BIOETHICS IMMUNOLOGY BIOENGINEERING ‘ETHICS DUMPING’ IN WHAT’S CAUSING STRANGE COMPUTER-AIDED DESIGN THE LIFE SCIENCES NEW MEAT ALLERGIES? SOFTWARE FOR

THE MAGAZINE OF THE /www.rsb.org.uk ISSN 0006-3347 • Vol 66 No 3 • Jun/Jul 19

TURN THE TIDE A blueprint to save marine biodiversity, with Callum Roberts Volume 66 No 3 CONTENTS June/July 2019

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EDITORIAL STAFF Editor Tom Ireland MRSB @Tom_J_Ireland ON THE COVER [email protected] 12 Interview: Callum Roberts Editorial assistant The marine biologist explains the Emma Wrake AMRSB benefits of using protected areas Chair of the Editorial Board of ocean to boost biodiversity Professor Alison Woollard FRSB Editorial Board Dr Anthony Flemming MRSB, Syngenta Professor Adam Hart FRSB, University of Gloucestershire UP FRONT Dr Sarah Maddocks CBiol MRSB, 26 04 Society News Cardiff Metropolitan University Speaker’s lecture, Teacher Professor Shaun D Pattinson FRSB, of the Year 2019 and our AGM Dr James Poulter MRSB, 06 Policy and analysis Dr Cristiana P Velloso MRSB, King’s College London The Government’s National Food Strategy, plus Brexit Watch Membership enquiries Tel: 01233 504804 [email protected] FEATURES Subscription enquiries Tel: 020 7685 2556; [email protected] 08 Research review The NC3Rs’ efforts to replace, The Biologist is produced on behalf of the Royal Society of Biology by reduce and refine the use of Think Publishing Ltd, Capital House, animals in biomedical research 25 Chapel Street, London NW1 5DH www.thinkpublishing.co.uk; 18 Red meat and tick bites 020 3771 7200 30 How an allergy to animal products Printed by Wyndeham Southernprint is confounding immunologists Art director Matthew Ball Designer Felipe Perez Production editor Sian Campbell 22 Unethical practices Sub editor Kirsty Fortune Doris Schroeder on efforts to Group account director John Innes tackle ‘ethics dumping’ [email protected] ISSN 0006-3347 26 Who was… Peter Kropotkin? Advertising in The Biologist represents an unparalleled opportunity to reach a large The Russian anarchist who became community of professional biologists. 36 a key figure in evolutionary theory For advertising information contact [email protected]; 020 7685 2556 REGULARS Views expressed in this magazine are not necessarily those of the Editorial Board or 30 Focus on the Royal Society of Biology. Computer-aided biology © 2019 Royal Society of Biology (Registered charity no. 277981) 32 Members The Society permits single copying of individual The careers and achievements articles for private study or research, of RSB members irrespective of where the copying is done. Multiple copying of individual articles for 36 Book reviews teaching purposes is also permitted without specific permission. For copying or reproduction 40 Treasurer’s report for any other purpose, written permission must 42 Branches be sought from the Society. Exceptions to the 47 Crossword above are those institutions and non-publishing organisations that have an agreement or licence with the UK Copyright Licensing Agency or the 48 Museum piece US Copyright Clearance Center. Access to the 18 Craft & Graft at The Crick magazine is available online; please see the

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Vol 66 No 3 / The Biologist / 1 WELCOME What’s in this issue Research rights and wrongs

lthough individual issues of The Biologist are not usually focused on a particular theme, sometimes the articles we receive do seem to coalesce. In this issue three articles, broadly speaking, concern interactions between scientists, their research and ethics. In the first, AKasia Makowska showcases the work of the National Centre for the Replacement, Refinement and Reduction of Animals in Research (NC3Rs) in funding research aimed at providing alternatives (page 10). She makes the compelling case that NC3Rs-funded research not only cuts down on animal use, but it also makes for better science in many cases – a win-win. Meanwhile, Doris Schroeder investigates ‘ethics dumping’ – exporting unethical research practices, often to lower-income countries (page 26). The European Commission has taken steps to prevent this kind of cross-border exploitation with its 2018 Global Code of Conduct for Research in Resource-Poor Settings, which is applied to all Horizon 2020 work NC3Rs-funded programmes. Most exciting for me, though, was to find out about initiatives from indigenous people themselves. San research not only communities in Southern Africa, for example, have issued cuts down on their own research ethics code based on respect for their animal use, but it social customs and norms, dignity and, above all, consent. also makes for The two-way community engagement that comes with the implementation of such a code seems certain to increase the better science in quality and impact of the research, as well as making it right. many cases The interviewee this month is Callum Roberts, who discusses the crucial importance of Marine Protected Areas in saving marine biodiversity (page 12). Ideally, fishing is completely prohibited in such areas, resulting in a dramatic recovery of fish stocks. Callum is leading efforts to protect BioPic Alison Woollard FRSB 30% of the world’s oceans with a network of ecologically Chair, Editorial Board of connected protected areas. It was disappointing to hear that The Biologist PINK COTTON CANDY the fishing lobby in the UK has yet to embrace this idea despite SLIME MOULD the proven benefits to fish stocks in adjacent, fishable areas. By Katja Schulz This seems to be caused, at least in part, by disinformation These intriguing-looking peddled by industry-linked scientists. An obvious ethical structures (Arcyria sp.) deficit here, I think. were found in Rock On page 22 Maryn McKenna describes the extraordinary Creek Park, Washington detective story that identified the link between the growing DC. Slime moulds are problem of ‘meat’ allergies and tick bites, and may lead to a a grouping of often reassessment of some of the canons of immunology. And we unrelated single-celled focus on computer-aided biology, the development of CAD- eukaryotes that either based software to create novel blueprints for synthetic biology. aggregate into larger Love the glyphs (page 30)! multicellular structures Finally, the Museum Piece caught my eye – quite literally. It or supercells, where features the Craft & Graft exhibition at the Crick Institute, an many nuclei sit in a insight into the armies of technicians and engineers who single unified cytoplasm. support the world-class research going on there. Microscopists More of Schulz’s use an eyelash glued to a cocktail stick to prepare ultra-thin extensive samples for electron microscopy – exactly what I and other photography can ‘worm people’ use to move delicate nematodes around! be found at Obviously an example of convergent evolution… www.flickr.com/treegrow

2 / The Biologist / Vol 66 No 3 Vol 66 No 3 / The Biologist / 3 UPFRONT Society news • Policy updates • Analysis

The winner was announced at the inaugural HUBS annual meeting in May (see p7). Smith receives the In case you missed it... Ed Wood Memorial Prize of £1,000, £250 worth of Oxford University Press The editor’s pick of biology stories being shared online

books and one year’s free membership Zephyr/Science Photo Library to the Society.

COMPETITION Record numbers compete in Biology Olympiad

More than 9,400 school pupils took part in this year’s British Biology Olympiad 2019, the highest level of participation since the competition began. Students from more than 720 schools worldwide took part, including those in Austria, France, Ghana, India, Macedonia, South Korea and the United Arab Emirates. Greek scientists From left to right: Dame The competition, first established in believe mitochondrial , Dame 1995, is aimed at pupils in post-16 donation can help and Dame education who want to test and stretch boost fertility their understanding of the biosciences.

EVENT TOTAL SYNTHESIS AND also help boost fertility. UK experts said PREMISES Presidents gather at inaugural science lecture at the Speaker’s residence RECODING OF E. COLI the risks of using the treatment for fertility RSB moves to new home Synthetic biologists have created a were not justified by sufficient evidence. Former RSB president Dame Julia Goodfellow; her communicating science to the of the House, John Bercow. The RSB moved into its new headquarters strain of with a completely THE GUARDIAN Nancy Rothwell gave the first predecessor, Dame Jean public. She spoke of the need Benn said he hoped it would at 1 Naoroji Street, London, in June, after synthetic and with every bit.ly/IVFGreece ever science lecture to be held Thomas; and the for sensitivity when trying to be the first of many regular almost nine years at Charles Darwin House. instance of one codon totally replaced in the grand state apartments Government’s chief scientific challenge people’s views. “You science lectures in the Disruption is expected to be minimal and with an analogous one. CRISPR INHIBITOR FOUND of the Speaker of the House adviser, Sir Patrick Vallance. can tell people they are wrong Speaker’s residence. the new premises will have improved Microorganisms with completely Researchers have discovered a chemical of Commons. Tackling the recent about facts, but you cannot The RSB would like to thank meeting and conferencing facilities. synthetic – i.e functioning with inhibitor of CRISPR-Cas9 that could allow Rothwell, president of the resurgence of scare stories tell people they are wrong John Bercow for the use of the The full address is 1 Naoroji Street, genomes built from scratch in the lab – scientists to switch -editing on and off Society when it was founded about vaccines, Rothwell said about their opinions,” she said. state apartments. Islington, London WC1X 0GB. have been created before, i.e. by Craig in living cells. The Cas9 can in 2009, gave an inspiring talk expressing risk and The event was organised For details on the finances of the move, Venter in 2010. However, in this work, remain active in cells for long periods of on science communication to uncertainty clearly was the by the RSB’s director of The full lecture can be found see the Treasurer’s Report on page 40. led by Jason Chin at Cambridge’s time, potentially causing DNA changes an audience that included most important yet most parliamentary affairs, Stephen at bit.ly/speakerlecture until Laboratory of Molecular Biology, an beyond its original target. Amit Choudhary current RSB president Dame challenging aspect of Benn, and the current Speaker 24th June E. coli genome was ‘written’ with 18,000 and colleagues at the Broad Institute of AGM changes to its 4 million base pairs before MIT and Harvard developed molecular Council appoints members being introduced to E. coli cells. The screens to search 10,000 compounds AWARDS Professor FRS FRSB is University in UAE and Universidad de las at annual general meeting resulting bacteria are reportedly slightly for any that inhibit Cas9’s activity. RSB elected to professor of bacterial genetics and Américas Puebla in Mexico. longer and slower growing than A compound called BRD0539 was able the Royal Society investigator at the A reception in Parliament celebrating Two new members were appointed to the unmodified strains. to cross cell membranes and block the school of life the latest Accreditation cohort took place RSB Council at the Society’s AGM in May. NATURE Cas9 enzyme as well as modified versions Three RSB Fellows have been elected to sciences. Her research group studies in April, with academics, industry Dr Jacqui Piner FRSB, a scientific bit.ly/recoded_Ecoli used in genetic research. the Royal Society in recognition of their the predatory bacteria Bdellovibrio representatives and bioscience graduates director at GlaxoSmithKline and secretary NATURE exceptional commitment to science. bacteriovorus, and its potential use as in attendance. of the RSB’s Beds, Essex and Herts branch, MITOCHONDRIAL DONATION bit.ly/CRISPR-block Professor FRS FRSB, an antibiotic. A full list of programmes accredited this was elected as a representative of the USED AS FERTILITY AID professor of structural bioinformatics year can be found at bit.ly/RSBaccred College of Individual Members. A baby has been born in Greece following a controversial fertility treatment at UCL, is known for the development of ACCREDITATION Terry Gould, a corporate and tax lawyer involving an egg from the mother, sperm the free CATH Protein Structure AWARDS with Mills & Reeve, was appointed by Council Classification database. Society recognises dozens to bring legal expertise to the board. from the father and another egg from a Professor Anant Bhikhu Parekh FRS of degrees in 2019 Bioscience Teacher of the RSB president Dame Julia Goodfellow female donor. FRSB is professor of physiology, Year 2019 announced FRSB also confirmed that Professor A similar technique known as department of physiology, anatomy and A total of 85 degree programmes have Richard Reece FRSB is to be reappointed mitochondrial donation was legalised in genetics at the . been awarded Accreditation this year by The RSB special interest group Heads of as honorary secretary for his third year, the UK in 2015 to help parents with He and his team study how calcium the Royal Society of Biology in recognition University Biosciences (HUBS) has named with Dr Paul Brooker reappointed as avoid passing it on channels in the cellular membrane of high standards of education. Dr David Smith, teaching at honorary treasurer for his second year. to their child. Now Spanish and Greek Scientists have found a interact with organelles, and how Degrees across 16 institutions received Sheffield Hallam University, as winner of Minutes from the AGM will be available doctors involved in the experimental compound that can block CRISPR-Cas9 in cells changes to these processes may result Accreditation, including two international the Higher Education Bioscience Teacher to download soon at www.rsb.org.uk/ treatment say donor mitochondria can in human disease. institutions: the United Arab Emirates of the Year Award 2019. about-us/governance/agm

4 / The Biologist / Vol 66 No 3 Vol 66 No 3 / The Biologist / 5 POLICYNEWS Dr Laura Marshall POLICYANALYSIS RSB head of science policy EDUCATION A juvenile wart-biter Bioscience heads gather cricket, a species The Government’s National at first HUBS conference facing extinction Food Strategy will be complex and challenging, spanning health, agriculture, the Food for thought environment and many other areas relevant to biologists

ood. It’s pretty important stuff, when you think about BIODIVERSITY it. We need it to provide us One million species at risk with energy and nutrients; from human activity and the way we source, Fproduce and eat it modifies the In April the inaugural Heads of University A huge review of the state of the natural landscape around us and has huge Biosciences (HUBS) annual conference was world has been published by the cultural and ethical relevance. In the held at the Wellcome Genome Campus in Intergovernmental Science-Policy UK the food and drink industry is our Cambridgeshire. The event attracted more Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem largest manufacturing sector, than 60 heads of university bioscience Services (IPBES). contributing more than £28bn to the departments from across the UK, and IPBES’s Global Biodiversity Assessment economy annually and employing speakers from the Government Office for Report made headlines around the world hundreds of thousands of people. Science, Universities UK, with its finding that up to a million species However, since the world wars Universities, the Wellcome Sanger Institute, face extinction as human activity alters the food policies and practices have the European Bioinformatics Institute, and natural world at an unprecedented rate. mostly aimed to minimise risk to the Research England REF sub-panel Compiled by 145 expert authors from 50 food security through national presenting interactive sessions on education countries over the past three years, with self-sufficiency and by attaining policy and research. inputs from another 310 contributing maximum yield per hectare. The RSB Higher Education Bioscience authors, the report is thought to be the Evidence is now mounting of the Teacher of the Year award was presented to biggest ever review of its kind, assessing catastrophic effect that our approach Dr David Smith from Sheffield Hallam changes over the past five decades. to food production, transport, University, who gave an enthusiastic speech The report also draws on extensive packaging and consumption on how students’ choice of seating affects resources to highlight the scale of the threat practices is having on the planet. In engagement. that biodiversity loss and ecosystem collapse the huge global assessment of Seven sponsors supported the financial pose to humanity. ecosystems by the Intergovernmental running of this event including official Science-Policy Platform on sponsor Learning Science. A number of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services posters were exhibited by Wellcome Genome published in May, changes in land Campus researchers and on the penultimate BREXIT WATCH and sea use was identified as the evening guests were addressed by former biggest direct driver of biodiversity RSB president Professor Dame Jean Thomas MPs criticise post-Brexit loss around the globe. Resources and Waste Strategy are systems can be used to the benefit Scotland, a model on which a of the University of Cambridge. environmental law More than a third of the world’s How we also important parts of the picture. of citizens while maintaining national policy could perhaps build. land surface and nearly 75% of Environment secretary Michael competitive markets; and the role Regional and city-based policies and A cross-party report has “serious source and ENVIRONMENT freshwater resources are thought to Gove has now tasked Henry Dimbleby of DEFRA as a potential repository practices, such as those developed by concerns” about proposed legislation to be devoted to crop or livestock grow our (co-founder and director of the for evidence and data across sectors Brighton and Hove Food Environment and climate protect the environment when the UK production, 33% of marine fish food is Sustainable Restaurant Association) to enable dynamic, evidence-based Partnership, have also had positive emergency declared leaves the European Union. stocks are harvested at unsustainable to develop an overarching integrated policy development. and long-term impact. The Environmental Audit Committee levels, crops worth up to $577bn moving up national food strategy. Rightly, he recognises that the Dimbleby and his team will now report describes the draft Environment annually are at risk from pollinator the policy Dimbleby has said his aim is to development of this exceptionally initiate a public consultation Bill as “lacking coherence” and says that loss, and fertilisers entering coastal agenda develop a food system that provides broad strategy will be highly complex exercise with the aim of gathering the principles that guide European Union ecosystems have produced more safe, healthy and affordable food and challenging – just listening to the expertise, evidence, advice and legislation in this area have been than 400 ocean ‘dead zones’. That’s through robust, resilient, humane, range of points of view represented opinion from all those with a stake “severely downgraded”. before we even start with climate sustainable policies and processes; when he spoke at the 2019 City Food in food and related processes, MPs on the committee highlighted the change and plastic packaging. one that restores and enhances the Policy Symposium made it clear sectors and industries – including lack of accountability for action on As Brexit opens up the possibility of natural environment – without that a national strategy for food will consumers. It is likely this exercise environmental protection, with the new agricultural policy for the UK, offsetting our negative impacts mean vastly different things to will result in the publication of enforcement of climate change mitigation how we source and grow our food is overseas – while supporting growth different people. broad aims for the strategy for appearing to have been “purposefully moving up the policy agenda. The in rural economies. These aims How the strategy could integrate further consultation. MPs have approved a motion to declare an excluded” from the scope of the Office for RSB has recently responded to several have relevance across many areas with policies across the devolved The RSB Science Policy team environment and climate emergency. Environmental Protection. Government consultations on food, of the biosciences. nations will also be up for debate and will be gathering evidence and However, according to the BBC, there is no Committee chair Mary Creagh relating to the Agriculture Bill, the As part of this his team are discussion. The Scottish Government advice from across our membership clear definition of what that means – the said that if it is to be a world leader in Fisheries Bill, the Environment Bill considering a proposed budget for are currently analysing responses to respond to this. If you are a declaration demonstrates “the will” of the nature protection the UK must “create and 25 Year Environment Plan, plus the strategy; whether there is a need from their recent consultation on member and would like to contribute Commons on the issue, but does not legally a world-leading body” to enact related proposals in the Industrial for a national democratic process for ‘Good Food Nation’ proposals, and to our work in this important area compel the Government to act. Dozens of environment policy. Strategy and Clean Growth Strategy food system development; how the organisation Scotland Food and of national policy, please do get towns and cities across the UK have already Find more of the committee’s (to name a few!). The recent communications and marketing Drink has received praise for driving in touch soon via consultations@rsb. declared a climate emergency, pledging to recommendations at bit.ly/EnviroAudit Childhood Obesity Plan and the strategies, taxation and subsidy responsible growth for the sector in org.uk be carbon-neutral by 2030.

6 / The Biologist / Vol 66 No 3 Vol 66 No 3 / The Biologist / 7 ANIMAL SCIENCE

THE S Dr Kasia Makowska reveals highlights from the NC3Rs’ latest review of innovations3R to help replace, reduce and refine the use of animals in biomedical research

hat do building artificial bones, modelling and advanced imaging techniques. catching ferrets’ breath and Here are just a few examples. testing tuberculosis (TB) vaccines have in common? This seemingly FERRETS AND FLU unrelated list has one common Each year in the UK seasonal flu affects 10–15% denominator: the 3Rs. More of the population and is associated with 12,000 Wspecifically, they are all projects funded by the deaths. Surprisingly, ferrets are a ‘gold standard’ NC3Rs (National Centre for the Replacement, for studying influenza virus infection and Refinement and Reduction of Animals in Research) transmission. This is because ferrets are susceptible and highlighted in our recent research review1. to infection with the human virus and show similar The 3Rs are a familiar concept for many people in clinical signs – such as fever and sneezing – to those the scientific community. They stand for replacing experienced by humans. the use of animals in research, reducing the A key question scientists are studying is how the numbers where the use of animals continues influenza virus is transmitted. Infected (donor) to be required, and refining the care of the animals ferrets are housed next to uninfected (sentinel) to keep any pain and suffering to a minimum. These ferrets for up to 14 days to determine how quickly principles have been embedded in national and the virus is transmitted from one animal to another, international legislation and regulations as well as in a set-up intended to be akin to a household the policies of organisations that fund or conduct environment. To determine whether transmission animal research. has taken place the sentinel ferrets undergo nasal The NC3Rs supports new technologies and flushes or swabs. approaches that advance the 3Rs and achieve Depending on the particular research question, scientific benefits. Progress in science and an experiment can use up to 64 sentinel animals. technology that we support provides new However, the studies do not completely recreate opportunities to address important scientific what happens in humans, where contact time can be questions without the use of animals. Where that’s much shorter and where often transmission may not possible, we promote new methods to improve occur over a greater distance. understanding of animal welfare and to make sure Professor Wendy Barclay from Imperial College the experiments are robust and reproducible. London wanted to address this and explore ways of Through our work we have shown that the reducing the use of ferrets. Using NC3Rs funding, Not only does benefits of 3Rs-focused science reach beyond the Professor Barclay and her team designed, the IVTT help 3Rs themselves. Our grant holders’ research has led manufactured and tested a piece of equipment to improvements to human and animal health and called the influenza virus transmission tunnel reduce the use of the environment, as well as generating commercial (IVTT), which replaces the use of sentinel ferrets. animals, it opens opportunities. The recent research review features The device consists of a metre-long tube with cell- up possibilities to case studies on the work of 12 NC3Rs-funded culture plates containing a cell line highly answer new researchers, and demonstrates the breadth of susceptible to influenza viruses positioned at science we fund in areas as varied as parasitology different distances along the tube. Infected ferrets scientific and cardiotoxicity. It also includes approaches from are placed in a chamber attached to the IVTT for a questions a variety of disciplines, including mathematical maximum of 10 minutes. To determine the amount

8 / The Biologist / Vol 66 No 3 Vol 66 No 3 / The Biologist / 9 ANIMAL SCIENCE

Dr Alexandra Iordachescu, Iordachescu, have developed a compelling alternative. They have created a self-structuring in vitro model for the development of mature bone, ABOUT THE NC3Rs which has already replaced animal models of early The National Centre for the Replacement, bone formation and for screening potential drugs Refinement and Reduction of Animals in that affect bone growth. Research (NC3Rs) is a Government-backed The model consists of a gel cast between two independent scientific organisation. ceramic anchors into which rat bone progenitor cells Science-led and evidence-based, the NC3Rs are seeded. Iordachescu has shown that the cells funds research and early career awards, fosters deposit an ordered matrix that closely resembles collaborations between universities and industry mature bone in terms of its collagen/mineral ratio to develop and commercialise 3Rs technologies, and cellular composition. The model remains viable and provides information on the latest advances in culture for more than a year, reflecting the to help scientists put the 3Rs into practice. successive phases of bone development, from As one of the major funders of 3Rs research initiation of formation through to the differentiation in the UK, it has committed £62.3m since of cell types and mineralisation. its launch in 2004 – with the majority of the Iordachescu and Grover are working with groups funds (63%) for research focusing on at other UK universities to transfer the model into replacement, 16% on refinement and 21% on their laboratories, helping to further replace the use reduction. This balance across the ‘Rs’ primarily of animals. Iordachescu has finished her PhD and reflects the focus of the grant applications that has been awarded an NC3Rs Training Fellowship to are submitted. develop the in vitro model and study the bone loss To maximise the impacts of its work the that occurs when weight bearing is reduced – for NC3Rs collaborates with scientists and example, during ageing or immobilisation linked to organisations from across the life sciences injury, or in weightlessness. sector, nationally and internationally. Most Above: SEM image of seeded of infectious virus in the animal’s exhaled breath, recently, this included forming new funding cells after 12 months, the researchers no longer have to use sentinel TUBERCULOSIS (TB) CHALLENGE IN VITRO partnerships with Cancer Research UK for embedded in the mineralised matrix ferrets – the same question can now be answered by TB is an increasing global threat, with 10 million grants to facilitate the sharing of 3Rs

counting the viral plaques on the cell-culture plates new cases and 1.6 million deaths worldwide each approaches across the cancer research Professor Wendy Barclay, Below right: The development in the IVTT. How do you encourage ferrets to year. The only established vaccine is not always community, and with Unilever for PhD of bone in vitro on breathe into the tube? Covering the input nozzle protective, leading to an international effort to studentships focusing on non-animal Iordachescu’s matrix with a tasty, nutritious supplement oil does the trick. develop new vaccines. Vaccine candidates are approaches for safety testing. The Barclay laboratory has shown that factors typically evaluated using mice, guinea pigs and affecting virus survival in airborne droplets, such as non-human primates (NHPs), which are immunised the stability of the virus particle, can actually be with a test vaccine before being infected agreement based on a comparison with examined more readily in the IVTT than in the (‘challenged’) with Mycobacterium tuberculosis, epidemiological data. animal-to-animal transmission studies. Virus the causative agent. Despite this, the TB research community still recovered from the cell cultures can be studied The mycobacterial growth-inhibition assay had concerns about the reliability and easily using molecular techniques – for example, to (MGIA) is an in vitro assay where instead of reproducibility of the assay. To build confidence define the genetic factors that enhance infecting animals with TB, blood cells are taken from in the model Tanner formed collaborations with transmission; such studies are more challenging to unvaccinated and vaccinated animals and cultured scientists at two institutes, in the UK and in the do in the ferret. So not only does the device help with mycobacteria. This way, the inhibition of Netherlands. With NC3Rs funding they are working SPREAD THE WORD The flu transmission tunnel, reduce the use of animals, it opens up possibilities to bacterial growth in the presence of the cells is used together to facilitate the adoption of the primate As projects such as these reach maturity the focus which isolates the virus from ferret breath answer new scientific questions. as a measure of protective immunity, rather than MGIA assay in their TB vaccine programmes. moves to dissemination. Many of our grants have infecting animals with TB and observing whether The blood cells can be used to screen multiple developed novel methods and techniques, and it is SELF-STRUCTURING BONES, OLD AND NEW they develop disease symptoms. clinical isolates and vaccine candidates, which important that they are shared across institutes and Bone, as well as forming during normal development Dr Rachel Tanner from the University of Oxford should mean 45 fewer macaques are used at the research fields. Encouraging the uptake of 3Rs and fracture repair, can form in extraskeletal has been promoting the use of this refined method. two institutions annually. technologies and developing approaches to bridge the tissues following muscle trauma, traumatic brain She optimised the use of MGIA in a number of By using blood cells from previous infection- gap between development and adoption into routine or spinal cord injury, or surgical procedures on the species, including primates, to show correlation challenge studies, Tanner and her collaborators have use is therefore a key area of our work. Our new hip and knee. between in vitro and in vivo data, as well as clinical shown that the assay is highly reproducible between NC3Rs Gateway, developed with the open-access A range of animal models including rodents, tests, operators, laboratories and institutions. The publisher F1000Research, provides a platform for rabbits and larger animals such as pigs, sheep and MGIA measures most aspects of the complex host our grant holders to describe in detail their 3Rs goats are used to study bone formation. The studies immune response to Mycobacterium tuberculosis research, model development and validation to allow Instead of often involve the use of genetically altered mice that and it is easy to manipulate individual components other scientists to better use the models. infecting animals are prone to pathological mineralisation or involve of the assay. This means it is possible to use it in More about the 3Rs can be found in our research with TB, blood implantation of bone marrow-derived stem cells. For studies that are difficult and costly to do in vivo – for review, which includes examples of drug screening trauma models it might be necessary to cause example, to determine the immune mechanisms in a virtual heart and the use of fruit flies to study cells are physical damage by crushing a muscle or fracturing controlling mycobacterial growth and identify human disease. These are exciting times, as there taken from a bone. These animal models are often associated factors that correlate with protection. are now realistic opportunities to put the 3Rs into unvaccinated and with severe suffering and they are not always Tanner has now helped to set up the assays for practice, and many scientists are embracing this to vaccinated representative of pathological states. Although cell- various species at 13 institutions in Europe, North benefit their research. culture models exist, they don’t always represent America and Asia, providing protocols and technical animals and what happens in the human body. support. More broadly, the work has underpinned a cultured with REFERENCE The University of Birmingham’s Professor Liam general shift in the acceptance of the MGIA by the Dr Kasia Makowska is the press and communications 1) NC3Rs Research Review 2019 mycobacteria Grover, along with his PhD student, Alexandra TB research community. officer at the NC3Rs bit.ly/3RsReview

10 / The Biologist / Vol 66 No 3 Vol 66 No 3 / The Biologist / 11 INTERVIEW

arine biologist Professor Callum Roberts is an ‘There were walls of oceanographer and conservationist at the University of York. After beginning his career studying Mthe biodiversity and behaviour of coral reef fish, Roberts became increasingly interested in fish, so many you trying to quantify the benefits of marine protected areas (MPAs). In his book The Unnatural History of the Sea, Roberts draws on accounts of early explorers, merchants and pirates to build could hardly see a picture of ocean ecosystems before intensive fishing, when waters teemed with what now seems like an extraordinary abundance of life. Roberts has also worked as an adviser to the BBC series Blue Planet the corals’ and helped create a global database of coral reef fish biodiversity. Since the 1990s his work has helped demonstrate dramatic recoveries in marine ecosystems where fishing has been prohibited. These protected habitats can quickly become so productive that they help replenish fish stocks in regions outside the protected areas. Roberts is now leading efforts to get 30% of the world’s oceans protected from fishing by 2030.

You’ve just returned from working in the field. Where is the field for you at the moment? In the Maldives. I was teaching a field course on coral reef ecology and conservation, and we also have a field project run by the Blue Marine Foundation on an atoll in the Maldives called Laamu. I work with many environmental groups these days, helping them translate science into conservation action.

What does a good marine protected area look like? When I first started studying reefs in Belize I went to a place called the Hol Chan Marine Reserve. I’d been diving around the world for 10 years by this time, so I had a good bit of experience, but I was blown away by the sheer abundance of fish – walls of them rising up the side of the reef, so many you could hardly see the corals. And these fish were big and highly desirable to the fishing industry: big groupers, barracudas as long as an arm, snappers and grunts. Outside the reserve, where there was fishing, there was a fraction of the abundance and fewer of the big fish around. That taught Callum Roberts tells Tom Ireland me, first of all, that fishing has a huge impact on marine ecosystems. In the early how a network of protected areas of 1990s we were only just beginning to really understand that. ocean can not only save marine biodiversity The second thing it taught me was but help sustain the fishing industry in the long term that we have an incredibly powerful tool

12 / The Biologist / Vol 66 No 3 Vol 66 No 3 / The Biologist / 13 INTERVIEW

the moment, including those at home in the UK. We are establishing world-class, gold-standard MPAs in “The lessons of places such as the Pitcairn Islands [in the Pacific] that research and the Chagos Archipelago [in the Indian Ocean], but in our home waters we are creating these paper have now been parks that provide almost no protection. repeated a A study in Science at the end of last year showed thousand times there was more trawling and less in the way of sharks over, across and rays inside [lightly protected MPAs] than outside, so we have the worst possible of worlds – some are almost every sea, just a complete sham – but it can be rescued by giving from people them much higher levels of protection. That means studying excluding things like bottom trawls or scallop protected area dredges, and ideally prohibiting all forms of fishing. We need to provide high levels of protection to whole after protected ecosystems, not just little bits of seabed without area” protecting the overlying water column.

Is there a minimum size an MPA can be and still produce these wider positive ecosystem effects? I once published a study called ‘How small can a marine reserve be and still be effective?’ The first reprint request I got was from a politician in western Australia! I thought: “I know what you’re up to…” We looked at a protected area in the Caribbean just 2.6 hectares in size. It still had three times as many fish in it as reefs just on the other side of the How did you come up with the target of 30%? boundary. So here was an example that really small The UN Convention on Biodiversity (CBD) originally places can work. set a target of protecting 10% of the world’s oceans Of course, ecological science tells us there are by 2012, which was missed and rolled over to 2020. many reasons to make things larger – the bigger it is This was always really a political target that was not the more plants and animals it will include; and too big to put countries off but not too small that it bigger population sizes mean more stability against seemed trivial. shocks and the risk of extinction, and from threats We published a paper in 2003 looking at how from the boundary edge. much of the sea you need to protect in order to For all those reasons you want the area to be Whale shark feeding near the optimise a number of goals that MPAs are pretty large, but if they become too large they suck surface. Sharks are established to deliver, such as biodiversity up all the space that people use and create many extremely vulnerable to depletion by fishing and need protection, ecological connectivity – to make sure losers in terms of communities that have no access high levels of protection in they are working as a network not isolated entities – to resources. marine parks to recover and the support of fisheries in surrounding areas. We found it wasn’t 10%, it was 20–30%. When we revisited that in 2016 with a much to restore that lost abundance. The lessons How do you determine where protected bigger volume of literature – by now there were “Highly protected of that research have now been repeated areas should go? more than 150 studies on this question – the number marine reserves a thousand times, across almost every sea, I first worked with Greenpeace on its ‘Roadmap to was revised upwards to 37%. That work underpinned from people studying protected area after Recovery’, released in 2006, which tried to a motion at the World Conservation Congress that – areas that protected area. challenge the idea that we didn’t know enough about we should aim to protect at least 30% by 2030, exclude all fishing the high seas to protect them. We compiled all the which was the first enshrining of that target. or nearly all You worked on the new ‘30x30’ report, with evidence we could find about the structure of high- The [15th] Conference of the Parties to the CBD will fishing – produce the University of York, the University of seas ecosystems and the threats they were facing, be held in Kunming, China, in 2020 and we have been Oxford and Greenpeace, which sets out a and using decision-support software drew up a feeding into that process to ensure there is a solid fantastic blueprint for protecting 30% of the ocean network of protected areas. basis for 30% as a new target by 2030. I think now benefits, and by 2030. Tell us a bit about your main Greenpeace approached us again recently to revisit there is an exciting consensus building around this quickly” ambitions for this work. the roadmap using the increased data set that now level of protection. It’s good to see we are moving One of the big things we’re hoping for is a legal exists for international waters – satellite information from a political target to one based on science. instrument that allows the creation of a network on currents, surface temperatures, where people are of MPAs on the high seas. fishing, plus more sampling – there’s a huge amount Presumably the definition of ‘protected’ varies International waters are managed by regional of data compared with the mid-2000s. in different locations and economies? fisheries management organisations that are, on the So we’re having another go and doing it in much Yes. The benefits are proportional to the level of whole, extraordinarily ineffective. The high seas are more depth. In the original roadmaps we split the protection given. Highly or fully protected marine essentially a lawless place. ocean into large planning units of 5° latitude by 5° reserves – areas that exclude all fishing or nearly all What we’re trying to do is move towards a longitude. This time we’ve used 25,000 100km x fishing – produce fantastic benefits, and quickly. mechanism that will establish this network across 100km cells and 458 different conservation, But light protection produces minimal benefits – Above: Callum Roberts all of the world’s international waters through the biogeographical and economic features to look at we see little in the way of recovery. These constitute, in the Maldives United Nations. where this network of protected areas could go. unfortunately, a large fraction of MPAs around at

14 / The Biologist / Vol 66 No 3 Vol 66 No 3 / The Biologist / 15 INTERVIEW

NAUTICAL NETWORKS “Pirates were great observers Marine protected areas (MPAs) have been shown to help animal populations recover to between of marine life. five and 10 times the abundance found outside Many were the protected area, with reproduction rates writers too, and between 10 and 100 times higher. their books were MPAs are ideally established in networks to ensure ecological connectivity between hugely popular” recovering areas. Productive networks of protected areas can support fisheries by helping build up fish stocks that then ‘spill over’ into surrounding areas. Protected ecosystems are also more resilient to threats from climate change, ocean acidification and plastic pollution. The position of MPAs in the 30x30 report1 are based on biological, oceanographic, biogeographical and economic data, such as the distributions of sharks, whales, breeding grounds, trenches, hydrothermal vents, oceanic fronts, commercial fishing pressure and mining claims.

I’m interested in your book in which you collated information from old seafarers’ and pirates’ accounts of marine life. What sort of usable information were you able to get from these sources? Pirates were great observers of marine life. They couldn’t shop at the local market for provisions or get enough from sacking towns, so they fished and hunted. Moreover, many pirates were writers too and their books were hugely popular. Their accounts reveal the historic locations and size of seal rookeries and manatee aggregations, and describe fish catches Where that balance lies depends on how populous networks – it’s a way of helping the ecosystems that would astonish today. From these stories, “We need to the coast is and how intense the uses of the OCEANIC INSECURITY and environment cope as conditions worsen researchers have estimated the historic size of the provide high environment are. In the UK network, based on as a result of climate change. now extinct Caribbean monk seal population, and, science we did for the Joint Nature Conservation It is believed that there has been a net loss of from that, how many fish there would have had to be levels of Committee, we said they should be 10–20km2 at 70% of larger marine life since the onset of You grew up in Scotland – did your love of on the reefs to support them. The answer is many protection their minimum dimension to ensure they adequately industrial hunting and fishing. Areas of habitats marine biology develop there or was it trips to times more fish than there are now. to whole protect the wildlife inside, and they should be no such as kelp forests, mangroves, coral reefs and beautiful warmer seas that got you hooked? ecosystems, not further than 40–80km apart to enable connectivity oyster reefs have been reduced by between 10% Growing up in Wick, on the far-flung northeast The UK leaving the EU will mean withdrawing to take place. and 50%. Without oceanic marine life capturing coast of Scotland, gave me a deep love of the from the Common Fisheries Policy. Are there any PROFESSOR CALLUM ROBERTS just little bits of and storing carbon, it is thought the atmosphere sea. Teenagers love to get away from their potential positives for marine life from Brexit? is a marine conservation biologist at the University of York’s seabed without Is their size less restricted on the high seas? would contain up to 50% more CO2. parents and siblings, and I did so by taking long The EU is a cumbersome bureaucracy when it Department of Environment protecting the On the high seas you’re talking about a whole hikes along the cliffs, losing myself in the brisk, comes to marine fisheries and conservation. It has and Geography. His research different game in terms of dimensions. People travel salt wind and the clamour of seabirds. It was been hard to make progress to end overfishing and focuses on humans’ impact on overlying water marine ecosystems and how best a long way to get to areas of the high seas to fish, so if whether or not people in the fishing industry wanted diving in the Red Sea as a 20-year-old that to establish meaningful protected areas. If there is to protect marine life. He has column” you create a large protected area in one spot, they can them – we see that people become supportive of solidified this passion into a wish to become a plus to leaving the EU, it is that we will have developed global maps of the biodiversity distribution of reef just adjust their course slightly and go somewhere them because they can see how they are beginning a marine scientist. greater control over our waters than before. fishes with the Coral Reef Fish else without it costing any more to get there. You can to improve fish stocks. Unfortunately, the lobby level However, more fish and healthier habitats will only Specialist Group of the World Conservation Union, served on create much bigger protected areas. Which of the fishing industry in the UK has not embraced You must have travelled to many incredibly come about from better management. There is several international panels on is right because many of the species that occupy the the idea. There is also an unhelpful debate out there, beautiful oceans and coasts around the world – growing political will, but it will require sustained marine protected areas and was awarded a Pew Fellowship in high seas are long-distance travellers. Tunas, for where a bunch of contrarian industry-funded which is your favourite and why? leadership over years to get to where we need to be. Marine Conservation in 2000 to example, will bridge entire ocean basins, from Japan scientists are sowing disinformation about protected I’m always reluctant to name a favourite place. tackle obstacles to implementing to California, in the course of their migrations. areas. Certain people obviously prefer the views of The experience is always unique to a time as well You wrote a few years ago of an EU plan marine reserves. He was recently awarded the Grand those contrarian scientists – it’s completely as a place. To add further difficulty, how do you to fish for plastic – has that ever been Prix des Science de la Mer by How has the fishing industry responded to analogous to climate change. compare an exceptional shark dive with a beautiful developed? Could it work? the Société de Géographie in France for contributions to the your work? Does the industry recognise that That said, the industry will be better off with coral garden or a rich kelp forest? There are There is a scheme, supported by the EU, to science of ocean conservation protected areas could help boost fish stocks marine protected areas. Over time they need them standouts, though. I’ve just come back from diving reward fishers for catching plastic and returning and its communication to a in the long term or do they just oppose any in order to safeguard the high-quality habitats at the Six Senses resort in the Maldives where it to recycling facilities on land, rather than broad audience. Above: Whalers, pirates and restriction on where they can fish? that they depend on and to ensure fish stocks survive I had close encounters with a huge hammerhead chucking it back into the sea. It’s a small but REFERENCE explorers often wrote detailed 1) 30×30: A Blueprint for Ocean descriptions of the marine life Parts of the industry like the idea, other parts don’t. and thrive in an era of rapid global change. That’s shark and whale shark on the same dive. That set important part of the response needed to tackle Protection can be found at: they encountered In areas where MPAs have been established – the other thing about creating these large-scale my pulse racing. a fast-growing problem. bit.ly/30x30report

16 / The Biologist / Vol 66 No 3 Vol 66 No 3 / The Biologist / 17 IMMUNOLOGY

A meaty mystery

Cases of a bizarre allergy to products made from mammals – including how allergies occur, how they are triggered, who they Fortunately, a nurse whose husband worked at the put in danger and when. Bentonville clinic mentioned the death to Dr Tina red meat, woollen clothes and some medicines – are on the rise. The Rocky The story of how the allergy was discovered begins Merritt, an immunologist in private practice nearby. Mountain Maryn McKenna explains how researchers are piecing together with a cancer drug called cetuximab, which came Merritt had just finished postgraduate training at the on to the market in 2004 and is grown in cells taken University of Virginia’s allergy centre and she in turn spotted fever the puzzle of its unlikely cause from mice. In early trials one or two of every 100 discussed the death with her former supervisor, map exactly patients had a hypersensitivity reaction. That 1–2% allergy researcher Dr Thomas Platts-Mills. overlapped the t is early morning and I am tracing my way through and an auto-injecting EpiPen that can jolt her system stayed consistent as cetuximab was given to larger Platts-Mills found that all those who reacted had a hot spots where the woods of central North Carolina to meet Tami out of anaphylactic shock. and larger groups. pre-existing sensitivity to a sugar that is present in the McGraw when she emails about what we could eat This syndrome affects thousands of people in the Then, in clinics in North Carolina and Tennessee, 25 cell membranes of most mammals, but not in humans the cetuximab when I arrive. “Would you like to try emu?” she US and an uncertain number worldwide. After a out of 88 recipients were found to be hypersensitive to or other primates: galactose-alpha-1,3-galactose, or reactions had For scientists asks. “Or perhaps some duck?” decade of research scientists are just starting to cetuximab, with some so ill they needed emergency alpha-gal. Alpha-gal is familiar to many scientists – its occurred alpha-gal is McGraw is allergic to the meat of mammals and understand what causes it: the bite of a tick. shots of epinephrine and hospitalisation. Around the ability to trigger immune reactions is why organs casanisaphoto/Getty forcing a Ieverything else that comes from them: dairy products, The illness, which generally goes by the name same time, a patient receiving a first dose of taken from animals have never been transplanted remapping of wool fibre, gelatine, char from their bones. Wearing a ‘alpha-gal allergy’ after the component of meat that cetuximab in a cancer clinic in Bentonville, Arkansas, successfully into people. The puzzle was why the drug wool sweater raises hives on her skin and even the triggers it, is a burden that McGraw and her family are collapsed and died. recipients were sensitised and reacting to it. basic tenets of fumes of bacon sizzling can cause an allergy attack. still learning to cope with. For scientists alpha-gal is The manufacturers of the drug could find The reactions appeared regional: patients in immunology Everywhere she goes she carries an array of tablets forcing a remapping of basic tenets of immunology: nothing about those particular trials that stood out. Arkansas, North Carolina and Tennessee experienced

18 / The Biologist / Vol 66 No 3 Vol 66 No 3 / The Biologist / 19 IMMUNOLOGY James Gathany, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention R WalkerAlan meat allergies at about the same time. They were all adults, whereas allergies tend to show up in childhood. THE LONE STAR TICK They had never had an allergic reaction before, but now they were experiencing allergy symptoms: The lone star tick doesn’t transmit Lyme swelling, hives and in the worst cases anaphylactic disease, but is the vector for other serious shock. They too had high levels of immunoglobin E illnesses including Q fever, ehrlichiosis, Heartland (IgE) antibodies to alpha-gal. virus, Bourbon virus and tularaemia. Its range Dr Scott Commins, a postgraduate Fellow appears to be expanding further north into in Platts-Mills’ group, took it upon himself Michigan, Pennsylvania, New York and New to phone every new patient to ask whether England. Climate change is thought to be playing they’d ever suffered a tick bite. “I think a role in the northward expansion. 94.6% of them answered affirmatively,” he The tick is a sturdy, stealthy predator. It isn’t says. “And the other few per cent would say: picky about conditions – it tolerates the damp of ‘You know, I’m outdoors all the time.’” Atlantic beaches and its western expansion only The connection was still speculative, and stopped when it ran up against the Texas desert. cementing cause and effect would take one final, It feeds on birds, mice, white-tailed deer and extraordinary coincidence. One weekend Platts-Mills many other animals. And, unlike most ticks, it took off across the central Virginia hills, tramping bites humans in all three stages of its life cycle: through grassy underbrush. He came home as an adult, as a nymph and as the poppy seed- five hours later, peeled off his boots and sized larvae that attacked Platt-Mills, and which and, as she has discovered, they are threaded socks, and discovered his legs and feet linger on grass stalks in clusters and spring off throughout modern life. It’s difficult to were speckled with tiny dots that had hundreds at a time. Ticks detect scent with It’s not only sweaters, soaps and face creams. know how many burrowed into his skin and itched fiercely. He organs embedded in their first pair of legs. When Medical products with an animal origin include the saved a few and sent them to an entomologist. They lone star ticks catch carbon dioxide in the clotting drug heparin, derived from pig intestines people may be were the larval form of lone star ticks. exhaled breath of an animal full of warm and cow lung; pancreatic and thyroid sensitised to He had his laboratory team draw his blood and oxygenated blood, they take off. supplements; medicines that include magnesium alpha-gal without check his IgE antibody levels. They were low to start stearate as an inert filler; vaccines grown in certain realising it with, and then week by week began to climb. Platts- cell lines; and other vaccines and intravenous fluids Mills went to an event at the Royal Society of Medicine Africa, involving at least six other tick species. that contain gelatine. in London, where he ate two lamb chops and drank Wherever ticks bite people – everywhere other It’s difficult to know how many people may be two glasses of wine. In the middle of the night he woke than the Arctic and Antarctic – alpha-gal allergy sensitised to alpha-gal without realising it. A project up covered in hives. has been recorded. at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) that studies According to the CDC, tick-transmitted illnesses are The allergy (sometimes known by other names unexplained occurrences of anaphylaxis found last 2.6 times more common in the US than mosquito- such as mammalian meat allergy or delayed red meat year that 9% of the cases were actually alpha-gal borne ones, yet mosquitoes receive the most public allergy) was first named over a decade ago and Van patients whose sensitivity had never been diagnosed. health attention and funding. Nunen saw her first patient 20 years before that. A Investigation of alpha-gal in the US is caught in a Scientists are not sure exactly what stage of the bite laboratory test for the allergy has been on the market bureaucratic quirk. The CDC is responsible for starts victims’ sensitisation. It is possible that a since 2010. However, alpha-gal allergy defies some of infections spread by insects and arthropods, but fragment of a previous blood meal from a mouse, bird the bedrock tenets of immunology. alpha-gal syndrome is not an infection. That makes or deer lingers in a tick’s guts and works its way up Food allergies are overwhelmingly caused by it the responsibility of the NIH, which has abundant through its mouth and into its human victim. Or it is proteins, tend to surface in childhood and usually laboratory scientists, but fewer shoe-leather the hypersensitivity, but not those in Boston or also possible that some still-unidentified compound in trigger symptoms quickly after a food is consumed. In disease detectives. Wherever ticks northern California. Further research found that tick saliva is chemically close enough to alpha-gal to contrast, alpha-gal is a sugar, alpha-gal patients The NIH does seem to be taking an interest. In June bite people almost one in five people in one particular area of produce the same effect. tolerate meat for years before their reactions begin, 2018 it hosted an invitation-only one-day IgE- Tennessee had sensitivity to alpha-gal – it was not just To make matters worse, however, the allergy isn’t and alpha-gal reactions take hours to occur. mediated Meat Allergy Workshop; in the past such alpha-gal allergy limited to cancer patients in the trial. What in rural only caused by the lone star tick. However, alpha-gal reactions are definitely an meetings have indicated the giant agency is has been recorded Tennessee could trigger a reaction like this? The team In 2007 Sheryl Van Nunen, a clinical associate allergy, given patients’ results on the same skin and considering launching a research programme. investigated parasites, moulds and diseases that occur professor at the University of Sydney School of IgE tests that immunologists use to determine In August 2018, at the International Conference on only in pockets of the US. Medicine, wrote up a description of 25 meat-allergic allergies to other foods. That has led the researchers Emerging Infectious Diseases, there was a talk on The answer arose from a second coincidence, when patients whose reactions she had confirmed with a involved in studying alpha-gal to wonder whether alpha-gal allergy. The CDC’s director of foodborne Dr Jacob Hosen, a researcher in Platts-Mills’ skin-prick test. They were caused by bites from a the syndrome will help broaden the understanding illness was in the audience, as was Dr Lyle Petersen, laboratory, stumbled across a map drawn by the different tick – Ixodes holocyclus, otherwise known as of what constitutes an allergy response and lead to its director of vector-borne diseases, the department Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) the Australian paralysis tick. new concepts of how allergies are triggered. that deals with ticks. Afterwards they both zoomed up showing the prevalence of an infection called Rocky Alpha-gal reactions linked to tick bites have Merritt, who estimates she has seen more than to ask questions. “I kind of had the impression this Mountain spotted fever. It exactly overlapped the hot now been found in the UK, France, Spain, Germany, 500 patients with alpha-gal allergy, has it herself. was just a weird, small thing,” said Petersen. “But this spots where the cetuximab reactions had occurred. Italy, Switzerland, Japan, South Korea, Sweden, She is sensitive enough to react not only to meat, seems like kind of a big deal.” Rocky Mountain spotted fever is transmitted by the Norway, Panama, Brazil, Côte d’Ivoire and South but to other products derived from mammal tissues – With NIH and the CDC paying attention, research bite of ticks, including Amblyomma americanum, one into alpha-gal might be reaching a threshold, a of the most common ticks in south-eastern US. It’s moment at which isolated investigations could known as the lone star tick (see box, above right) for a coalesce into answers. Above: Engorged female of blotch of white on the back of the female’s body. The Ixodes holocyclus, or Top: The dorsal view researchers wondered if the mystery reactions shared Australian paralysis tick of a female lone star a footprint with a disease. And as ticks caused the This is an edited excerpt from an article originally published by tick (Amblyomma disease, could ticks be linked to the reactions too? Maryn McKenna for Mosaic, which is funded by the Wellcome Trust, Left: Alpha-gal allergies americanum), the bites a global charitable foundation dedicated to improving health. All can be severe enough to of which are linked to It was an intriguing hypothesis reinforced by a new Mosaic’s articles can be found at mosaicscience.com and reproduced require use of an EpiPen to alpha-gal allergy set of patients who came into Platts-Mills’ clinic with or distributed for free under a Creative Commons licence. counter anaphylaxis

20 / The Biologist / Vol 66 No 3 Vol 66 No 3 / The Biologist / 21 BIOETHICS What is ethics dumping?

Exporting unethical practices to low-and middle-income countries has become the new face of exploitative research, writes Doris Schroeder

ioscientists and biomedical scientists and the Tuskegee trials in the US, where black men Jorge Fernandez/Getty practices to low and middle income countries. The Secondly, researchers may justify using lower ethical The San people have been rely heavily on external resources to do with syphilis were denied treatment to see how the European Commission (EC) has coined the phrase standards internationally in the belief that they are exploited by researchers Researchers may investigating their unique justify using their research. While philosophers can disease progresses naturally, are examples of ‘ethics dumping’ to describe this phenomenon. helping vulnerable people. For instance, a US-funded lineage publish groundbreaking research after a horrendously exploitative biomedical research. Ethics dumping occurs in three main varieties: study in India3 on cervical cancer prevention lower ethical quiet stay in a mountain hut, bioscientists Has the nature of failures in research ethics changed firstly, researchers from high-income regions do undertaken between 1998 and 2015 allowed a standards in the generally need access to research in the 21st century? Indeed. International research research abroad to sidestep restrictive legal and ‘no-screening’ control arm. Had legal and ethical belief that they Bparticipants, genetic samples, microorganisms and collaborations have led to many benefits for humanity, ethics regimes – for instance, when a European requirements from the US been applied to this are helping experimental animals, to name just a few resources. but some – particularly “helicopter research”, where researcher experiments on wild-caught non-human research, 141,000 Indian women in the control arm This means that bioscience is often the focus of researchers fly in and out of an area of high interest to primates in Kenya, which would not be allowed in would have been provided with pap smears rather vulnerable people debates in research ethics. Nazi medical experiments them – have led to the export of unethical research their home country2. than not being screened at all. In total 254 women

22 / The Biologist / Vol 66 No 3 Vol 66 No 3 / The Biologist / 23 RESEARCH BIOETHICS

[among research participants] can never be an excuse for hiding information or providing it incompletely.” The code also emphasises the need for close collaboration between partners from HICs and LMICs in all research phases. Only by ensuring ongoing input from research populations and research partners in resource-poor settings can ignorance about inappropriate conduct be avoided. Long-term research relationships between HIC and LMIC partners are therefore the gold standard for equitable partnerships. Article 8 of the code reads: “Potential cultural sensitivities should be explored in advance of research

with local communities, research participants and National Archivesvia AP local researchers to avoid violating customary practices. Research is a voluntary exercise for research participants. It is not a mission-driven exercise to impose different ethical values. If researchers from high-income settings cannot agree on a way of Shutterstock undertaking the research that is acceptable to local Men included in a syphilis stakeholders, it should not take place.” study photographed in THE SAN PEOPLE Tuskegee, US Communities in resource-poor settings are also increasingly pushing for their rights in research. in the no-screening arm of the study died from refused compensation for harm incurred during a After years of research into their people, leaders of Ethics dumping cervical cancer. study; commercialisation of genetic samples without the South African San community concluded that can occur Thirdly, researchers can be unaware of how to benefit sharing with local communities; and most academic research on them was neither conduct research in an ethically and culturally undertaking high-risk research in a setting that will requested, useful, nor protected in any meaningful inadvertently appropriate manner when working in other regions. not benefit from the research results. way9. To prevent further exploitation they were the when researchers For instance, studies that ignore community assent Isidoros Karatzas, head of ethics and research first indigenous population in Africa to issue their own disrupt local requirements when taking genetic samples from integrity at the EC, compared ethics dumping to research ethics code, a sister code of the GCC10. 1) Schroeder, D. et al. (Eds.) Ethics SASI and 11 Dumping: Case Studies from North- indigenous populations – as seen in research on the research misconduct and said it represents “a real The resulting San Code of Research Ethics is South Research Collaborations. communities in San Council San people in Southern Africa4 – are unethical (see threat to the quality of science”6. short, concise and accessible, and innovatively Springer Briefs in Research and with Doris an unethical ‘The San people’, right). incorporates examples of past wrongdoing. For Innovation Governance (2019). Schroeder 2) Chatfield, K. & Morton, D. The use manner LEGAL INSTRUMENTS example: “We have encountered lack of respect in of non-human primates in research. ETHICS DUMPING AND GLOBALISATION The potential for cross-border exploitation in research The San peoples are widely known as the many instances in the past. In genomics research, our In Ethics Dumping: Case Studies from North-South Research So is ethics dumping just a new term for the long- was legislated against as early as 1992 through the quintessential hunter-gatherers of Africa. Once leaders were avoided, and respect was not shown to Collaborations (see above), 81–90. standing exploitation of vulnerable peoples in international Convention on Biological Diversity ranging over the whole of Southern Africa, their them. Researchers took photographs of individuals in 3) Srinivasan, S. et al. Cervical cancer screening in India. In Ethics research? No. First, ethics dumping does not only (CBD). However, the CBD does not apply to human numbers have now dwindled to approximately their homes, of breastfeeding mothers, or of Dumping: Case Studies from North- concern people. The cross-border exploitation of genetic resources. For genetic resources of plant, 111,000 San living primarily in Botswana, Namibia underage children, whilst ignoring our social customs South Research Collaborations (see above), 33–48. resources in low- and middle income countries animal or microorganism origin, as well as related and South Africa, with small remnant populations and norms. Bribes or other advantages were offered.” 4) Chennells, R. & Steenkamp, A. (LMICs) is another major concern, which has led to traditional knowledge, the Nagoya Protocol (2010) in Angola, Zimbabwe, Zambia and Mozambique11. The San Code of Research Ethics offers not only a International genomics research the adoption of the Convention on Biological Diversity clarifies how benefits from bioscientific and biomedical Due to their unique lineage, with strong protective measure, it is also an educational tool for involving the San people. In Ethics Dumping: Case Studies from North- (see below). Ethics dumping is a practice that has research must be shared across borders. This has not genetic links to early human populations, researchers in a more globalised world, and locally it South Research Collaborations (see become more pronounced with globalisation and as stopped attempts to sidestep benefit-sharing and due to their considerable traditional reminds San community members of their rights. above), 15–22. 5) van Niekerk, J. & Wynberg, R. the mobility of researchers has increased. It can even requirements. One comment by an innovator firm in a knowledge, they have been the subject of It is not only communities in LMICs and funders Human food trial of a transgenic occur inadvertently when well-meaning researchers British newspaper claimed that the San people are countless research projects. in HICs who are standing up to ethics dumping. The fruit. In Ethics Dumping: Case 7 13 Studies from North-South Research from high-income countries (HICs), who believe they extinct and so do not qualify for benefit sharing. In two short video clips by the TRUST project , University of Cape Town (UCT), one of the leading Collaborations (see above), 91–98. are solving problems in LMICs, disrupt local In 2018 the EC announced a crackdown on ethics San leaders Andries Steenkamp and Reverend universities in Africa, adopted the GCC in April 6) ‘Europe’s biggest research fund Mario Mahongo make powerful requests of cracks down on ethics dumping’, communities in an unethical manner. dumping to make sure research practices deemed 2019. UCT is the third major adopter of the code Nature News, July 2018. In another study funded in the US, researchers unethical in Europe are not exported to other parts of researchers. Both died shortly after making these (after the EC and the European and Developing 7) Wynberg, R. et al. Indigenous developed a transgenic banana with enhanced beta- the world. The EC has adopted the Global Code of requests, leaving a legacy for their peoples. Countries Clinical Trials Partnership), and the hope Peoples, Consent and Benefit Sharing (Springer, Berlin, 2009). carotene content with the aim of resolving Vitamin A Conduct for Research in Resource-Poor Settings “There should be a benefit for the people who are is that more universities and funders will update 8) The Global Code of Conduct for deficiencies in Uganda5. Uganda is home to banana (GCC)8, which is used by ethics reviewers to scrutinise being researched,” says Mahongo. “I don’t want their ethics policies. Research in Resource-Poor Settings. www.globalcodeofconduct.org varieties that are, in fact, higher in beta-carotene applications to the Horizon 2020 research fund and to researchers to see us as museums that cannot Yet those who can do most to prevent ethics 9) Chennells, R. & Schroeder, D. The content than the transgenic variety. On a mild reading serve as an educational tool for researchers. speak for themselves and don’t expect dumping are the researchers who should ask San Code of Research Ethics – its origins and history. A report for the of this case, one can speak of a waste of resources, but As Ron Iphofen, an adviser to the EC, noted in something in return.” themselves: “Who will benefit from this research, and TRUST project (2019). critics noted that this inappropriate and ad hoc Nature: “I could envisage [ethics] reviewers now Steenkamp asks researchers to respect who makes this judgement?” 10) ‘South Africa’s San people issue overseas solution risked undermining local food and looking suspiciously at any application for funds that community structures and obtain community More self-reflective researchers could then avoid ethics code to scientists’. Nature News, March 2017. 12 cultural systems. The study was eventually stopped entailed research by wealthy nations on the less approval before conducting research among what Linda Tuhiwai Smith , a M ori professor, put so 11) The San Code of Research because of research ethics concerns in the US. Hence, wealthy which do not mention the code.” the San. “You must come in through the door, forcefully 20 years ago: researchers “told us things Ethics. www.globalcodeofconduct. org/affiliated-codes the banana was never introduced in Uganda. The GCC prohibits double standards and provides that is to say via the San Council, not the already known, suggested things that would not work, 12) Tuhiwai Smith, L. Decolonizing Other examples of dubious ethical practice when clear red lines for research in resource-poor settings. window,” he says. and made careers for people who already had jobs”. Methodologies: Research and Indigenous Peoples (Zed Books, working abroad include researchers conducting Animal research, for example, must always respect the London and New York, 1999). research without ethics approval and then trying to higher animal welfare regulations, regardless of where You can view the videos at 13) TRUST project on global bit.ly/2ZZIlg6 and bit.ly/2H9nVIO Professor Doris Schroeder is director of the Centre for research ethics funded by the obtain it retrospectively (when they realise they need it is undertaken. Another provision states that “lower Professional Ethics at the University of Central Lancashire’s European Commission from approval to publish); research participants being educational standards, illiteracy or language barriers School of Health Sciences. 2015–2018.

24 / The Biologist / Vol 66 No 3 Vol 66 No 3 / The Biologist / 25 BIOGRAPHY Who was… Peter Kropotkin? The Russian nobleman-turned-anarchist was also a biologist whose research in Siberia laid the groundwork for modern biological studies of co-operation, writes Tom Ireland

eter Alexeyevich Kropotkin was born in annexed corner of eastern Siberia, one of the most Moscow in 1842 to a family of Russian inhospitable and far-flung regions of the Russian aristocrats. At a time when Russia’s empire. According to Kropotkin biographer Oren archaic feudal system was creaking under Harman, it would become his polar version of pressure to reform, the Kropotkin family Darwin’s voyage aboard the Beagle2. ‘owned’ nearly 1,200 peasant labourers, Kropotkin was away for five years and travelled Por serfs. According to his memoirs1, Kropotkin’s 50,000 miles, mostly on horseback and with few childhood was one of lavish feasts, country retreats, possessions. He at first intended to work on a horse-drawn sledges, and parlour games in ‘jewel- geological theory of mountain chains and high covered costumes’. plateaus but was also keen to find evidence of Half a century later Kropotkin would be a celebrated Darwin’s theory of evolution, published in 1859. As anarchist philosopher who had spent many years in well as being fascinated by the theory, he was aghast exile in remote communes or disguised as a peasant. that philosophers and politicians were increasingly However, he was also a naturalist and biologist who misusing Wallace and Darwin’s concept of ‘survival of made an important contribution to the controversial the fittest’ to justify the horrors of slavery, poverty and theory that society was still trying to understand and war in their own countries. interpret – evolution by natural selection. Such ideologies exaggerated the degree to which As a young man Kropotkin excelled in exactly the evolution was driven by conflict between members of sort of career path expected of him, attending an elite the same species, Kropotkin believed. It “raised the military academy in St Petersburg and becoming pitiless struggle for personal advantage to the height personal liege to the Russian emperor, Alexander II. of a biological principle,” he wrote. However, Kropotkin, like many of his generation, was In his travels through the Siberian wilderness becoming disillusioned by the cruelty of serfdom and Kropotkin saw little to no conflict between animals of imperial rule in Russia. He secretly began reading and the same species. What he did see, everywhere, was writing for revolutionary journals and newspapers. collaboration: wolves hunting in packs, birds helping An opportunity arose for him to take a government one another feed or stay warm, deer finding new role that would require him to travel to a recently pastures in unison, horses forming defensive Clifford Harper

“Wherever I saw animal life in abundance, formations against predators. “Wherever I saw stations ‘sentinels’ to guard fellow crabs that are I saw mutual animal life in abundance, I saw mutual aid and mutual moulting and therefore vulnerable. Co-operation 3 aid and support ,” he wrote. However, Kropotkin wanted to ensure the occurs “even Kropotkin initially wondered if nature in Siberia significance of co-operation in “the struggle for mutual support” was just different to that in the rest of the world. existence” was recognised. He theorised that if the amidst the Darwin and Wallace had formed their theory through environment in which animals lived was harsh lowest animals” studying nature in the “shrieking hullabaloo of the enough to be the main enemy, animals might seek tropics2”, and in this land of brutal winters, where ways other than conflict to manage such struggle. snow storms would glaze the vast, featureless tundra In Russia particularly, perhaps the fight against in miles of ice, collaboration rather than conflict the elements was so great it had led to co-operation seemed to be the best strategy for survival. and collaboration, rather than the bloody squabbles In On the Origin of Species, Darwin had recognised that ensued where heat, light, water and food that “the struggle for life” could be a battle against any were bountiful. number of things, from competition with members of Like Darwin, Kropotkin returned from his long one’s own species or attacks from predators to a lack adventure with his overarching theory not yet fully of nutrients or damage from the elements. Naturalists coalesced. His observations of nature had also before Kropotkin had also noted many instances of unquestionably become entangled with his political Grey wolves and other pack animals feature in Kropotkin’s animals co-operating, from social insects to packs views, with each seemingly driving the other. early observations of of dogs. Darwin’s grandfather, Erasmus, had written When the death of his father allowed him Siberian nature in the previous century about how the common crab to abandon any pretence that he was still in a

26 / The Biologist / Vol 66 No 3 Vol 66 No 3 / The Biologist / 27 BIOGRAPHY

government role, Kropotkin became a full-on maintenance of life, the preservation of each species, “We must be revolutionary, declaring himself an anarchist. and evolution,” he wrote. prepared to learn, He believed that people should live in small, self- There were endless tales from around the globe to organised communities with no central rule, and support his theory – of top predators such as white- from the students preached co-operation instead of conflict. After being tailed eagles crying out to others when a meal was of microscopic imprisoned for his activism he began attending spotted; pelicans hunting together; penguins huddling pond-life, factors meetings in disguise and continued his writing in exile en masse; and, of course, the great hordes of of unconscious from within various communes in Europe. When mammals and birds gathering in indescribable Darwin died in 1882, Kropotkin wrote an obituary for numbers across the Americas – “for all of whom, mutual support, his own revolutionary paper Le Révolté, writing that mutual aid is the rule3”. even in the life of Darwin’s work surely proved Although he believed intelligence was one of microorganisms” that “animal societies are best organised in the the great advantages that higher animals had in community-anarchist manner”. terms of their ability to co-operate, Kropotkin

Kropotkin went on to write five essays between recognised that co-operation occurred “even amidst Alexander Demyanov/Shutterstock 1890 and 1896 that would be published as the book the lowest animals”. He was particularly interested in Mutual Aid: A Factor of Evolution in 1902. His burying beetles (Nicrophorus), a genus of Coleoptera research had expanded from the Siberian steppes that bury decaying flesh in the ground for their larvae to consider eusocial insects such as bees and ants, to feed on. They are mostly solitary insects, but co-operating lizards, hierarchies of hyenas and occasionally acquire assistance from other beetles in Burying beetle (Nicrophorus shoaling fish. “I saw mutual aid and mutual support order to bury lumps of flesh that are too big for them orbicollis) and (inset) a group of them on a dead mouse carried on to an extent which made me suspect to deal with single-handedly. co-operating to bury it in it a feature of the greatest importance for the “As a rule, they live an isolated life,” wrote

Kropotkin, “but when one of them has discovered a ‘superorganism’. During the Cold War game theorists corpse of a mouse or bird, which it can hardly manage studied the logic behind co-operation and altruism in “When one has to bury itself, it calls four, six, or 10 other beetles to terms of optimal decision making and behaviour. discovered a perform the operation with united efforts.” It was not until the 1960s and 1970s, when Many decades before the complexity of microbial evolutionary biologist William Hamilton explored the corpse of a communities was understood, Kropotkin’s genetics of co-operative and altruistic behaviours, mouse … it calls speculations about organisms he could not see were that mechanisms were deduced to explain how such four, six, or 10 also prescient. “We must be prepared to learn, some behaviour could evolve in families even when it other beetles to day, from the students of microscopic pond-life, lessens the reproductive fitness of the actor doing it factors of unconscious mutual support, even in the (for example, a squirrel sounding an alarm call that perform the life of microorganisms.” Microbiologists have since draws attention to itself). Sociobiologist Robert [burial] operation found fascinating examples of co-operation within Trivers expanded on this to help explain how with united microbial communities, including mutualism, co-operation between unrelated individuals efforts” symbiosis, altruism, and dynamic shifts between could evolve. selfish and selfless strategies. Nowadays, co-operation is recognised as The opening chapters of Mutual Aid compile fundamental in order for evolution to construct new evidence of co-operation in the animal world, but levels of organisation. The emergence of genomes, later chapters look at mutual aid among what cells, multicellular organisms, social insects, complex Kropotkin calls “savages” and “barbarians” ecosystems and, indeed, human society are all based Above: Altai mountains, and in medieval cities, and how the concept of on co-operation. The idea of biological systems Siberia mutual aid could be applied in Russia and the working in alignment with others is such a basic rest of the world. As such, the book became a aspect of ecology and evolution that it is remarkable fundamental text in anarchist communities, to think its importance might have been overlooked but was also read with cautious interest by for even longer were it not for a nobleman-turned- many natural scientists. In the second edition of anarchist wandering the snowy steppes of Siberia. his book Kropotkin writes that “12 years have passed Kropotkin’s contribution was important, although since the first edition and it can be said that its the interconnectedness of his evidence gathering with fundamental idea – the idea that mutual aid his political views would be frowned upon in today’s represents in evolution an important progressive world; he went looking for something to prove that element – begins to be recognised by biologists”. life was more than “a war of each against all3”. Yet the However, a simplistic view of evolution as ‘survival evidence he compiled was undeniably clear, and of the fittest’ in a ruthless, individualistic sense helped recalibrate Darwin’s great theory when it persisted – and to some extent persists to this was on the verge of being irredeemably day in the parlance and understanding of distorted by politics. evolution. It would take many decades for His observations of nature, in turn, only co-operation to be fully accounted for in strengthened his radical political views, REFERENCES evolutionary theory. which determined how he lived the rest of 1) Kropotkin, P. Memoirs of a Revolutionist (Houghton Mifflin, In the 1930s and 1940s ecologists began his life. As well as being an interesting case of 1899). to study co-operation more ‘riches to rags’, there can be few 2) Harman, O. & Dietrich, M. R. (eds). Dreamers, Visionaries, and methodically, with entomologists biologists in the history of science Revolutionaries in the Life Sciences such as William Morton Wheeler who have sought to emulate, so (University of Chicago Press, 2018). considering how ants seemed literally, the natural processes 3) Kropotkin, P. Mutual Aid: A to act together as a they studied. Factor of Evolution (1902).

28 / The Biologist / Vol 66 No 3 Vol 66 No 3 / The Biologist / 29 FOCUS ON

BIOLOGY IN BINARY Focus on: Computer-aided biology (CAB) is the term given to a suite of tools that augment human capabilities in biological research. It can include software for simulating and designing biological systems, as well as systems that can design, simulate, optimise and execute experiments. Computer- Many research teams and companies are working towards an integrated suite of tools that will be comparable to CAD-based workflows used in other sectors such as the aerospace, automobile or telecommunications industries. Bioengineers believe moving towards this fully digital-to-automated workflow will vastly reduce aided biology the cost and time to market for drugs and other biological products.

Will augmenting bioscience A small selection of glyphs used to represent components of with computer-aided genetic circuits in SBOL, the synthetic biology open language design software

Aptamer Assembly scar Blunt (recommended) (alternate) CDS Composite change what it restriction site CDS means to be

Engineered 3’ overhang 5’ overhang 3’ sticky 5’ sticky Insulator a biologist? region sticky end sticky end restriction site restriction site

No glyph Non-coding Omitted Operator ORI ORI-T RNA detail

Poly-A site Primer binding Promoter Ribosome entry Signature Recombination site site site

Terminator (recommended) (alternate) (recommended) (recommended) (recommended) Unspecified Unspecified DNA location RNA location Protein location

(alternate) (alternate) (alternate) DNA RNA Protein DNA location RNA location Protein location cleavage site cleavage site cleavage site

n the 1970s and 1980s the design of silicon circuits particular protein under certain conditions – and the and codon modifications for the protein sequence... language and file formats that enable various tools to became so complex that creating blueprints for Designing software crunches data to calculate a DNA sequence biologists have, until now, been brute-forcing the talk to each other. This looks likely to be based on SBOL, them graphically started to become impossible. genetic circuits that will make this happen in the most efficient or problem – growing many different strains of the synthetic biology open language currently used as a A range of software tools was developed to help effective way in a particular organism. organisms and using high-throughput screening to global standard for the exchange of synthetic biology engineers create circuits using programming with machine Christopher Voigt, a professor of advanced select the best ones,” he explains. This approach has data and designs. As part of this, a standard series of Ilanguage, vastly simplifying the design process and learning tools biotechnology at MIT and developer of the Bio-CAD undoubtedly led to many advances and successful glyphs (symbols) has emerged to visually represent increasing the complexity of circuits that could be built. often creates tool Cello, says designing genetic circuits with machine products, but he hopes the development and wider use genetic and biochemical circuits (see above). As these tools became more sophisticated, computing surprising learning tools often creates surprising metabolic of Bio-CAD can make bioscience more systematic and Developments in Bio-CAD could eventually lead power was used to test the performance and optimise pathways that are not found in nature and would be rigorous. “Any other industry that works with very to entirely automated synthetic biology workflows, the designs of experimental circuits, reducing the need metabolic unlikely to be intuited by a biologist. complex systems uses this approach – and with optimal and genetic circuits to actually manufacture physical prototypes. pathways that “One of the interesting things is the more powerful biotechnology should be no different,” says Stan. calculated by computer, and the actual assembly and Now, in all areas of engineering that involve very are not found these tools, the less and less the design is like how Although there is a growing number of Developments cultivation of the modified organisms controlled by complex systems, computer-aided design (CAD) is in nature biology does it,” says Voigt. The difference between Bio-CAD tools in development – Benchling, Cello, in Bio-CAD liquid-handling robots. used in the creation, modification, analysis and using ‘evolved’ biological systems and computer- J5 and SynBioHub being some of the best known “That is the dream,” says Stan. “There will always optimisation of designs. designed ones can be huge, he says. – the number of bioscientists using these tools could lead to be a need for specific interventions in the laboratory Bioengineers and synthetic biologists are Dr Guy-Bart Stan, head of the Control Engineering remains small, possibly because the software’s entirely that cannot be automated fully. But what you want increasingly taking a similar approach, developing Synthetic Biology Group at Imperial College London, interfaces and programming languages are obscure automated is a paradigm shift: the human effort should be tools that design cellular pathways and genetic circuits says that the way most biologists introduce new gene to all but those from engineering or computer synthetic displaced from the low-level, routine cultivation and for biologists. In what is known as computer-aided functions into organisms remains, to some extent, trial programming backgrounds. repeated experiments in the laboratory to the high- biology (CAB) or Bio-CAD, a biologist enters the and error. “You need to work out the strength of As tools are developed that focus on different aspects biology level design ideas for the problem and optimisation desired output – for example, the production of a certain promoters, determine ribosome binding sites of biologists’ workflow, there is a need for a standard workflows of its solutions.”

30 / The Biologist / Vol 66 No 3 Vol 66 No 3 / The Biologist / 31 MEMBERS A snapshot of our members at work and leisure A day in the life The career ladder Dr Angela Alleyne MRSB talks us through her typical day as a plant biologist in Barbados Dawn Arnold FRSB on 25 years of molecular plant pathology at UWE, Bristol

Dawn Arnold FRSB is professor of I AM NOW… molecular plant pathology at the University A professor in molecular plant of the West of England, Bristol. Her pathology at the University of the research group investigates pathogenicity West of England, Bristol. I have just and the evolution of including had my 25-year anniversary here. When Pseudomonas syringae, which infects a I came here after my PhD it was only wide range of plants in the UK, and supposed to be for three years, but over bacteria associated with acute oak decline. time I became a lecturer, senior lecturer, associate professor and now professor. I DISCOVERED BIOLOGY… I am also currently President of the British Through gardening with my dad. I was Society for Plant Pathology, which is a fascinated with growing plants and wanted great honour. to know more. I still get excited when my seeds germinate and I taste the first home- THE BEST THING ABOUT MY JOB IS… grown tomato of the year. The variety – no two days are ever the same. I run a research group, get to travel I STUDIED… a lot to conferences and I also teach. I Biological sciences at Wolverhampton mentor other staff too, which can be very Polytechnic. I wanted to do a broad degree fulfilling when things go well for them. but I always enjoyed the plant-focused modules the most and took more of those THE WORST THING ABOUT MY JOB IS… in my final year, with a plant science-based Probably the administration. My research final-year project. group joke that I’m an expert on form filling! Some days it does feel like that’s all A PIVOTAL POINT IN MY CAREER WAS… I do. I also feel like some days I’m When I decided to do a PhD. After my disappearing under emails. undergraduate degree I was offered a PhD place, but didn’t feel like it was for A KEY PIECE OF ADVICE WOULD BE… me at the time. I went to work for a plant realised that I wanted to do my own Collaborating with other people has been tissue company working on research project. When a PhD became really important to me and I would advise micropropagation of disease-resistant available at the University of Bath it was anyone to do it. All of my major grants and plants. I really enjoyed the job, but was perfect for me, combining plant tissue papers have come from collaborations with made redundant after 18 months. culture and plant pathology. As a post-doc fantastic scientists. Don’t work in a bunker: I got a job quite quickly as a technician at I learned molecular plant pathology, which get out there, share your research and the University of Birmingham but I is what I have been researching ever since. learn from others.

Dr Angela Alleyne is a senior lecturer in biochemistry at the Cave usually followed by DNA extraction, PCR (polymerase chain Hill Campus of the University of the West Indies (UWI), Barbados. reaction) and sequence analysis for disease characterisation and After research roles in Nebraska and Florida, her current work is population analyses. I currently have three graduate My Society and me on molecular markers in plant diseases, with a focus on crops students who are working on disease severity, pathogen genomics that are important to the Caribbean region, such as yam, sweet and molecular markers in plant diseases. Dr Jonathan Ratcliffe MRSB explains how his school makes the most of the RSB potato and cassava. A TYPICAL DAY… I am the head of biology at competitions, along with the A year ago I was co-opted MY DAY BEGINS… Is divided between teaching, research and administrative duties. Blundell’s School, an free BioNet membership for on to the Devon and Cornwall Early, as the sun comes up at between 5:30 and 6am – I do not I teach biochemistry or plant pathology across all undergraduate independent school in Devon. competitors. The school was branch committee. I find being need an alarm! I usually work for one or two hours at home before years in our department, from first to third year, every day of When I moved into teaching thrilled when one of our on the committee immensely going to the university – I enjoy looking out at the ocean from my the week. from bioengineering research current year 13 pupils, Jack enjoyable and it has greatly study and it prepares me for the entire day. Even though I wanted to remain abreast of Olive, won the Society’s 2018 enhanced my membership of Barbados is a small island, my commute can take up to I ALSO… developments within the wider photography competition with the Society. Being able to an hour given the morning rush-hour traffic. Serve as the programme co-ordinator of an MSc field of biology and be able to an image of one of the biology contribute my opinion as a programme in biosafety at the UWI. This role has discuss these within the department’s geckos. biologist in education and MY RESEARCH INVOLVES… strengthened my interest in biosafety and food security, classroom. Being a member of The Biologist magazine has influence branch events is A trip to a plantation growing cassava or sweet especially in the Caribbean. the RSB helps me achieve this also inspired an in-school rewarding, but it is also a potato in the countryside. Taking samples may and our pupils engage with the journal, where pupils review events and invite specialists pleasure spending time with take several hours and I like to complete AT THE END OF THE DAY… Society on various levels. We literature and submit articles from within the Society to others who bring a wide range fieldwork in the morning when it is not too hot. I usually relax and unwind by enjoying the calmness make full use of the Olympiad on various biological themes. give presentations and talk of expertise to the table and Once back in the laboratory in the early of the ocean breezes as I approach my home. I am and the Biology Challenge We also take pupils to RSB about careers. are passionate about biology. afternoon I examine my samples. This is home by 6pm for dinner as the sun sets.

32 / The Biologist / Vol 66 No 3 Vol 66 No 3 / The Biologist / 33 MEMBERS NEW MEMBERS

ASSOCIATE (AMRSB) Luxeria Celes, Gabriel Cerqueira, MEMBER (MRSB) Stevenson, Michelle Strickland, James Charlotte Akers, Sumaiyah Ali, Katie Samantha Chambers, Alexandra Hazim Awalli, Lavinia Abbruzzetti, Stuart, Henry Sutanto, Berta Terre Opportunities, awards and events Allan, Nael Alloub, Paschal Amakiri, Chapman, James Cleak, Nicola Abubakar Abioye, Oluwapelumi Torras, Shanthini Thamaraiselvan, Cameron Anderson, Hannah Arnold, Clements, Joseph Cogan, Daniel Adeyemi, Kelvin Agboh, Oluwashina Jonathan Thomas, Emma Thompson, A round-up of upcoming RSB activities for members Mateen Arrain, Souradeep Basu, Jack Coneyworth, Denise Cordeiro Soares, Akinsanmi, Arshad Alhasnawi, Brian Ambrose Tinarwo, Chris Tindal, Beckwith, Egle Beigaite, Fatama Georgia Cresswell, Natalie Davis, Alton, Valentine Anyanwu, Claire Bailey, Christopher Troth, Heung Mau Tsang, COMPETITIONS now open for applications. The deadline for Benzeer, Annabelle Bickerton, Dominic Miriam Dean, Rosa Dunkley, Jack Deborah Bailie, Rasneer Bains, Maria Tsoumpeli, Jessica Tucker, The Nancy Rothwell Award 2019 specimen applications is 28th June. The New Bingham, Imogen Binnian, Alexander Emerson, Eamon Faulkner, Jialin Feng, Prashanth Kumar Bajpe, Preethi Vijayalatha Venugopalan, Gareth Bones, Sam Bonsall, Kirsty Bradley, Balasundaram, Robert Baldock, Watkins, Carika Weldon, Adhityo drawing competition for seven- to 18-year- Researcher Award (£750 prize) is open to Chloe Fenton, Scarlet Ferguson, Joss Abigail Brooke, Sabrina Brown, Tomiwa Balogun, Yoselin Benitez- Wicaksono, Christopher Wilkins, olds is open for submissions. Prizes include a bioscience researchers reading for a Field, Penny Fryer, Valerija Gillies, Carol Natasha Browne, Bitia Bulayima, Gary Greenwell, Connor Guerin, Oliver Haigh, Alfonso, Liz Bentley, Debora Bogani, Danielle Williams, Douglas Williams, day at the Royal Veterinary College for masters/PhD, or in the first year of a Burgess, Saoirse Burke, James Butler, Dominique Bonnet, Beatrice Kimberley Wright, James Yorke. students and their school can win £100. postdoctoral position, while the Established Kim Hardy, Bridie Hawkins, Richard Gary Campbell, Drew Capper, Michael Hillis, Megan Hodges, Kimberley Bretherton, Danielle Buss, Deborah ‘Capturing movement’ is the theme of this Researcher Award (£1,500 prize) is for Casey, Alvaro Castano, Dan Chambers, Holmes, William Hood, David Caswell, JV Chamary, Caspar Chater, FELLOW (FRSB) year’s RSB Photography Competition. bioscience researchers who are beyond the Rosemary Charter, Lewis Cresswell, Hopkinson, Nicole Housego, Alexandra Shayan Chauhan, Collette Chitty, Minee Nagham Al-bayati, Tom Baden, Philip Submit up to three images by 26th July. first stages of their research career. Claire Cridland, William Cutts, Laeticia Howard, Elizabeth Humphreys, Choi, Katherine Cockle, Adama Cole, Barley, Jake Baum, Richard Bingham, Teachers can now register their schools rsb.org.uk/awards Joelyne D’er Ivanova, Katie Dalton, Thomas Hunt, Ana Maria Lorena Ianus, Hannah Cole-Hall, Atlanta Cook, George Blair, Robert Bond, Joseph for the Intermediate Biology Olympiad Elizabeth Darby, Pierre Delaroche, Dui Jasinghe, Kirsty Jenkins, Katherine Gordon Cooper, Debanjan Dasgupta, Borg, Richard Bowater, Michael Brand, 2019. The competition for students aged VOLUNTEERING Alexandra Dornan, Joshua Dowling, Johnson, Cameron Johnstone, Tobias Emma Davies, Ben Dewhurst, Daisy Chris Carter, Yoke Kqueen Cheah, 16–17 runs from 7th to 14th June. The RSB is looking for local volunteers to Rachel Duffin, Joel Elezaj, Sophie Ellis, Johnstone, Isobel Jones, Naomi Jones, Dickson, Patricia Esteban, Charlotte Probash Chowdhury, Arnab De, Alfonso www.rsb.org.uk/competitions help run its hands-on science plant growing Jonathan Elton, Mariana Felippe, Kate Sara Jordan, Minhaj Kabir, Jasmin Kaur, Fitton, Emma Fowler, Mark Gardiner, De Simone, Mehmet Dorak, Chris activities at Glasgow Science Festival 2019 Fewkes, George Georgiou, James Charlotte King, Samuel Kirk, Katarina Lucy Geale, David George, Ifigeneia Draper, Marc-Emmanuel Dumas, Alain AWARDS at Glasgow Botanic Gardens (8th June) and Gilbert, Simon Goodings, Eliza Gray, Klementisova, Olaf Kranse, Dagmara Giakoumaki, Giorgio Gilestro, Elea Filloux, Surajit Ghatak, Neil Gibbs, Charlotte Grimes, Kristian Gurashi, Giraud, Asllan Gjinovci, Georgina Adrian Goldman, Ingo Hein, Jane Hurst, Know a biology researcher who is doing Trails of life by Roberto Bueno, Lambeth Country Show at Brockwell Park, Krzysztofiak, Amelia Lakin, Francesca last year’s photography Grace Hancock, Elizabeth Harris, Groves, Vijai Kumar Gupta, Rhian Philip Irving, Ijaz Jamall, Alan Katz, Julia great public engagement? The RSB’s London (20th to 21st July). Email Amanda. Lam, Ranya Larhlimi, Leonardo Weihao competition winner Hayley Harrison, Dorota Hawkins, Hanson, Lynsey Harper, Eric Harstad, Knights, Jack Levy, Luisa Martinez- Outreach and Engagement Award 2019 is [email protected] to find out more. 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Mulbocus, Lisa Murphy, Rebekah NAVIGATING THE WRITING HE BIOSCIENCE 15 CPD points coding experience will Ladd, Joseph Lavey, Micah Lee, Rachel Rodrigues, Christine, Pak Yan Lai, Nunes, Angela Nwandu, Simona Oliveri, PATENT SYSTEM FOR PROGRAMME DOCUMENTS From £165 + VAT be assumed. Liddle, Thomas Logan, Stuart Beatrice Landoni, Ayse Latif, Alvin Lee, PROFESSIONAL REGISTERS Katie O’Neill, Ifeoluwa Osobu, Kajal BIOLOGISTS 20 June, 10:00–16:00 15 CPD points Marnham, Natasha Maw, Monica Bernadette Leggett, Silke Lehmann, Registered Science Technician Pabari, David Parkes, Matthew 12 June, 10:00–16:00 Charles Darwin House 2, INTRODUCTION TO From £50 + VAT McCard, Khalid Muse Nor, Tina Davide Lepore, Benjamin Lichman, (RSciTech) Passmore, Alex Pate, Agne Musgrove, Zoe O’Connell, Jennifer Alison Livesey, Nathan Lochrie, Steven RSciTech Affiliate Chloe Fenton, Katie Charles Darwin House 2, London WC1X 8TZ REPRODUCIBLE Paulauskaite, Chelsea Perrins, Daniel Ogbeta, Kyle Owens, Katherine Paine, Lynham, Joceline MacNamara, O’Neill, Simona Oliveri, Faye Peters, London WC1X 8TZ Learn the fundamentals of ANALYSES IN R COPYRIGHT AWARENESS Phillips, Dominik Piskorz, Marcus Adam Pond, Alex Prescott, Romeo Krishtee Mahasingh-Gengan, Kostadin Rolev, Thomas Wightman. This one-day course putting together a cohesive 24 June, 10:00–16:00 FOR RESEARCHERS Pockney, Antonia Potter, Adam Powell, covers the basic principles learning, teaching and University of York, York, 2 July, 10:00–16:00 Racz, Jeyashunmuga Ramalingam, Christopher Mahony, Kit Kay Mak, RSciTech AMRSB Kimberley Federico Ramón-Quintana Ghittoni, Megan Pullein, Shreeya Purohit, Varsha Emma Markham, Elisa Martelletti, Goodship of patent law, the process assessment strategy for YO10 5DD Charles Darwin House 2, Emilie Rance, Edward Rayns, Zed Puvaneswaran, Justina Ramonaite, William Masinja, Peter Massey, Gurdip RSciTech MRSB Jose Pardo, Venkata for obtaining patent higher education bioscience This introduction to London WC1X 8TZ Richards, Grisial Roberts, Paige Eimante Raupelyte, Maryam Razaei, Matharu, Michaela Mausz, Alexandra Saladi. protection, considerations courses. With accreditation reproducible analyses in R is Learn what copyright is, how Robinson, Giulia Robusti, Sherie-Dee Joanne Redmond, Paul Reynolds, McCourt, Joseph McMinn, Brian on freedom to operate, expert Professor David Coates aimed at researchers at all to manage your own copyright Rust, Ishmael Saleh, Hannah Sankey, Kaylin Roach, Kostadin Rolev, Jacob McPadden, Syamimi MD Khalid, (RSci) as well as practical tips MBE CBiol FRSB and stages of their careers (particularly in the context of Laura Sharp, Tricia Snaith, Auriel Rose, Kyle Ross, Kieran Runnacles, Jazz Lynsey Melvin, Jalal Miah, Mohd Farouk RSci Affiliate Sarah Atkins, Sarah on how to succeed with Professor Robert Slater FRSB, interested in experimenting publication) and how to Sumner-Hempel, Emily Thompson, Scotney, Caitlin Shearer, Keisha Bin Mohd Yusof, Karen Morris, Baker, Fabian Basker, James Cleak, applications. an independent higher with scripting to make their properly use other people’s. Thithawat Trakoolwilaiwan, Alex Van- Shepherd, Xiaoqin Shi, Megha Singh, Christopher Morris-Curtis, Thriveni Daniel Coneyworth, Jeff Nightingale, 15 CPD points education management analyses and figures more 9 CPD points Gelder, Jordan Verlander, Sarah Walsh, Coral Smith, Katie Smith, Sophie Nagireddy, Tsz-Yan Ng, Seamus Shreeya Purohit, Jane Srivastava. From £40 + VAT consultant. reproducible. No previous From £150 + VAT Ziyue Wang, Ryan Waring, Rachel Smith, Devika Sooklall, Simeon Stavrev, O’Hanlon, Anne-Marie O’Brien, Philip RSci MRSB Stefan Kolimechkov, Whelan, Max Whiteley, Elizabeth Eden Stevens, Alice Stockburn, Alice Odetoyinbo, Andrew Osborne, Morwan Nirusha Weerasinghe. Whittall, Alexander Wileman, Hannah Stone, Andreas Struijk, Bobby Sutthisa, Osman, Lucy Owen, Maria 2019 Outstanding Williams, Jordan Witts, Zachary Wright, Goda Tamutyte, Ashley Tasker, Papanatsiou, Suzanne Parish, Matt Biologist (CBiol) Professor John E Cooper MEMBER ACHIEVEMENTS Max Wynne. Cameron Thompson, Margaret Parker, Caroline Pearson, Caroline CBiol MRSB Elizabeth Byaruhanga, FRSB and his wife Basic Research Thompson, Sadie Thurlow, Caelan Professor John E organisations since Margaret Awardee. Dr Dean Pellet-Many, Misty Peterson, Gianluca Simon Fleming, Karen Gilfillan, Giles Tierney, Maria-Alina Timbota, Felix Cooper FRSB and his the 1980s. currently holds senior AFFILIATE Petris, Hayley Phelps, Rekha Pindoria, Hayward, Sunil Kumar, Samuel Townsend, Rosemond Tresa, Charlotte wife Margaret have been Dr Philippe Wilson positions at Swinburne Jack Ahlijah, Kubra Aktas, Suzannah Edward Pope, David Powell, Chris Price- Loveridge, Andrew Macan-Lind, Victoria Trotman, Millie Tyler, Hasmeeth Uppal, elected as Honorary MRSB, chair of the RSB University and the Allkins, Joana Almeida, Venetia-Grace Jones, Lucia Prieto-Godino, Michal Newlove, Clare Osborne, Clive Ovens, Anthony, Nerys Arch, Shannon Atkins, Dhruvika Varun, Vanessza Vegi, Diana- Pruski, Eyman Rashdan, Cristian Riccio, Karen Patel. Fellows of the Faculty of East Midlands branch, University of Melbourne, Sarah Atkins, Joanne Ayres, Sarah Florentina Veselu, Francesca Vizziello, Karine Rizzoti, James Rosindell, Ken CBiol FRSB Jonathan Wray. Forensic & Legal Medicine has been awarded the Australia, and his Baker, Laura Barnes, Sarah Barnes, Susan Christine Wachera, Thomas Ruiz, Philip Rushton, Venkata Srinivas of the Royal College of Royal Society of research has sought Fabian Basker, Matthew Batty, Tristan Wainwright, Kalwane Werake, Naomi Saladi, Shahbaz Sarwar, Benjamin (CSci) Physicians of London. Chemistry’s Joseph Black to identify changes Bedford, Jillian Birad, Ellen Bird, Andy Westlake, Hayley Whitehair, Jonathan Schumann, Aaron Scott, Benjamin CSci MRSB Rasneer Bains, Liz Professor Cooper, a Medal 2019. He received in the molecular Blair, Lily Boodhoo, Kimmie Bowers, Whittemore, Thomas Wightman, Sarah Seery, Shengxi Shao, Don Sharpe, Bentley, Debora Bogani, Natalie De specialist in veterinary the honour for “the techniques and ideas to The Schizophrenia cytoarchitecture of the James Brand, Eleanor Briggs, Leander Willich, Finlay Wilson, Kelly Wong, Kimberley Slinger, Thomas Smallwood, Mello, Mark Gardiner. pathology, has been a development and the research-led teaching International Research central nervous system Brito, Hoda Bseikri, Martina Burgo, Phoebe Wood, Sorcha Wood, Abigail Amy Smith, Tony Southall, Florentine Fellow of the Society and application of novel and of analytical chemistry” Society has named Dr of subjects with Valerie Burnett, Laura Campbell, Wycherley, Kieran Wynne, Mariam Spaans, Victoria Spencer, Ashish its predecessor engaging pedagogical at De Montfort University. Brian Dean FRSB as a schizophrenia. Shannon Carcary, Hariette Case, Yusuf, Yating Zhao. Srivastava, Gareth Staton, Christopher

34 / The Biologist / Vol 66 No 3 Vol 66 No 3 / The Biologist / 35 REVIEWS The best biology books, apps and online content

COMPUTING SKILLS uniqueness of Primates… we are also FOR BIOLOGISTS: A TOOLBOX realising how precarious is the future of Stefano Allesina and Madlen Wilmes Primates”. In the foreword of Primate Princeton Press, £35.00 Research and Conservation in the Anthropocene, Colin Chapman highlights The computational skills just how precarious that situation is now, a modern biologist requires with 60% of primate species threatened are multifaceted, making it with extinction. difficult to recommend a single The causes are largely due to familiar text to support student human behaviours and actions including learning. Allesina and Wilmes deforestation and the bush-meat trade, have risen to this challenge, providing a text along with some direct and indirect effects that is pitched perfectly at the beginning of climate change. However, this book gives student and provides a useful reference for good reason for cautious optimism, as it the rest of us. documents challenges that have been From a target-audience perspective tackled and successes that have been Computing Skills for Biologists is an celebrated to combat the decline of informative and valuable tool. The contents primates. There is a growing body of page provides clear chapter headings and academic research and conservation subheadings, making the book easy to projects, as this volume clearly illustrates. navigate even for someone with very limited The chapters include reviews, specific computing experience. Each chapter begins case studies, regional perspectives and with a ‘What is ...’ section that gives a simple A lion’s mane projections of the impact of global description of the tool that chapter covers. jellyfish in environmental and local biotic changes such It makes no assumptions of prior the seas off the as climate change, available diet or knowledge, making it ideal for novices. Inner Hebrides, nutritional ecology. on the Commands are displayed in an easy-to- west coast Each chapter opens with an outline of how read manner similar to how a user would of Scotland the researchers and workers were drawn into view them on their own computer and they primate conservation, which gives inspiration are explained well, which is not always the eight chapters, namely Chemistry and skull and teeth. Diagrams, terminology and Excel and applied software for such data. knowledge or simply find scientific articles to future students considering this relatively case in academic books. While the statistical Physics, Biology, Nature, Society, differences in morphology assist students in Sampling, tracking, sound analysis, that cover the subjects featured in the young vocation. computing chapter doesn’t cover statistical Government, Innovation, Culture and The the identification and understanding of behaviour and karyotyping add to the rest photographs. A useful glossary is given at the Throughout this book there is an methods, it complements texts such as Future. The result is a text that is highly modifications between mammals. For of the chapters. end of the book, alongside a good index of emphasis on the importance of collaboration Crawley’s Statistics: An introduction using R, superficial on any aspect, and yet in other instance, the Rodentia have unique jaw The content makes for a book of such a subject matter covered. between researchers from different as it explains the mechanics of manipulating respects assumes a considerable amount muscles to provide the power to gnaw range of mammal study methods it is Exploring Britain’s Hidden World includes backgrounds and local communities, and the data with R. of previous knowledge for the text to be through just about anything, including difficult to think all that can be in just 179 an extensive range of photographs, from countries in which they are working. While the tools and skills taught understood. Since there are no references tree trunks, as shown in the front-cover pages including the index. the seabed beyond low water to habitats One reservation I have is the use of the throughout the book are by no means and no index, it would be necessary to use image of a beaver. Pat Sang MRSB down to 100m depth in the sea around term ‘Anthropocene’ in the title. This term is exhaustive they provide an excellent starting the internet or a library to explore further. Differences in tooth form are probably the England, Scotland and Wales. increasingly found, and defined as an epoch, point for anyone about to step off into the The text does include some diagrams and easiest way to tell one mammal from EXPLORING BRITAIN’S HIDDEN This is a fascinating insight into a hidden in popular conservation and sustainability world of computational biology and provide histograms, several of which are not another and the author provides exercises WORLD: A NATURAL HISTORY OF world of beautiful but sometimes fragile literature. This work, however, is focused on a answers to many of the simple questions attributed to source data. for the student to practise tooth SEABED HABITATS habitats. It’s the sort of book that captures far shorter geological period than an epoch: one may feel too embarrassed to pose to The final chapter on the future largely identification in chapter two. Each chapter Keith Hiscock the excitement of scientific fieldwork so maybe a more alarmist yet apt title could be one’s teachers. covers two subjects: climate change and has one or more exercises for the instructor Wild Nature Press £25.00 well that after reading it you might just want ‘Research and Conservation to Prevent a Dr David Martin FRSB water treatment. As with the rest of the book to set as assignments. to sign up for diving lessons and buy yourself Catastrophian Age’. and Laura Pugh the presentation is partial, and there are Chapter five, though, is specifically for the Starting with a history of the a wetsuit. Dr Alexander Waller CBiol MRSB many other books that provide a better and student, as it is all about keeping a field exploration of seabed habitats Overall, Exploring Britain’s Hidden World is WATER IS: THE INDISPENSABILITY OF far fuller handling of these subjects. notebook. The importance of the field and sampling methods, this a fantastic book that combines superb THE SPIRIT OF INQUIRY: HOW ONE WATER IN SOCIETY AND LIFE It is not at all clear what sort of audience notebook is one of the most basic of skills book is thorough in its photography with some exciting science. EXTRAORDINARY SOCIETY SHAPED Seth B Darling and Seth W Snyder this book is aimed at or to what readers it and Ryan even gives the reader a point-by- treatment of the subject. Dr Amanda Hardy MRSB MODERN SCIENCE World Scientific, £25.99 would appeal. point list of what to include, such as date and However, although it is written Susannah Gibson Dr John C Bowman FRSB location, so he clearly has experience of by a highly experienced expert in the field PRIMATE RESEARCH AND Oxford University Press, £25.00 Water is essential to life on taking students into the field. and based on 50 years of research, the CONSERVATION IN THE Earth. There are many very MAMMALOGY TECHNIQUES What else is in the field manual? Chapters author has recognised that a coffee-table ANTHROPOCENE Reviewing a great book is much interesting physical and LAB MANUAL six to eight cover how to live trap, prepare format is the best use of the many and Edited by Alison M Behie, Julie A Teichroeb like witnessing a blue moon, chemical properties of water. James M Ryan specimens and collect mammalian parasites. wonderful photographs he has gathered and Nicholas Malone infrequent but captivating. The way in which these Johns Hopkins University Press, £29.50 Parasite infestation is studied because of the for the book. Cambridge University Press, £34.99 For me, The Spirit of Inquiry was properties enable life to exist, impact it has on mammal longevity, Hiscock clarifies in the opening pages that one such event. and for water to play a varied and intricate Over 19 chapters, Mammalogy reproductive success and disease. Parasite because so much literature is now available Just over half a century ago This details the history of the role in ecology and human society, is a highly Techniques is a laboratory collection’s aim is to identify which parasite openly online there is no need to include the former president of the Cambridge Philosophical Society from its important, complicated and topical subject. manual for the student and infects which host species. references in this type of book. Anyone who International Union for inception in 1819 to the present day. It was To attempt to cover this broad subject in tutor. Chapters one and two are Chapters nine and 10 have mark-recapture is interested in learning more should very Conservation of Nature, founded by Adam Sedgwick and John 180 pages in any degree of depth is unwise. dedicated to the primary studies with statistical estimate methods easily be able to use clues in the text to François Bourlière, wrote: “As Stevens Henslow, who worked with rocks The authors try to present their material in resources for identification: the including data analysis for use in Microsoft identify suitable literature to increase their we are becoming aware of the and tried to understand the Earth’s past 36 / The Biologist / Vol 66 No 3 Vol 66 No 3 / The Biologist / 37 REVIEWS

using the newly devised science of geology. giants of the day expounded ideas, An encounter The enthusiastic manner by which these two demonstrated apparatus and captivated with a female humpback set about the establishment of a society is minds. This book deserves your time. whale in the typical of the age when there was a genuine Dr Stephen Hoskins CBiol FRSB FLS Pacific Ocean desire to share and develop ideas about the natural world and the skies above. POCKET GUIDE TO WHALES, DOLPHINS Like-minded men, designated Fellows AND OTHER MARINE MAMMALS and graduates of the University of Dr Frances Dipper Cambridge came together to present their Lincoln Children’s Books, £8.99 understanding of the embryonic fields of botany, chemistry, geology, mineralogy and Seeing a marine mammal in the zoology. These represented the intellectual wild is always a memorable thinkers of their day and it is they who began experience. The instantaneous a movement that paved the way for and intense feelings of awe and professional science and social changes, wonder that are often inspired shaping both centuries that followed and by seeing whales, dolphins and resulting in the many advances we benefit manatees are also of immense value for from today. conservation, inspiring lifelong interests and The founding Fellows showed providing focal points for discussions about extraordinary generosity in donating their diverse issues, from plastic pollution to personal collections of British insects, shells, climate change. The neat little Pocket Guide and anatomical, geological and mineralogical to Whales, Dolphins and Other Marine specimens. Additionally, by paying Mammals is an ideal entry point for children membership fees, giving freely of their time and young adults who want to find out a bit and pooling other resources, they more about these charismatic creatures. established a museum and comprehensively Beautifully illustrated and excellently stocked library housed in permanent organised, the book starts with a concise accommodation, which was further secured and colourful summary of the evolution and in the long term by the award of a royal main adaptations of the different groups of charter in 1832. marine mammals (cetaceans, otters, Technological changes in printing and sirenians, polar bears and pinnipeds) lithography at the time the society began followed by a very brief guide to where you enabled the publication of books and might find them. Transactions, containing peer-reviewed The rest of the book is taken up with papers by Darwin, Babbage, Wilson descriptions of some of the most interesting (describing his cloud chamber) and and charismatic species in each group, Eddington. Later came women, such as combining technical information about their CEPHALOPOD BEHAVIOUR The book is a joy to read and, while environmental issues. My five-year-old – examined include soils, air and chemicals Anna Bateson, who with her brother morphology and ecology with snippets of Roger T Hanlon and John B Messenger academic and fact packed in nature, it is already a discerning reader and budding plus their origins, followed by water systems William presented papers on botanical information to engage and inspire. My six- Cambridge University Press £49.99 quite a page turner if you are interested in marine biologist – quickly added it to her pile and water bodies. The organic elements variation in 1890, and very many others year-old, who has already been lucky enough marine biology. The chapter detailing of favourites where it makes frequent comprise plants, habitats and green spaces, over the two centuries. to encounter manatees and river dolphins in I always find it fascinating to information about cephalopods’ vision and appearances among other, more traditional wildlife components, and domesticated Reading Gibson’s account seduced me the wild, was fascinated and now wants to learn about invertebrates that their ability to camouflage themselves was bedtime stories. species including dogs, cats and farm into believing I was in the audience during see a blue whale. So would I. in some ways mimic human particularly interesting, and I highly Ana C Malhado MRSB animals. Part III examines interactions those iconic meetings, when the intellectual Ana C Malhado MRSB behaviour, intelligence or ability recommend reading this. between towns and the land based on four to manipulate their Dr Amanda Hardy MRSB TOWNS, ECOLOGY, AND THE LAND categories: commercial, industrial and Albert Kok environment – as although the Richard TT Forman residential areas; agricultural elements likeness to us may be limited I find it 10 REASONS TO LOVE A WHALE Cambridge University Press, £39.99 divided into crops and pasture; forestland interesting to learn about what we, as Catherine Barr and aridland; and the type and significance humans, have in common with living Lincoln Children’s Books, £9.99 The focus of this book is the of links between towns and land such as creatures that are very different to ourselves. mosaic of towns, villages and corridors and networks, and movements Cephalopods are remarkable animals Back in the old days when I was interconnecting land that within and between towns and land. Finally, with relatively large brains and eyes, and a child this book would characterises landscapes Part IV draws lessons from existing town- the ability to exhibit complex and in some probably have been called worldwide, with emphasis on land relationships to establish principles for cases unexpected and difficult-to-explain something like ‘10 Amazing ecological and social future management and development. behaviour. Hanlon and Messenger have Facts about the Blue Whale!’. connectivity and reciprocity. Such mosaics Key factors/constituents are identified produced a fantastic textbook that contains Perhaps books with these sorts characterise almost half the global land and reference is made to sustainable fascinating insights into the behaviour and, of titles don’t go down so well in our post- surface and are home to approximately half development and the ecological footprint. to an extent, physiology of various truth world, so instead we need to be shown the global population. Given that the latter is already considerable, cephalopods. Details of up-to-date how to love these mighty mammals. In truth, Part I (of IV) defines towns, villages and and that population growth continues science are included and carefully the title is the only false note in this delightful associated spatial patterns, examines the against a backdrop of global warming and its referenced, with encouragements to little book aimed at young children. interactions between the landscape unpredictability, lessons need to be learned research students to help to advance Each of the 10 ‘reasons’ is very clearly components and their temporal and policies established to enhance or at the current state of knowledge and stated in concise, clear language with development, and describes the principal least maintain environmental quality at all understanding. Various gaps in current beautiful accompanying illustrations by human elements such as town/village living, spatial scales. This book provides valuable knowledge are clearly identified as Hanako Clulow. Critically, the tone is just culture, employment, social patterns and insights, through many and varied examples, Octopus Vulgaris, the common interesting areas of study that may lead right, neither talking down to the young planning. In Part II, the focus is on the to show the way. octopus to new insights and understanding. readership nor being too pushy about ecology of towns. Inorganic elements Dr AM Mannion

38 / The Biologist / Vol 66 No 3 Vol 66 No 3 / The Biologist / 39 TREASURER’S REPORT 2018 In sound financial health Dr Paul Brooker reports on the Society’s fiscal results from October 2017 to September 2018 and the sale of Charles Darwin House

his is my first report as honorary achieved in April 2018, with 18,400 members at treasurer. I was lucky enough to work on financial year end. Our membership subscriptions the Finance Committee with both of my are the largest source of our income and we are predecessors, Dr William Marshall and grateful to all our members – both individual and Dr Pat Goodwin, and would like to thank organisational – for their continued support. them for their careful and dedicated Particular thanks are due to those Member Published in partnership with the Royal Society Twork ensuring that the finances of the Society Organisations that have provided additional remained healthy. Dr Goodwin was still honorary resources: the Biochemical Society, the British of Biology, Oxford Biology Primers encourage treasurer until May 2018, and the credit for an Ecological Society, the British Pharmacological excellent year financially should go mainly to her and Society, the Genetics Society, the Nutrition Society, students to explore biology for themselves. the team at Charles Darwin House. the Physiological Society, the Society for Applied A deficit budget of £206,000 had been agreed for , the Society for Experimental Biology, 2017/2018, mainly due to our decision to further pay AstraZeneca, the BBSRC and the Wellcome Trust. They are the only resource to introduce prospective and down the deficit of the old Institute of Biology The year ended There will be significant financial change in the pension scheme by £137,000 (leaving a deficit of on a much better year ahead, with the Society selling its offices at current students of undergraduate-level bioscience to a range £65,000 on the most recent valuation). In fact, the position than Charles Darwin House (CDH) 1 and 2, which are held of topics from this dynamic experimental science, enticing year ended on a much better position than jointly with five other learned societies, and moving anticipated, with an operational surplus of £22,000 – anticipated, with to rented property. Despite the recent downturn in them to study further. partly due to prudent planning in the previous year an operational London property prices, we expect to make a good and strategic cost reduction measures in a number surplus of profit on both properties. At the time of the AGM we of areas. The Society’s total funds at the end of the £22,000 had sold CDH1 and were expecting to complete a year also increased to £2.51m compared with sale on CDH2 over the summer. The release of equity £2.299m in the previous year. will increase cash flow, enabling the Society to invest Hormones | Joy Hinson and Peter Raven | June The period represented the final year of a three- in new projects to support the bioscience community PUBLISHING IN 2019 year plan launched in 2015. During the year, the in the coming years. Conservation: a people centred approach | Society continued to support an impressive range of In the interim, while the sales are proceeding, we Human Infectious Disease and Public Health | Francis Gilbert and Hilary Gilbert | July high-profile activities, covering education, careers, will place proceeds from property sales into a variety William Fullick | January science policy and public engagement. Development of fixed interest accounts while we consider our long- Synthetic Biology in Mammals | Jamie Davies | included launching an online training centre and term financial strategy. Plant Diseases and Biosecurity | Paul Beales, December growth in all competitions, as well as continuing Finally, I’d like to thank Mark Downs and the staff John Elphinstone, Adrian Fox, Charles Lane, Derek activities such as degree accreditation, a key pillar of at Charles Darwin House. Their financial reporting McCann, Tim Lacey, Julian Little, Kerry Maguire and Cancer Biology and Treatment | Aysha Divan and the Society’s work that now operates at a surplus. and forecasting are of a very high quality and greatly Alice Turnbull | February The Finance Committee and Council are focused aid the treasurer’s work. I’m also grateful for the Janice A Royds | December on ensuring that costs are kept firmly under control, input of the Finance Committee, chair of the Audit and the chief executive is set a target of keeping Committee Rodney Eastwood and our auditors expenditure on staff costs to within 55% to 60% of haysmacintyre for all they have done to ensure that income. During 2017/2018 the percentage of income the Society’s financial position continues to be sound spent on the RSB’s 34 staff was 58%. and transparent. A key target was an individual membership count of 18,000 by 30 September 2018, which was Dr Paul Brooker CBiol FRSB www.oxfordtextbooks.co.uk/obp

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40 / The Biologist / Vol 66 No 3

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BEDS, ESSEX AND HERTS Event calendar June 2019 onwards THE BIOLOGY AND BENEFITS OF CANNABIS 22 February 2019

Dr David Potter FRSB, from GW Pharmaceuticals, provided more than 30 RSB members and guests with an interesting talk on cannabis plants. David explored cannabis use over the centuries and its classification as an illegal drug in 1971. As well as a recreational drug, the plant has many uses, including for making ropes, canvas, hemp and cannabis oils. It is also used in a variety of polymers – even in the doors of Mercedes cars. In 1997 the British Medical Association started to look at the therapeutic uses of An illustration of cannabis. Since then cannabis (or more Tyrannosaurus and two Glimpse Exmoor specifically cannabidiol or CBD) has shown

Nilfanion Troodons, by ponies at the Knepp promise in the treatment of many disorders, Philip Wilson Rewilding Project from schizophrenia to epilepsy as well as for pain relief. GW successfully developed the 1990s computers and smart pens have welcoming some 140 people to the The judges were impressed with the EAST ANGLIA GUIDED TOUR OF THE KNEPP world’s first prescription medicine derived replaced paper and ink, and digital artwork impressive George Davies Centre. detailed knowledge that was demonstrated REWILDING PROJECT from the cannabis plant, Sativex, for the is easy to amend, store and send instantly Pupils from Years 8 to 10 were asked to in all of the essays and posters, as well as in AGM AND GUIDED WALK Tuesday 3 September 2019, treatment of spasticity due to multiple all over the world. produce a poster while the senior students their discussions with the entrants in each OF WANDLEBURY 14:00–17:00 sclerosis. It is now licensed for use in more Maizels’ work is mainly scientific and from Years 11 to 13 were charged with writing section. Well done to everyone involved. Wednesday 18 September 2019, than 25 countries. veterinary art, including amazing cover an essay on the chosen theme. In line with Rosemary Hall MRSB 9:15–12:00 Guided tour in an off-road vehicle around Cannabis is dioecious and the active illustrations. Complex datasets and involved the university’s Health Matters campaign, the Knepp rewilding project to observe ingredient is found in the flowers of the life cycles can be reduced to cleverly ‘Healthy Ageing’ was the focus for 2019. The LONDON AGM, followed by a guided walk around animals such as Exmoor ponies and female plant. It is fast-growing and its seeds illustrated charts and imaginative visual wide brief gave everyone the opportunity to the beautiful, wildlife-rich Wandlebury green woodpeckers. can be found in health food shops and in representations. How else can you show concentrate on any biological aspect that VISIT TO THE BETHLEM MUSEUM Country Park. The Cow Barn, Knepp Safaris, New Barn bird-seed mixtures – hence why some a flea sitting on a dinosaur’s back? interested them. In some cases it was OF THE MIND Education Centre, Wandlebury Ring, Farm, Swallows Lane, Dial Post, West people find such plants accidently growing Both speakers emphasised that gratifying to see that personal experience 2 March 2019 Gog Magog Hills, Stapleford, Cambridge Sussex RH13 8NN in their gardens. knowledge of the subject is as important had influenced their choice. CB22 3AE Frances Evans CBiol MRSB as technical competence, and this was well When not being quizzed by the team of On a sunny day in March members of the LONDON illustrated with Debbie’s dissection guides professional judges, the students could visit London branch committee, together with KENT, SURREY AND SUSSEX DEVON AND CORNWALL and anatomical studies. and engage with a variety of interactive fellow RSB members, travelled to VISIT AND GUIDED TOUR OF THE Their talk ended with a chilling activities such as ‘Heartwize’, which enticed Beckenham to visit the Bethlem Museum of GUIDED TOUR OF THE HOUSE, TEMPERATE HOUSE AT KEW ART IN THE SERVICE OF SCIENCE demonstration of how medical art can be pupils to try some CPR, and ‘Leicester Ageing the Mind. This small but well-curated GARDENS AND WOODLAND OF GARDENS 16 March 2019 used in court – for example, to show jurors Together’, which showed how the city works museum stands on the grounds of Bethlem POLESDEN LACEY Saturday 15 June 2019, 11:00–12:30 in murder trials the trajectory of a bullet to support elderly people. Royal Hospital, the oldest psychiatric hospital Wednesday 12 June 2019, 11:15–16:00 We’ve all seen the pretty and instructive through a body or the angle of attack of a The judging teams were kept busy well into in the world. Get closer to nature with a guided tour of graphics on the cover of Nature, Science and knife wound. lunch and beyond and, while their debates The visit started in the beautiful wood- Enjoy a tour of the National Trust’s the Temperate House, and then explore The Biologist, but we, and the 25 other guests So the next time you look at a cover continued, the parents, teachers and panelled committee room where we were Edwardian house, extensive gardens the rest of Kew Gardens. attending the branch AGM at the Marine graphic, try to spend a bit more time students enjoyed a short lecture by Professor given a brief history of the hospital, from its and ancient wooded estate at Kew Gardens, Richmond, Biological Association in Plymouth, hadn’t appreciating the skills of the artist who Elizabeta Mukaetova-Ladinska. From defining origin in 1247 as a priory in Bishopsgate to its Polesden Lacey. London TW9 3JR really given a thought to how they are created created it. old age to strategies for ‘Ripening to current location. The walls of the room were Great Bookham, Dorking, or, indeed, what medical and scientific Dr Ian Varndell CBiol FRSB and Perfection’, the professor emphasised the adorned with portraits, including one of Surrey RH5 6BD WEST MIDLANDS illustration involves. Mary Jenking CBiol MRSB many interrelated factors that have a bearing Henry VIII, and coats of arms – a wonderful Our guest speakers were Debbie Maizels on healthy ageing. start to our visit. We also took in the GUIDED TOUR OF THE WOODS BEETLE WORKSHOP: DO YOU KNOW MRSB and Philip Wilson – both freelance EAST MIDLANDS Finally, as the event drew to a close, sculptures that guard the staircase up to the MILL NATURE RESERVE YOUR LONGHORNS FROM YOUR and expert artists. Wilson took us from the all of the entrants were commended for museum depicting raving and melancholy Friday 16 August 2019, 11:00–13:00 LEAF BEETLES AND LADYBIRDS? exquisite sketches of Leonardo da Vinci to REGIONAL SCHOOLS BIOLOGY their hard work. The winners included madness. We were then invited to take a self- Thursday 15 August 2019, 10:00–16:00 the 20th-century world of the medical COMPETITION Olivia Bryant from Uppingham School, who guided tour of the collection, with staff on An exceptional chance to enjoy the best artists who sat behind surgeons in 2 March 2019 was awarded first prize for her poster on hand to answer questions. of Sussex wildlife on a guided tour led by One-day workshop learning to use operating theatres drawing surgical ‘House Plants’ and the positive effect they The displays were informative, inspiring Michael Blencowe, a senior learning and microscopes to identify UK beetles. procedures. Why? Because artists can leave The approach of British Science Week each can have on the people who tend them. and shocking. Inspiring because of how engagement officer. Bishops Wood Field Study Centre, out the blood and because they can year heralds the much-anticipated East In the senior section, David Noyvert from patients’ stories and artwork were used to Woods Mill, Shoreham Road, Crossway Green, Stourport-on-Severn emphasise or selectively highlight certain Midlands Regional Schools Competition and, Beauchamp College received first prize for highlight how far we have come in our Henfield BN5 9SD DY13 9SE features, such as deep cavities, which once again, thanks were due to the University his essay ‘Healthy Ageing – could understanding and treatment of mental photographers cannot do. Since the of Leicester for hosting the event and mitochondria be key?’ health; shocking because of the selection of FOR DETAILS www.rsb.org.uk/events

42 / The Biologist / Vol 66 No 3 Vol 66 No 3 / The Biologist / 43 BRANCHES United States Geological Survey

restraints and straitjackets on display, Bonnin was joined by academics from the together with a section of a padded room Queen’s School of Biological Sciences: Dr that was used to seclude patients. Jonathan Houghton, a marine biologist who The visit provided a wealth of fascinating works in the Galápagos today, who outlined information and provoked plenty of thought international efforts to preserve the rich and discussion. underwater diversity; and Professor Chris Dr Brenda Williams MRSB Allen, who discussed how Darwin’s theory has led to exciting technologies that are NORTHERN IRELAND delivering incredible innovations. The speakers fielded questions from the GALÁPAGOS – EVOLUTION AND GLOBAL audience before Bonnin posed for photos CHANGE WITH LIZ BONNIN with members of the audience. 24 February 2019 Dr Diane Lees-Murdock CBiol MRSB, NI branch chair The Galápagos Islands are famed as the biological wonderland where Charles SOUTH WALES Darwin conceived his theory of natural selection. However, these islands are CONVERSATIONS WITH THE DEAD becoming an increasingly popular tourist 25 March 2019 destination, which, along with the effects of environmental change, has significant The South Wales branch, in collaboration implications for the vast array of unique with the Linnean Society, hosted esteemed biodiversity found there. curator Maxwell Barclay as he held a talk on As part of the Northern Ireland Science his passion, the natural history of Coleoptera. Festival 2019 the RSB and Queen’s University Barclay is the head curator of Coleoptera at Belfast School of Biological Sciences hosted the Natural History Museum in London and Eucanthus a fascinating event featuring BBC science his tales of the journeys of many naturalists lazarus, a scarab beetle in the and nature presenter Liz Bonnin. Organised brought together the winding routes of the Geotrupidae by Professor Chris Allen, vice-chair of the history of insects. family Northern Ireland branch, the eagerly After an introduction by Professor Dianne anticipated event had an enthusiastic Edwards of the Linnean Society, Barclay, who determined from such specimens and the keen to ask questions. Alongside the talks, filled with smart and polite boys all eager to use this technology to predict the likelihood response from the local public, scientific has more than 80 species of beetle named in information presented with them. Barclay students were invited to chat to employers at find out about various career pathways as of diseases such as breast cancer and community and student body, resulting in a his honour, outlined how natural history highlighted the importance of appreciating their stalls, as well as to network over coffee well as my own. Alzheimer’s, or traits such as eye colour. sell-out audience of more than 250. collections hold reams of unpublished and documenting the natural world before and at lunch. I was able to offer advice about personal DNA editing and testing of embryos is also Bonnin presented her experiences scientific reference data, succinctly summed changes prevent us from describing it with Dr Ray Gibson CBiol FRSB and Dr John statements, work experience and the a key theme in the film as natural births aboard the research vessel Alucia as she up on small labels alongside insect any meaning. Grainger CBiol FRSB, members of the numerous opportunities in the field of become rare and designer babies the norm. embarked on a scientific expedition across specimens collected from all climates, all The event was well attended and Thames Valley branch committee, also gave biology and in higher education, as well as Again, the technology is available today, in these islands to help protect their remarkable countries and all ecological niches possible. thoroughly enjoyed by those who filled in talks on their own careers, the university itself websites that provide useful information on principle rather than practice, and it is biodiversity. She enthralled the audience with Beetles are the most diverse group of feedback forms, with 100% of respondents and the benefits of being an RSB member. university choices. It is always such a heavily regulated. clips and stories from the popular BBC series organisms based on current identifications of saying they would attend similar events in The event was of huge benefit to the pleasure to be able to offer advice and to Gattaca also depicts instant DNA testing to in which she joined scientists working to species, with around 400,000 extant species the future. One attendee said: “Whoever students who attended and it was a great speak about one’s own experiences to identify individuals. This is not yet possible, protect the endangered pink iguana, currently described. The Natural History would have thought that a curator of beetles pleasure to have organised it. The students’ young people embarking on an exciting and as testing DNA usually requires a minimum journeyed 1km into the ocean abyss Museum houses many type specimens from in a museum could give such an enthralling interactions with a range of experts helped fruitful future. of 90 minutes and will not become surrounding the islands to catch a glimpse of renowned enthusiasts such as Alfred Russel talk? I was captivated.” guide their paths after university, as well as Dr Elizabeth JM Evesham CBiol FRSB instantaneous any time soon. elusive new species, abseiled into a lava cave Wallace, Charles Darwin and Mary Kingsley. Samantha Hill (affiliate student) helped the Society gain more student Finally, the film shows a world where and dived in the ocean to help investigate The majority of specimens in museums members. GATTACA – ARE WE NEARLY genetic privacy no longer exists. Currently hammerhead shark activities in order to are donated by hobbyist collectors and a THAMES VALLEY If you are a member of the Thames Valley THERE YET? there are laws protecting genetic privacy provide future protection for these wealth of information on past environments, branch and would like to get involved with the 8 March 2019 within healthcare testing, but commercial magnificent creatures. climates and ecological states can be YOUNG BIOLOGIST FORUM 2019 event, please get in touch. genetic-testing companies hold the genetic 12 February 2019 Leah Napier (affiliate student) RSB members gathered at the Salisbury profiles of around 26 million people. This Conolophus Arts Centre for a screening of Gattaca, genetic data is not secure, mirroring the marthae, the Our third annual careers event, hosted at the a film based on a dystopian future where accessibility of genetic information in Gattaca. endangered WESSEX Galápagos pink University of Reading, was perhaps the most an individual’s genetics determine their As Dr Mayers outlined, the only current land iguana successful yet. Speakers included Ian LOWER SIXTH CAREERS CONVENTION, career, status and value to society. barrier to insurance companies using genetic Hunneyball, senior vice-president at Evotec; SHERBOURNE SCHOOL The film depicts the prediction of traits data in the UK is a voluntary agreement Nathan Cowieson, a beamline scientist at 23 March 2019 from DNA and the diagnosis of an individual’s called the Code on Genetic Testing and Diamond Light Source; and Jassent Owens entire medical history at birth. Insurance between the UK Government and from NHS pathology. They all gave engaging For the fifth year running, I have taken part in The screening was followed by cake and a the Association of British Insurers. talks to A level biology students and a well-organised, busy and thriving careers fascinating talk by Dr Carl Mayers OBE CBiol Dr Mayers concluded: “The future depicted undergraduates about their day-to-day role convention on behalf of the Wessex branch. FRSB, the Defence Science and Technology in Gattaca is possible today in terms of and their individual career routes, including Despite the early start and long drive Laboratory’s lead in forensic genomics. technology. It is important to note that ethics insights into the life of a PhD student. along country lanes, I have always looked Dr Mayers explained that the technology is heavily considered within science and that There was a great turnout of students forward to the event and the welcoming and depicted in Gattaca does exist, but not at the films like this make us contemplate the Rimini from the Reading and Oxford areas, who warm atmosphere of the school. This capacity shown in the film. Commercial future and how best to safeguard it.” found the talks motivating and were occasion was no exception. The classroom genetic-testing companies such as 23andMe Isadora Sinha (affiliate student)

44 / The Biologist / Vol 66 No 3 Vol 66 No 3 / The Biologist / 45 BRANCHES CROSSWORD The biology brainteaser

Crack our confounding This issue clues for your chance to All across answers come from the win a £25 book token world of biology. These clues only provide a subsidiary indication of their DEVON AND CORNWALL Across answers. Down clues consist of the 1 Our DNA is modified (8) traditional combination of definition 5 Turn towards sun primarily to and subsidiary indication. absorb energy (6) How to enter 9 Able to change mind (8) To be in with a chance of winning a £25 10 Shor t coach (6) EAST MIDLANDS book token, send us your completed 12 Any losing acceleration seen with puzzles by Friday 30th August. speed (5) Please include your name, address and membership number with your entry – Participants in the Yorkshire branch’s cross-discipline discussion event Frontiers of Sciences IV KENT, SURREY AND SUSSEX 1 3 Turning rotor had to have power (9) an email address would be handy too. 1 4 Covered in first amendment (6) WEST MIDLANDS YORKSHIRE Post your entries to: Crossword, The 1 6 Swimming seal can (7) Biologist, Royal Society of Biology, DARWIN’S NEMESIS – FRONTIERS OF SCIENCES IV 19 A lair in back of cave (7) 1 Naoroji Street, Islington, London WC1X 0GB THE INTERESTING CASE OF 16 March 2019 21 Has been missed in thesaurus NORTH WALES ALFRED RUSSEL WALLACE compilation (6) Last issue’s winners 16 February 2019 This year’s talks were delivered by our 23 Take bus back to gain speed on Well done to last issue’s winners: first ever all-female panel: Dr Frances NORTH WESTERN street (9) Mr M Cracknell and Dr Colin Leonard The West Midlands branch was pleased to Westall of CNRS, France; Professor 25 Half of me, ours, this (5) Gilbert FRSB. Book tokens are on their support this year’s DarwIN Shrewsbury Christine Foyer of the University of Leeds; way to you. 26 Company near to collapse (6) Festival. The annual event honours Charles and Dr Klara Anna Capova of Durham NORTHERN 8 Sort of wind sculpture – beige nude 27 Rent unit out (8) Volume Darwin’s birthday, 12 February 1809, and his University. The topics delved into a wide mobile (4,4) birthplace, Mount House, Shrewsbury. The range of scientific knowledge and study, 28 Sea neighbouring America (6) 66 No 3 NORTHERN IRELAND compiled 11 Small and yet somehow it’s lovely Abbeygate Hall, within a medieval including volcanic rocks, hydrothermal 29 Weight put on board (8) disturbing vision (4) building, once part of Shrewsbury Abbey vents and the origin of life; antioxidants/ by Doug Last issue’s solution 15 Dampness oddly mutes noises, Down Stanford Vol 66 No 2 and now headquarters of Shropshire Wildlife redox and sensing mechanisms; and, the they’re distorted (9) Trust, made a great venue. There was just ultimate question, what is life and where do 1 Insist on protest march and for 1 7 Aggressive sort of culture, not nothing (6) enough room to fit everyone in, including a we come from? heartless (9) few people on the waiting list. As in previous years Dr Sohan Jheeta 2 Grandmother terribly remote? It’s 18 Top music performance can be hot Our invited speaker, James Williams, organised and promoted the event no distance at all (9) stuff (8) lecturer in education at the University with sponsorship from the RSB, the 3 Metalworker quiet about where one 2 0 Epochs with queen are short (4) of Sussex, gave a well-illustrated talk Astrobiology Society of Britain and the THAMES VALLEY gets technology training (5) 21 Showing variation in prune quality (7) about the interesting case of Alfred Russel Royal Society of Chemistry, as well as, 4 Toforget could be neural Wallace. He described Wallace’s life and for the second year running, the generous malfunction at the back of brain (7) 22 Next to no light for selfie possibly WESSEX with onset of night (6) career, and clarified the timing of Wallace’s donation of the excellent state-of the art 6 Alarge gull consumed every notes on the origin of species that were sent venue by KPMG. This year the meeting second one (9) 24 The sound of food? Uninterested (5) to Darwin – essential in understanding the was very well attended, with the audience WEST MIDLANDS 7 Cold’s what might be inclined to 25 Upset, not any memory, one’s brain is extent to which Darwin used Wallace’s ideas. exceeding 100. create muscle spasm (5) not working properly (5) The talk was supplemented with original More than 60 people took time to photographs and research that provided complete feedback forms, which were new information. extremely encouraging, indicating that, The audience responded with many overall, the audience was happy with the thoughtful questions at the end, particularly choices of subject matter, presentation YORKSHIRE regarding the spelling of Alfred Wallace’s and quality of visual materials – this Could you recommend a member? middle name. During the talk, it was despite the public address system not The Royal Society of Biology represents, supports and engages with anyone who has an interest suggested, from first-hand examination of functioning properly. the family prayer book*, that a second ‘l’ had Next year, in order to extend the reach in the life sciences, and offers membership grades to suit all levels of expertise been erased at some point. This fuelled of the event, we will sponsor one ‘scientific speculation about possible reasons that fringe’ speaker who can deliver a talk Existing members are uniquely placed to help grow our membership – and to increase continued to be debated until we had to on a subject not necessarily covered by vacate the hall. the mainstream (for example, the nano- the influence we are able to exert. A significant number of new members join as a The branch looks forward to holding robotic exploration of outer space) direct result of a recommendation from someone they know and trust. another Darwin lecture for the Shrewsbury and which would be outside the traditional Our branches need you! If you have a colleague, friend or family member who would benefit from Society Festival in 2020. societies’ scope. This should invigorate Western, Beds, Essex and Herts, East Anglia, Northern Dr Sue Howarth FRSB the meeting and encourage an even and North Wales branches are recruiting new membership, please email their details to us – and let us know if you’d like committee members and officers. Whether you are a greater participation by the public. university student, researcher, amateur enthusiast or us to mention your nomination. * You can read James Williams’ article on Therefore, the future of these Frontiers professional biologist, joining a committee is your

Alfred Russel Wallace in The Biologist Vol of Sciences meetings is looking opportunity to organise and support the sort of events and activities you would like to see in your region. 60(5), p22–25. This has a photograph of the extremely bright. Contact [email protected] for more information. email: [email protected] www.rsb.org.uk prayer book inscription. Dr Sohan Jheeta MRSB

46 / The Biologist / Vol 66 No 3 Vol 66 No 3 / The Biologist / 47 MUSEUMPIECE Biological exhibits from around the world Everything for wildlife, ecology and conservation

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Could you recommend a member? #38 An eyelash on a stick The Francis Crick Institute, London

he Francis Crick Institute, the most advanced imaging equipment in equipment, short films, personal interviews, opened in 2016, is the biggest the world, the teams have a distinctly low- imagery and interactive exhibits to bring and arguably most advanced tech way of guiding the delicate samples the stories and skills of these teams to life. biomedical research institute into position: they use their own eyelashes The free exhibition is part of the in Europe, supporting more glued on to the end of a cocktail stick. These institute’s wider commitment to support than 1,000 scientists on an homemade tools require a steady hand, but and promote the vital work of technical staff operating budget of over are perfect for floating the slices – often in research. The Crick’s director, Nobel T£100 million a year. 1,000 times finer than a human hair – on Prize-winning biologist Sir Paul Nurse, Yet alongside the state-of-the-art facilities the surface of a water droplet. began his own career as a laboratory an army of technicians and engineers – plus The exhibition shines a spotlight on four technician aged 17. In 2017 the institution their unusual tools of the trade – are the other teams of specialists: the technicians signed the Technician Commitment, a The Royal Society of Biology represents, supports and engages with anyone who has an interest in the life sciences, beating heart of the institution’s research. A breeding and feeding more than 1.5 million sector-wide initiative led by the Science and offers membership grades to suit all levels of expertise and interest. new exhibition, Craft & Graft, takes visitors fruit flies; the biologists nurturing billions of Council and the Gatsby Foundation aiming Existing members are uniquely placed to help grow our membership - and to increase the influence we are able to exert - behind the scenes to meet the “fly breeders, cells in thousands of flasks, vials and to address the career challenges faced by and a significant number of new members join as a direct result of a recommendation from someone they know and trust. laser guiders, cell growers, tech fixers and containers; the teams who clean 750,000 technical staff working in research. If you have a colleague, friend, or family member who would benefit from Society membership, please email their details bottle washers” who work around the clock pieces of glassware each year for re-use to us - and let us know if you’d like us to mention your nomination. to support innovation at the institute. and to prevent contamination; and the Craft & Graft is free and runs at the Francis One focus of the exhibition is the work of engineers who repair, adapt or invent vital Crick Institute until the end of November. those who prepare the ultra-thin samples laboratory equipment. The exhibition space is open from 10:00– [email protected] | www.rsb.org.uk/join for the institute’s powerful electron Visitors see five typical workbenches that 20:00 on Wednesdays and 10:00–16:00 on microscopes. Despite working with some of have been specially created with tools and Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays

48 / The Biologist / Vol 66 No 3