.

Topics Include: • The two forms of epigenetic modification, DNA methylation Paperback • £45.00 and histone acetylation, and how they take place. 2013 * 978-0-8153-6511-2 • How epigenetics controls cell function, including cellular 300pp • 150 illus differentiation and the role of epigenetics in stem cells. • The role of epigenetics in disease, including cancer and mental health, where there is clear evidence of epigenetic Contents: involvement. Chapter 1. Introduction to the Study of EpigeneticsChapter 2. The Basis of the Transcription Process Chapter 3. DNA Packaging and Chromatin ArchitectureChapter 4. Modifying the Structure of Chromatin Chapter 5. DNA Methylation Chapter 6. Post-Translational Modification of HistonesChapter 7. Histone Modification MachineryChapter 8. Locus- Specific Control of Histone-Modifying Enzyme ActionChapter 9. Epigenetic Control of Cell-Specific Gene Expression Chapter 10. Epigenetic Control of the Mitotic Cell Cycle Chapter 11. The Epigenetic Basis of Gene Imprinting Chapter 12. Epigenetic Control of Cellular Differentiation Chapter 13. Reversibility of Epigenetic Modification Patterns Chapter 14. Epigenetic Predisposition to Disease and Imprinting-Based DisordersChapter 15. Epigenetics of Memory, Neurodegeneration, and Mental HealthChapter 16. Epigenetics of Cancer www.garlandscience.com/epigenetics NEW EDITION NOW AVAILABLE Essential Cell Biology, 4th Edition Alberts, Bray, Hopkin, Johnson, Lewis, Raff, Roberts, Walter 978-0-8153-4454-4 • £105 • Hardback 978-0-8153-4455-1 • £53 • Paperback 865pp • 860 illus • November 2013 TheBiologist the SOCIetY OF BIOLOGY MAGAZINe

Volume 61 No 1 February/March 2014 Contents 20

24

28 12

16

IN ThIS ISSUE

8 Opinion: Revolution 20 Algal biofuel – in bloom News ThThe socieTy of biology magazinee ■ issn 0006-3347Biologist ■ socieTyofbiology.org Vol 61 no 1 ■ feb/mar 2014 on the reserves or dead in the water? 4 society news Brian Moss argues that a An expert panel discusses 37 members more radical approach to if biofuels from algae could conservation could help halt eventually replace oil. 40 branches ThE global warming. FUTURE OF FUEl 24 Force of nature Could biofuel from algae Regulars reduce our need for oil?

Sue Nelson visits a centrifuge URBAN ENVIRONMENT MICROBIOTA INTERVIEW 12 Gut feeling DEEP ROOTS GUT INSTINCT AGE OF SUCCESS Saving trees during Th e body's bacteria and Linda Partridge on the urban development its impact on our health biology of ageing 3 nelson’s column Lauren Hoskin looks at the to explore the physiological Cover photo: Lawrence 10 Policy update microbes living inside us. effects of G-force. Naylor/Science Photo Library 32 spotlight 16 The root of the problem 28 life goes on 34 reviews Chris Baines explains how large Professor Dame Linda Partridge, 46 museum piece tree roots are mapped and an expert on ageing, on staying 47 crossword protected during building work. healthy for longer. 48 final word

Vol 61 No 1 / the BIOLOGISt / 1

THE IOLOGI T

o¡ ¢1 No 1 e r£¤r M¤r V F b y/ ch 2014 Contacts

EDITORIAl STAFF EDITORIAl BOARD Society of Biology Charles Darwin house, Director of Membership, Marketing Susan Alexander BSc PGCe CBiol CSci MSB MRSPh FRGS 12 Roger Street, and Communications J Ian Blenkharn MSB FRSPh WC1N 2JU Jon Kudlick MSB tel: 020 7685 2550 Editor Phil Collier MSc PhD CBiol FSB FLS Fhe Fax: 020 3514 3204 Sue Nelson Cameron S Crook BSc MPhil CBiol MSB MIeeM FLS [email protected] @ScienceNelson Rajith Dissanayake MSc PhD FZS AMSB www.societyofbiology.org Managing Editor Catherine Duigan BSc PhD FSB FLS tom Ireland MSB Views expressed in this magazine are [email protected] John heritage BA DPhil CBiol FSB not necessarily those of the editorial @tom_J_Ireland Sue howarth BSc PhD CBiol FSB Board or the Society of Biology. Communications Assistant Allan Jamieson BSc PhD CBiol FSB Karen Patel AMSB © 2014 Society of Biology Catherine Jopling BSc PhD MSB [email protected] (Registered charity no. 277981) Leslie Rose BSc CBiol FSB FICR MAPM For membership enquiries call 0844 858 9316 [email protected] The Society permits single copying of individual articles for private study For subscription enquiries call 020 7685 2556 or research, irrespective of where [email protected] the copying is done. Multiple copying of individual articles for teaching purposes is also permitted without TWITTER FACEBOOK BlOG specific permission. For copying or @Society_Biology www.facebook.com/ societyofbiologyblog.org reproduction for any other purpose, societyofbiology written permission must be sought from the Society. exceptions to the above are those institutions and non-publishing organisations that have an agreement or licence with the UK Copyright Licensing

IeW INteRV RANCIS PROFeSSOR JANe F Agency or the US Copyright Clearance

Professor francis among emperor penguins in the TheBiologist antarctic BREAKING Center. Access to the magazine is ThE ICE available online; please see the Society’s Tom Ireland meets the new director of the british antarctic survey, Professor Jane francis website for further details.

it’s actually quite warm. You can just n October Professor Jane sit and watch an amazingly serene Francis took over as director and tranquil landscape, with the A WINDOW of the British Antarctic Survey, sunlight glinting off icebergs and the I an organisation which has led the odd bird call. Then you don’t want to UK’s exploration and research in be anywhere else in the world. The Biologist is produced on behalf the region for more than 60 years. As a palaeobotanist and geologist, Any hairy experiences? Professor Francis’ research uses We take first aid and health and fossilised vegetation to understand safety very seriously so I’ve not how the Earth’s climate has changed really had any close calls. The throughout history. scariest experience was when I of the Society of Biology by was working on Svalbard (Norway) A large part of your academic work a few years ago and a polar bear has involved looking for fossils in came quite close to our camp. In the both the Arctic and Antarctic. end he fell asleep in a gully for ON ThE lIFE Presumably you enjoy working in a few hours in front of our camp Think Publishing Ltd. polar environments? and then left, but you do have to I absolutely do. I’ve done about be very careful. 10 seasons in Antarctica and six field trips to the Arctic, and they how did you get into polar-based are fantastic places to work. It’s research in the first place? amazing to go somewhere that is so As a geologist I started working on 124-128 Barlby Road remote and cold and find a leaf that fossil plants for my PhD and did a shows the climate was once almost project on the rocks of the Jurassic tropical there. coast in Dorset. I started working Whenever you set up camp in the there on fossil trees, leaves and field – a huge operation that can pollen and reconstructing ancient take a day or two – there’s always a forests. Then, while working in London W10 6BL SCIENCES moment when the helicopter or ship central Australia, I had an invitation leaves, when you realise it’s very from the Canadian Geological quiet, and you’re just a small group Survey to go and see these amazing of people alone in a very isolated fossil forests they’d discovered DNa’s atomic structure place for a couple of months. up in the high Arctic. They were www.thinkpublishing.co.uk It’s generally a very beautiful spectacularly preserved – they and extremely humbling place – hadn’t been petrified and turned the climate can be pretty fierce to stone like you’d usually find. and you’re just a tiny speck in this You could saw open the wood and awesome landscape. But I’ve been in it would burn; you could pick the the Arctic peninsula when the sun leaves up and they’d trickle through 020 8962 3020 The Biologist is a bi-monthly magazine is shining, and when the wind drops / 29 Vol 60 No 6 / the BIOLOGISt (published six times a year) that covers the ThE TWISTS / Vol 60 No 6 full richness and diversity of biology. 28 / the BIOLOGISt AND TURNS Design OF DN The ability to look at the structureA of Dna at the Alistair McGown Science is brought to life with stimulating atomic level has been key to understanding this miraculous molecule, as scientist and illustrator and authoritative features, while topical David Goodsell discovers Production editor n 1953, Watson and Crick presented their model for the I DNA double helix, revealing the way genetic information is held in a cell. In the years since, DNA has Clare harris pieces discuss science policy, new proven to be a lively molecule that is looped, unwound, copied, repaired, edited, chemically modified, and more recently, engineered. A closer look at DNA’s atomic structures (and its related cellular partners) Sub editors developments or controversial issues. has since revealed much more about the complex workings of this amazing molecule. Early work on DNA structure used DNA that had been isolated from Sam Bartlett, Sian Campbell Aimed at biologists everywhere, its cells. Fibres of this natural DNA diffract x-rays into a characteristic pattern – the classic helical structure proposed by Watson and Crick, known as a B-helix. A truly atomic glimpse at DNA, however, had to Publisher straightforward style also makes it ideal wait for several decades. Techniques for the chemical synthesis of small pieces of DNA, with exact nucleotide sequences, made this possible. These well-defined pieces of DNA can be coaxed to form single crystals, John Innes for educators and students at all levels, which provide much more detailed x-ray diffraction patterns (as shown in Fig. 2 overleaf), which can be analysed to determine the location of each atom in the molecule. [email protected] as well as the interested amateur. DEPICTING DN based on information gathered from x-ray Since then protein and DNA A crystallography, Nmr spectroscopy and it is unwound from nucleosomes, the two sequencing technology has as well as his work electron microscopy. strands are separated, and the enzyme DN improved rapidly, and the amount as a molecular of structural data on DNA and biologist, David g The illustration shows DN polymerase (large complex in magenta at thea oodsell employs various a in the nucleus artistic techniques to visualise biological stored as chromatin, a compact form with centre) builds new strands (shown in white) other molecular machines has grown enormously. The Protein macromolecules. DNa (shown here in turquoise) wrapped to complement the original strands. ■ Dec 2013/Jan 2014 here he uses watercolour ■ Vol 60 no 6 to show theThe shapes socieTy and of sizes biology of molecules, magazine around ■ issn histone 0006-3347 proteins (blue) socieTyofbiology.org to form a long Data Bank has become the primary either on its own or complexed with fig. 1. The Dna BiologistDavid also develops graphics programmes polymerase from The archive of atomic structures for proteins or drugs. chain of nucleosomes. When DN to visualise individual molecules, as seen in the hot spring a replicates, figures 2 and 4. biological molecules and now Here is just a little of the bacterium 18 / the biologist structural biology of DNA that has Thermus aquaticus / Vol 60 No 6 shortlistedcontains almost for 95,000 entries, 1,500 of which include DNA, been discovered thanks to our ability is widely used in BEST BUSINESS the lab for the to view its atomic structure. Non-member rates: £120.00 & PROFESSIONAl polymerase chain MAGAZINE reaction

Submissions of interesting and the biologist / 19 timely articles, short opinion pieces ISSN 0006-3347 and letters are welcome. The socieTy of biology magazine ■ The issn 0006-3347 ■ Biologist socieTyofbiology.org Vol 60 no 5 ■ ocT/noV 2013 Articles should be aimed at a non- Advertising in The Biologist represents an

The socieTy of biology magazine WIlDlIFE■ The issn 0006-3347 ■ Biologist socieTyofbiology.org EVENTS unparalleled opportunity to reach a large specialist audience and convey your Vol 60 no 2 ■ aPr/CALENDAR INSIDE INTERVIEWWARNING community of professional biologists. enthusiasm and expertise. how disease from domestic 2013 DIGGINGanimals could wipe out iconic Instructions for authors are available DEEPendangered species TV's alice roberts For advertising information contact on the Society’s website or on request talks anatomy lIFE IN and archaeology tom Ireland from the editorial office. Contact FOCUS [email protected] [email protected] stunning images from our 2013 photo competition 020 7685 2556 INTERVIEW STRUCTURAl BIOlOGY EDUCATION POlAR PIONEER DNA DISCOVERIES lABS ONlINE

Can practical science be Jane Francis on

ving beyond the Antarctic exploration double helix taught remotely?

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19/09/2013 10:28 Nelson’s Column

few years ago I travelled microbes, I had to overcome a natural to the Outer Hebrides reluctance to read further. Fortunately to report on how an I did since Lauren celebrates the introduced species – positive effects these tiny organisms hedgehogs – had have on our health. Aaffected local wildlife. Driving When it comes to prime specimens through the island of South Uist of health, fitness and adventure, admiring Arctic skuas and red-legged astronauts are the whole package. But oystercatchers along the coast, during the early days of spaceflight, something about the scenery began no one knew what the body would to bother me. Something I couldn’t experience and so the physical and quite figure out. Then it dawned on mental tests were extensive and often me what was different about the unnecessary. One of the most landscape: there were no trees. enduring images is of an astronaut’s It’s hard to imagine a world without contorted face in a centrifuge. These trees but South Uist comes pretty tests continue today and are close. In the same way as those who extremely important for pilots and live by the sea become uneasy when astronauts. It has been a dream of landlocked, if you live among trees mine since childhood to go into space their absence can be uncomfortable. If we all – taking a spin on a centrifuge (page It’s not simply an aesthetic issue; live longer 24) to examine the effects on my body trees are often referred to as the it will put was the next best thing. lungs of our planet, helping the Used by physiology students and Earth breathe by converting carbon even more pilots as a way of experiencing dioxide into oxygen. pressure on G-forces, the medical doctor at The benefits of trees in urban the planet QinetiQ’s centrifuge informed me on areas are both environmental and my third spin that he knew what I psychological. Seeing green leaves was going to look like in 15 years. He amid concrete is uplifting, while shouldn’t count on it… The Biologist mature tree cover plays a role in interview features Professor Dame intercepting heavy rainfall and Linda Partridge, a British geneticist reducing the risk of flash flooding. who studies the biology of ageing. But trees come with roots, and I’m not sure she’ll make me look any protecting the root system can be younger, but her research examines challenging for developers and how a healthy lifespan can be utility providers who also want to fix extended in model organisms. water pipes, maintain sewers, and If we all live longer that will put install or repair cables. On page 16, even more pressure on the planet’s environmental campaigner Chris finite resources. On page 20, Tom Baines discusses problems and Ireland reports on whether fuel solutions when building around the made from algae can reduce our living infrastructure of trees. dependence on oil. Who knows? If the sight of trees lifts the heart, a Trees may help the planet breathe so good night’s sleep is often key to maybe seaweed will save it too… enjoying your day. However, Lauren Hoskin’s revelation (page 12) that we go to bed with 100 trillion microbes inside our intestines was personally unnerving. As someone with an ‘out of sight out of mind’ approach to sue nelson, editor

Vol 61 No 1 / the BIOLOGISt / 3 New training courses for 2014 NEWS IN BRIEF TAlKBIOlOGY lAUNCh The Society has launched a new Society News online forum for science teachers and educators. talkBiology went live during the Association for Science education (ASe) Conference in r Barbara Knowles FSB, last month. Users can senior science policy adviser browse forums covering primary, D at the Society of Biology, secondary, and further education, has been awarded an MBE in the send messages to other teachers, MBE for Society 2014 list for and create private groups to discuss services to science communication certain topics. and the environment. Members of the Society can Barbara’s main professional access the forum using their policy adviser interest is communicating science existing login details and by visiting to non-specialists. As well as her talkbiology.societyofbiology.org work for the Society, she supports projects on meadow ecology, SOCIETY PRESENTS rural development and traditional WITNESS TO PARlIAMENT agriculture in Transylvania, The Society’s honorary treasurer Pat where she lives. Goodwin has presented evidence to “I’m delighted with this honour,” the first session of a said Barbara. “It is especially Government inquiry welcome that the award recognises on antimicrobial both my professional work in resistance. science policy and communications, he Society has expanded wildlife artist cath professional development for school The Society and also my voluntary work the range of training and hodsman, whose teachers, and writing for a non- was asked courses it offers members, work is pictured technical audience. Members receive to present a T above, will run a with innovative courses such as microscopy art a discount of up to 75% on the cost of witness to give microscopy art and drug discovery course in march Society training courses. oral evidence As well as her work for the set to be introduced later this year. The Society is also planning to at the house of The Society’s training programme hold courses outside London. For Commons Science and technology Society, Barbara supports aims to provide a range of skills more information about our training Committee’s inquiry in December, projects in Transylvania for all interests and competencies, events see www.societyofbiology. having responded to the from enthusiastic amateurs to org/events committee’s initial consultation high-level professionals. Seven of If you have ideas for new earlier in 2013. the 12 courses scheduled for 2014 courses, speakers or course to protect and learn about the are new with planned courses providers please email our SCIENCE GOPhERS outstanding but threatened including science photography, training officer at emmakelson@ SPREAD TO environment in the eastern an introduction to science policy, societyofbiology.org Gopher Science Labs, the hands-on Carpathians of Transylvania.” science events run by the Society for Barbara, who was diagnosed with young children, is to be developed in motor neurone disease in 2008, is to read and 87% think the design is Wales following a successful pilot in now unable to move and will soon OUR SURVEY SAYS… good or excellent. Readers have also england. The project, developed in lose the ability to speak. “I’m really responded positively to our move haymeadowscollaboration with the Biochemical lucky to be able to do both jobs, with hank you to all the members up to six issues a year – 85% said the inSociety, romania, sees primary school fantastic colleagues in London and who completed The Biologist frequency is now about right. above,children the visitfocus a Gopher Science Lab Romania, despite being increasingly T readership survey at the end When asked what they liked ofhosted barbara by a local secondary school disabled with motor neurone of last year. least about the magazine, the top knowles’and their (below students. disease,” she added. “A combination It’s great to see that again the results show answer was ‘no dislikes’. Second centre) work of computer technology, an off-road response to our survey has been the magazine after that were requests for more is a crucial way wheelchair and supportive friends overwhelmingly positive. Results to communicate articles on specific topics or fields. and careers makes it possible to enjoy show the magazine is still a crucial with members We’ll be looking closely at all your STUDY life, by doing interesting work which I way for us to communicate with suggestions for how we can improve ABROAD!

ThThe socieTy of biology magazinee ■ issn 0006-3347Biologist ■ socieTyofbiology.org Vol 60 no 6 ■ Dec 2013/Jan 2014

believe to be important and valuable.” our members, with almost 90% of shortlisted for and what to cover. BEST BUSINESS & PROFESSIONAl Dr Mark Downs, chief executive of members saying that they read the MAGAZINE As always, if you have any Ten £500 grants are available the Society, said: “Barbara has used magazine regularly, and the number suggestions or comments about for student affiliate, amsb and early career members to travel Dr barbara great skill and knowledge alongside of people who read every issue rising the magazine, or wish to respond knowles has been overseas. get your applications recognised for her incredible drive and determination slightly to 81% from 80% in 2012. to individual articles, please email lIFE IN to us by monday 31st march professional and to make a difference to sustainable Over 93% of readers think our FOCUS [email protected] or www.societyofbiology.org/ stunning images from our 2013 photo competition

voluntary work development, inspiring others to articles are good or excellent; over STRUCTURAl BIOlOGY EDUCATION INTERVIEW write to us at the address on page 2.

DNA DISCOVERIES lABS ONlINE POlAR PIONEER travelgrant   ving beyond the Can practical science be Jane Francis on take up the challenge.” 91% think it is well written and easy double helix taught remotely? Antarctic exploration Tom ireland msb, managing editor

4 / the BIOLOGISt / Vol 61 No 1 www.societyofbiology.org/news www.societyofbiology.org/news Vol 61 No 1 / the BIOLOGISt / 5 SOCIetY NeWS INteRNAtIONAL ACtIVItY/BRANCh DAtABASe/JOhN LeONARD CLOUDSLeY-thOMPSON/AGM 2014

OBITUARY at Cambridge were interrupted by Desert specialist the war. During his service in North Professor cloudsley- Thompson, pictured in Africa he collected camel spiders sudan in 1964, became and scorpions and tamed a desert Society heads abroad a prolific writer fox to barter for food, sparking his life-long interest in desert animals. When his tank was attacked, in 1942, he sustained a leg injury that would trouble him for life but back in to spread the word England persuaded a medical board to let him join the Normandy landings. ustralia, New Zealand, Hong Nature published his observations Kong and Mongolia are all on the common centipede in 1945 Ain our sights this year as the and he began to write for the Society expands its international journal of the British Naturalists’ presence outside Europe. Association. By 1950 he was lecturer A number of members from in zoology at King’s College London. Australia and New Zealand have In 1972, after a decade in Sudan, expressed an interest in forming he became professor of zoology at an international branch of the Birkbeck College, London (emeritus Society that would help coordinate 1986). His 50 books and many papers activities and communicate our included work on bees, sea lions and work in the region. The Society wasps, Sahara and Mesozoic reptiles is asking that any more overseas and a war memoir, Sharpshooter. members who are interested should He published dozens of books and contact our membership team with papers on his observations and their suggestions. wrote many letters on international In March Society staff will travel development budgets. to Hong Kong to run workshops John was also chairman and vice and meet members at the Science president of the British Naturalists’ Alive festival. Organised by the Association British Council and held at Hong Venue: hong kong and president Kong Science Museum, the event science museum, He made his name as a desert of the British invites leading UK academics and and wolf cubs in Professor John specialist in the 1960s at the Arachnological communicators to engage students, mongolia, below leonard University of Khartoum and as Society, the teachers and the public in activities keeper of the Sudan Natural History British Society for that promote a wider understanding agreed to ban the use of live wolf Cloudsley- Museum, which he supported with Chronobiology of science. cubs as part of traditional hunting Thompson FSB little funding. Typically seen in khaki and the British Also that month the Society’s festivals. Last year the Society shirt and trousers negotiating desert Herpetological chief executive, Dr Mark Downs, Any more signed an agreement with 1921-2013 tracks in a jeep, John was known Society. A special will be travelling to Vancouver in interested south-east Asian life sciences for getting on with his research or book devoted to Canada to speak at the College of overseas association BioSingapore, again he Times described John as writing even during sweltering heat. scorpions was Applied Biology’s AGM. members bolstering ties with the region. an “adventurous and well- Born in Murree in India (now part produced to mark his The Society will also continue to If any overseas members T travelled zoologist” and “a of Pakistan), John was educated at 90th birthday. He is help address conservation issues in should get are interested in helping to natural historian of the old school”. Marlborough College and his studies survived by three sons. Mongolia after Dr Downs’ trip to the in touch promote the work of the Society country last year, where he met their in their region please contact minister for the environment who [email protected] AGM 2014: Save the date make the most of to be associated on our database their email address and branch membership by with one of the Society’s 16 regional connection is current. he Society of Biology’s AGM vote, and supporting Member BRANCh updating your branches in the UK, and be It is important that we have will take place at Charles Organisations may not vote. details directly informed about up-to-date information about our T Darwin House, London, Information on voting and OUT! local branch events members so that the full breadth on Thursday 15th May 2014. current Council vacancies has and activities. of expertise and knowledge that Refreshments will be available from been circulated to all members and he Society is calling for Members exists within our membership 11:00. The AGM will start at 11:30 Member Organisations. It is also members to let us know can check their is fully recognised and used. with the charter lecture at 12:45. available online and by contacting T their local branch affiliation details online Please therefore take the time Members from all grades are [email protected] and update their contact details to via our secure to fill in your profile with as welcome to attend but only those To attend, please register ensure they receive the latest on mySociety portal much information as you can and at member grade MSB and above via mySociety (mysociety. news, activities and events taking (mysociety. get in touch with markleach@ are entitled to vote. Up to two societyofbiology.org) or write to place in their area. societyofbiology. societyofbiology.org if you have representatives from each Member Natasha Neill at the address All members have the opportunity org) and ensure that any queries. Organisation of the Society can found on page 2. attend the AGM but just one can www.societyofbiology.org/agm

6 / the BIOLOGISt / Vol 61 No 1 www.societyofbiology.org/news www.societyofbiology.org/news Vol 61 No 1 / the BIOLOGISt / 7 per year in restored biomes, agricultural land managers, whose REFERENCES a Higher Level Stewardship provided we also curb current natural instincts are to emphasise Le Quéré, C. et al. The agreement for the adjacent local global carbon budget forest destruction. the conservation of artificial 1959–2011. Earth nature reserve is proposing to fence Agricultural land is useless as grassland through stock grazing. System Science Data this in too, though encouragement a carbon store but our remaining One example is NE’s support 5, 1107–1157 (2012). of the rabbit population would avoid Opinion Millett, J. & natural land biomes store about for the English Lake District to be edmondson, S. The an enclosure of the landscape that 2.5GTC per year. Restoring one designated a World Heritage impact of 36 years of local people abhor. third of the existing world farmland Site as a cultural agricultural grazing management The worst aspect of the issue, on vegetation to fully functioning forest or set of landscapes in their present dynamics in dune however, is Natural England’s wetland would meet the gap. depauperate state (Monbiot, slacks. Jnl. of Applied insistence that all this is necessary Ecology 50, 1367-1376. Farming is often 2013), which would (2013). to tick the box of a Habitats efficient, but food fix its bleak and Monbiot, G. The Lake Directive requirement to maintain waste, because bare fells for the District is a wildlife solely open grassland on fixed of commercial foreseeable future. desert. Blame dunes, when we need more forest Wordsworth. interests, is high. Others concern The Guardian, and we can have forest here for free. Its elimination, policies for 2 September 2013. This would happen if the owners and a healthy maintaining Moss, B. Liberation and the local authority, with the ecology: The change in diet, its own national Reconciliation of peculiar collusion of the Forestry could compensate and local Natural and human Commission, were to stop cutting it, Cultures (International for the renovation of nature reserves. ecology Institute, reverting it to a scrub so disturbed farmland to functioning I live close to the excellence in ecology as never to acquire much diversity biome. It’s not impossible, but Ainsdale Sand Dunes Series, Germany, or carbon storage. 2012). our political leadership is poorly National Nature Reserve, which We need independent, powerful educated for the job (only one of 194 for 20 years has been fenced to conservation organisations that world leaders has any background graze sheep in winter in an attempt are infused by radical new in environmental issues; 75% come to prevent natural succession thinking. We need a regenerated from finance, business, economics, to woodland. Inspection of NE’s conservation movement to look at politics, law, the military or hard monitoring data shows that our planetary requirements for the engineering (Moss, 2012)). the sheep have had no effect; future. We also need to question In England, at least, our state statistical analysis of data from The lake District – thinking that might have been conservation organisation, Natural enclosures on the reserve draws “an area of bleak appropriate half a century ago, and bare fells in England (NE), is no longer led the conclusion that rabbits alone a depauperate and may currently be shrouded in by ecologists, and appears to explain the grazing effects (Millett state” – according well-meaning legislation, but is now be dominated operationally by & Edmondson, 2013). Nonetheless, to moss outdated and needs revision.

a willingness to do what we assert that the rest of the world should be doing, in preserving natural biomes. A revolution is Each year now, the world’s population releases about 9.3 gigatonnes of carbon (GTC) into the atmosphere – 8.3GTC from fossil fuel burning, and 1.0GTC our only hope from destruction of forests. Current conservation orthodoxies do little to Around 2.5GTC are taken up in the ocean and 2.5GTC by the protect the Earth, says Professor Brian Moss remaining land biomes (Le Quéré et al, 2012). This leaves a surplus iving in Europe has cultural EU Habitats Directive of 1992, we of 4.3GTC that accumulates in the pleasures, but natural seek in the UK mostly to preserve atmosphere and which we need to l limitations. Our continent postage stamps of traditional remove in order to check global is so dominated by people that grassland agriculture. Instead warming. Temperatures will not our concepts of how our planet we should be thinking of a future fall until storages are greater than functions are seriously biased. beset by climate change, where if emissions. We have made no net We live in a land where the we start re-establishing forest and progress in reducing emissions former connectedness of all wetland systems for carbon storage and little in developing alternative natural systems has largely and water conservation, things may energy sources. brian moss is been obliterated. This blinds be a little less uncomfortable. We emeritus professor There is much debate about our ability to plan for the future need to think in terms of ecosystem at the University of geoengineering to mitigate and we promote mediocrity in function first and individual species ’s school climate change, using techniques our landscapes through our conservation second. of environmental that are yet to be invented or with conservation legislation. Carbon sinks such as forests sciences. he works unknown risks, yet we ignore the on lakes and climate Starting with the National Parks are key to our future. The UK change, and has natural storages that have been and Access to the Countryside Act may be small but we are influential published several tested over half a billion years. of 1949 and continuing with the in world politics and need to show books on ecology. We could store as much as 3GTC

8 / the BIOLOGISt / Vol 61 No 1 Vol 61 No 1 / the BIOLOGISt / 9 REFERENCES 1-2 WhO (World health Organization). Closing the gap in a generation: Health equity through action on the social determinants of health Policy update (2008). Available at: http://www.who.int/ social_determinants/ thecommission/

heARtLAND ARtS/ShUtteRStOCK heARtLAND finalreport/en/index. html 3 Barton, h. and Grant, M. A health map for the local human habitat. Journal of the Royal Society for the Promotion of Public Health, 126(6) 252-261 (2006). 4 Maantay, J. A. A healthy The Collapse of Place: Derelict Land, Deprivation, and Health Inequality in Glasgow, Scotland. Cities and the dose of Environment (CAte): 6(1), Article 10 (2013). Available at: http:// The scottish digitalcommons.lmu. government has edu/cate/vol6/iss1/10 recognised the 5 UK National nature benefits of green ecosystem space in places Assessment. The UK National ecosystem such as glasgow Assessment technical Report. UNeP-WCMC, Cambridge (2011). However, health outcomes do cause and effect relationships are not trials and systematic reviews, while 6 Natural Capital not only depend on the types of definitive. For example, do green ecologists use field based techniques Initiative. Workshop ecosystems and the services they spaces prompt people to be active or and empirical studies. A resulting on natural capital and barriers to evidencing provide but also on the choices people do people who like to exercise move to lack of common language is a barrier impacts on human have and decisions they make. So only areas with easy access to nature? In to collaboration. health, Summary Report (2013). Available if you choose to go bird watching in addition, the collaboration between Despite these challenges and gaps at: http://www. your free time, or take a brisk walk in healthcare professionals and in the evidence base, public policy naturalcapitalinitiative. your local park, for example, can you ecologists brings a set of challenges. has recently rediscovered the org.uk/past-events derive the mental or physical health To shed light on these challenges, importance of ecosystems for good 7 Scottish Government. Good Places, Better benefits the natural environment the Natural Capital Initiative, the health. To tackle the stark health Health (2008). provides. The choice to engage with special interest group of the Society inequalities in Scotland, the Scottish Available at: www. DIRIMA/ShUtteRStOCK scotland.gov. nature is influenced by various that supports decision-making for Government’s Good Places, Better uk/Resource/ The relationship between nature and It’s one thing to say that nature is factors and access to nature very the sustainable management of Health7 initiative looked to shape Doc/254447/0075343. good for you – the Victorians knew much depends on socioeconomic our natural capital, held a session places that nurture health and well- pdf 6 8 Welsh Assembly good health is complex but medical that when they created public parks characteristics. The UK Natural on health at INTECOL 2013 , a being, with a prototype focusing on Government. and walks to improve conditions in Ecosystem Assessment5 summarises major international ecological health challenges faced by children Environment Strategy professionals and ecologists are starting the newly industrialised urban areas that “health benefits are, therefore, a congress. The session revealed in Scotland. for Wales (2006). Available at: www.wlga. to find a common language of cities like London, Manchester function of ecosystem type, ease of that there is a huge disconnect Public Health England launched gov.uk/download. and Birmingham. It is another thing access to nature and frequency of use between the disciplines despite the Healthy People, Healthy Places php?id=3972&l=1 f you are male and born in Lenzie, ensure our basic survival by providing to establish robust evidence of the of green places”. working on similar topics. This is programme in November last year to a small Scottish commuter clean air and water and raw materials benefits generated by different While there is a growing body of partly because the medical support a place-based approach to I town with tree lined streets, for agriculture and industry. ecosystems to inform policy. Yet our research, establishing evidence community and ecologists differ in health and the Environment Strategy surrounded by fields, statistically you Ecosystems contribute in three understanding of how high quality around ecosystems and health isn’t what they regard as evidence. for Wales8 links to the public health can expect to live to 821 – 28 years ways to our health and wellbeing4. environments have the potential to straightforward. In many cases the Medical professionals rely on clinical agenda and other cross cutting issues longer than a male born in Glasgow’s They have direct positive effects on nurture our health has improved in Wales. In addition, the recent shift densely populated inner city district both mental and physical health. greatly in recent years. of responsibility for public health of Calton, just 13km away. They also have indirect positive Research shows that observing UNDERSTANDING ThE ENVIRONMENT from the NHS to local authorities Male life expectancy in Calton is a effects, through providing a space nature and ‘green exercise’ – physical ■ Ecosystem Services are defined ■ Natural Capital is the stock and also brings the chance for new ways mere 54 years2 and the number of for nature-based activity and social activity in the presence of nature – as the benefits obtained from an flows of a natural system. It is of collaboration with spatial trees in the neighbourhood cannot engagement, and facilitating positively influence our health. Clear ecosystem. these can be services commonly used as one way to planners, guided by the research of entirely explain this inequality. behavioural change with people links have been established between that provide goods and products like describe the economic value of nature. ecologists and health professionals. Health is the outcome of a complex adopting healthier lifestyles. the amount of accessible green space food, fuel and water, regulating ■ the UK National Ecosystem There is still a long way to go before interaction between individual Ecosystems also protect us from and psychological wellbeing. There is services such as flood control, Assessment is an overview of the our environmental and well-being characteristics and external factors; threats from pollution and disease even evidence of indirect effects such supporting services such as nutrient natural environment in the UK and its policies are truly aligned, but these and social, environmental and health vectors through functions such as as how green spaces help to bring cycling, or cultural services that value to society and the economy. the developments are a welcome 3 Daija angeli, inequalities often go hand in hand . local climate regulation, noise project officer, people together and strengthen provide recreational and spiritual first assessment was published in demonstration that governments are But this example does show that the reduction and the removal of natural capital neighbourhood ties; this ‘social capital’ benefits to people. 2011 and it is now in its second phase. beginning to value our natural natural world does more than just pollutants in water and air. initiative. then has positive effects on health. capital for all that it is worth.

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t is widely known that humans shown that while vaginally- do not exist as single organisms. delivered infants harbour bacterial I In fact, we go to bed each night communities similar to their with 100 trillion microbes tucked up mother’s vaginal microbiota, infants cosily inside our intestines. What we delivered by Caesarean tend to are now beginning to discover is just adopt communities similar to their how important these tiny organisms mother’s skin surface4. are in stimulating, training and One study demonstrated that the regulating our own bodies. microbiota of a Caesarean-delivered The gut microbiota is a diverse infant includes fewer Bacteroidetes, community of microbes comprising one of the two major phyla in the mainly of bacteria but also some gut. The study was also interested species of archaea and fungi. At in the infants’ immune systems, least 90% of the bacteria in our and so tested for the abundance of digestive tract fall into the phyla a certain type of white blood cells Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes1, yet called Th1 cells. These cells release species diversity is astounding. signalling molecules to regulate Estimates suggest there could other white blood cells as part of be between 500 and 1,000 the body’s immune response, and species within the whole human children delivered by Caesarean population2. were found to have decreased levels In its combined , the of Th1 activity5. microbiome contains more than 5 These results are significant in GUT million genes3, putting the human our understanding of microbial genome to shame at just 24,000. activity since they suggest that gut- This cooperative community specific bacteria play an important F performs many functions, role in immune development, and including its primary role to in particular Th1 development. ferment otherwise indigestible Th1 activity is vital for many carbohydrates, extracting energy. immunological processes including E l NG It also helps to absorb nutrients the stimulation of antibodies, E and produce vitamins as well release of signalling molecules I as training and regulating our and the killing and digesting of immune systems. In fact, it is pathogenic bacteria. It is also so useful that the microbiota crucial in dampening the activity is often considered an of its colleague, Th2. As a result, organ in itself. decreased Th1 activity can lead to Th2 over-activity. Bacterial birth Th2 overactivity is thought to be Since unborn one of the major causes of allergic BIOGRAPhY children are disease development. This includes sterile, birth is hay fever, asthma and eczema. the first step These results are corroborated in the lifelong by findings that children born by companionship Caesarean section have a higher between rate of allergy6. human and microbe. Under attack How the baby Another line of research has lauren hoskin is delivered investigated whether the amsb is a microbiology is important. Many administration of antibiotics to graduate currently studies have shown infants may have the same effect. studying for a that children born by It is thought that while the master’s in science Caesarean section microbiota is in the early stages of lauren hoskin explores our communication at start life with a development, it is more susceptible imperial college smaller and less to damage from the effects of ever-increasing understanding london. she writes for the blog Science diverse microbial antibiotics. Since many antibiotics of how bacteria contribute to Says as well as the community. kill bacteria in an unspecific society’s blog. It has also been manner, by taking these drugs our health

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There are The microbiota around 10 of children in trillion bacterial we are unintentionally eradicating microbiota also impacts on the burkina faso is REFERENCES cells living in and 1 Robles Alonso, V. many of our ‘friendly’ microbes. digestion of our food. One study rich in the & Guarner, F. Linking A compromised microbiota investigated the microbiota of cellulose- on a human the gut microbiota to could subsequently lead to Th2 children from a rural village in digesting body human health. British Prevotella Jnl. of Nutrition 109, overactivity and, in turn, the Burkina Faso and discovered that it S21-S26 (2013). development of an allergic disease contained an exceptional abundance 2 Sears, C. L. later in life. A number of studies of the bacteria Prevotella9, which A dynamic partnership: Celebrating our gut have shown a positive correlation the European children lacked. flora.Anaerobe 11, between antibiotic use in infancy Prevotella was shown to be 247-51 (2005). and the successive development of particularly competent at digesting 3 Sommer, F. & 7 Baeckhed, F. The gut allergic disease . cellulose, which suggests that the microbiota - masters Intense use of antibiotics is microbiota of this community has of host development and physiology. Nature also well known to alter microbial co-evolved with their diet, which is Reviews Microbiology composition to the point of causing rich in plant fibres. 11, 227-38 (2013). ANYAIVANOVA/heCtOR CONeSA/ZURIJetA/ShUtteRStOCK ANYAIVANOVA/heCtOR antibiotic-associated diarrhoea. 4 Dominguez-Bello, M. In extreme cases, the microbe Microbiota and obesity G. et al. Delivery mode shapes the acquisition Clostridium difficile is allowed Recent research revealed a and structure of the to thrive – where normally the substantial difference between initial microbiota across multiple body microbiota repress its growth – the gut microbiota of twins when habitats in newborns. often with deadly consequences. one was obese and the other Proceedings of the 10 National Academy of slim . When these twins’ faecal Sciences of the United Foraging for carbohydrates microbiota was extracted and States of America 107, Immune development is, of course, transplanted into germ-free mice, The 11971-75 (2010). not the microbiota’s only job. As the mice were shown to develop the average 5 Jakobsson, h. e. et al. Decreased gut well as training our immune system body composition of their human human body microbiota diversity, to defend itself, these obliging counterparts, with a high increase in houses 10x more delayed Bacteroidetes bacterial cells colonisation and microbes also help us to digest much body mass and adiposity. In essence, reduced Th1 responses of our food. the mice with the microbes from the than human in infants delivered by The fluid within many obese twin became obese too. cells Caesarean section. Gut (online) (2013). bacterial cells contains numerous Furthermore, when the obese 6 Kero, J. et al. Mode of carbohydrate-digesting enzymes, mice were cohoused with the lean delivery and asthma - which we ourselves do not possess. mice, they eventually established Is there a connection? Pediatric Research 52, Like ruminants, humans are a lean-like microbiota and were 6-11 (2002). dependent on the microbiota to prevented from developing 7 Droste, J. h. et al. supply many of our nutrients, obesity. This coincided with the Does the use of antibiotics in early especially those from non-digestible transmission of bacteria of the order childhood increase carbohydrates. One study has Bacteroidales, which includes the the risk of asthma and allergic disease? demonstrated that germ-free species Prevotella, from the lean to Clinical & Experimental rodents, raised in a microbe-free the obese mice. Allergy 30, 1547-53 environment, require 30% more However, this change only research (2000). has linked calories to maintain their body mass occurred in mice that were on a 8 Wostmann, B. S. variations in et al. Dietary-intake, 8 than normal mice . diet representative of a healthy gut bacteria energy-metabolism, Some of our friendly microbes human one – rich in fruit and with obesity and excretory losses of adult male germfree boast the ability to modify their vegetables and low in saturated wistar rats. Laboratory carbohydrate-foraging behaviour to fats – demonstrating that body The Animal Science 33, suit availability. In times of plenty, mass cannot be altered simply by a combined 46-50 (1983). Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron microbiota transplant. genome of the 9 De Filippo, C. et microbiome could al. Impact of diet metabolises dietary sugars found This research is an important contain up to in shaping gut in the intestines. When nutrition is landmark since it suggests that the microbiota revealed 5 million genes, by a comparative scarce, however, its gene expression diet and microbiota are in constant compared to study in children from changes and it begins to digest communication and that interactions 24,000 in europe and rural Africa. humans Proceedings of the sugars within the host’s own mucus. between the two can greatly alter the National Academy of Through many of these host body. It indicates that the gut Sciences of the United States of America 107, mechanisms, the human body microbiota could be an important 14691-96 (2010). has become heavily reliant on the contributor to diseases such as 10 Ridaura, V. K. et al. microbiota, as has the microbiota obesity. In the future, mice could Gut microbiota from on the human. We have, it seems, prove a useful tool for screening twins discordant for obesity modulate evolved together over many the impact of different nutrients metabolism in mice. millennia and will continue to do so on both the gut microbiota and the Science 341 (6150), 1241214 (2013). as the world around us changes. As development of obesity. a result, the microbiota is greatly From immune system development affected by the food we eat. and regulation to enzyme production, Past studies have shown that the microbiota is an amazing part mice have been used to demonstrate how nutritional differences can have of the human body. Without these microbiota huge impacts on the microbiota. friendly microbes we could not be the ‘transplants’ can Likewise, the composition of the creatures we are today. affect weight gain

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he broad bean has a lot to of more than a century ago. In the answer for. Thanks to that 1800s industrial entrepreneurs T primary school experiment and public benefactors pioneered with a jam jar and blotting paper, Britain’s urban parks movement and the idea that all roots grow vertically property speculators planted tree downwards is firmly embedded in lined avenues. While the decision the national psyche. Unfortunately to plant large-growing trees such this is not helpful when it comes to as limes, chestnuts and planes the care and protection of big trees may have been well planned and in towns and cities. executed, their long term success Even the most majestic of has usually been achieved by chance. specimens has a root system that London’s street trees were mostly grows horizontally through the planted in the era of horse-drawn uppermost half metre of the ground. transport, when the ground below The roots generally extend far beyond was almost entirely free of pipes the tips of the branches and their and cables, and the roots were shallowness makes them vulnerable. able to grow wherever conditions Trees and their green suited them. The free passage of air infrastructure can provide and water was originally relatively significant environmental benefits unrestricted, and those long in towns and cities. The capacity established trees have continued to of the leaf canopy – to filter survive by exploiting weaknesses pollution, lower air temperatures, such as fractured drains and cracked intercept rainfall and offer shade pavements. But as water companies and shelter – is now highly valued replace old jointed supply pipes, by more enlightened city planners. they are inadvertently depriving the Healthcare professionals are also mature urban forest of its unofficial beginning to recognise the positive underground irrigation system. role that accessible green space can Many of London’s famous plane play in improving human health trees have the capacity to live for and wellbeing (for more see page another century or more. However, 10). All these benefits are greatest where major disruption is planned where the urban landscape contains through redevelopment and large trees. This is reflected in the physical reconstruction, retaining Trees make a enhanced property value in the and protecting the mature tree valuable environmental leafiest neighbourhoods. heritage becomes extremely contribution to In the case of London, and most challenging. It is impossible to inner city areas, other long established cities around assess the precise root pattern of such as the heygate estate in the world, the legacy of big trees has mature trees from observation south london its origins in the visionary plantings above the ground. The roots ThE ROOT OF ThE PROBlEM working round the sprawling feeding system of precious city trees can be a crucial part of urban regeneration projects, writes Chris Baines ORLA/ShUtteRStOCK

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remove the ground while causing BIOGRAPhY has also been used to install services reducing the risk of flash flooding. very little physical damage to the beneath the foundations of historic The tree root zone can also serve as ROOT MAPPING roots themselves. In this way it buildings and is particularly useful a natural reservoir for temporarily is possible to excavate a service for tunnelling through vulnerable retaining surplus rainwater. There radar equipment can trench through the root zone while landscapes. The same technology is a range of commercial products 1 be used to detect what is underground allowing the living roots to bridge lends itself to tunnelling under the available which provide structural the trench for the duration of the root network of tree-heavy urban strength beneath the ground while installation. Provided the roots are redevelopment sites. allowing an open soil structure with kept moist by spraying with water or Since renewal of drains and enhanced water-holding capacity. wrapping with wet hessian, then the chris baines fsb is water pipe systems poses a threat Protecting large and precious trench can be backfilled following an environmentalist to the unofficial water supply of trees as cities grow creates and adviser to construction with very little lasting government and established roots, it is vital to make considerable challenges. But there is harm to the tree. water, financial provision for maintaining optimum a determination across many groups Remote-guided trenchless management and soil moisture. Good drainage is – developers, academic researchers, tunnelling is another useful urban regeneration important, and the design of paved utilities providers, councils and technique. It is widely used for the companies. he is a surfaces should allow for the free other non-profit organisations – to renewal of gas and water pipes, and vice president of passage of rainwater through the use regeneration projects, such the royal society of the technology makes it possible to wildlife Trusts and underlying root zone. as on the Heygate estate (see case bore new service lines through clays, president of the Mature tree cover has an study below) as an opportunity to sands, gravels and filled sites to a aecb sustainable important role to play in improve our understanding of big depth of 1.5m. Trenchless technology building association. intercepting heavy rainfall and trees in the inner city.

CASE STUDY

19th century buildings. This relatively loose and nutrient-poor mixture of crushed aggregates forms an extremely free-draining layer over relatively impervious London 2 compressed air clay, and this has created ideal at twice the speed rooting conditions. of sound loosens and removes London plane is a hybrid between ground material Platanus orientalis and Platanus occidentalis and in the wild both these parent species are natural colonisers of river gravels. As a consequence, the London planes on the heygate estate and in many other parts of post-war London have produced very large specimens with very stable and a trench excavated 3 using an air-spade wide-spreading root systems. has left the tree The developer spent two years roots intact assessing the established trees and adjusting the proposed layout on the estate footprint before tend to grow into those areas of as well as for archaeological open space that are root free. demolition to allow the most substrate where conditions are most functions. A skilled operator can For the introduction of very large significant of them more space. suitable. They naturally seek out use this technology to locate structures, such as major sewerage (Platanus x acerifolia) and many The 1970s tower The senior design team and key Demolition and blocks are set root-penetrable mineral material, tree roots in the upper 2m pipes or district heating pipes, are more than five storeys tall. The among 450 large consultants have also been involved optimum moisture and oxygen, of ground, both laterally and there may be no alternative but redevelopment of positive environmental contribution trees, some in a number of site visits and tree- and they grow best where there is vertically. The resulting 3D to sacrifice some trees in order to that they make to this part of the more than five protection seminars, with their the heygate estate storeys tall an absence of toxic contamination. image of the subterranean site create a pathway for wide and deep inner city is extraordinary, and the appreciation of the mature trees This means that the root pattern can then be used in planning open trenching. Fortunately, in in london’s Elephant trees are highly valued by many of the greatly improved as a result. of an urban forest tree is very the route of proposed many cases the subsurface site plan and Castle district local people. The heygate estate is one of a unlikely to be radially symmetrical. services, determining the site for will reveal obvious preferred routes The Australian developer Lend small number of urban developments However, new technologies make the foundations for new buildings for such major disturbance. he heygate is a high-rise Lease has acknowledged that the in the Clinton Climate Initiative it possible to map the upper layer and for other elements of excavation Accessible It is now possible to install and Thousing neighbourhood of trees are valuable growing assets and Lend Lease is now working in of a development site ahead of any and construction. green space maintain small-scale utilities more than 2,000 empty flats in which need protecting. exploratory partnership with academic research physical disturbance. Understanding in advance the can improve such as gas and water pipes, south London due for demolition air-spade excavation of a typical bodies, major utility providers such as Ground penetrating radar, existing root pattern enables service and underground power and and redevelopment. The 1970s part of the site has confirmed that Thames Water, and special interest originally developed for military engineers and utility companies to human telecommunication cables, beneath tower blocks are set in a mature most tree roots are growing within groups within the not-for-profit use in locating buried explosives, is sympathetically plan the service health and the shallow root plate. An air-spade but neglected landscape containing the upper 500mm of the ground. The sector to encourage research and now widely used in the construction layout. However, in an established wellbeing is a tool which uses a narrow jet of more than 450 very large trees. substrate for much of the site is brick technical innovation throughout the industry to find underground landscape that is heavily planted, compressed air blowing at twice Most of them are London planes and concrete rubble from demolished period of reconstruction and beyond. services such as cables and pipes, there will be few areas of existing the speed of sound to loosen and

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ould algae save the planet? US, which is clearly impossible. That That’s right, algae. The green falls to just 2.5% with microalgae.” C stuff that clogs up your pond Mixing algal biomass with a and rots in giant heaps on the beach 8km solvent and catalyst produces a giving off a terrible pong. This To provide biofuel for one diesel-like substance called extremely diverse group of simple, lane of cars requires a biodiesel, plus glycerol. Techniques autotrophic organisms is the focus strip of land the length of are emerging which mean products of efforts to develop a green energy that lane, 8km wide are not limited to biodiesel. Pyrolysis source to replace oil. involves heating algae to very high Both microalgae (unicellular) and temperatures (500-700°C) in the macroalgae, such as seaweed, are emissions it can actually be worse than absence of oxygen to produce a bio- being used in a range of products using crude oil. “To provide biofuel for char (charcoal) and a wider range of known as ‘advanced biofuels’ thanks one lane of cars requires a strip of land fuel products. Hydrothermal to their rich energy content and the length of that lane, and 8km wide,” liquefaction puts whole, unprocessed minimal land use. It is hoped they he says. “Conventional biomass is just algal material under pressure, using could eventually break our not efficient in terms of land use.” slightly lower high temperatures dependence on oil and reduce global This is where algae come in. Some (250-350°C), with water to produce carbon emissions. species of microalgae can convert up ‘biocrude’ and hydrogen gas. As part of the Society of Biology’s to 60% of their biomass to oils These processes essentially mimic Policy Lates debate series, experts (compared to 2-3% in soy beans). the natural production of oil. Crude from the world of biofuels gathered in Because they do not produce oil itself is formed from ancient London to discuss the future of this complex differentiated tissues such algae, as well as other marine remarkable group of organisms in as stems and leaves, algae grow plankton. Algaenan, a tough energy production. Is fuel derived faster than crops. Plus, marine hydrocarbon polymer found in algal from algae a viable alternative to oil, macroalgae do not even have to be cell walls, is turned to oil when layers or just a green dream? grown on land. of plankton are buried under the “You can do much better than seabed and subjected to extreme Turning water into fuel terrestrial plants using algae,” says heat and pressure. AlGAl Algae are like any other Professor Rod Scott from the Unfortunately, producing oil this photoautotrophic organism: they University of Bath. His research aims way takes about 30 million years. turn simple inorganic compounds to develop strains of microalgae Replicating the process in real time, such as CO2 and water into complex, especially for biofuel production. at a scale vast enough to supply BIOFUEl energy rich hydrocarbons using light “To provide 50% of the USA’s fuel global demand, is the challenge. as an energy source. The technology requirements with corn oil, you’d need and infrastructure to create fuel 846% of the available crop area in the All in a day from this sort of biomass have Professor Scott says processes such existed for at least 60 years. How does it work? as pyrolysis can produce an oil IN BLOOM Dry plant matter (lignocellulose) equivalent from algae in about a day. is the most abundant raw material in Algae can be turned into fuel via: But it is important to see “just how the world for the production of Anaerobic digestion by bacteria, much oil we use” before getting ethanol by fermentation, and many producing methane. excited about algal fuels, he says. “At biofuels are made using the oils from the moment we use 90 million barrels OR DEAD IN crops such as corn or soya beans. Yet Transesterification, where algal lipids are of oil, over 14 billion litres – every the displacement effect of using land reacted with alcohols to produce biodiesel single day. You can fiddle around with crops for fuel production instead of and glycerol. a flask of new fuel and think we’re food arguably causes more carbon Pyrolysis and hydrothermal liquefaction, doing quite a good job, but we use a THE WATER? emissions via deforestation and can which use heat and pressure to reduce algal staggering amount of oil.” drive up food prices. lipids to a range of fuel products. The advantage There are great costs involved in Tom Ireland reports from the society’s recent debate Oliver Chadwick, from the of the latter is that whole algae or ‘wet biomass’ growing and processing algae Department for Transport, says some can be used. compared to just piping stuff out of on whether fuel made from algae could ever replace oil models suggest that in terms of the ground. Algal cells produce more

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biofuel it must show its green REFERENCES 1 Lundquist, t. J. et al. credentials, says Dr Michele Stanley, A Realistic Technology director of the NERC Algal and Engineering OUR PANEl Bioenergy Special Interest Group. Assessment of Algae hanks to all the panellists who Biofuel Production. “Seaweed beds on the ocean floor energy Biosciences Tcontributed to the Policy Lates have an important role in preventing Institute (2010). debate in December. For more http://works.bepress. coastal erosion, and removing com/tlundqui/5 information on the series contact beached kelp interferes with coastal 2 Shirvani, t. et al. [email protected] ecosystems,” she says, “so you can’t Life cycle energy and greenhouse gas ■ just come along and take it all away.” analysis for algae- Dr Michele China is well ahead when it derived biodiesel. Stanley FSB comes to growing seaweed in shallow Energy Environ. Sci. (chair) is 4, 3773-3778 (2011). waters, producing an estimated 10 director of the million tonnes a year. Elsewhere, NeRC Algal production is still low, says Dr Stanley. Bioenergy algal farming for biofuels, “It all falls to pieces when it comes Special Interest today (this to economics,” she says. “Costs can Group and principal picture and vary from €50 per tonne for investigator in microalgal below) and in nearshore, floating kelp, to €400 molecular phycology at the the future for offshore kelp, to €2,500-plus for Scottish Association for Marine (images right) experimental systems.” Science (SAMS).

Part of the mix ■ Oliver Chadwick Ultimately, algae are likely to be a is the head valuable part of a range of products of biofuels gradually replacing oil, says Dr regulation Stanley, not a miracle alternative. at the Low “I’m of the view that one fuel won’t Carbon Fuels solve the energy crisis. People are department of fixated by the idea that there is one fuel the Department for out there – and there won’t be. transport. Microalgae will not fuel the UK because of the land mass required, but ■ Duncan it could provide a valuable contribution eggar is the and other services like removing BBSRC’s excess nutrients from waste water.” Bioenergy It is up to governments around the Champion. world to keep supporting research and put the infrastructure in place to support the production and use of algae as fuel. The UK Government will soon be calling for evidence on ■ Rod Scott is advanced biofuels to inform its a professor of hydrocarbons when they are starved will need to be scalable up to “millions biofuel and then expect to grow it en Macroalgae, such as seaweed, energy strategy, including the plant molecular of nitrogen, so it is a two-step process, of tonnes per year” if it is to replace masse is perhaps naïve,” says Dr Spicer. already grows in vast quantities and emerging algae technologies biology at the where the cells that are to be starved liquid fuels in any meaningful way. Is fuel “It doesn’t adequately take into can be farmed from the sea, or mentioned in this article. University of Bath. must be separated from the ones still Influential reports on biofuels1-2 say derived account the regulatory requirements recovered from the beach, so may The EU is also considering changing growing. Also, the more microalgae it is biology, not industry, that will from algae and risk analyses that would need to be seem like a more promising biofuel European renewable energy targets to you try to grow in one space, the less help drive this through strain satisfied prior to any significant trials.” feedstock. They can also provide take into account land use ■ Dr Andrew light gets through to each cell, selection and optimisation. Yet Dr a viable In the face of such challenges, Dr valuable environmental services. For consequences, which could lead to Spicer is the meaning growth rate falls. Spicer says significant challenges alternative Spicer describes how many companies example, seaweed can remove excess additional support or subtargets for chief research Dr Andrew Spicer is chief research remain in translating bioengineering to oil, or who initially branded themselves as nitrogen from salmon farms, while algal biofuels in transport. scientist of scientist of Algenuity, a UK company to the industrial agricultural scale just a green algal biofuel companies have shifted some species of algae can contribute But, for the time being, algal Algenuity. that provides products and services to necessary for industry. dream? toward the production of “higher to waste water treatment, bioplastics, biotechnologists will continue to the emerging algal biotech industry. “To assume you can genetically value, lower volume algal products as food, and protein production. burn the midnight oil in the hope of He says microalgal biofuel production modify an algal cell to produce more opposed to fuels”. Yet before anything can be called a making a viable biofuel for the future.

1bn 1bn 1bn 1bn 1bn The biomass STACKING 25% The length to of certain The forecasted 14bn The amount of Proportion of algae, such as which brown algae, UP? OIl vs litres of oil 1bn 1bn 1bn 1bn 1bn transport fuel amount of road fuel such as giant global carbon eustigmatophytes, that will be produced used per day emissions 98% produced from oil 60% that can be turned 50 kelp (Macrocystis AlGAE IN by algae by 2020 globally into lipid 0.2% metres pyrifera), can grow 1bn 1bn 1bn 1bn accounted for NUMBERS by transport GLOBAL INStItUte OF SUStAINABILItY, COLORADO StAte UNIVeRSItY, SAPPhIRe eNeRGY, PACIFIC NORthWeSt NAtIONAL LABORAtORY NAtIONAL NORthWeSt PACIFIC eNeRGY, SAPPhIRe UNIVeRSItY, StAte COLORADO SUStAINABILItY, OF INStItUte GLOBAL

22 / the BIOLOGISt / Vol 61 No 1 Do yoU haVe an oPinion on This arTicle? CONtACt US At [email protected] Vol 61 No 1 / the BIOLOGISt / 23 eXPeRIeNCe CeNtRIFUGe At FARNBOROUGh

The QinetiQ centrifuge will allow sue nelson (right) to get a taste of the g-force effects felt by jet pilots FORCE OF NATURE The Biologist editor Sue Nelson takes a spin in a centrifuge to experience the effects of g-force on the human body

lame it on a love of science The effects vary from less sharp turns, the G-forces force – or a love of both Star Trek peripheral vision to a dimming blood into their feet and we all know B and Star Wars – but I’ve of light across the whole visual that we need blood supply into our always wanted to be an astronaut. field. A medical officer, Dr Simon brain to remain conscious.” So when someone offered to send Brown, will be monitoring my Scott will watch me on a screen me to Jupiter, I was more than responses. “I’ll be in the centre of in the control room while Brown ready. I was born ready. the centrifuge turning round like on monitors me from the centre of the The interplanetary trip was a child’s roundabout,” he says. centrifuge and talks me through in the form of the UK’s only Physiologist Alex Stevenson the experience. human centrifuge at QinetiQ in harnesses me in and it’s a tight There is a loud metallic rumble. Farnborough. The machine is a fit. There are windows at the sides The gantry starts spinning and horizontal metal gantry, pivoted in but not ahead, only small cameras picks up speed surprisingly quickly. the centre, housed in a large circular for monitoring test subjects, such Within seconds the gondola rotates room. At one end is a capsule, or as physiology students and jet by 90˚ and I am Luke Skywalker in gondola, resembling a small cable car. pilots who use the facility for the cockpit of an X-Wing fighter. By being strapped into a chair training and testing. There is pressure on my cheeks, as inside the gondola, and spun around The centrifuge “The major threat we have for if my face is stretching. Then my at controlled speeds, my body can at farnborough fast jet pilots is something called ears pop and my stomach lurches experience increasing amounts of is used to test G-LOC, which is G-induced loss of as if I’ve gone over the summit of jet pilots and G-forces for periods of 15 seconds at teach physiology consciousness,” says Scott. “When a rollercoaster. A successful and a time. On Earth, one G is the force students they perform loop the loops and enjoyable first spin. of the Earth’s gravity. At 2.6G my body would feel more than double its weight. If I could walk on the surface of the largest planet in our solar system, this would be what it felt like. “At 2G you will experience some of the first physiological symptoms,” explains Dr Jon Scott, a senior scientist from QinetiQ’s Human Sciences Group. “As you get heavier your muscles get heavier, your bones get heavier and your blood also gets heavier. Heavier blood has a much harder job getting into your brain and your heart has to work harder to overcome this new weight. So the first thing that will happen is that less blood will start to travel into your brain and you will experience a strange change in your vision as the blood supply to

ShUtteRStOCK/OLeKSANDR KORetSKYI ShUtteRStOCK/OLeKSANDR your eyes starts to slow down.”

24 / the BIOLOGISt / Vol 61 No 1 Vol 61 No 1 / the BIOLOGISt / 25 eXPeRIeNCe CeNtRIFUGe At FARNBOROUGh

30G. “In 1955 we were at the dawn we do here that centrifuges and centrifuges were of the space age. But we were also G-forces can be quite stressful,” used to train russian trying to understand just how hard we admits Scott. “They’re not cosmonauts, as commemorated by could push our fast jet pilots. There necessarily for everybody. So the this 1981 stamp may have been some thought of space challenge for the industry is to try at the time because it’s difficult to and identify who can and can’t fly, conceive that people thought fighter and come up with a set of standards pilots would be pulling 30G in the that will allow the industry to future. Certainly some of the initial flourish but simultaneously protect space rockets, the Saturn Vs, used to people who will be passengers.” generate huge amounts of G because Potential space passengers could of the thrust involved.” then get a genuine experience of a The experience has given me spaceflight G-force profile before a newfound respect for both leaving the planet and spending astronauts and pilots. “It’s also hundreds of thousands of pounds crop sprayers,” adds Brown, “where on a ticket. they’re pulling up to 5, 6, 7G.” “As big and scary as a centrifuge Military and aerobatic pilots can looks, it’s a very calm and controlled even train their bodies to withstand way to experience G-forces,” says higher G-forces by tensing Scott. “It is totally unique. It’s a their muscles and training their unique piece of machinery and a breathing. With the current rise in unique branch of physiology which the commercial spaceflight industry, the average physiology or sports a centrifuge can also give potential nasa ames’ science student will not learn 5 degrees of astronauts a taste of what it is like freedom motion anything about in their degree.” before going into space. simulator became For this would-be astronaut, it is “We know from the work that operational in 1961 also the ride of a lifetime.

The farnborough centrifuge, completed in 1955, is the only one in the Uk

I readily agree to go up to 3G as in seeing what the human body “All we did with astronauts was Scott had mentioned that 2.6G is could tolerate and scientists reorientate them within the launch like being on Jupiter. It is the chance quickly discovered that people vehicles,” says Scott. “So for launch of a lifetime and I am not about to could not experience 5 or 6G for and re-entry, yes, they do experience turn it down: “Take me to Jupiter.” minutes on end, as they would lose significant G-forces, but the G is now This time Brown asks me to consciousness. acting in a different direction with touch my nose mid-spin and it is “One thing we learnt from respect to their body so they can as if there is an invisible weight on centrifuges was that if you tolerate them. It’s not pleasant but my arms. I manage to touch my reorientate the person with you stay conscious and they stay safe.” nose but not without considerable respect to the G direction,” Afterwards, on the way to the effort. Afterwards I am slightly light says Scott, “people can control room, I receive feedback. headed, as if I’d stood up too quickly. tolerate a lot more G.” “You adapted very well, and were It is still thrilling. In a fast jet, G-forces are comfortable enough to give a “Would you like to up it to 3.4G?” experienced through the running commentary,” says Brown, Absolutely. This time is definitely pilot’s head into their feet. But “so I’d have earmarked you for up to not as pleasant. My hands are too by reorientating a person so that a maximum for untrained volunteers, heavy to lift from my lap. The skin G-forces go through their chest and up to 5G. A star.” I am delighted. on my face is being pulled harder. out through their back, using a 90˚ The control room is unexpectedly “We now know what you’re going to rotation, the blood is not forced into My hands kitsch. QinetiQ also runs a centrifuge look like in 15 years,” laughs Brown. their feet and the blood supply to the are too in Sweden, one of the most modern Between 3 and 4G is when most brain continues. As a result pilots heavy to lift in the world. But the Farnborough people start to experience some can tolerate 10-15G without fainting. from my lap. centrifuge, completed in 1955, is pure of the profound symptoms of Yet it can still prove fatal. In Flash Gordon, with vintage dials, increased acceleration. In jets these 2011 a Red Arrows pilot died while The skin on buttons and a manual G-force lever. G-forces would be generated for a performing aerobatics following a my face is In the 1950s Britain had – as now – few seconds. In rockets, they are manoeuvre involving up to 6.3G. The being pulled a flourishing space programme. Scott generated for minutes. effects of the G-forces were believed points out a G meter in an adjoining

Centrifuges were instrumental to be a factor in the accident. room that goes up to a breathtaking NASA

26 / the BIOLOGISt / Vol 61 No 1 Do yoU haVe an oPinion on This arTicle? CONtACt US At [email protected] Vol 61 No 1 / the BIOLOGISt / 27 INteRVIeW PROFeSSOR DAMe LINDA PARtRIDGe lIFE GOES ON Professor Dame linda Partridge, an expert in ageing, talks to Tom Ireland about genetics, immortality and staying healthier for longer

inda Partridge is a British or anything, and there was some geneticist who studies the equipment. But there were no l biology and genetics of ageing. technicians and if we were to Her research looks at how healthy maintain the biology materials in lifespans can be extended in model the time between when teachers organisms and the pharmacological came in to teach us those things, we treatments that could keep us in had to do it ourselves. good health for longer as we age. From helping to equip the lab in her You discovered that there are convent school, to discovering genes universal genes found across that influence ageing, Partridge’s different species which, when long and successful contribution manipulated, can lead to increased to science led to her being made a lifespan. What do these genes Dame Commander (DBE) in 2009. normally do? She is director of UCL’s Institute These genes produce the proteins of Healthy Ageing and founding that make a signalling network, director of the Max Planck Institute which senses the nutrient intake for Biology of Ageing. of the organism and some of the stresses that it experiences. how did you come to work on The network tunes expression lifespan and ageing? of genes so that costly processes I was always interested in life such as growth, reproduction histories – the costs of reproduction and metabolism are matched to and how that can shorten life. As nutritional status. If the organism is an evolutionary biologist, I was short of nutrients or starving, then it fascinated by those trade-offs. can go into a stress-resistant mode, But what really led me to drop where costly activities are reduced. everything and focus on ageing My work owes much to a mechanisms was the discovery of systematic search by a very clever genes that could drastically alter the scientist called Michael Klass. He lifespan of organisms. It struck me was the first person to discover that as such a surprising result: that you mutation of certain genes could could make one lesion in a gene and extend lifespan and slow ageing, extend the life of an organism. That working with nematode worms. In seemed to be a large flag waving in those days people were performing the wind to me. mutagenesis on worms (modifying their DNA), looking at how to how well did your convent school change all kinds of traits – and Klass prepare you for a career in science? was looking specifically at how you The set-up was very well meaning could extend lifespan. His paper was

the ROYAL SOCIetY ROYAL the – there was no hostility to science published in the 1980s but it was not

28 / the BIOLOGISt / Vol 61 No 1 Vol 61 No 1 / the BIOLOGISt / 29 INteRVIeW PROFeSSOR DAMe LINDA PARtRIDGe

Using nematode worms, scientist michael klass discovered that mutating certain genes could extend lifespan

until 1996 that the exact identity of to a certain level of restriction. You BIOGRAPhY the genes was discovered. don’t want to starve your animals. Eating less probably inhibits Are these genes present in humans the same signalling networks that too? What prevents us from were discovered in the mutagenesis increasing the lifespan of humans? experiments. When short of Well, you can’t mutate humans. The food, the animals go into stress- work being done on humans is not response mode and increase the experimental but correlational – there activity of processes responsible for are studies of people in advanced quality control in cells and tissues. Professor Dame age, especially where it appears to Essentially, the organism goes into linda Partridge Dbe is currently the be familial, with lots of siblings living ‘looking after the body mode’ not weldon professor into their 80s and 90s and beyond. ‘making babies mode’. of biometry at the They are compared to a control group department of to look at whether humans have the What are the side effects of such genetics, evolution same genetic biomarkers of ageing. a diet? and environment of University college A lot of the work is very promising There are surprisingly few in animal london, director of and suggests we do. studies. Wound healing is slower Ucl’s institute of and subjects are more vulnerable to healthy ageing, Drastically reducing the amount of certain viral infections. There are and founding food an animal has available can people who do dietary restriction director of the max that has this effect without any of healthy right up until they die in their Professor ageing is a subject they wanted to say – what would you do with also restrict ageing. What is the – strangely it’s almost all men – Planck institute for the downsides and without people sleep. Lifespan has been increasing Partridge is look into. I got a call about six years that discovery? biology of ageing. theory behind that effect? and were they to suffer from a car actually having to restrict their diet for 2.5 years per decade since the working on ways to ago from Munich and it has been Whatever our views about it Dietary restriction is one of the accident or trauma, they would in that way, which realistically is off 1900s and that is set to continue. keep us healthier really interesting setting it up from ethically, it is something some for longer oldest models, dating back to the probably be less able to cope limits to most people. Ageing is a risk factor in many of scratch. I’m one of several founding people would pay a huge amount 1930s. It is no small effect, either. with that. And, when they do get the long-term chronic illnesses directors. It’s quite basic science of money for if it was discovered In mice you can extend lifespan something like the flu, they have to Do you consider it part of your that we are seeing more of, such as at the moment. The aim is to use so I don’t think – even if we wanted by about 50%. In experiments, eat up to shift it, so it is not without role to look at the social and Alzheimer’s and heart disease. animal and cell studies to better to – we’d be able to keep that quiet generally, the composition of diet its downsides. socio-economic consequences of understand the ageing process and or control it. I suppose I just don’t is exactly the same, but the control your research? What does your role as a director develop interventions to keep us think it’s that realistic. In mammals group has unrestricted access So you’re working on drugs that We are well aware of the of the Max Planck Institute for healthier for longer. life seems to be limited to around to food and the other group is could reproduce the effect without demographics and economics of Biology of Ageing involve? 200 years at the very most, and so restricted – up to 40% of what people having to follow a joyless ageing but we are not trying to make It is a new institute, part of many If one of the institutes you direct perhaps that might be the upper they’d normally eat. You get a dietary regime? people live longer. We want people Max Planck research institutes found a way to stop ageing limit … evolution has had a long time dose-response relationship, down The idea is that we develop a pill to be healthier for longer, ideally across Germany. They decided altogether – an immortality pill, to work on it.

30 / the BIOLOGISt / Vol 61 No 1 Do yoU haVe an oPinion on This arTicle? CONtACt US At [email protected] Vol 61 No 1 / the BIOLOGISt / 31 SPOTlIGhT ON epigenetics

AT A GlANCE reprogramme social behaviours by Babraham. Epigenetics is really quite INTERVIEW changing the epigenome. a large industry now, and it’s been fantastic to see the subject grow. What does epigenetically What are some of the aims of ‘reprogramming’ cells involve? this work? What does the future hold for We work mostly with lab mice and Our work has led to a better way epigenetics? all the cell types you can derive from of making stem cells, and there There are very many big questions them – like stem cells, liver cells etc. are already epigenetic drugs that out there – quite basic biochemical But the process actually happens remodel the entire epigenome in ones, but also ones surrounding all in vivo, which is how we first came cancer patients. I think in future we the most common human diseases – Name upon it. In normal development, will have a more refined approach diabetes, cancer, heart disease. How Wolf Reik say in germ cells or embryogenesis, where we can manipulate specific much is explained by genetics and Profession there is an enormous removal of parts of the genome epigenetically the environment, and how does the head of the epigenetic information in many at will, when you see something has epigenetic dark matter contribute in epigenetics areas of the genome. In adults, gone wrong with it. these diseases? programme at different cells have a different the Babraham epigenome which, for example, how did you get into this research? Is epigenetics ultimately about Institute in makes liver cells act like liver cells I’m a medical doctor, trained in answering the ‘nature vs. nurture’ Cambridge and brain cells act like brain cells. Germany. I did a PhD with one of the debate? Interests When you form an embryo you need pioneers in this area, Rudolf Jaenisch. That’s exactly how you can look ‘epigenetic to ‘wipe the slate clean’, meaning the I became fascinated by thinking about at it, as an integrator between the reprogramming’, cells afterwards have the potential to cell differentiation in an epigenetic genome and the environment. It’s a where epigenetic The epigenome, Epigenetics is the study of any variation on a genome-wide scale, grow into any cell type needed. way, before the field was even called good mental picture to use but it’s instructions operating above changes in gene activity not caused while smaller laboratories use this data epigenetics. I came to Cambridge important to know how much there the level of the are removed by changes in the DNA sequence. to answer more specific questions What about the evidence that some and established my own lab, then is in that mental picture we don’t genome, can from a cell to about the mechanisms of disease. epigenetic information is passed on started the epigenetics programme at know yet. change how Dna revert it to an is expressed Why is it important? There is a high demand for biologists to the next generation? undifferentiated, epigenetics explains almost any with computational, bioinformatical Large scale reprogramming or stem, cell. change in DNA function that is not or mathematical expertise to help happens and most epigenetic cancers – such as caused by a mutation. The ‘epigenome’ process the vast amounts of data information is lost in the next this bladder at its simplest is the cellular machinery produced by epigenetic research. generation, but it is possible that tumour – are being studied that switches on or off certain genes, Medical doctors are increasingly a small part of it survives. An epigenetically allowing stem cells to differentiate into moving into epigenetics research fields interesting recent example is the all the cell types required to make a related to their disease speciality. study of mice and smell (Dias, human being. B.G, Nature Neuroscience, 2013) Adding methyl groups to DNA (DNA Where can I get more information? where something that happened methylation) or modifying histones ■ The epigenetics Society (es. in the previous generation appears (the proteins that package DNA) are landesbioscience.com) is an to have been passed on through ways of changing how genes are international scientific organisation inherited epigenetic information. expressed without changing the open to all those interested in the field. It is controversial, but an underlying DNA sequence. Although The eU-wide network epiGeneSys.eu interesting possibility. exquisitely complex, with one provides epigenetics news, research epigenetic change often causing a and events for scientists and What other research does the lab do? cascade of further epigenetic changes, interested members of the public. A lot of people are starting to look researchers can now remodel the ■ The human epigenome Project at caste division in insects – at how epigenome of organisms using these aims to map all the epigenetic variation the difference between workers techniques and study the effects. What careers are available? found on the entire human genome and and queens, who may be genetically DNA was once thought to be Its huge potential as a medical its website (epigenome.org) contains identical, can be explained by an inflexible code that set out our treatment means that most epigenetics most of the data and publications from epigenetic differences. We are phenotype from birth, but it is now work is focused on biomedical research. the project so far, as well as details of particularly interested in a form known that the epigenome, operating Cancer epigenetics is probably the contributing organisations. What does of wasp that is ‘primitively social’ above the level of the genome, the largest field, with hundreds ■ Johns hopkins University (www.jhu. all this ‘dark – that is, the caste is not fixed, is can change how DNA is expressed of institutes worldwide looking to edu) is a world leader in epigenetics matter’ in determined quite late, and you throughout our lives, depending identify biomarkers of the disease and research, topping the list of citations the genome can’t distinguish the queen from on all sorts of factors, such as our epigenetic drugs to treat it. for institutions in the field. In the UK, the the workers just by looking at environment. As a result, epigenetics huge sequencing programmes, such , Institute of Cancer do in these them. A new queen can emerge is of huge relevance to the study as the National Institutes of health’s Research and Wellcome trust Sanger diseases? from the workers if you remove the of both development and disease, 10 year Roadmap epigenomics Project Institute join the many universities queen. If castes are epigenetically especially cancer. in the USA, are surveying epigenetic actively researching in this area. determined, maybe you can

32 / the BIOLOGISt / Vol 61 No 1 Vol 61 No 1 / the BIOLOGISt / 33 pitifully slow, at 0.07 miles per second, but are later said to “race along” at Advanced 250mph (which is the same speed). Chemistry Ashcroft speaks of dangerous (2nd Edition) Reviews electrical shocks being variously “Another of rated at 30,000 volts, 500 volts, 350 its notable volts, down to an electric ray at 50 and topical volts. Although she nicely describes examples is arrhythmia, heart attacks and the use of cardiac arrest, she does not mention polypropene Sex, Drugs and cardiac failure. Worse, she to make Sea Slime: The commends a description of the brain Australian Oceans’ Oddest as electrified clay. The pictures aren’t banknotes” Creatures and too good, either. There is a neuron Why They Matter without its axon hillock, muscle fibres Ellen Prager lacking striations and a wrongly University of chicago portrayed aorta. Press, £10.50 The author’s theme is that the Many people may buy this book on electrical charges of ion channels impulse having just read the title. It is hold the secret to life. This is like indeed a treasure trove of facts, arguing that carburettors are the key relating to the awe-inspiring but less to supermarket shopping. Cells are familiar monsters and creatures of far more complex and diverting than the deep. The prevalence of the use of you’d suspect from this account. mucous, the intriguing variety of On the jacket is a claim by Bill reproduction mechanisms and The green Bryson that this is a wonderful book. fluorescent protein inspiring use of chemical defences found in the crystal This is the same Mr Bryson who make this an entertaining read. jellyfish (Aequorea stated that Leeuwenhoek’s brass The book provides a rich victoria) has inspired microscopes were made of wood. He description of some fascinating drug development, was wrong then, and he’s wrong now. varieties of underwater life and as discussed in Sex, Drugs and Sea Slime brian J ford how they are essential within DWIGht SMIth/ShUtteRStOCK DWIGht ecosystems, as well as the range of Advanced anthropocentric values and uses that Oxytocin, graduates with a wide-ranging review Chemistry are attached to them. Vasopressin of the background material needed to (2nd Edition) Some surprising marine organisms and Related understand the functions of oxytocin Michael Clugston & NIKKYtOK/ShUtteRStOCK are the inspiration for drug Peptides in the and related peptides. The clearly Rosalind Flemming development and sources of Regulation of written and well-referenced chapters University medicinally beneficial chemicals. Behaviour deal with molecular mechanisms, Press, £45.00 SEEING ThE lIGhT These include, among others, Elena Choleris, phylogenetic considerations and A broad and simple antimicrobials from hagfish and Donald W Pfaff clinical applications, as well as effects summary, of the breadth of chemistry The Optics of life – A Biologist’s to physicists interested in the the green fluorescent protein in and Martin Kavaliers (Ed) on human behaviour, and the final covered up to GCSE level, reminds Guide to light in Nature countless roles played by light in the Aequorea victoria. cambridge University Press, £70.00 chapter suggests potential lines of students of what they learned before Sönke Johnsen natural world. The importance of seafood in our In 2005 Nature published a paper future research. A well-organised and starting their A level course. Princeton University Press, £30.95 Following introductory chapters on diets is well known, yet the variety that was scarcely believable. The presented book on a splendidly Newland’s octaves and Mendeleev’s It is rare for a book to begin with the light’s basic properties and the units consumed by different cultures may paper reported on experiments using interesting subject. periodic law are recapped and the author admitting to not being sure and geometry of its measurement, raise an eyebrow – such as the slimy a trust game in which two people malcolm Dando cbiol fsb book progresses to atoms, with an why he wrote it. But that is how Sönke Johnsen surveys topics such as hagfish eaten in parts of Asia, or were involved in money transfers. introduction to scanning tunnelling Johnsen, associate professor of absorption, scattering, fluorescence seahorses consumed in China. One Each person was given a certain The Spark of microscopes featuring images of biology at Duke University, opens his and polarisation. One commentator chapter warns of the dangers of amount of money and the first one life: Electricity platinum and nickel surfaces. splendid portrayal of the importance said that the book would have saved overexploitation within the last was asked to send some of it to the in the Each chapter starts from the of optics in vision, ecology, botany, him “a lot of pain” if it had been remaining “commons” and highlights second. The experimenters then human Body basics to help build on a student’s animal behaviour, neurobiology and available when he began his career the possible consequences. tripled this transferred amount for Frances Ashcroft earlier learning. Calculations are molecular biology. It’s also unusual in photoecology. The colour photographs illustrate the second player, who could then allen lane, £20.00 illustrated with everyday examples for a scientist, compiling a detailed I recommend Johnsen’s account of the beautiful magnificence of only choose to send some of it back to the There are and applications of this knowledge. and comprehensive yet highly light in nature to one group of readers a small number of these creatures. first player. A surprising finding was some startling Chapters finish with practical exam accessible monograph, to assert that, in particular: those about to embark The omission of an index is one that a dose of oxytocin given revelations questions and diagrams of subject The Optics while not “conventionally religious”, on a textbook of their own. From the minor criticism and although Prager intranasally more than doubled the scattered throughout this readable matter covered, such as the chemistry of Life he is often “overcome by this world” first sentence (“Of all the remarkable does state that it is not an academic number of people who sent all their but muddled book. The fact that the of an airbag in a car. Other examples “Up to date, in and wishes to share his amazement at substances of our experience – rain, text, there is a substantial money to the second, who were under founder of the Methodist movement, of objects and everyday applications an enticing “what is all around us”. leaves, baby toes – light is perhaps the bibliography. Sex, Drugs and Sea no obligation to send any of it back. John Wesley, was a devoted exponent include the percentage of recycled style, and While commendably up to date, most miraculous”), this is a model of Slime would be an ideal gift for Here we see a remarkable of electrical therapy is a story well steel used in the construction of the pruned of all The Optics of Life is also composed in how to infuse high-level scientific anyone considering or starting a demonstration of the impact of a told, as is the existence of 6cm ArcelorMittal Orbit in Stratford for unnecessary an enticing style, pruned of all information with colour, humanity course in marine biology, but be simple chemical on a complex human sperm in Drosophila. Yet elsewhere the London Olympics in 2012. jargon” unnecessary jargon. It will speak not and even humour. careful how you phrase that! behaviour. The book provides upper- the book is confused. Another notable and topical example only to biological scientists, but also Dr bernard Dixon obe alex waller cbiol msb level undergraduates and beginning Nerve impulses are introduced as is the use of polypropene to make

34 / the BIOLOGISt / Vol 61 No 1 Vol 61 No 1 / the BIOLOGISt / 35 ReVIeWS

Australian banknotes. I particularly accuracy of How Your Body Works is no unnecessary rambling or hype, liked the example of vanadium – the biology is indeed crude and its just relevant, easily absorbed and chemistry (with suitable metaphors can be slightly dubious. interesting text. There are good- photographs) to explain oxidation Yet to teach very young children the quality black and white and coloured states. The book finishes with a basics about their body and show photographs dotted throughout the number of chapters on biochemistry them how interesting physiology can book, supplementing as well as including carbohydrates, proteins be, I’ve not seen anything like it. illustrating the text. and nucleic acids, making this a useful Nearly 20 years after I put the original For a meagre £6.99 the reader gets introductory textbook for students in my loft, and having studied biology a well-written, informative book on a wanting to learn basic biochemistry. at university, I still think of my brain subject that ought to be close to all Dr amanda hardy amsb as a little call centre with people our hearts. barking orders down the phone to my Dr stephen r hoskins cbiol fsb how Your Body arms and legs. Works Tom ireland msb Birds and habitat: Judy hindley, Relationships in illustrated by Ancient Changing Colin King Woodland: landscapes Usborne Publishing, history, Industry Robert J Fuller (Ed) £7.99 and Crafts cambridge To celebrate 40 Ian D Rotherham University Press, years of children’s publishing, shire Publications, £40.00 Usborne is releasing 40 of its most £6.99 Habitat loss and deterioration are loved books, including this colourful This is a timely widely acknowledged to be the most and amusing introduction to biology publication in respect of the recent important causes of species decline that is remembered fondly by survey of the number of remaining worldwide, and yet the relationship many adults. ancient trees and woodlands in the between species and their habitats is The book explains how various UK. Rotherham combines the often very poorly understood. This body parts work by illustrating them knowledge and training of an has important consequences when we as whacky manmade inventions, with ecologist and landscape historian, try to predict how species will respond Colin King’s familiar little cartoon presenting both the biological to changing landscapes or climates, or people operating the madcap importance of ancient trees when we attempt to interpret changes machinery. The circulatory system, themselves plus their role in we have observed, such as the Ancient for example, is a network of canals biodiversity and shaping the British widespread decline in farmland birds. Woodland: full of men in boats exchanging gas Isles over time. He writes with a deep Birds and their habitats have History, tanks, while the lungs are a huge pair reverence for ancient trees and probably received more than their Industry of spongy bellows with people clearly appreciates the role they have fair share of research, and Robert working various pulleys to inhale and played, and continue to play, in the Fuller has spent three decades and Crafts exhale. Simple diagrams and landscape and social evolution of the studying this in Britain and Europe. “A well- experiments allow readers to find out peoples of these isles. In Birds and Habitat he draws on written book things about their body with little to His discourse covers the definition much of this experience – plus that of on a subject no equipment – “rub your thumb up of ancient wood; an understanding of more than 30 contributors – to that ought to the blue line on your wrist to watch the terms; the number and diversity explore the complexities of bird be close to all your blood move” is a good example. of crafts that arose because of the habitat selection and use, mainly in our hearts” Critics will inevitably dismiss the woodlands; archaeology and ecology temperate, cultural landscapes. educational value and scientific of woodlands; and their future. There The three parts of the book cover theoretical concepts relating to patterns and processes, case studies of habitat relationships, and wider perspectives, including studies in Australia and Canada. Among the key concepts addressed is the conundrum of what is good habitat. How can we identify it, or for that matter, how do the birds? The answer varies with species, time (breeding and non- breeding, for example), and spatially (in different parts of a species range or at different stages of a migration). This is a thorough and detailed review which will clearly interest ornithologists and conservation practitioners but many of the early chapters are of value beyond the world of birds and would interest ecologists generally.

Dr ian Powell hANOChI/ShUtteRStOCK eLLA

36 / the BIOLOGISt / Vol 61 No 1 Members

member Profiles make a living from watching animals behave! I studied biology (ethology) at Wageningen Agricultural University in Holland and did a PhD on improving the welfare of laboratory mice. In 2000, I came to the UK to work on improving the welfare of pigs. For over 20 years I have been active in applied animal welfare research that is of direct relevance to policy makers.

I am the co-owneg of a geseagch and consultancy business called Cerebrus Associates. My role is to advise on animal welfare research, information transfer and conduct policy evaluation.

Biology is at the heagt of so many things – how we treat our animals, what we eat and how we make sure we do not destroy the planet. My husband works for the Society supporting degree accreditation; he liaises with employers about the benefits of the programme.

A couple of yeags ago I wogked on the evaluation of the EU’s policy on animal welfage, which informed the new EU Animal Welfare Strategy. I am immensely proud that our findings and recommendations have influenced it.

I am a lifelong leagneg. I went Best behaviour My eureka back to university in 2007 to train moment as a pet behaviour counsellor. My eugeka moment came when came when I was astounded about how little heleen my pgofessog impegsonated a my professor we know about pet behaviour and chicken and talked about the impersonated welfare in comparison to farm van de importance of understanding a chicken animals. I also volunteer at a animal behaviour. I could not wildlife hospital, where I can put Weerd FSB believe my luck: you could actually my love for animals into practice.

Chief executive Dr Mark Downs is 6 March 15 May to hold informal sandwich lunches fellows’ lunch, london society of biology agm with groups of 40-50 members, 12:30-14:00 11:30 Social or 10-15 Fellows. Charles Darwin house Charles Darwin house Places are available on a first- 1 May 20 May come, first-served basis. to book, members’ lunch, london fellow’s lunch, Notices call 020 7685 2564 or email 12:30-14:00 12:30-14:00 [email protected] Charles Darwin house Venue tBC

Vol 61 No 1 / the BIOLOGISt / 37 MeMBeR PROFILeS

JanUary 2014 elecTion With my own geseagch ggoup, I laggely focus on how limbs New, Transfer & Chartered Members develop from small buds into Dr Graham functional extremities. By Affiliate Jessica hall, Thomas halsted, honar hama-Ali, Reddish, Amy Redhead, Louise Relph, Rebecca Danen Appasamy, Nicholas Armstrong, combining molecular and cellular Williams Virginia Abavana, Golboo Abbasian Amin, Jonathan hamp, Jordan handley, Grace handy, Revell, Italo Ribeiro Da Costa, Katie Richards, Sam Ballantyne, helen Belfeild, Clare Bird, Najah Abdigani, Sadia Abdullah, Nadhirah Oliver handy, Maxine hanson-Nortey, Jack Lee Richardson, Stuart Richardson, eszter Chelsea Brain, Robert Brand, James Brown, approaches with mouse Abdullah Mustafa, Jonathon Ackroyd, Lauren harney, Jodie harris, Zoe harris, Laura hart, Rimoczi, Danielle Ritchie, Daniel Roberts, elizabeth Bryce, Caroline Buchanan, Anwen developmental genetics, we have CBiol MSB Adams, Fatima Adan, Sarah Adefule, taiwo Francesca hartley, Lawrence hatfield, Ben Meryon Roderick, Sophie Rogers, Danielle Bullen, Rosalyn Chandler, Caroline Collins, fascinating insights into the self- Ademola, Shekinah Adoasi, Roqia Agha, hattrell, Katherine hawkins, hazal hazar, Rogerson, Jennifer Roseblade, Zoe Ross, Stephen Cooper, Philip Copestake, Michael Amandeep Ahuja, Mosufa Ajmal, Vinayak Callum hedley, Vicki heeley, tajay henry, Mary Minesh Roy, Nicholas Rubio, Lauren Ruddock, Cowley, Clive DaCosta, Paul Dauny, hewan regulatory nature of the feedback I am a seniog Alagh, hajer Albaghdady, Malang Aleer, Carl hesketh, Grace highwood, Clive hill, Jake hill, Matt Rumble, Beth Rutterford, Paul Ryan, Iram Degu, Raffaella Di Summa, Nicky Dodsworth, systems that control development. lectugeg in Alexander, huda Alfardus, Abdirizak Ali, Amy Kimberley hillman, Siobhan hillman, Rebecca Saddique, tahir Saeed, Christian Sahakian, Christopher Durrant, temitayo Fakeye, Allen, Joe Allen, hasnat Amin, Fabiha Anjum, hock, Matthew holland, elliot hope, Chanka Adheesha Samarauvickma Rachel Gibbs, Marcus Gould, elisabeth Green, fogensic Daniel Annal, Michael Anthony, Lauren Anzani, Mohammed hoque, Samantha horton, Ranatunga, Megan Sambrook, Filly-May Sheena haddow, Zuhair haggar, Jennifer To ggasp the undeglying science at the Rebecca Armstrong, emily Ascroft, Munizeh Josephine howard, Sophie howard, Thomas Sams, Csaba Sãrosi, Natalie Sartori, Ali Sarvari, hare, Lara harrup, Attia hasnain, Niamh Asmat, Navin Asokumar, elizabeth Aspinall, howells, Simon hoyte, Sandra hughes-Crean, Anna Scapens, Kelly-Jo Scott, Marjorie Sebina, healy, Natasha hill, Amy holt, David hope, complexity we now combine University of Benjamin Atherton, Lydia Atkinson, Muhammad hussain, Laura hutchinson, Ladan Thomas Shallcross, Safiullah Sharifi, Lucy Belinda hornby, Julia hughes, Manisha Jalan, experimental approaches with data- Huddersfield. Jean-Nicolas Audet, Zoe Awadallah, Zaenab Ibrahim, April Ignacio, Maria Inman, Gemma Sherratt, Amy Sherwin, Rosie Shrimplin, Neil James, George Johnson, hilal Khalil, Jon based mathematical simulations – an I carry out Aziz, Roxanne Ba, Asal Babalou, emily Innes, Symone Irinoye, Stephen Ives, Mitchell Marshall Sibley, Kemo Sidibeh, Sophie Kudlick, Conor Larkin, Paul Laurance-Young, Babbage, Jack Baddams, Iain Ballantine, Jackson, Pamela Jackson, Sarita Jadavji, Muriel Simmonds, Cassie Sims, Avinesh Singh, emma Lees, Richard Leighton, Laura Lim, exciting emerging field. research into Penny Banham, emma Banks, Reina Bannerji, Jager, hamzah Jalib, Jennifer James, Lauren Lasotha Sivagnanam, Siransika Sivasiri, Aurora Katie Lloyd, Martyn Lowe, Nessie Luambano, various aspects of forensic Imogen Barlow, tizane Barron, Omer Baskan, James, Anam Jasrai, Marjan Jeddi, Vicki Skar, hannah Skevington, Alana Skilbeck, Nafees Malik, Delphina Mamiro, Daniel Martin, Nicola Bassett, Lauren Bastianelli, heather Jefferson, Laura Jeffreys, Sara Jelassi, Ava James Skinner, Thomas Smallwood, Ben holly Matthews, Alexander McAuley, Jalal As my geseagch wogks with mice, genetics, including analysis of Bate, Adam Bates, eunice Bediako, Shajida Jenkins, Imogen Jenkins, Anushka Jeyarajah, Smith, Beth Smith, Catherine Smith, Charlotte Miah, Alistair Moore, heather Moore, Michael I gealised long ago that open messenger RNA, microRNA and Begum, Shahida Begum-Islam, Alexander Geerthana Jeyathas, Fabien Johnson, Mark Smith, Isaac Smith, Karl Smith, Lona Smith, Morgan, Christopher Morris, Mark Mossop, Bennett, Jerusalem Berihun, Robert Berkeley, Johnson, Sarah Johnston, Carl Jones, Cassie Nikki Smith, Lydia Snow, Amrick Soar, Michael Pauline Mounjouenpou, Neil Murray, Sarah communication is crucial to make DNA mixtures. I am also a Jordan Bestwick, Simran Bhogal, Anjna Jones, Christopher Jones, hannah Jones, Jack Soley, Isabelle Spall, Antonios Spanos, tom Newstead, Beth O’Connell, Kathrin O’hagan, Rolf Zeller FSB Bhudia, Michael Biddle, Thomas Bierton, Adam Jones, Jordan Jones, Rachael Jones, Jamie people aware of the importance of forensic practitioner, conducting Speight, Callum Spencer, Francesca Spencer, Przemyslaw Ociepa, Sarah Odoi, ehigbai As a boy, I was fascinated to see animal and basic research for forensic case work for defence Bilton, Joshua Birchall, Cameron Blair, Jordon, Yusuf Kabir, Aliki Kadi, Ammar Kahla, Xenia Spencer-Milnes, Victoria Sprigg, Oikeh, Wing-hang Pang, Iraklis Papageorgiou, Alexander Bones, Zach Booth, Kathryn Sabiha Karim, Jasmeen Kaur, Anwar Kazim, Chrysovalantis Spyrou, Daniel Squair, Salil elizabeth Parfitt, Sujata Patel, Maria Penas tadpoles develop into little fgogs in medical progress. I do this as part of lawyers, and editor-in-chief of a Borrowdale, Ruth Bower, hannah Boyes, Ali Amy Keelty, Megan Kenny, Sidra Khalid, Srivastava, Abigail Steeples, Monja Stein, Liam Redondo, Franck Péron, James Poulter, ponds. How an egg develops into a the Basel Declaration Society, which new crime scene science journal Bozkina, Alexandra Bradford, Alice Breddy, Ayesha Khan, Faheem Khan, henna Khan, Stephens, Dominic Stephenson, Nicola Graham Purdie, Caroline Richardson, Leigh Joanne Brehaut, hollie Brissenden, Katie Shakil Khan, Matthew Kirby, George Kirke, Stephenson, Janey Stewart, Frances Storey, Rickelton, Alan Roscoe, Johar Roy, Jesvin fully functional and independent is an international grass roots called CS Eye. Bristow, Aaron Brown, Amy Brown, Georgie Jacob Kirwan, Lucy Knowles, Kevin Kombi, Saqlain Suleman, Sami Sultan, Vishal Suri, Samuel, Abdul Seckam, Camilla Sewhdat, organism has kept me fascinated organisation. Researchers commit Brown, Javan Brown, Jessica Brown, Rhiana Paulina Kowalewska, Juhi Kumar, Jessica Lake, eugene Sutton, holly Swan, Charlene Matthew Simmonte, James Sleigh, Julia ever since. My biology teacher to animal studies adhering to the My figst integest in biological Brown, Nicholas Bryan, Benjamin Buckley, Natalie Lamb, Roxanne Langford, Faye Swanborough, Shannon Swinchatt, Sharifah Smith, Stephanie Smith, Gareth Staton, Sarah Bunney, emmalina Burd, Alice Burnett, Latham, Megan Layton, Phuong-Thuy Le, Nur Syamim Syed Mohd Sobri, tiffany tam, Cameron Stewart, Ilona Stezowska, harley inspired me to study molecular best and ethically most responsible sciences came thgough a love Geraldine Burns, Lindsay Burr, Luke Burrows, Nicki Le Page, Aston Leaver, Abigail Lee, Owen Zoe tarren, Nechama tatz, Doug taylor, Stoddart, Sangeeta Suman, Martin taylor, biology in the 1970s and after approaches. of spogts, which led to a degree Alexandra Bushby, David Busse, Amy Byrne, Lee, Maanav Leekha, Anthony Lees, Daniella Rachel taylor, Rosie teasdale, tegan Thomas, Michelle taylor, Subathra Tharmaseelan, Christopher Bywater, Alan Calder, Ailsa Lefteri, Katrina Leslie, emma Lester, Robert Frederick tirrell, Alexander todd, Daniel Rachel Thurston, Cindy Underwood-Fowler, completing my PhD studying frog in physiology. I became Campbell, Aimee Camplin, Rebecca Carroll, Lever, Deborah Lewis, Rhiannon Lewis, Wincy tomlinson, Mayur toory, Louise topping, Aidan Vey, Nina Wambiji, Victoria Waters, development – what else – I spent I am convinced that such outgeach interested in the work of Rebecca Case, Kimberley Cathro, Viktorija Liu, Casey Lloyd, tomos Lloyd-Griffiths, hayley trestrail, Francesca trewartha, James Paul Weatherall, Andros Wishart, Christine Cernisova, Alexander Chadwick, Amandeep Costanza Lo Cascio, Stefanos Loizou, tribble, Zoe trieu, Christopher troth, Rebekah Woodcock, Claire Wordley, Ka Kei Wu, almost 20 years abroad as a activities help to incgease the tgust Stanley Prusiner, who carried Chahal, Ngai Shing Chan, Zoe Chapman, Katherine Lowther, Boniface Lubowa, Calum turner, Sarah tytherleigh, tanisha Unegbu, Yuxin Wu. researcher before returning to the in scientists. For this reason I joined out the first work related to Waiman Cheung, tasnia Chowdhury, MacDonald, Felicity Maclachlan, Agnieszka Yeliz Onay Uzuner , Glory Valantaine, University of Basel in 2003. the Society. prion disorders, and I explored Christodoulos Christodoulou, Chinelo Magierecka, Damian Magill, hanna Mahamed, Benjamin van Soldt, Anthony Varden, Alice Fellow (FSB) Chukwuka, Natalie Clamp, Richard Clare, elisabeth Mahase, Ruqaiya Maimoon, hadia Vickers, Melina Videnova, Kajanan Clementina Adenipekun, Paul Andrews, this with an MSc at King’s Jennifer Clark, Adam Clarke, emma Clayton, Malakbaba, hira Malik, Jessica Mallaby, Vigmeswaran, haneelam Virdee, Marc Walton, Chike Anibeze, Richard Apps, Raymond College London. I worked in Nissa Cleaver, Melissa Cleese, Martin Clemett, Akhilesh Manandhar, eva Mannah, Chanelle Ward, Morna Watt, emma Wayne, Ashton, Kyriacos Athanasiou, Maria Balda, Ashley Cochrane, Farisha Colbourne, Thomas tanyaradzwa Mantiziba, Sophie Marcelin- Anna Westland, Kelly White, Lousie White, Ian Bateman, Nicholas Bexfield, Mervyn environmental science at the neuroimmunology at Oxford Cole, Alice Colligan, Zoe Connor, George Cook, horne, Alice Marshall, Joshua Marshall, Ashley Rachel White, Stephanie White, Anya Bibb, Jackie Campbell, Kwok Chan, Michael Rhona Kivlehan AMSB University of Paisley. I spent a University and then became a Oliver Cook, Victoria Cook, Michael Cooke, Martin, Michael Martyn, Maya Master, Anu Wichmann, harriet Wiggett, Laura Wilkiinson, Clark, Richard Cook, Jack Coughlan, Kim Dale, couple of years working for a forensic biologist with the James Cooper, Roxanne Cottey, Lydia Mathew, Jack Maxfield, Conor McCarthy, Alice Wilkinson, Alasdair Willett, Catherine Philip Damiani, Julian Dye, John elvin, David Cranstone, Katya Curran, Rachel Curran, Amy Lindsay McConville, Christopher McCusker, Williams, Ceri Williams, Glenn Williams, hayley Garnett, John Gatehouse, Melvyn Goodale, charity supporting people who Forensic Science Service. Curtis, hannah Curtis, Winnie D’Alva, Catherine Rebecca-Jane Mcelroy, heather McFadyen, Williams, Liam Williams, Jason Williams- Sheila Graham, Joseph Gray, Mathew Griffiths, had an acquired brain injury. I Dabrowska, Martin Dainton-Smith, Solina Grant McKay, Alexander McKie, eleanor James, Jun Jie Wong, Zoe Wood, helen Michael hill, John hines, Gordon Jamieson, Dangleben, Wendy Daniels, Gordon Darby, McRae, Graeme McWhinnie, Jack Medley, Woolley, Anna Woolman, Zoe Worthington, Gareth Jenkins, Pamela Johnstone, Lucy then moved into a customer I have wogked on fogensic RNA Michelle Darby, Phylicia Dassardo-Joseph, Stephanie Menzies, Danniella Meyrick, Jade efua Yamson, Ziqing Yang, Yanani Yasotharan, Jones, Alistair Jump, Baljit Khakh, Gareth King, service role working for a global analysis fog six yeags. It is now Farheen Daudvohra, hannaneh Davatgar, Middlemiss, George Middleton, helen Nadia Youssef, Anabel Zelceski. Andrew Lamb, Susan Lanham-New, Andrew Jodie-anne Davies, Stevie Davies, Thomas Middleton, Jehanara Mirzai, Jacob Mitchell, Loudon, troy Margrie, Jan Martin, Brian biopharmaceutical company. capable of identifying body Davies, hannah Davis, Bryony Davison, Robby Mitchell, Yuria Miyabayashi, Ross Associate (AMSB) Merrell, Arno Muller, Victor Nsereko, Mary fluids at much lower quantities Jennifer Dawson, Gino De Guzman, Matthew Montgomerie, Simon Moore, Sinead Moore, Mohammed Ahmed, Mohanned Al-zahrani, Oliver, Peter Openshaw, John Overington, Reading about Louis Pasteug, and with more confidence so I Delaney, harry Dennish, Sofia Dente, Marisa Di Benjamin Morgan, Joseph Morgan, Jacob Irene Amadu, Jessica Andrews, Pravin Badhe, Meg Parkinson, Sarah Perfect, Jeremy Monaco, Stephanie Dibley, emma Dixon, Morley, Laura Morris, Joanna Moss, Mohamed Alex Baldwin, Debra Bellaries, emma Bissett, Pritchard, Richard Reece-Jones, Cedric and discoveging that personal am looking forward to seeing hannah Dixon, Abigail Docherty, Gulbahar Moumene, Sannah Mubashir, Ayeh Lily Brinn, James Britton, Georgia Brown, Richmond, Graham Scarr, Stephanie Schorge, tragedy motivated him to find this replace current tests in Donmez, Meghan Doyle, Katie Dripps, Muntadhar, Nada Najafi, Thomas Nash, Ann David Butler, Thane Campbell, Wai Yin Chan, Richard Stafford. Rebecca Dudley, Scott Dwyer, Bethany Naylor, helen Neal, Sarah Nesbitt, James New, Carly Chandler, Victoria Clark, Thomas Clay, cures for infectious diseases, case work. Dybacz, Rachel eastes, Ali ebrahim, Alice Chloe Newton, Courtney Nicholls, Carina Nicu, Robert Compton, Gwen Cowley, Rory Craig, Registered Scientist (RSci) has been inspiring to me. edwards, Matilda edwards, Sarah element, Jake Nightingale, Paul Norris, Vivek Noruthun, tony Dickson, Rachel Dolan, Daniel Duddy, Theodoros Laftsoglou AMSB, Craig Mackay Kate elliott, Christopher ellis, Andrea elser, Michael O’Connor, Abi O’Neill, Kimberley Josephine Duncombe-Moore, Stuart elsom, MSB, Mittal Shah MSB, Semerab tewolde Initially, I joined the Society emily elwell, hamila elyasi, Sandra emerum, O’Neill, Liam O’Reilly, hannah O’Sullivan, Laura Iseabail Farquhar, Graham Fisher, emma MSB, Nieky L.J.N. Van Veggel MSB, Shiraz I like to keep up to date with fog pgofessional gecognition Dawn evans, Lauren evans, Luke evans, Aine Oakley, Umusalem Odawa, taiwo Odeleye, Gaskell, tobias Giles, Florence Gower, Kyle Ziya AMSB. medical micgobiology. and to become a chartered Fairbrother-Browne, Stefan Fairburn, Monique Ohiaeri, Bisola Olotu, Said Omar, Grant, Rhys Grinter, Suzanne harris, Sophie Rebekah Fant, Shaunagh Faughnan, Maria Adetutu Omogbehin, Joo Phin Ooi, Daniella hart, Cath hodsman, Kathryn hubbard, Sami Registered Science Technician (RSciTech) Neuroscience is a personal biologist. But since joining I have Ferreira Ramos, Sophie Feuer, Claire Ord-hume, David Osborne, Graeme Overton, Idris, Alannah Jackson, Nevena Karapavlovic, Carly Chandler AMSB, Victoria Clark AMSB, interest having worked with found the articles and events Alexandra Fielding, Samuel Firminger, James Matthew Owen, Catherine Page, Manreen Anastasios Stylianos Karountzos, emma Gillian Devereux MSB, tony Dickson AMSB, Fisher, James Fitzsimmons, Lewis Pandhal, Sharon Panepinto, Laura Parker, Kelson, Steven Kirby, Carlos Martinez Perez, Steven Kirby AMSB, Martyn Lowe MSB, I am the healthcage specialist people affected by brain injuries. thoroughly interesting. Fitzsimmons, Shane Flynn, Alan Foster, Andrew Parnell, Narissa Parry, Devika Parti, Coralie Martlew, Philip McCorquodale, Alice Bernadette McIlwaine (Affiliate), Sangeeta fog a softwage company called timothy Foster, Jamie Fryer, Jordan Fulcher, Anish Patel, Chirag Patel, Jayna Patel, Shivani Mcennerney-Whittle, David Mentlak, Jiale Suman MSB, Gillian Ward AMSB. Gael Ltd. Its product, Q-Pulse, I joined the Society as it is cgucial I maintain an integest in the Chin Fung, Karina Furie, Jack Galloway, helen Patel, Abhishek Pathak, Panayiotis Patsias, Mi, Jo Middleton, Sybille Mittmann, Sophie Reading Gavillet, William George, Ameera Ghulam, erin Patterson, Akeema Paul, Lucinda Pavitt, Monkman, Matthew Parslow, Victoria Pell, Chartered Biologist (CBiol) helps public and private about Louis that I know the biomedical neugosciences, particularly in Andrew Gilbertson, Balraj Gill, Jamie Gilman, helena Pearse, Thomas Pearson, Joseph timothy Rae, Michelle Reeve, Michelle Marja Aberson MSB, Lee Bollen MSB, Susie healthcare organisations manage landscape in terms of current prion protein related disorders, Alana Giuliani, Abigail Glading, tom Glen, Anji Pennock, Rebekah Penrice-Randal, James Reston, Miriam Ries, Lauren Samet, Leo Coyle MSB, Katharine Gammon MSB, Ines Pasteur Gold, Molly Goodfellow, Shagana Pereira, Jade Perry, Zachary Pierrepont, Schlesinger, Antony Scimone, Jean-Francois Blanco MSB, Ross Graham MSB, James Green quality, safety and risk effectively. has been practices and developments. but a combination of scuba Gopalakrishnan, Lauren Gordon, Kareem Charlotte Poole , Darren Archie Poole, Rahul Selfslagh, Sarah Stiffel, Andrea Strakova, MSB, Wai Lung Lai MSB, Jan Martin FSB, inspiring diving activities and being a Gosling, Rebecca Gosling, Izzy Gough, Jaime Popat, Lavinia Porter, Sepideh Poushpas, harriette taylor, Abbey Thorpe, Gillian Ward, Angela McDermott MSB, Philip Rogers MSB, Graham, Isabelle Grant, heather Graz , Leah hannah Price, tanisha Prince, Rebecca Ruth Warren, William Watts, Laura Wells, Michael Smyth FSB, Leo Lap Yan Wong MSB. Being able to combine science to me I love spending time with my black belt jitsu instructor means Greenhalgh, Mark Greensill, Derenik Gregge, Procter, Bartlomiej Przybyl, Sebastian Punter, Thomas Wells, James Yeomans. and geoggaphy seemed like an family and fgiends, swimming I don’t get much chance to keep Andris Grigorjevs, hanna Grimsdale, Danielle elena Purlyte, elizabeth Pursey, Ali Qatan, Chartered Scientist (CSci) ideal fit so I did a BSc in and running. on top of this research. Grindley, Michael Gruet, Ayse Gungor, Ankit Yasmin Raddie, Akidur Rahman, Muhammad Member (MSB) Simon James Benton MSB, Melvyn William Gupta, Yuwaraj Gurung, Mehendo Gyaba, Ramzanali, eleonore Rayner, Rebecca Rayson, Matthew Abbott, Richard Ackon-eghan, Cook MSB, Gimara Duncan MSB, Osahon Rebecca hafner, Daniel haigh, Manal halhoul, Rebecca Record, Roseanne Reddington, Laura emmanuel Adukwu, Mary Apetorgbor, Osadolor MSB, Martyn Jonathan Stenning MSB.

38 / the BIOLOGISt / Vol 61 No 1 Vol 61 No 1 / the BIOLOGISt / 39 ponies are regarded as endangered EVENT because of concerns about their genetic diversity. REPORTS There are probably about 3,200 Branches tigers left in the world, yet none of our rare livestock breeds have that number. They were developed for Beds, & herts narrow ecological niches and predominantly local markets. Wool is free in the university after 16:30. comPUTaTional has been replaced by man-made EVENTS & Cornwall Family and friends are welcome to biology Talk fibres, most horses have lost their attend but reserve places with David 15 October 2013 jobs, and many breeds are at risk iT’s a small worlD at [email protected] Penny Coggill, a computational from culling. There is no public CAlENDAR Wednesday 12 March 2014 18:00 biologist at Sanger Cambridge, joined money to support rare breeds and the For more details and to book a place Following the AGM at 18:00, us at the University of UK Biodiversity Action plan gives no on an event, see the Branch Contacts Professor Richard Handy will lecture West Midlands for our AGM. Penny has also worked provision for livestock. The survival on page 45, or visit the events page of on the wonders of nanotechnology – to support women in their careers, of our rare breed livestock remains in the Society website. its applications and the risks and family Day DaffoDil and she told us about the work of the the hands of individual farmers and benefits of such technology. Meet at walk anD lecTUre Association for Women in Science rare breed societies. Devonport Lecture Theatre, Saturday 22 March 2014 10:45-16:30 and Engineering (AWiSE). mary Jenking Beds, Essex & herts Portland Square Building, Plymouth Walk in Kempley, The network brings together Campus, University of Plymouth, Gloucestershire, women with common interests and JorDans mill VisiT Drake Circus, Plymouth, to view wild acts as a source of support, East Midlands Saturday 22 February 2014 11:30 Devon, PL4 8AA. daffodils, a site information and inspiration. Penny’s A history of Jordans Mill and the Contact Chris Fry mail@ of special takeaway message was that black, whiTe anD PregnanT development of its famous breakfast christinefry.plus.com or scientific networking is key to finding out how 21 November 2013 cereal and the Conservation Grade 01395 278556 to confirm interest and to improve one’s chances. Dr Anne Pullen and Dr Gareth food standard. Adults £5.50, attendance. historic Scent expert ‘Odette Toilette’ then Starbuck delivered a lively AGM children £2.50. Maximum 12 places churches, ran an unusual but fascinating lecture examining the management so booking is essential. Contact Dr followed by interactive session centred on the practices for giant pandas. Theresa Huxley on 07785 700 073 to East Midlands a talk on senses. Using perfume strips and Pregnancy – or the lack of – in captive confirm attendance. Please note conservation material of different textures and pandas has been the subject of much there is limited access for narrow regional schools of wild daffodils. shapes, the audience explored the attention and attracted an interested wheelchairs in the mill. biology comPeTiTion Cost for members and human senses. We learned that and engaged audience at the Saturday 22 March 2014 09:45-14:30 under-18s is £7, non-members £10. within the group we all had a Brackenhurst campus of Nottingham gUiDeD ToUr of The The University of Leicester is hosting This includes morning, lunchtime tendency to link heavy perfumes to Trent University. Devon and cornwall chair mary Jenking presented a naTional sTUD a Regional Schools Biology and afternoon refreshments. Prior darker colours and lighter floral Anne and Gareth considered all society of biology long service certificate to former Saturday 26 April 2014 11:00 Competition to celebrate National booking essential; contact Lesley perfumes to pastels. aspects of the giant panda’s chairman and treasurer brian Petts. his many years of work with the branch were celebrated with a buffet The National Stud is located in Science & Engineering Week. This Payne at [email protected]. Dr Theresa huxley fsb management, from issues with and lecture on the human spine by consultant spinal Newmarket, the home of the British year students will be encouraged to uk by 14th March. For queries contact habitat destruction, ongoing surgeon mr andrew clark. horse racing industry. The tour of the think about the future. Juniors from Pam Speed at pamela.speed@ conservation efforts, genetic issues working stud farm will include the Years 8, 9 or 10 can present a poster btinternet.com or on 01384 296292. Devon and Cornwall foaling unit, nursery paddocks, and and seniors from Years 11, 12 or 13 the stallion unit, where three can submit an essay or podcast. ToXicology lecTUre Umberleigh farm VisiT stallions currently stand. Places are The day will include a buffet lunch. Late March/early April 5 October 2013 limited to 20 and will cost £10 for Take a tour of For further details contact Cas Aston University, Birmingham. A tractor and trailer took us from the national stud adults, £8 for concessions. Further to see some Kramer ([email protected]) or For confirmation of date and Umberleigh village hall to visit the information and booking details are newmarket Rosemary Hall (rosemaryhall1969@ booking arrangements see the Pouncey family farm and learn about on the events website. runners btinternet.com). Society website. rare livestock breeds. We saw pure Devon cattle and others cross-bred with . We learned about , & Sussex Yorkshire traceable ear tags, animal passports and the risks posed by badgers in agm anD ProsTaTe reTireD members’ lUnch spreading TB and as a threat to cancer lecTUre thursday 3 March 2014 12:30 hedgehogs and ground-nesting birds. thursday 27 March 2014 17:30 An opportunity for those no longer After a superb lunch provided by AGM at the Department of Chemical talking biology at work to get Atherington and Umberleigh WI, Sciences, University of Surrey, together and discuss the life sciences Trevor Wilson, one of our members, followed by a lecture entitled ‘Novel and other topics of the day. Meet at talked about the diversity of livestock diagnostic and therapeutic The Food Academy, Leeds City breeds in Devon. Some, such as Red approaches in prostate cancer’, by Dr College, Printworks Campus, 123 Devon cattle, have been exported all Richard Morgan. A free buffet is Hunslet Road, Leeds, LS10 1JY. The over the world. Other breeds, available from 17:30 in room 3AX01 cost will be around £10 depending on particularly sheep, remain local and The panda’s sex life produced some followed by the AGM at 18:30 in numbers. Confirm attendance with vulnerable, such as the grey-faced lively tweets at the lecture theatre 4AZ01. Dr Morgan’s Barry Canham (barry.canham2@ Dartmoor, which was hit hard by foot east midlands’ agm talk will commence at 19:00. Parking talktalk.net) by 28th February. and mouth disease culls. Exmoor

40 / the BIOLOGISt / Vol 61 No 1 www.societyofbiology.org/events www.societyofbiology.org/events Vol 61 No 1 / the BIOLOGISt / 41 BRANCheS eVeNt RePORtS

contraband, land mines and even in their area and can collect not only disease. A cheaper alternative could seeds, but also vegetative specimens Scotland be to use rats or even insects as they including flowers in order to confirm have equally good senses of smell but their identity. science anD The ParliamenT are quicker to train. Juliet concluded The seed bank is not only a 13 November 2013 the evening with an overview of collection of worldwide importance, For the past several years the Royal current genomics technology with it is also a research facility, with 20 Society of Chemistry has organised a examples of its uses. scientists confronting vital problems ‘Science and the Parliament’ event on Dr David ware cbiol fsb such as the breaking of seed behalf of the scientific and dormancy, the storage of the most engineering community in Scotland. PlanT fascinaTion delicate and recalcitrant seeds, and This year’s theme was science in 18 December 2013 the biochemical changes associated health. Wakehurst Place has been described with the death of seeds from All scientific disciplines have an as ‘Kew in the country’ and, with 465 environmental stress. essential role in tackling global acres of ornamental gardens and Dr David ware cbiol fsb healthcare challenges, but the work temperate woodlands, it affords of policy-makers is equally some spectacular walks. It was made important. A presentation by the even more interesting by the Northern Cabinet Secretary for Health and knowledge and enthusiasm of our Wellbeing was therefore particularly The gathered annUal symPosiUm & agm guides, Beth Thorold and Jim Heath. animal healTh conference interesting and relevant. recipients of 16 November 2013 As expected, there were few 27 November 2013 The scientific programme scotland’s top Mindful of ambitious renewable flowers to brighten the landscape in Twenty one final year animal science included excellent presentations school prizes energy targets, our annual and (second December, yet the gardens still and agriculture students from relating to systems medicine, large- from right) symposium focused on biologists’ boasted a range of architectural trees, Newcastle University hosted a scale food poisoning outbreaks, emma bissett, role in emerging energy technologies. such as the scarlet oak (Quercus conference to discuss current issues water quality, advances in human winner of the While first generation biofuels – coccinea) with its bright red autumn relating to animal health. genome mapping, veterinary vaccine Top biology such as diesel from plant oils and and the more obvious (and topical) represents the only sensory system foliage, and Farges’s holly (Ilex We managed to raise £605 in development, advanced medical student in ethanol from sugar crops – compete Dr Juliet Dukes scotland 2013 issues relating to reproductive efforts presents her that projects directly into the brain. fargesii) with its dark green leaves. donations, organise a strong and imaging related to cardiovascular with food production for land, in captivity. genomics of She reported that sensitivity to Laboratory manager Keith Manger diverse range of guest speakers, as disease, and social and behavioural cellulose in plant waste as a potential Interestingly, the in situ giant panda smell lecture odours differs between males and and Drs Louise Colville and Rosemary well as prepare our own dimensions of sexual health. fuel resource does not. populations are currently doing well females and in many animals plays a Newton led tours of the millennium presentations on key topics Representatives from four political Professor Claire Halpin, from the in terms of numbers and reproductive role in mating behaviour. However in seed bank. We were talked through surrounding our conference title, parties in the Scottish Parliament University of Dundee, explained that output, although they remain humans this role may be overridden the process of collecting and Animal Health Implications arising delivered presentations, and the efficiency of the production susceptible to environmental changes by learnt behaviour. Both went on to preserving seeds from some 154 from Modern Human Demands. inevitably questions were focused on process is restricted by lignin, the to their dietary staple of bamboo. conduct an experiment to measure countries and 24,000 different The topics covered in our group the practical implications for the waterproofing and the strengthening The hashtag ‘ntukungfupanda’ Jim heath the sensitivity of some students to species, including from virtually all the presentations included mobility future of science funding in an component of cell walls. shows kent, promoted some lively tweeting. One surrey & sussex different smells. UK’s native plants. problems and mastitis in dairy cattle, independent Scotland. Her research on barley tweet in particular summed up the members around We are able to use animals like Much of the collecting is done by the housing and welfare of poultry, The day concluded with a prize employs genetic interpretation of captive panda wakefield Place dogs for their ability to detect local specialists who know the plants selective breeding in canines and the giving for school pupils achieving the technologies to reproduction: “It seems a panda has health problems of exotic animals. most outstanding examination identify genes confusing and disappointing sex too!” Leading race horse trainer Mark results. Congratulations to: Calum controlling lignin Dr Jacqueline boyd msb Johnston spoke on the ailments MacDonald, Webster’s High School; biosynthesis, in a affecting the equine species and the Katie Campbell, St Columba’s first step approach to these in a thoroughbred School; Alice Burnett, High School of towards the Kent, Surrey & Sussex stable. Nuffield scholar Paul Dundee; Donald Taylor, George development of Robinson talked about his Watson’s College; Marc Walton, new varieties of genomics of smell experience in the dairy industry, Aberdeen Grammar School; Merike plant with 16 October 2013 discussing the welfare and Mikkov, Forth Valley College; Amy modified lignin The sense of smell in humans productivity of cattle in ‘mega- Taylor, James Gillespie’s High content. involves a large family of around dairies’. To conclude the conference, School; Emily L Miedzybrodzka, Aggressive tidal 1,000 olfactory receptor genes, yet local veterinary surgeon Sam George Heriot’s School; Daniel flows in Orkney waters most humans are able to detect an Prescott gave a thought provoking Squair, Perth College UHI. have placed the islands at the even greater number of odours, talk on the care and concerns of Emma Bissett, from the University forefront of marine energy thought to be more than 10,000. exotic animals. of Dundee, was also presented with development. Dr Jennifer Norris, the Drs Natasha Hill and Juliet Dukes The conference attracted a wide the Top Biology Student in Scotland research director at the European from Kingston University gave a variety of guests, including students 2013 award by Royal Society of Marine Energy Centre (which is lecture on the genomics of smell to from colleges in the north east. We Chemistry president Professor based in Orkney), addressed members and students at Sutton would like to thank our donors: the Lesley Yellowlees. concerns over the technology’s High School for Girls. Natasha Society of Biology, the British Society The event remains a useful forum ecological impact. Are installations’ explained the physiology of odour of Animal Science, Semex, Brooke for the Society and other learned moving parts hazardous to marine detection, from the structure of the Research Ltd, and Dr Jonathan Guy societies in Scotland to project their mammals and diving birds? Does membrane-bound receptors to the from Newcastle University, without relevance to government, and to noise and physical intrusion cause initiation of an action potential as the whose generous contributions the encourage MSPs to consult us on species displacement? Evidence is aroma molecule binds and stimulates conference could not have gone ahead. a wide range of issues affecting elusive as data collection from membrane depolarisation. This bethany count, charlotte Dolphin and the country. remote and hostile undersea process is exceptional in that it matthew sharp lindsay murray cbiol csci fsb locations is difficult, but EMEC’s

42 / the BIOLOGISt / Vol 61 No 1 www.societyofbiology.org/events www.societyofbiology.org/events Vol 61 No 1 / the BIOLOGISt / 43 BRANCheS eVeNt RePORtS BRANCh

and there is likely to be food more continue. Newer breeding CONTACTS Yorkshire tailored to individuals. programmes use genes from wheat Professor Tim Benton, UK ancestors to produce a ‘super-wheat’ BEDS, ESSEX & HERTS eXPlore The shore Day champion for global food security, to provide better resistance to Dr Theresa Huxley aT boggle hole University of Leeds, said global food drought, heat and disease. There is a [email protected] 5 October 2013 security is not just about preventing considerable gap between Jane Pottas and Paula Lightfoot led a starvation but also about ensuring experimental and farm yields (the DEVON & CORNWALL successful ‘Explore the Shore’ day at peace as “Everyone is only nine ‘yield gap’), so farming practice needs Christine Fry Boggle Hole. Boggle Hole Youth meals away from anarchy”. to improve to realise that potential. [email protected] Hostel (below) acted as our venue The human population is Dr Qasim Chaudhry, Food and managers Andy and Peta Nugent growing and much of and Environment EAST ANGLIA and their staff could not have been that population is Research Agency, York, Amanda Burton more hospitable. getting richer and spoke on how the use [email protected] The hostel is conveniently situated richer people eat of nano-technology only a stone’s throw from a pristine more. Increasing will lead to lighter EAST MIDLANDS rocky shore. Fourteen members took urbanisation weight, more Rosemary Hall part, including individuals and and remoteness hygienic and [email protected] families and a couple of dogs. They from sources of ‘smarter’ enthusiastically searched out species food is also a packaging that will KENT, SURREY & SUSSEX to identify on the shore and back in problem, as are allow longer shelf-life Dr David Ware the classroom at the hostel. waste and over- and less waste. When kentsurreysussex@ Around 100 species were identified consumption: the the packaging includes societyofbiology.org including a stalked jellyfish, several food waste generated by nano-particles it will be able species of fish, snails, bryozoans and Europe and North America is to detect spoilage, making the LONDON more than 30 seaweeds. All records equivalent to ‘use by’ date redundant. Ken Allen for the day will be uploaded to the the whole food production of sub- Other applications could lead to [email protected] National Biodiversity Network Saharan Africa, while simpler diagnostics in veterinary database. over-consumption and obesity practice and pest control, but there The weather was wonderfully causes 20% of deaths globally. Action remain some concerns about nano- Dr Rosemary Solbé integrated approach following were able to join over 120 Society over 120 west warm and sunny, everyone had a is needed at international and particles in the environment. [email protected] multiple and innovative data sources members, friends and former midlands good time and we all learned national level to minimise risks and Dr Martin Hemingway of should provide answers. colleagues at Aston University for members something new about this fascinating maintain food supplies. ALcontrol Laboratories, Rotherham, NORTH WESTERN attended the Finally, Dr James Pearce-Higgins, this memorial lecture. Dr christopher environment. More days on the shore Crop physiologist Dr Eric Ober reminded us how ‘horsegate’ earlier Glenn Upton-Fletcher principal ecologist with the British The event was held jointly with the smith memorial are on the cards. from the National Institute of this year shows just how difficult it is [email protected] Trust for Ornithology, asked ‘should British Neuroscience Association, lecture. left Jane Pottas msb Agricultural Botany, Cambridge, to be sure of what we are eating. But we get in a spin about wind farms represented by Dr Rhein Parri of to right: Dr reported that yields of cereals are contaminants can be distinguished NORTHERN and birds?’ Aston. Our guest speaker, Professor rhein Parri increasing slowly, but over the last and even traced to their origin by Dr Michael Rowell of the british In the UK, where sensitive habitats Eef Hogervorst of Loughborough neuroscience few years there have been signs of techniques routinely used in analysis. [email protected] and favoured sites for wind farms University, presented a scholarly and association, stagnation so breeding programmes michael smith msb tend not to overlap, evidence does not engaging lecture on ‘Reducing guest speaker support serious concern over dementia risk through lifestyle Professor eef Dr David Roberts collision mortality. changes: when to do what?’ hogervorst, [email protected] chris smith’s Nevertheless, James’s study of Professor Hogervorst explained widow Jenny and upland birds at wind farms shows that many headline-grabbing his brother John. SCOTLAND reduced numbers from disturbance interventions such as oestrogen- boggle hole Dr Jacqueline Nairn at construction sites and in-place replacement therapy and eating tofu youth hostel [email protected] turbines, with curlew and snipe have positive effects in younger people, particularly vulnerable. Clearly, but can be harmful for over 60s. fooD, glorioUs fooD THAMES VALLEY planning consideration is needed for The evidence shows that 16 November 2013 Dr Ray Gibson any wind farm proposals in bird maintaining muscle mass is Members enjoyed a summary of talks [email protected] sensitive areas. important – three 20 minute from our Annual Symposium entitled Dr russ clare cbiol msb resistance band workouts a week and “Food, Glorious Food – what do we WESSEX five 30 minute aerobic exercise need, how do we keep getting it and Rachel Wilson sessions are a good guideline. Sudoku how safe is it?” [email protected] West Midlands and stretch yoga might be good for Dr Wayne Martindale, research other things, but cycling and dancing fellow at Hallam University, WEST MIDLANDS Dr chrisToPher smiTh are better for dementia prevention. predicted that as the world Deirdre Marsh memorial lecTUre The big message emerging from population reaches 9 billion people [email protected] 16 October 2013 the research is, in Professor by 2050, dietary protein will have to Dr Chris Smith FSB was a much loved Hogervorst’s words, “You already be acquired by other means than WESTERN and inspirational scientist who know what to do!” The guidelines are from animals. Fungal protein Joan Ashley brought enthusiasm, vision and the same as for heart disease product ‘QUORN’ has a lower carbon [email protected] laura wells was presented with the society of biology prize for the best academic warmth to his many years of service prevention, with an emphasis on footprint than other protein sources. performance amongst biological sciences final year students at the . on the West Midlands branch aerobic exercise, a good balanced According to Wayne, there will be laura completed her first class degree last summer and is now training to teach biology. laura YORKSHIRE committee. We were delighted that diet and healthy relaxation. massively less food wastage in the (right) was presented the prize by west midlands committee member Dr sue howarth fsb. Paul Bartlett his widow Jenny and his brother John Pamela speed cbiol msb home, by retailers and processors, [email protected]

44 / the BIOLOGISt / Vol 61 No 1 www.societyofbiology.org/events www.societyofbiology.org/events Museum Piece BIOLOgICAL ExHIBITS FROM AROUNd THE WORLd

shoemaker’s knife which matches in his book Homicide by External James gow’s the puncture wound found in the Violence (1837). murder weapon #006 and his wife’s victim’s flesh, on the left, and heart, Within the central jar is a heart are among FORENSIC on the right. description of the murder weapon and the exhibits in the This evidence, and more besides, the case (below). Dated 18th July 1831, surgeons’ hall can be found in the museum of the it reads: “The knife to which this label museum EvIdENCE Royal College of Surgeons of is affixed is the knife Edinburgh. The oldest museum in which James Gow, FROM 1830 Scotland, it houses one of the largest Shoemaker, stabbed historic surgical pathology collections his wife with in 187 in the UK. Developed as a teaching High Street about The Museum museum for medics, it opened to the halfpast 10 o’c, night of the Royal general public in 1832. of the 16th, and found College of Two years earlier, in an Edinburgh by John Nicolson, Surgeons of house, cobbler James Gow stabbed his W.M. and Donald Edinburgh wife. The forensic and post-mortem Gordon, D.P., on the evidence from the case were saved Bartisan [balcony] of and donated to the museum by his dwelling house.” Alexander Watson, fellow of the Royal Surgeons’ hall ealed within three jars is College and surgeon at the Royal Museum is open the physical evidence from a Infirmary in Edinburgh. 12:00 to 16:00, Sbrutal 19th century murder He later published the details Monday to Friday, involving a single stab wound to the of the post-mortem and that of www.museum. chest. The central jar contains a other murders he had investigated rcsed.ac.uk

46 / the BIOLOGISt / Vol 61 No 1 Apply for the Science Communication Awards

The competition rewards informative, enthusiastic and engaging public outreach work carried out by bioscience researchers from UK universities and institutes. There are two categories of award:

•฀ New Researcher (£750) •฀ Established Researcher (£1,500)

For more information and an application form, visit www.societyofbiology.org/scicomm

Closing date: Friday 30 May 2014

New year and WIN A new format £25 for this issue’s BOOK Crossword brain teaser TOKEN Across 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 the clues in italics being words or 1 It has been duly arranged to ignore it (10) phrases that have suffered the loss 6 Massacre with heads of corpses of the same biological constituent. and gore everywhere (4) 9 10 In these clues definitions are 9 New or ancient one’s reappearance in a 11 normal but subsidiary indications

new form (10) 12 13 and lengths refer to the truncated 10 Presumed it includes what identifies version of the answer. For example, 14 15 16 family (4) if GENE were the constituent, then 12 Be in accord with an ecofriendly person 17 GENERAL would be entered as RAL

for the most part (5) 18 19 20 and clued accordingly. 13 What might be additional beautification - nothing men have time for (5) how to enter 14 Relating to the body, this gives 21 22 23 24 To be in with a chance of winning a

indication of state (3) 25 26 27 £25 book token please send us your 16 Absorbing nitrogen is not imagined - it completed puzzles by Wednesday 28 is to do with a body organ (5) 12th March 2014. Please include 18 Current producer alert to need 29 30 your name, address and membership to change (7) number with your entry – an email 19 Reel breaks but it can be taken back (7) address would be handy too. Post 31 32 22 Not even elements of boobs on your entries to: Crossword, The my chest (5) Biologist, Society of Biology, Charles 24 Hint of oregano in my cheese sauce (3) tongue to be mobile (8) Volume 61 Darwin House, 12 Roger Street, 25 Some text elements superficial (5) 11 Lot use mixture like salt in the sea (6) no 1 London, WC1N 2JU. 26 Ordered tapas – often eaten on 15 A tool for everyone by the sound of it (3) compiled by the Continent (5) 17 Arabs here possibly resistant Doug Stanford Winners 29 Even bits of meat jelly last forever (4) to change (6) Well done to last issue’s winners, 30 Alarm notices not put out (10) 18 Disciple he belongs to a new trend (8) Dr Anjan Banerjee CBiol FSB and Dr 31 Sort of storm disruption (2-2) 19 Behind with applications? Results James Craig-Gray CBiol MSB. Book 32 Need to deploy safest club – that’s in commotions (8) tokens on the way. where you get iron out (10) 20 Constellation partly visible overhead (3) 21 Wait on leaders in applied technology Down to exploit new developments (6) 1 Rent to rise? Is ruled out (4) 23 Primarily sardines caught here or 2 Ribald partying associated with other little fish in large numbers (6) a wedding (6) 24 Chap, one with a cold, he might need 3 At home poor dog gets to suffer (5) to be confined (6) 4 More desperate about the one 27 Lady left fellow and is now on this? (5) who hesitates (8) 28 Office opening before sun rises – 5 It takes money and energy to create that’s a burden (4) ➜ royal bodyguards (6) 7 Alternating current menu around This issue last issue’s shows shrewdness (6) A change to the usual puzzle format solution 8 Like anteaters eat, need front of this time with all the answers to Vol 60 No 6

Vol 61 No 1 / the BIOLOGISt / 47 DR MARK DOWNS FSB, ChIeF eXeCUtIVe, SOCIetY OF BIOLOGY

Final Word A UNIFIED VOICE FOR BIOlOGY

enry Ford might have difference to policy makers who some of our larger MOs, the Society been speaking of the now regularly turn to the Society proposed more integration and Society of Biology for a formal view, whether it is higher contributions from MOs to when he said, “coming education policy or how to tackle better reflect the significant work together is a beginning, the challenge of developing new the Society now undertakes on keepingh together is progress, but antimicrobials. pan-biology and pan-science issues. working together is success”. As we However, to realise Henry Ford’s Inevitably there was a lot of travel well into our fifth year it is vision of success through ‘working debate, but the discussion helped set timely to review what progress we together’, there needs to be more to out a broad plan over the have made towards being a unified collaboration than working parties next 10 years involving much more voice for biology and what the next on shared interests. collaboration. Ideas range from, stage in our own evolution Bringing diverse biology interests at one extreme, a merger of might bring. together under one roof can societies to, at the very least, It is clear there has been a lot certainly help. Charles Darwin more sharing of experience and of change. Both our individual House is now co-owned by us, the pooling resources. and organisational membership Biochemical Society, the Society I am delighted to say that, as has grown by over 20%, we have for General Microbiology, the a first step, the Biochemical Society relocated our head office, and staff Society for Experimental Biology has agreed to permanently second numbers have trebled. As a result and the British Ecological Society. two full time members of staff the Society now offers a much Policy A new joint property nearby will to the Society to make common wider variety of competitions, makers increase our ability to share costs sector goals easier to achieve as grants, training, public engagement, regularly and develop common outreach and well as providing more funds to online services and policy work. turn to the policy work. We expect the building support both general costs and There is plenty more to develop but Society for a to be in use from July 2014 with specific projects. it is clear that collaboration even more biology related tenants. A number of other societies has been a critical factor. formal view, Of course these two buildings have also committed to greater Both individual members and whether can’t accommodate every support and, as a result, the cash representatives of our Member on policy organisation and we also need to contribution MOs make to our Organisations (MOs) have helped or how to continue to seek common goals with overall work will increase by 50% us respond effectively to policy tackle a our MOs located around the UK. this financial year. We are aiming questions, ensuring our voice is not challenge At a recent dinner hosted by to announce more detail of this only heard but is authoritative and Professor Dame Nancy Rothwell exciting news, including the MOs credible. This has made a significant for the CEOs and presidents of involved, at the AGM in May.

48 / the BIOLOGISt / Vol 61 No 1 Regional Grant Scheme

Grants of up to £500 available to run local events

Want to deliver an event in your area? Small grants now available for all Society of Biology individual members

Visit our website for more details and to download an application form www.societyofbiology.org/get-involved or contact [email protected]

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