TheTHE SOCIETY OF BIOLOGY MAGAZINE ■ ISSN 0006-3347Biologist ■ SOCIETYOFBIOLOGY.ORG VOL 59 NO 2 ■ JUNE 2012 SPECIAL REPORT WONDER WEED Inside Britain’s only legal cannabis farm NATURE OLYMPICS 2012 SCIENCE ON TV REINTRODUCTIONS GENE DOPING REALITY TV Bringing beavers Towards genetically Are TV science back to Britain altered athletes graphics misleading? TheBiologist THE SOCIETY OF BIOLOGY MAGAZINE Volume 59 No 2 / June 2012 Contents 8 26 IN THIS ISSUE 8 2012: an Olympic year 22 Designer athletes News for science Genetically engineered How Usain Bolt wins medals athletes may not be part of 4 Society news one stride at a time. this year’s Olympics, but 8 Opinion Dr Cristiana Velloso 39 Member news 9 Empowering women investigates the advances in 42 Branch news in Africa genotype research How female African scientists Regulars are overcoming a male- 26 Back to life dominated scientific community Scottish Natural Heritage’s 3 Nelson’s column to undertake vital research. Dr Martin Gaywood looks at 10 Biofeedback the role of reintroduction 14 Flower power projects as a way to conserve 12 Policy update An in-depth look at the cannabis important species and 34 Spotlight plant at the UK’s only legal restore ecosystems. 36 Reviews cannabis glasshouse. 47 Crossword 30 Sir Stephen Bloom 48 Final Word 19 Reality TV The distinguished Professor Brian J Ford asks why and recently knighted broadcasters spend huge sums endocrinologist talks on computer-generated digital to Sue Thorn FSB scientific simulations when the about his research 19 MAIN COVER IMAGE: ALAMY IMAGE: COVER MAIN real thing is available on video. into obesity. Vol 59 No 2 / THE BIOLOGIST / 1 THE BIOLOGIST Vol 59 No 2 • June 12 Contacts EDITORIAL BOARD STAFF AND CONTACT DETAILS Editor Chief Executive Sue Nelson Dr Mark Downs FSB Society of Biology Assistant Editor Jennifer Crosk, PA to Mark Downs Charles Darwin House, Tom Ireland MSB [email protected] 12 Roger Street, [email protected] London WC1N 2JU MEMBERSHIP, MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS Tel: 020 7685 2550 For membership enquiries, call 0844 858 9316 Fax: 020 3514 3204 [email protected] Members [email protected] Director of Membership, Marketing J Ian Blenkharn MSB FRSPH & Communications www.societyofbiology.org Phil Collier MSc PhD CBiol FSB FLS FHE Jon Kudlick Views expressed in this magazine are Cameron S Crook BSc MPhil CBiol MSB MIEEM FLS Marketing Manager Adam Timmins not necessarily those of the Editorial Rajith Dissanayake MSc PhD FZS AMSB Public Engagement and Events Executive Board or the Society of Biology. 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Instructions for authors are HO Licensee Accreditation Board Rosanna Chambers available on the Society of Biology website or on Fraser Darling CBiol FSB [email protected] request from the editorial office. [email protected] 020 8962 3026 2 / THE BIOLOGIST / Vol 59 No 2 Nelson’s Column eed, pot, hash, their medals are gained fairly. The fault with TV’s representation of grass. The names anti-doping authorities have already microscopic science on page 19 and may differ but they voiced concern about the misuse of I suspect will start an interesting are all forms of the gene therapy within athletics, debate on artistic license in biology. same plant. although there is no evidence that Finally, when I became Editor two WCannabis is the UK’s most widely this has ever happened. years ago, it was on condition that I used illegal drug but disagreement Genetically engineered athletes provided a journalistic overview for over its classification or legalisation may be science fiction at the moment, the magazine and the Society looked has often overshadowed its potential but Dr Cristiana Vellosa from King’s after the science. Although I have a medical benefits. College London, discusses on science degree, it is in physics. As cannabis can reduce nausea, it page 22 how knowing our genotype Embarrassingly for this publication, has been suggested for easing the side could one day be used to identify I’ve not studied biology since the age effects of chemotherapy, while its future Olympians. of 16 – after abandoning A-level relaxation properties are known to Incidentally, the Society was close biology due to being constantly on the benefit those with multiple sclerosis. to having its own potential Olympian verge of fainting during dissections. GW Pharmaceuticals grows when Jenna Stevens-Smith made To redress the balance – and maybe cannabis at a secret location in the the final 20 under consideration for as a cure for a weak stomach – I UK. The Biologist went to see it and Team GB’s volleyball team last year. recently applied for a Logan science Dr David Potter shares with us on A former international volleyball journalism fellowship at the Marine page 14 the science and the current player, Jenna knows more than most Biological Laboratory in Cape Cod. It’s good medical applications of the plant, about how the body behaves during As a result, when The Biologist lands to see the especially when it comes to pain sporting excellence and she promotes on your doorsteps, I will be wearing a relief. It’s good to see the politics the importance of science and sport white coat doing a hands-on laboratory politics taken out of potential therapies. on page 8. course in biomedical science. taken out Using drugs to enhance mood or It will be difficult to avoid the I’ll report on my experience in the of potential physical performance is nothing new saturation sports coverage during next edition of The Biologist, which therapies but the athletes competing in the the Olympics but I suspect Brian will arrive slightly earlier than usual, 2012 London Olympics will be under Ford might be watching science in August, as we move to publication particular scrutiny to ensure that documentaries instead. He finds every two months. Wish me well. Sue Nelson, Editor Vol 59 No 2 / THE BIOLOGIST / 3 Inaugural Society scheme to ‘Biology Week’ boost graduate skills he Society is pleased to announce the first ever Society news TBiology Week will be held in the UK from the 13-19 October 2012. Plans for the week include practical experiments in schools, a ‘citizen science’ mass ecology data project, awards ceremonies for our science communication and New membership benefits photography competitions and a launch event in Parliament. fter increasing the frequency of our accredited Animal Licence Our local branches and Member of The Biologist from four to courses.