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TheBiologistThe socieTy of biology magazine ■ issn 0006-3347 ■ socieTyofbiology.org

NATURe

ReINTRODUCTIONS Bringing beavers

back to Britain

SCIeNCe ON TV

ReALITY TV Are TV science

graphics misleading?

OLYmpICS 2012

GeNe DOpING Towards genetically

altered athletes

Vol 59 no 2 ■ JUne 2012

wONDeR weeDInside Britain’s only legal cannabis farm

SpeCIAL RepORT

22 Designer athletesGenetically engineered

athletes may not be part of

this year’s Olympics, but

Dr Cristiana Velloso

investigates the advances in

genotype research

26 Back to life Scottish Natural Heritage’s

Dr Martin Gaywood looks at

the role of reintroduction

projects as a way to conserve

important species and

restore ecosystems.

30 Sir Stephen BloomThe distinguished

and recently knighted

endocrinologist talks

to Sue Thorn FSB

about his research

into obesity.

Contents

News

4 society news8 opinion39 member news42 branch news

TheBiologistThe SOCIeTY OF BIOLOGY MAGAZINe

Volume 59 No 2 / June 2012

IN ThIS ISSUe

Vol 59 No 2 / The BIOLOGIST / 1

8 2012: an Olympic year for science

How Usain Bolt wins medals

one stride at a time.

9 empowering women in Africa

How female African scientists

are overcoming a male-

dominated scientific community

to undertake vital research.

14 Flower powerAn in-depth look at the cannabis

plant at the UK’s only legal

cannabis glasshouse.

19 Reality TV Professor Brian J Ford asks why

broadcasters spend huge sums

on computer-generated digital

scientific simulations when the

real thing is available on video.

268

19

Regulars

3 nelson’s column10 biofeedback12 Policy update34 spotlight36 reviews47 crossword48 final Word

MA

IN C

OV

ER

IMA

GE

: AL

AM

Y

The BIOLOGISTVol 59 No 2 • June 12

2 / The BIOLOGIST / Vol 59 No 2

Society of BiologyCharles Darwin house,12 Roger Street,London wC1N 2JUTel: 020 7685 2550Fax: 020 3514 [email protected]

Views expressed in this magazine are not necessarily those of the editorial Board or the Society of Biology.

© 2012 Society of Biology(Registered charity no. 277981)

The Society permits single copying of individual articles for private study or research, irrespective of where the copying is done. Multiple copying of individual articles for teaching purposes is also permitted without specific permission. For copying or reproduction or any other purpose, written permission must be sought from the Society. exceptions to the above are those institutions and non-publishing organisations that have an agreement or licence with the UK Copyright Licensing Agency or the US Copyright Clearance Centre. Access to articles is available online; please see the Society’s website for futher details.

The Biologist is produced on behalf of the Society of Biology byThink Publishing Ltd.124-128 Barlby RoadLondon W10 6BLwww.thinkpublishing.co.uk020 8962 3020

DesignAlistair McGownSub editorsCathi Thacker, Indira MannpublisherJohn [email protected]

Non-member rates: £116.00

ISSN 0006-3347

Advertising in The Biologist represents an unparalleled opportunity to reach a large community of professional biologists.

For advertising information contactRosanna [email protected] 8962 3026

eDITORIAL BOARDeditor Sue NelsonAssistant editor Tom Ireland MSB [email protected]

members

J Ian Blenkharn MSB FRSPh

Phil Collier MSc PhD CBiol FSB FLS Fhe

Cameron S Crook BSc MPhil CBiol MSB MIeeM FLS

Rajith Dissanayake MSc PhD FZS AMSB

Catherine Duigan BSc PhD FSB FLS

John heritage BA DPhil CBiol FSB

Sue howarth BSc PhD CBiol FSB

Allan Jamieson BSc PhD CBiol FSB

Catherine Jopling BSc PhD MSB

Susan Omar BSc PGCe CBiol MSB MRSPh FRGS

Leslie Rose BSc CBiol FSB FICR MAPM

Advisory panel

Ian Clarke, horticulture Research International, UK

Clive Cornford, Unitec, Auckland, New Zealand

Sharon Grimster, BioPark, UK

Alan Lansdown, Imperial College London, UK

Walter Leal Filho, hamburg University of Applied Sciences, Germany

Marios Kyriazis, Biogerontologist and anti-ageing physician, UK

Don McManus, Bancroft Centre, Australia

Peter Moore, Kings’ College, London, UK

Brian Osborne, Australia

John Scott, University of Leicester, UK

Robert Spooner-hart, University of Western Sydney, Australia

Kathleen Weathers, Institute of ecosystem Studies, USA

Steve Wilson, Pfizer Animal health

A wINDOw ON The LIFe SCIeNCeSThe Biologist is a bi-monthly magazine (published six times per year) that carries the full richness and diversity of biology. Science is brought to life with stimulating and authoritative features, while topical pieces discuss science policy, new developments or controversial issues. Aimed at biologists everywhere, its straightforward style makes it ideal for educators and students at all levels, as well as the interested amateur. Submissions of interesting and timely articles, short opinion pieces and letters are welcome. Articles should be aimed at a non-specialist audience and convey your enthusiasm and expertise. Instructions for authors are available on the Society of Biology website or on request from the editorial office.

ContactsSTAFF AND CONTACT DeTAILSChief executiveDr Mark Downs FSBJennifer Crosk, PA to Mark [email protected]

memBeRShIp, mARkeTING & COmmUNICATIONSFor membership enquiries, call 0844 858 [email protected] of membership, marketing & Communications Jon Kudlickmarketing manager Adam Timminspublic engagement and events executive Dr Jenna Stevens-Smith MSBmarketing Assistant Zoë Martin AMSBpress Officer Dr Rebecca Nesbit MSBeditorial Assistant Karen Patel AMSB

eDUCATION AND TRAINING [email protected] of education Rachel Lambert-Forsyth CBiol MSBhigher education policy OfficerDr eva Sharpe MSBCompetitions Co-ordinator Dr Amanda hardyQualifications and Skills OfficerNatasha Neill AMSB

SCIeNCe pOLICY [email protected] of Science policyDr Laura Bellingan FSB Senior Science policy AdvisersDr Barbara Knowles FSBDr Caroline Wallace MSBScience policy OfficerJackie Caine MSBproject Officer (Natural Capital Initiative)Daija AngeliBBSRC policy InternRichard Fautley

Director of parliamentary AffairsStephen Benn

Financial Administrator Surinder [email protected]

pROFeSSIONAL ReGISTeRSprofessional Registers manager Dr Cliff Collis CBiol [email protected] project manager (Technicians’ Register)Dr Mike Trevethick MSB

european Countries Biologists Association (eCBA) RepresentativeDr Tony Allen CBiol [email protected]

hO Licensee Accreditation BoardFraser Darling CBiol [email protected]

weed, pot, hash,

grass. The names

may differ but they

are all forms of the

same plant.

Cannabis is the UK’s most widely

used illegal drug but disagreement

over its classification or legalisation

has often overshadowed its potential

medical benefits.

As cannabis can reduce nausea, it

has been suggested for easing the side

effects of chemotherapy, while its

relaxation properties are known to

benefit those with multiple sclerosis.

GW Pharmaceuticals grows

cannabis at a secret location in the

UK. The Biologist went to see it and

Dr David Potter shares with us on

page 14 the science and the current

medical applications of the plant,

especially when it comes to pain

relief. It’s good to see the politics

taken out of potential therapies.

Using drugs to enhance mood or

physical performance is nothing new

but the athletes competing in the

2012 London Olympics will be under

particular scrutiny to ensure that

their medals are gained fairly. The

anti-doping authorities have already

voiced concern about the misuse of

gene therapy within athletics,

although there is no evidence that

this has ever happened.

Genetically engineered athletes

may be science fiction at the moment,

but Dr Cristiana Vellosa from King’s

College London, discusses on

page 22 how knowing our genotype

could one day be used to identify

future Olympians.

Incidentally, the Society was close

to having its own potential Olympian

when Jenna Stevens-Smith made

the final 20 under consideration for

Team GB’s volleyball team last year.

A former international volleyball

player, Jenna knows more than most

about how the body behaves during

sporting excellence and she promotes

the importance of science and sport

on page 8.

It will be difficult to avoid the

saturation sports coverage during

the Olympics but I suspect Brian

Ford might be watching science

documentaries instead. He finds

fault with TV’s representation of

microscopic science on page 19 and

I suspect will start an interesting

debate on artistic license in biology.

Finally, when I became Editor two

years ago, it was on condition that I

provided a journalistic overview for

the magazine and the Society looked

after the science. Although I have a

science degree, it is in physics.

Embarrassingly for this publication,

I’ve not studied biology since the age

of 16 – after abandoning A-level

biology due to being constantly on the

verge of fainting during dissections.

To redress the balance – and maybe

as a cure for a weak stomach – I

recently applied for a Logan science

journalism fellowship at the Marine

Biological Laboratory in Cape Cod.

As a result, when The Biologist lands

on your doorsteps, I will be wearing a

white coat doing a hands-on laboratory

course in biomedical science.

I’ll report on my experience in the

next edition of The Biologist, which

will arrive slightly earlier than usual,

in August, as we move to publication

every two months. Wish me well.

It’s good to see the politics taken out of potential therapies

Nelson’s Column


sue nelson, editor

4 / The BIOLOGIST / Vol 59 No 2 Vol 59 No 2 / The BIOLOGIST / 5

Society scheme to boost graduate skills

The first universities to achieve

accreditation through the

Society’s Degree Accreditation

pilot scheme were celebrated at an

awards ceremony at the House of

Commons in March.

The Society’s accreditation

programme is progressing well

following the pilot, which tested the

criteria of the scheme between June

2011 and March 2012. The

programme has been developed in

order to ensure that a pipeline of

skilled graduates are available for

research roles in areas of national

importance, in response to skills gaps

highlighted by the bioscience industry.

The first programmes to be

awarded accreditation by the Society

are the University of Birmingham

(MSci in Biochemistry), the

University of Bristol (BSc in

Biochemistry with a Year in

Industry), the University of

Liverpool (MBiolSci Biochemistry)

and the University of Sheffield

(MBiolSci Biochemistry).

Andrew Miller MP and Society

Chief Executive Dr Mark Downs

welcomed over 200 guests at the

ceremony and highlighted the great

strides made in the biosciences

recently. Universities and Science

Minister David Willetts also offered

his support and spoke of the “very

serious” absence of bioscience

degree accreditation.

Accreditation will be expanded

under the three main constituent

areas of the biosciences, based upon

the QAA Bioscience Benchmarks:

Molecular Aspects of Biology,

Organisms, and Ecological and

Environmental Biology. Specific

criteria will be based primarily on

the skills required of graduates as

described by industry, academia

and relevant societies.

Throughout the pilot, the Society

has collected feedback as part of an

ongoing evaluation, which is now

available on our website.

The Society is now accepting

formal expressions of interest from

institutions with bioscience

departments interested in gaining

Degree Accreditation, with

additional details available online

or by contacting Natasha Neill,

Qualifications and Skills Officer at the

Society, on natashaneill@

societyofbiology.org or 0207 685 2571.

The first programmes to be awarded accreditation by the society are (clockwise from top left) the University of birmingham, the University of bristol, the University of liverpool and the University of sheffield. The programme representatives met science minister David Willetts.

New membership benefits

Our new benefits all have one main aim: to support the professional development of our members

Society news

of our accredited Animal Licence

courses. The fourth, a travel bursary,

will be aimed at early career

researchers, including PhD students.

Competitions and awardsWe currently run the Science

Communication Awards, the

Photography Competition (see

page 47) and the Higher Education

Bioscience Teacher Award, which

are open to members and non-

members. We are introducing five

new membership competitions,

including a book award, a school

essay competition and a school

teacher award. More details will be

announced later in the year.

NetworkingNetworking lunches for Fellows and

members and an annual Fellows’

Dinner will continue. In September,

we are hosting an evening reception

at Charles Darwin House for all

members (AMSB, MSB and FSB),

and we are also planning to organise

two annual networking dinners for

MSBs outside London (see Member

News, page 39).

Jon Kudlick, sirector of Marketing,

Membership and Communications

After increasing the frequency

of The Biologist from four to

six times a year, the Society

is also introducing a suite of new

benefits for members.

The Society has a diverse

membership and, while it is a

challenge to introduce benefits that

are of interest to all members, we

have examined the results of the

recent membership survey (see

page 6) and looked at which grades

of membership need most support.

Our new benefits include a mix

of grants, awards and networking

events, all with one main aim:

to support the professional

development of our members.

GrantsWe are launching four new grant

schemes. The first is the Biology

Undergraduate Research Bursaries

Programme, match-funded by

The Nuffield Foundation for the

first two years. The aim is to give

undergraduates research experience

and to encourage them to consider

a career in scientific research. Two

other grants will help members to

attend CPD accredited courses and

help undergraduates attend one

First International Degree programme RecognisedThe Society’s Professor David Coates

FSB, Dr Liz Lakin FSB (right) and

Rachel Lambert-Forsyth CBiol MSB

(left) flew out to the United Arab

Emirates in April to assess the first

degree programme to go through the

process of International Recognition

by the Society. The University of

Sharjah’s BSc Science in Biotechnology

was subsequently recognised for the

academic years 2012-13 to 2017-18.

The Society is pleased to

announce the first ever

Biology 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

photography competitions and

a launch event in Parliament.

Our local branches and Member

Organisations are also planning a

whole range of events during the

week, including lectures, outings

and hands-on demonstrations.

If you have an event which you

would like to include in Biology

Week, or if you would like more

information about ways to get

involved, please see the Society

website or contact Rebecca Nesbit on

[email protected]

or 0207 685 2553.

Inaugural ‘Biology week’

In conjunction with Fun Kids

Radio, the Society has launched a

15-part radio series, Marina

Ventura Inside Biology, to introduce

primary school children to biology

and inspire them to continue their

science education.

Fun Kids is the UK’s only radio

station dedicated to children aged 11

and under and their families and has

over 180,000 listeners tuning in

each week. Each episode focuses on

a different aspect of biology, from

exploring the human body to the

concept of sustainability. Starring

established Fun Kids star Marina

Ventura, and with plenty of humour

and enthusiasm, the series will help

children learn about the wide role

that biology plays in our lives, giving

them the perfect platform for

further learning.

Marina Ventura Inside Biology

began on Monday 16th April, but the

series is now available to

download at

funkidslive.com

and iTunes.

Rachel Lambert-

Forsyth CBiol

MSB, Head of

Education

Radio fun

ONLINe DeVeLOpmeNTSThe new members’ area of the website allows you to renew online, look up other members’ details, update your profile, browse The Biologist in an easy to read, page-turning format, update your CPD activity, change your address details and book into events.

ReDUCeD FeeSWe have reduced some of our membership fees! Student membership is now £15 and early career MSBs can pay a lower rate of £85 for those with up to five years’ paid employment, and £105 for those with six to 10 years’ paid employment. Do encourage your colleagues to join.

Record-breaking year for Society competitions


SOCIeTY NeWSMeMBeRShIP SURVeY/BIG BANG FAIR/SOCIeTY COMPeTITIONS/CPD/NeW PROFeSSIONAL ReGISTeRS

Chartered status is a hallmark of excellence in both the UK and EU

For three days in March the NEC

in Birmingham was overrun

with scientists and science-

loving students for the Big Bang Fair

2012. Over 56,000 attendees saw the

wonders of science and engineering

and explored the variety of careers

that studying science can

open up.

Society takes a standAt the Society of Biology

stand, visitors had the

chance to handle

plastinated hearts, test

their pulse rates, learn

about how the ear works,

make articulated hands

and investigate sports

injuries through models of

joints. The exhibition floor was

packed with young scientists and

engineers presenting their projects

to the judges with the goal of being

crowned young scientist or young

engineer of the year.

Big Bang in Birmingham

prize winnerThe Society of Biology Prize was

awarded to James North from

Formby High School, one of 360

talented school students chosen to

showcase their work to a world-class

panel of judges. James turned heads

with his project on the

interaction of up-regulated

genes in HIV positive

macrophages. As well as

receiving £500, a

certificate and a year’s

membership to the Society

of Biology, James will visit

one of the UK’s leading

biology research centres

and meet the researchers.

The next Big Bang Fair

will be held at Excel in

London on the 14th-16th March

2013, and a range of Big Bang Fair

Near Me events will run around

the UK throughout the summer.

See www.thebigbangfair.co.uk

for more details.

A record-breaking number of

students took part in the

Society’s Biology Challenge

and Biology Olympiad competitions

this year.

Over 29,000 students entered the

Society’s Biology Challenge, more

than ever for the curriculum-based

science competition for 14-15 year-

olds. Almost 4,000 students from 443

schools took part in the online first

round of the British Biology Olympiad

(BBO) this year, another record for the

Society. BBO is a highly respected and

challenging test of biology knowledge

for students aged 16 and over.

This year’s BBO finalists spent

three days at the University of

Birmingham’s School of Biosciences,

where they took a theory paper

and four practical exams in botany,

cell biology, biochemistry and

zoology set by BBO volunteers and

lecturers from the university.

The four overall BBO winners will

represent the UK and compete

against students from 60 countries

at the International Biology

Olympiad in Singapore next month.

The students representing the UK

are: Freddie Dyke from the Royal

Grammar School, Guildford, Oliver

Adams from Peter Symonds’ College,

Winchester, Robert Starley from

Reading School and Joshua Hodgson

from Godalming College.

The competitions are organised by

a small group of volunteers chaired

by Dr Andrew Treharne FSB.

Anyone who is interested in

becoming involved, even if just to

submit the occasional question, can

find more information on the website

www.ukbiologycompetitions.org

sr Amanda Hardy

Competitions Coordinator

above society chief executive mark Downs (centre) with prize winner James north and presenter greg foot (left).

a live roadshow from the team of the bbc science show Bang Goes the Theory was one of the fair’s highlights.

A new online members’ system

that allows members to easily

update their continuing

professional development (CPD)

activity is now live.

CPD is an important area of

scientific career paths, offering a

way for people to document any work

above and beyond their job role, and

aiding their progression. Almost any

activity that develops your valuable

skills as a life science employee

qualifies for CPD, including training

staff, learning a new practical

technique, presenting at a

conference and self-study in any

area of biological interest.

points systemCompleted CPD years can start

exciting new stages of members’

professional careers, helping them

to progress from RSciTech to RSci

to Chartered Status.

We ask that members attain 50

CPD points throughout the year,

with between one and three points

allocated per hour, depending on

the activity. The Society also helps

members’ annual progression by

approving suitable events. These

Approved Events are worth more

points, and by attending, you’ll be

able to meet your CPD requirements

more quickly.

Online portalUsing the new online portal, below,

members can now register for and

begin their CPD. Members can add

activities as frequently as they wish.

If you have any questions or would

like any further information on CPD

or Chartered Status, please visit the

Society website or contact Natasha

Neill at 0207 685 2571 or at

[email protected]

CpD: make the most of your membership

our four british biology olympiad winners this year: freddie Dyke, oliver adams, robert starley and Joshua hodgson.

Over 2,800 members took part

in our membership survey

earlier this year, and overall

the response was extremely positive

with 82% of members believing their

membership represents good value

for money.

Members across all grades stated

their main reason for joining the

Society was to gain professional

recognition for their skills and

abilities (41%) and to stay up to date

with what’s happening in the life

sciences (20%) – with a slight

preference for the latter amongst

younger members. Unsurprisingly,

these were also the two benefits of

being a member that respondents

said they valued the most.

Most of our membership services,

such as the Continuing Professional

Development programme, The

Biologist, members’

e-newsletter and

our events were

rated as either

good or

excellent.

Following a

range of

suggestions from

the survey, we have launched several

new membership services (see page

4), and more will be announced soon.

We are also encouraged to see

that 79% of those surveyed use

their post nominal letters where

possible. These letters demonstrate

that you are a professional biologist,

well qualified and subject to a

rigorous code of conduct, and by

using them you are helping us to

further raise the profile of the

biological sciences.

When asked if the Society has

improved its public profile over the

last year respondents were split: 42%

said yes, 11% said no and the majority

(48%) were unsure. We still have

more work to do in this area, it

seems. At a policy level, we continue

to increase our influence and the

appointment of Stephen Benn as

our new Director of Parliamentary

Affairs will help us to further raise

our profile in Westminster.

Thank you to all those who

participated in the membership

survey and thank you for your

continued support of the Society.

Adam Timmins,

Marketing Manager

memBeRShIp SURVeY

The Society of Biology is now

able to offer three new

professional registers to

members: Registered Science

Technician, Registered Scientist and

Chartered Scientist.

All those who are committed to

the biological sciences in academia,

industry, education and research are

eligible to join their appropriate

register. Registered Science

Technician (RSciTech) is available to

all members with a Level 3

qualification in England, Northern

Ireland and Wales or Level 6

qualification in Scotland (i.e. A-level,

BTEC or equivalent) who can also

demonstrate evidence of the

required professional competences

and a commitment to CPD.

All members of the Society can

also apply for Registered Scientist

(RSci). It is suited to those working at

a Level 5 qualification in England,

Northern Ireland and Wales or

Level 8 qualification in Scotland

(Foundation degrees, HNDs etc)

who can also demonstrate the

required competences.

Chartered status is a hallmark of

excellence in both the UK and the

European Union, open to members

(MSB) and Fellows (FSB) of the

Society with a Masters level

qualification or equivalent.

Guidance documents and further

details for all our registers and our

CPD scheme can be found on our

website. If you would like any more

information please contact Mike

Trevethick at miketrevethick@

societyofbiology.org or 0207 685 2568.

New professional recognition

82%of members believe

membership is good value for

money

Thank youThe Society of Biology would like to thank Dr Alan Malcolm, who has stepped down from

The Biologist’s Editorial Board after many years. Alan was Chief Executive of the Institute

of Biology from 1998 until 2009, when he successfully led its merger with the Biosciences

Federation to form the Society of Biology. He is now Director of the Oxford International

Biomedical Centre and editor of Science in Parliament.

2012: An olympic year for science


OPINIONSPORT SCIeNCe AND The OLYMPICS/AFRICAN ReSeARCh

Professor Sheila Okoth FSB explains how female scientists in Africa are overcoming the challenges of a male dominated scientific community to undertake lifesaving research

while 2012 may be the year of

the London Olympics,

science and sport don’t

naturally gravitate together for

everyone. Yet for me, as a trained

scientist and a former international

volleyball player, they have always

been closely linked.

When Jonathan Edwards broke

the triple jump record, by jumping

the equivalent length of a double

decker bus, we were all amazed.

When Usain Bolt smashed the 100m

sprint world record to 9.58 seconds,

the world was speechless. But what

interests me is: how did they do it?

Anatomically, Bolt’s record-

breaking sprints have raised a

number of questions in the scientific

world as to what makes him so fast.

Scientists examined his muscle fibre

ratio, his long stride and lung

capacity. His stride length, on

average 2.44m, sets him apart from

his competitors who take on average

four more strides over 100m.

Although height was previously

thought to act against fast

acceleration, Bolt’s body is perfectly

designed for long strides and fast

movement. His total leg length,

relative to his total body height, is

long, as is his femur, which acts as a

lever to create huge strides.

Combined with a high strength-to-

body weight ratio, he is able to propel

his legs faster.

The fastest sprinters, such as Bolt,

have up to 90% fast-twitch muscle

fibres – slow-twitch fibres are more

efficient at continuous, extended

contractions over time, while fast-

twitch help generate a lot of force

quickly. Most of us have a genetically

determined mix of roughly 50% of

each, and the ratio cannot be altered.

So can he go faster? A recent study

published in Significance, the

magazine of the Royal Statistical

Society and the American Statistical

Association, considered Bolt’s

potential to run faster from a

mathematical perspective. Taking

into account his reaction time and

other external factors, such as

altitude and wind conditions, the

author predicts Bolt is capable of

shaving a further 0.13s off his time1.

Professor Steve Haake, a sports

engineer at Sheffield Hallam

University, looked into ‘the Bolt

effect’: how chasing Bolt has made

the world run faster. By analysing

the average speeds for the 100m

sprint by the top 25 athletes over the

past century, he found a sudden and

consistent improvement in

performance over the past four

years: since Bolt came onto the

blocks the top 25 sprinters have

improved by nearly 1%.

In addition to the individuals

who will be vying for Olympic glory

in London this summer, the teams

behind the competitors must not

be forgotten. Athletes from all

sports, depending on the funding,

have a whole team of scientists and

experts around them: when I played

volleyball for Great Britain, our

support team included a

physiotherapist, sports masseuse,

nutritionist, sports psychologist,

strength and conditioning coaches,

lifestyle advisors, biomechanicists,

technical coaches and even a

sports optician on one occasion.

(1) www.telegraph.co.uk/science/science-news/9194096/how-Usain- Bolt-could-run-even-faster.html


women produce, process

and market the majority

of Africa’s food. But only

one in four African agricultural

researchers are women and only

14% hold leadership positions in

agricultural research institutions.

There are many contributing

factors as to why. Female secondary

school students often drop science

subjects, which are perceived to be

difficult, and societal expectations

that African women remain at home

make travelling abroad for further

scientific studies challenging.

Also, most government decision-

making positions are occupied

by men. Women miss out on key

opportunities, including training

and participation in prioritising

institutional and national

development issues.

I faced such problems as a female

researcher in Kenya, but my life

changed when I won a two-year

career-development fellowship from

African Women in Agricultural

Research and Development

(AWARD) in 2008. Launched with

support from the Bill & Melinda

Gates Foundation and the United

States Agency for International

Development, the mentoring

programme helped me to design

a career ‘road map’ to achieving

my professional goals. A proposal-

writing course and sponsorship

for advanced science training at

the University of Stellenbosch

enabled me to perfect my research,

write winning, collaborative

research proposals and publish in

international journals.

The skills obtained from the

fellowship’s leadership and

management course for women

enhanced my capacity to overcome

obstacles in the male-dominated

scientific community. Today, I

am sharing my knowledge and

skills with others. In addition to

mentoring university students

and local farmers, I established

the university’s first mycotoxin

laboratory to answer farmers’

questions, train postgraduates and

transfer skills to scientists through

annual national courses. These

achievements helped earn my

promotion to Associate Professor

in February 2011.

In Kenya, lethal outbreaks of

aflatoxicosis (poisoning by aflatoxin)

have been reported yearly since 1981

and the effects of chronic exposure

cannot be ignored. Aflatoxin is a

naturally occurring carcinogenic

by-product of the fungi that colonise

certain crops, including maize, the

main dietary staple of Kenyans. My

research focuses on understanding

the distribution of toxigenic fungi

in soil and susceptible plants, and

humans’ exposure levels to the toxins

through food and feed. Working with

smallholder farmers in two agro-

ecological zones, I have determined

toxigenic and atoxigenic strains of

Aspergillus and Fusarium isolates

from soil and maize kernels, and

established their distribution patterns

to determine appropriate intervention

methods acceptable to farmers.

African women farmers and

agricultural scientists are already

making essential contributions to

agriculture and we can do much

more to help solve hunger – but we

must be fully engaged.

sheila okoth fsb is an associate Professor of botany at the University of nairobi’s school of biological sciences.

Women produce the majority of africa’s food but only one in four african agricultural researchers are female.

Empowering women in Africa

Poultry disease research in nairobi.

aWarD offers two-year fellowships focused on fostering mentoring partnerships, building science skills and developing leadership capacity. african women working in agricultural research for development from ethiopia, ghana, Kenya, liberia, malawi, mozambique, nigeria, rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda and zambia, who have completed a bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral degree in selected disciplines, are eligible. selection criteria include intellectual merit, leadership capacity and the potential of the scientist’s research to improve the daily lives of smallholder farmers, especially women. more than 2,000 female scientists from 450 institutions have applied for one of the 250 fellowships offered to date.

Dr Jenna stevens-smith msb is the society’s Public engagement and events executive and plays volleyball for england.

Dr Jenna Stevens-Smith MSB explains how this year’s London 2012 games will be a celebration of science as well as sport

many will ask what makes Usain bolt the world’s fastest man this summer.

In this Olympic year there are a number of initiatives promoting the science of sport

In the Zone A project from the Wellcome Trust including an interactive touring exhibition and schools kits which have been sent to all schools across the UK. http://www.getinthezone.org.uk

Blue peter’s Big Olympic Tour The Society of Biology is on tour with the Blue Peter team for three of these events with hands-on biology of sport activities.

■ Saffron Walden 7 July ■ West ham 21 July

Research Councils Uk Cutting edge: The Research Behind Sport RCUK researchers talk about the science behind different sports, so far covering athletics, basketball, triathlon and sailing.

■ Cutting edge 2012: Behind diving Thursday 5 July 2012 7pm – 8.30pm Plymouth Life Centre, Plymouth

■ Cutting edge 2012: Behind cycling Thursday 19 July 2012 7pm – 8.30pm Scottish exhibition and Conference Centre, Glasgow

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It is highly probable that they will

recover from the placebo effect of

homeopathy as that is their perceived

choice of cure.

Moreover, homeopathy has

become a part of the national fabric

of healthcare systems of most

countries, including developed

nations – for instance, at the

Royal Homeopathic Hospital,

London, England.

Will homeopathy ever lose its

‘mojo’? Probably not, as it is too

established in the psyche of most

nations to be cast aside.

Dr sohan Jheeta cbiol msb minstP fras, space scientist

POLItICs And sCIEnCE

Les Rose (The Biologist, Vol 59

(1) p10) is right to be concerned

about the scientific illiteracy among

politicians. The problem is reiterated

in the article on the Science Media

Centre (‘Get your facts straight’) in

the same issue.

Very few MPs have a science

degree and hardly any have been

working scientists. We live in a

scientific and technological world,

and managers (in the broadest sense)

need to have some understanding of

the nature of scientific evidence.

I think the problem is mainly a

result of our education system in

which people have to choose

between ‘arts’ and ‘science’ if they

wish to progress beyond GCSEs.

There are two other educational

routes which are worth consideration.

The Baccalaureate ensures students

have a more rounded education after

GCSEs and, at its best, the American

Liberal Arts College ensures that all

graduates have studied some science

with laboratory work at, or beyond,

A-level standard. For the majority

of graduates, this route provides a

better all-round education than a

specialist degree.

One drawback is that those who

go on to specialise need, first, to take

more advanced courses.

No doubt, the debate will continue

as to which system is better. We need

an informed discussion.

brian hopkins msb


placebo or otherwise). There are

37 medical conditions for which

replicated research in homeopathy

has been reported in the peer-

reviewed literature: 16 of those

conditions have benefitted from

systematic review and/or meta-

analysis1. Positive conclusions have

been reached for several conditions

to date, though with significant

caveats in some cases. The remaining

research is mainly non-conclusive.

This is a reasonable overview

of a highly complex research

literature, and is more relevant

than Ernst’s analysis of only the

Cochrane evidence, some of

which is focused on non-

individualised homeopathy.

Ernst’s superficial approach is

aggravated by ill-judged statements

about homeopaths ‘telling lies to

patients’ despite ‘[knowing that

the remedy] contains nothing’

and that the ‘trials are not

positive’. The above provides a

plain and accurate summary of the

true situation.

robert T mathie PhD, research Development adviser, british homeopathic association

(1) House of Commons Science and

Technology Committee. Evidence

Check 2: Homeopathy. Fourth Report

of Session 2009–10. The Stationery

MUddyIng thE wAtEr?In his article, ‘Testing the water’

(The Biologist, Vol 59 (1) p18-21),

Professor Ernst presents what

might seem a cogent scientific

and ethical argument against the

use of homeopathic treatment.

Leaving aside the pedantic

issues with which he begins his

commentary, I (as a scientist and

non-homeopath) respond briefly to

Ernst’s arguments that homeopathy

is nothing but placebo medicine

and that homeopaths ‘cherry-pick

positive studies out of a bag of

mostly negative evidence’ in flagrant

disregard for quality issues.

It is important to clarify that a

homeopathic practitioner typically

focuses treatment on a patient as

an individual with personalised

symptoms. The prescribed medicine

often retains material quantities of

original ingredient. Clinical trials to

date have not necessarily reflected

those and other key idiosyncrasies of

homeopathy, and so any view of ‘the

totality’ of the research evidence is

simplistic and potentially misleading.

As a starting point, and prior

to an appraisal of intrinsic quality

of the original research, we have

concentrated our attention on

the medical conditions for which

homeopathy has been researched

in randomised trials (controlled by

Office Ltd, London; 22 February

2010; pp 37–43

Author’s response: So, pointing out

that the axioms of homeopathy fly in

the face of science is ‘pedantic’? Most

scientists would disagree with this

bizarre notion.

Dr. Mathie also accuses me of

‘flagrant disregard for quality issues’

and claims that ‘positive conclusions

have been reached for several

conditions’. In support, he cites the

‘House of Commons Science and

Technology Committee Evidence

Check 2: Homeopathy’. This report

criticises the misleading fashion in

which lobbyists for homeopathy tend

to present the evidence and concludes

‘…the systematic reviews and meta-

analyses conclusively demonstrate

that homeopathic products perform

no better than placebo’.

edzard ernst, Professor of complementary medicine, Peninsula medical school, exeter

Why does homoeopathy refuse to die?

In general anything and everything

that is perceived to be nonsensical

eventually does fade away, yet

homeopathy still persists. Professor

Ernst (The Biologist, Vol 59 (1) p18-21)

is right to draw this subject out in

the open, for homeopathy is no more

than a placebo by another name.

One reason as to why it won’t go

away may be because it has become

a ‘meme’ to use Professor Richard

Dawkins’ idea of a ‘social gene.’

Another reason may be because it

has become a multi-billion dollar

industry and so many people have

a vested interest to promote such

bunkum even though it flies in the

face of empirical science or, for that

matter, common sense.

A third reason may be because

some people might have an innate

inability to respond to modern

medicine – for example if a patient

displays ‘x’ symptoms they probably

will not respond to any medicine

let alone respond to a placebo;

even if they do, this would only be

temporary as psychosomatically the

symptoms will invariably return.

Send your comments to biofeedback, society of biology, charles Darwin house, 12 roger street, london Wc1n 2JU or [email protected]

The Biologist reserves the right to edit letters where appropriate.


what is it about the political milieu that makes highly trained graduates of the arts and humanities forget their training and its need for academic evidence?

LeTTeRShOMeOPAThY, POLITICS & SCIeNCe, The MICROBe hUNTeRS

BiofeedbackLetters, news and views from our members

Vol 59 no 1 ■ march 2012

TheBiologistThe socieTy of biology magazine ■ issn 0006-3347 ■ socieTyofbiology.org

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FeATURe

ChILDReN & NATURe how to engage kids with the outdoors

BIOGRAphY

pAUL De kRUIF Turning science

into an adventure

meDIA

GeT The meSSAGe Ten years of the

Science Media Centre

SpeCIAL RepORT

TeSTING The wATeRFormer homeopathist edzard ernst on the diluted science of homeopathy

I read with interest and a sense

of foreboding Les Rose’s article

‘Politics: An unscientific business?’ in

the March issue (The Biologist, Vol

59 (1) p10). I share many of Mr Rose’s

concerns and I would like to address

his question, ‘Do arts and humanities

graduates have any grasp of objective

evidence?’ from a perspective that

many readers of The Biologist may

not have.

I have three science degrees and

worked for five years in academic

research, and for the last 25

years, in industry. In December

2011 I was proud to be awarded a

First in Humanities by the Open

University so I straddle both broad

disciplines. In my first two years,

before specialising in philosophy and

religious studies, I studied history,

art history, literature, philosophy,

religious studies, classics and music.

As a scientist beginning an arts

degree I, too, believed that arts and

humanities were short on rigour

and evidential support, and I was

wrong. One of the factors that unify

all these disciplines is the mandatory

requirement to support all arguments

with evidence from academic

research and/or observation. My

science training stood me in excellent

stead as I automatically did this in

my essays, almost without thought,

while my fellow students had to learn

to do this.

I would suggest that the real

question to be asked is: what is

it about the political milieu that

makes highly trained graduates of

the arts and humanities forget their

training? Could it be a function of

so few politicians having had a job

outside politics? Does this mean

that as they progress up the ‘greasy

pole’ they begin to believe their own

propaganda and that of their parties?

J David hull msb

strAngEr thAn fICtIOnI read with great interest the

excellent article by Dr H V Wyatt

FSB about Paul de Kruif (The

Biologist, Vol 59 (1) p36-38).

Imagine my surprise when later

reading Double Cross – the true story

of the D-Day spies by Ben Macintyre I

came across the following description

of an encounter in Madrid between

double agent Lily Sergeyev and her

German handler Major Kliemann,

‘Kliemann, usually so lethargic,

was all business. He planned to

provide her with a radio set hidden

inside a gramophone, with operating

instructions written on a microdot

concealed in the case. In order to

read it, she would need to buy a small

microscope. She should pretend to

be interested in microbes. Indeed,

she should carry a book with her as

cover: he recommended The Microbe

Hunters by Paul de Kruif. Lily

declined to say that she thought

this was a ridiculously

overcomplicated plan.’

How fascinating to think that

The Microbe Hunters might have

figured in some small but possibly

significant way in the context of

Second World War espionage. It

didn’t, because Major Kliemann

failed to provide said gramophone

to Lily Sergeyev.

Paul f faupel cbiol msb mirm cfiosh

APOLOgIEsUnfortunately the current position

and details of the author of ‘Who

was Paul de Kruif?’ were omitted

from this article. Dr H V Wyatt is

Honorary Lecturer in Philosophy,

University of Leeds. To find out more

about his work see http://sites.google.

com/site/vivianwyatt/ or

email [email protected]

branch news blackoutOur sincere apologies to the

Northern, Northern Ireland and

Kent, Sussex and Surrey branches.

The replacement of our assistant

editor at the beginning of the year

resulted in the loss of their event

reports from October and November

– these included a fungal foray, an

AGM and a talk on the marine

fishing industry. Do please keep

sending us your reports as we

enjoy hearing from our branch

members and seeing what they

are up to.

hope that gender equality

arrives. But it’s better

that the Society leads by

example and sets standards

that help to change the

culture of STEM by being a

model of good practice.

The Society is committed

to ensuring that our own

house is in order and,

over the coming months,

we will formulate our

plans to improve the

gender balance of our membership,

the visibility of women in the

organisation and the discipline,

and ensure that we are analysing

the necessary data to inform

our strategy.

We ask that all our members do

their bit to challenge inequality

in science wherever it occurs, and

above all to encourage talented

women to join and participate fully

in the Society.

UK plant scientists take on ‘perfect storm’

Over 200 plant scientists from

the lab, field, classroom and

industry came together for

the first ever research conference of

the UK Plant Sciences Federation

(PlantSci), at the John Innes Centre

in April.

Speakers covered a range of topics

including plant diversity, plant-soil

interaction, education, genomics,

stress adaptation and carbon

capture – highlighting just

a small portion of the great

expertise we have in research

institutions and industry in the

UK. But it was the Government’s

Chief Scientific Adviser Sir John

Beddington’s keynote speech that

set the tone for the conference.

Sir John stressed the importance

of plant science in the context of

his ‘perfect storm’, a term he first

coined in 2009 to summarise the

food shortages, water scarcity and

insufficient energy supplies that

are being caused by an increasing

population, consumption and the

effects of climate change.


Food securityRecent food price volatility has

driven an additional 44 million

people into extreme poverty since

2011. Ensuring future food security

poses a suite of challenges:

how to increase food production

with less land, less water and with

less energy, fertiliser and pesticide

while not increasing greenhouse

gas emissions. New knowledge,

technology and practices are

needed at all stages of the food

production process to increase

yield, reduce waste and maximise

resource efficiency.

Some methods include the

diversification of agricultural

systems, addressing soil

management for carbon

sequestration, using new varieties

or breeds of crops and livestock,

and making use of complementary

biological and ecosystem services

that support agriculture.

Over the two-day PlantSci

conference, the vast majority

of speakers looked at how to

Jackie caine msbscience Policy officer.

respond to the challenges Sir John

posed. Charles Paton, founder

of Seawater Greenhouse, spoke

about water scarcity and the use

of greenhouses in arid regions to

create fresh water from seawater.

Dr Richard Summers, the European

Cereal Breeding Coordinator for

RAGT Seeds, addressed the use of

plant breeding in the sustainable

intensification of wheat. Professor

Iain Donnison, IBERS, University of

Aberystwyth, presented his research

on increasing yield in the biofuel

crop Miscanthus.

Beyond food security, Professor

George Lomonossoff, John Innes

Centre, shared his experience of

plant-made medicine at a workshop

on commercialising intellectual

property. Professor Alison Smith,

University of Cambridge, presented

the problems and potential

solutions in algal bioenergy, and Dr

Christopher McClellan, University of

Dundee, spoke about techniques for

improving bioethanol content from

waste cellulose.

Real world implicationsWhile opinion may be divided on

the current focus upon research’s

‘impact’, it’s clear that plant science

has implications in the real world

that go beyond the Research

Excellence Framework and deserve

to be highlighted, celebrated

and supported.

We are now busy planning next

year’s PlantSci conference, and

continuing with the work of the

UK Plant Sciences Federation.

for more information on the UK Plant sciences federation and our activities, see www.plantsci.org.uk

The Royal Society

of Edinburgh

published its report

Tapping All our Talents

in April. The framework

aims to increase both

the proportion of

women in the science,

technology, engineering

and mathematics (STEM)

workforce, and the number

who rise to senior positions

in universities and research

institutes, government, business and

industry. The report is the result of

a year-long inquiry by a Working

Group chaired by the distinguished

astrophysicist Professor Dame

Jocelyn Bell Burnell, who has not

only survived, but thrived in a male-

dominated scientific arena.

As the secretariat to the Working

Group, I was often quizzed by

friends, colleagues and consultees

about my particular interest in this

issue. Their view: there are lots of

women in biology, it’s doing okay.

It is true that females

dominate biology at school and at

undergraduate level, with around

65% representation. Despite a loss

of around 15% by postgraduate and

postdoctoral researcher level, there is

still total gender parity at this stage.

But fast forward to professorial level,

and women account for only 15% in

biological sciences.

Armed with this information, do

we still think biology is doing okay?

In the past 10 years

the number of

female professors

in biology has

increased by one

percentage point

each year. We

could just

sit and

wait

for 35

years

and

policy update

nominations are now open for the society of biology communication awards 2012. The awards are an opportunity to recognise the outstanding contributions that bioscience researchers make to communicating science to the public.

The competition is open to bioscience researchers from UK universities and institutes and there are two categories of award:

new researcher Award (Prize £750)Established researcher Award (Prize £1,500)

The new researcher award is open to bioscience researchers currently reading for a masters/PhD or in the first year of a post-doctoral position. The established researcher category is open to bioscience researchers who are beyond the first stages of their research career, as defined in the new researcher category.

The awards will be presented at a ceremony in london as part of biology Week, which runs from the 13-19 october 2012.

Download your nomination form from the society of biology website:www.societyofbiology.org/newsandevents/scicomm

applications should be sent to rebecca nesbit by email to [email protected]

Enter our Science Communication competition

The Society of Biology: Celebrating excellence and recognising the importance of science communication

■ Are you a bioscience researcher?■ Do you communicate science

to the public?

If you answer yes to these questions or know someone who does, then why not apply for the society of Biology science Communication Awards 2012?

COmpeTITION

The ‘perfect storm’ summarises the food, water and energy scarcities caused by increasing populationand the effects of climate change

The sexes and science

Dame Jocelyn’s report makes a number of recommendations to academies and learned and professional bodies. They include:

■ Publicising a statement welcoming and encouraging the full participation of women in the organisation and its academic discipline

■ Allocating responsibility for gender issues to a specific individual reporting to council

■ Being more proactive in encouraging applications from women

■ ensuring balanced and transparent processes for elections and awards

■ ensuring adequate representation on decision-making committees or boards

■ Collecting and monitoring relevant data on a regular basis.

Dr caroline Wallace msb senior science Policy advisorsociety of biology - scotland.

Taking a walk in GW

Pharmaceuticals’ glasshouse is a

memorable and highly sensory

experience. The leaves from thousands

of cannabis plants (Cannabis sativa)

dance in a breeze produced by

constantly humming fans, and the sight

is enhanced by one of the brightest

glasshouse lighting installations in the

UK. The temperature is a steady 25°C

but feels warmer due to the humidity

and radiant energy. Even before

opening the door, there’s a tantalising

smell – the mixture of essential oils that

makes up the characteristic heady

essence of cannabis.

Over 1.5 million cannabis plants

have been grown by GW

Pharmaceuticals at its secret

research glasshouse since 1998 – the

company’s Sativex oromucosal spray

was licensed for the treatment of

multiple sclerosis spasticity in the

UK in 2010. Cannabis is best known

by the public in its various forms as

an illegally grown recreational drug

– either solid cannabis ‘hashish’ resin

made from the collected secretions

of the plant, or herbal cannabis

(grass) – the more potent upper

leaves and flowers of the plant.

Recently, cannabis tastes have

changed: an increasing proportion of

illicit cannabis is made from

unfertilised floral parts of the female

cannabis plant. This intensively grown

form of herbal cannabis is known

internationally as sinsemilla (from the

Spanish ‘sin’ meaning ‘without’ and

‘semilla’ meaning ‘seeds’) or more

colloquially in the UK as skunk.

Origins and early medicinal useThe major areas of outdoor hashish

production are Morocco, Afghanistan

and Central Asia, at between 35°N and

40°N, but the species can survive up to

66°N. No clear evidence exists to

indicate where Cannabis sativa

PhARMACeUTICAL ReSeARChBRITAIN’S SeCReT CANNABIS FARM

FLOweR pOweR


originally evolved, although an area of

Central Asia – to the north of India and

just west of westernmost China – is

thought likely. Others suggest western

China itself, where the closely related

hop is thought to have originated.

Archaeological finds indicate that

the earliest human use of cannabis

was possibly as a source of fibre in

China, as long as 6,000 years ago.

Evidence suggests that around 3,000

BCE Cannabis sativa was used as an

Ayurvedic and Chinese medicine. In

Egypt, mention of medicinal uses of

cannabis was written in the Papyrus

Ramesseum III (circa 1700 BCE).

More detailed uses were recorded in

the Ebers Papyrus (circa 1600 BCE),

which describes the use of cannabis

as a decoction in enemas, applications

to the eye and topically in the form of

medicated bandages.

Discoveries in a tomb in China

indicate its medicinal use 2,700 years

ago (Russo et al, 2008). Fig. 1 is a

photomicrograph of a sample from

this ancient find. Observing its

medicinal use in India, including

relief of spasticity caused by tetanus,

Dr William O’Shaunessey introduced

tinctures of cannabis to Britain in

1841. By 1899, the product was listed

in Merck’s Manual as an efficacious

medicine for the treatment of various

forms of pain. Over the following

hundred years, this medicine fell out

of use, but at the end of the century

there was a resurgence of interest.

Growing methodsUntil the 1980s almost all of the illicit

cannabis used in Europe was grown

outdoors and imported from other

continents. Now, however, it is

mostly grown indoors (Leggett,

2006) where, in a more easily

controlled environment, cannabis

quality is increasingly guaranteed

(UNODC, 2009).

When cannabis is grown indoors,

high levels of lighting are needed to

recreate the optimal sub-tropical

late-summer irradiance levels. This

light is of course used for

photosynthesis, enabling the plant to

synthesise the primary metabolites

needed for structural growth.

A large proportion of the light

energy will go to produce secondary

metabolites, such as the essential oils

(terpenes) and cannabinoids. These

terpenoids only contain carbon,

hydrogen and, in the latter’s case,

oxygen, and they are energy hungry

secondary metabolites to

biosynthesise (Gershenzon, 1994).

Hence, indoor growers need massive

energy levels to produce potent crops.

Much of this is achieved with stolen

electricity, the value of which has

been estimated at £200 million per

year in the UK alone (BBC, 2012).

pharmaceutical cultivationCannabis grown for pharmaceutical

use by GW Pharmaceuticals in the

UK, and Bedrocan in the

Netherlands, is all grown in

glasshouses. Around the world, over

23,000 plant species are used for

medicinal purposes, but only about

100 of these will be specifically

grown for the pharmaceutical

industry. Cannabis is perhaps the

only species that is grown indoors.

This provides the extra security that

this highly marketable drug requires.

In GW Pharmaceuticals’ case, it

enables the company to provide the

level of control necessary to produce

a botanical medicine like Sativex.

This multi-component medicine

contains a range of secondary

metabolites and by growing the

plants in uniform conditions, this

enables a consistent ratio of these

ingredients. In addition, the

production of a high-quality


Cannabis is the most widely used illegal drug in the UK but its medicinal qualities have been known for thousands of years. GW Pharmaceuticals’

Dr David Potter showed The Biologist around the UK’s only cannabis research farm and explained how the plant could potentially treat conditions

as diverse as obesity, brain injury, cancer and even psychosis.

Dr David Potter cbiol fsb fls is Director of botanical research and cultivation at gW Pharmaceuticals, having joined as its first employee in 1998. he gained his PhD in 2009 at King’s college london, having researched the pharmacognosy of Cannabis sativa and has 23 years’ research experience as a horticulturalist and agronomist. David advises the police on cannabis use and acts as an expert witness in court.

BIOGRAPhY

16 / The BIOLOGIST / Vol 59 No2

pharmaceutical crop requires

attention to detail by trained staff,

and, of course, plant materials with

desirable genetic profiles.

The majority of cultivated

cannabis species are short-day

plants, only starting to flower at the

end of summer. A phytochrome-

based system, which actually

measures night length, detects when

the ‘critical daylength’ has arrived.

The flowering switch is then thrown.

Growers of indoor cannabis exploit

this fact. For the first weeks of

growth the plants are kept in a long

day length, which prevents flowering

and encourages sturdy vegetative

growth and root development.

The GW Pharmaceuticals’ team

prefers to suppress the plant’s

natural tendency to produce

excessive height during this

vegetative phase. Adapting a trick

from the culinary herb industry,

known as thigmomorphogenesis, the

stems are brushed almost flat on a

daily basis for the first two to three

weeks (Davis, 2010). Responding as

they would as if buffeted by wind, the

plants produce stockier stems better

able to support the coming canopy of

heavy resinous flowers.

Floral development is then rapid,

in favourable conditions. Males are

typically first to flower, and over a

period of weeks they easily shed

copious amounts of wind-dispersed

pollen. These males throw

maximum energy into pollen

production and relatively little into

defence. Once their pollen is shed,

they rapidly expire and the seed-

bearing pollinated females expand

into the extra space bequeathed

them. If grown in the absence of

males, unnaturally chaste females

(i.e. sinsemilla) continue to produce

new florets within their

inflorescences. Due to the extended

flowering period, and lack of energy

diversion to seed development, these

sinsemilla plants are much more

cannabinoid-rich.

Female plants tend to react to an

unnatural male-free existence after

a few weeks. Production of another

generation to preserve the plant’s

genetics is paramount and, without

males to offer their services, life

finds a way. Females commonly start

to develop their own anthers, thus

enabling a final late phase of

pollination. Unlike the pollen grains

produced by males, which will carry

either female x, or male y sex

chromosomes, pollen from females

will only carry the x form. The

progeny resulting from fertilisation

with this pollen are thus all female,

which is a real advantage to

sinsemilla (skunk) cannabis growers.

Cannabis and ThCTetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is the

compound that gives recreational

users a high. It is just one of several

closely-related terpenophenolic

compounds called phytocannabinoids

produced in Cannabis sativa, all

unique to this dioecious species.

Evidence suggests these cannabinoids

are entirely synthesised and

sequestered in specialised structures

called glandular trichomes (Fig. 4).

Three different forms of these

trichomes are found on female

cannabis, and a fourth found

exclusively on the anthers. The

largest form is the capitate stalked

trichome, which is exclusively found

on the floral tissues (Potter, 2009).

The female flowers carry more

trichomes than the male, making

female floral tissue the most potent

source of the drug.

These trichomes are formed in vast

numbers and when back illuminated

( Fig. 2), a pubescence of trichomes

on the female flower is seen to

shimmer. While looking simply

exquisite, the glistening trichomes

are more importantly deflecting

infrared and ultra-violet light away

from the delicate reproductive tissue.

The flowers are thus cooled and given

sun protection. The cannabinoid

molecule itself actually absorbs

UV light, adding to the level

of protection.

The cannabinoids are not the only

chemicals synthesised within the

cannabis trichomes. Other important

ingredients include the two bitter

tasting sesquiterpenes – α-humulene

and ß-caryophyllene. These are found

in many species including cloves

(Syzygium aromaticum), black

pepper (Piper nigrum) and, as the

name suggests, the hop Humulus

lupus. The bitterness adds magic to

beer, but when encountered in higher

concentrations in cannabis flowers,

the chemical acts as a repellent to

many herbivores. A whole class of

volatile essential oils – the

monoterpenes – are also found in

cannabis giving its distinctive odour.

Insect entrapmentLooking at these structures under

the microscope, we are better able to

see how they appear to defend the


cannabis plant against a range of

predators and environmental

stresses (Fig. 3).

Insects attempting to walk

through this jungle of stalked

trichomes find progress is slow.

Throughout the plant kingdom,

trichomes have evolved to impair

insect movement in this way.

Cannabis defence is further

strengthened by the presence of

sharp cystolythic trichomes on the

leaf surface (Fig. 3). These rigid

structures deter many mammalian

herbivores by piercing the soft

mouthparts.

Trichomes are also seen to trap

insects, with victims prevented from

eating, pupating and spreading

disease. Some species, like the cotton

melon aphid, struggle violently as

soon as a leg becomes trapped, and

the remaining legs are soon

irreversibly glued (Fig. 5). It is

possible that, during this struggle,

the insect emits the same warning

pheromone that it produces when

attacked by its own predators, thus

alerting others in the colony to the

dangers of cannabis. The plant would

thus gain some protection from

further insect attack.

In effect, the glandular trichomes

on cannabis flowers are ampules of

solvent-based adhesive. Once the

trichome resin head’s outer

membrane is ruptured, the fragrant

monoterpenes are liberated. Having

a high surface area to volume ratio,

the trichome’s volatile ingredients

soon turn to vapour, to be lost on the

passing breeze. Prior to the

membrane being ruptured, the solid

cannabinoids and oily

sesquiterpenes are held in a free-

flowing solution. However, once the

volatile monoterpenes have gone,

the residue immediately turns

glutinous and near solid.

Many writers have claimed that

THC is a gift from nature, here to

give pleasure. The main raison d’être

for the cannabinoids may purely, and

unromantically, be nothing more

than an ingredient in a simple

solvent-based adhesive.

Cannabinoid possibilitiesThe two main cannabinoids, at least

in landrace (‘wild’) cannabis, are

THC and cannabidiol (CBD). Both

have analgesic, anti-inflammatory

and anti-spasmodic properties, as

well as other virtues, but only the

former is psychoactive. THC is also

an appetite stimulant, users often

finding that their ‘high’ is followed by

hunger – or the so-called ‘munchies’.


fig. 1ancient chinese cannabis specimen.

fig. 2 Trichomes on the female flower.

fig. 3 sem coloured view of the cystolythic trichomes that help defend the cannabis plant.

fig. 4glandular stalked trichome.

fig. 3

fig. 2

the most useful cannabinoid here is CBd, the understated and respectable cannabinoid selected against by generations of recreational cannabis users

The Biologist’s Jon Kudlick (left) and

Tom ireland tour gWP’s cannabis farm.

fig. 5 aphid entrapped on trichomes.

fig. 1

fig. 4

This stimulation can be a helpful aid

to recovery in patients who, perhaps

through chemotherapy, AIDS or

disappointing hospital food, are not

eating sufficiently.

Cannabis use has been increasingly

linked to the development of

psychosis. This is an unfortunate side

effect of excessive consumption of

THC, especially in teenagers

predisposed to this condition (Royal

College of Psychiatrists, 2012). In

marked contrast, CBD is anti-

psychotic and gives some protection

to those cannabis users who might be

harmed by THC.

Two allelic genes control the

biosynthesis of both THC and CBD.

These are co-dominant, so crosses

between parents carrying opposing

genes do not produce the classic

Mendelian 3:1 ratio. Instead, the

homozygous progeny are either

THC-dominant, or CBD-dominant,

while heterozygous progeny produce

a mixture of both cannabinoids.

The hashish used by William

O’Shaunessey, as well as the resin

circulating today, would have

contained THC and CBD from a

mixed population of the homozygous

and heterozygous genotypes.

Conversely, high potency skunk

cannabis is grown from seeds

repeatedly selected on their ability

to produce the most psychoactive

plants: the gene that switches on

CBD production has been selected

against.

Golden age Both the THC and CBD genotypes are

important in the pharmaceutical

industry. These have been used to

produce Sativex, which is now

prescribed in the UK, Canada, New

Zealand and Spain, with six additional

European countries soon to follow. It

is also showing great promise against

other medical conditions.

The plant breeding team at GW

Pharmaceuticals have successfully

bred cannabis where the dominant

cannabinoid is delta-9-

tetrahydrocannabivarin (THCV).

Normally only present in minor

quantities, THCV is structurally

similar to THC. However,

pharmacologically it acts very

differently. Instead of inducing the

munchies, this cannabinoid

suppresses appetite. As a result, it

has shown promise in pre-clinical

studies as a potential treatment for

obesity and associated Type II

diabetes. A range of other

cannabinoid molecules and mixtures

are also undergoing early research.

These include encouraging results

from in-vitro laboratory

experiments with models of epilepsy

(Jones, 2010).

Encouraging in-vivo studies

suggest that, because of its anti-

inflammatory properties, CBD may

prove to be useful in treating brain

injury, both in accident victims and

newborns experiencing prolonged

hypoxia at birth (Alvarez, 2008).

Early clinical trials, evaluating pain

relief in late-stage cancer treatment,

have also clearly demonstrated a

synergistic activity when Sativex is

mixed with opiate medicines.

Extensive trials are evaluating these

mixtures for pain control at this

especially distressing time. Perhaps

even more profoundly, research

shows that cannabinoids are active

in fighting some forms of cancer

itself. The most useful cannabinoid

here is once again CBD, the

seemingly understated and

respectable cannabinoid selected

against by generations of

recreational cannabis users

(McAllister et al, 2011).

For at least 8,000 years, the

stems of Cannabis sativa have been

a great source of fibre, woven into

industrial and domestic textiles.

However, in recent decades, many

people have regarded the flowers of

this species a threat to the fabric of

society. As profound research with

cannabis comes to fruition, the

golden age of this species may

have arrived.


ReFeReNCeS Alvarez, F. J. et al. Neuroprotective effects of the nonpsychoactive cannabinoid cannabidiol in hypoxic-ischemic newborn piglets. Pediatr Res. 64(6), 653-8 (2008). http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18679164.

BBC News. Cannabis farms’ £200m stolen electricity cost ‘staggering’. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-tyne-17898587 (accessed 2 May 2012).

Davis, R. Farming in Lincolnshire: herb horticulture in Bourne. http://www.pridemagazines.co.uk/pages/home/live-edition/food-and-drink/lincolnshire-herbs.

Gershenzon, J. Metabolic costs of terpenoid accumulation in higher plants. J. Chem. Ecol. 20(6), 1281-1328 (1994).

Gray, R. Cannabis could be used to control epilepsy. The Daily Telegraph (2011) http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/science-news/8440303/Cannabis-could-be-used-to-treat-epilepsy.html.

Jones, N. A. et al. Cannabidiol displays anti-epileptiform and anti-seizure properties in vitro and in vivo. Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics 332, 569-577 (2010).

Leggett, T. A review of the world cannabis situation. Bulletin of Narcotics 58 (1-2), 1-36 (2006).

McAllister et al. Pathways mediating the effects of cannabidiol on the reduction of breast cancer cell proliferation, invasion, and metastasis. Breast Cancer Res. Treat. 129, 37–47 (2011).

Potter, D. J. The Propagation, Characterization and Optimization of Cannabis sativa L as a Phytopharmaceutical. (PhD thesis. Kings College London, p47 – 83, 2009). http://www.gwpharm.com/uploads/phd_david_potter_jp.pdf.

Royal College of Psychiatrists. Cannabis and Mental health (2012). http://www.rcpsych.ac.uk/mentalhealthinfo/problems/alcoholanddrugs/cannabis.aspx (accessed 2 May 2012)

Russo, e. B. et al. Phytochemical and genetic analyses of ancient cannabis from Central Asia. J. Exp. Bot. 59(15), 4171-4182 (2008).

United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime 2009. 2009 World Drug Report (1.3.2 Why does cannabis potency matter?) (United Nations Publications, New York, NY, 2009).

http://www.unodc.org/documents/wdr/WDR_2009/WDR2009_eng_web.pdf

(online sources accessed 27-30 March 2012)

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


Professor brian J ford asks why television broadcasters spend huge sums on computer-

generated scientific simulations when the real thing is so much better

polar bears give birth to their

young in only two places on

earth – the Arctic and

in zoos. Confuse the two on

television and you are in trouble:

when the BBC’s Frozen Planet series

included a sequence of newborn

bear cubs captured by cameras

concealed in a cage, in a programme

ostensibly filmed in the Arctic,

there was an outcry.

These programmes, broadcast

in December last year, bore

the hallmarks of integrity and

excellence, and the unacknowledged

switch of location was bound to

raise hackles. I concede a certain

sympathy for the producers; it

may simply be that the script

implied more than it should. The

art of television lies in the skill of

the director and creative licence

is sometimes necessary to tell a

scientific story visually.

Many conventions are accepted

and we understand how they work.

Sequences of fish filmed in the

wild may be intercut with details of

behaviour that can be observed only

in a studio aquarium. Capturing

reality with a camera involves such

conventions all the time. Fruit may

be sprayed with glycerine to add

The cinema film Look Who’s

Talking was written and directed by amy heckerling in 1989.

in this vivid fertilisation scene, although not entirely accurate, the translucence of the ovum and the serpentine movements of the spermatozoa are exquisitely well conveyed.

The bbc’s version of a human blastula used a toad’s egg as its reference. Unlike human ova, those of the toad are opaque and so the result is misleading. The pitted opaque surface, which makes the cell seem rough and textured, does not exist in reality.

genuine light microscopy reveals the early human blastula as translucent, vital and alive. Digital imagery is now so pervasive that images of living cells are routinely discarded and replaced with cgi substitutes.

The subtleties and intricacy of life are replaced with simplified digital imagery that misrepresents reality. in consequence, the public is denied a realistic understanding of the cell.

some examples of digital imagery are purely imaginary. on the bbc’s Inside the Human

Body, the description of cells stated that “tiny movements trigger fierce electrical storms.”

it is impossible to imagine what the bbc producer had in mind, for nothing like this exists in nature. The sequence subsequently showed blue sparks flashing as they travel along imaginary columns, like hair being combed in the dark.

to observe, that the vogue for CGI

is bizarre. I have been told that the

budget for such computer graphics

probably ran into six figures – yet

we could watch the real thing at a

fraction of the cost.

BBC nature programmes are the

best in the world, and the corporation

proudly proclaims its ground-

breaking uniqueness. A recent

documentary examined previous

decades and reminded the viewer

that, not so long ago, there were so

many aspects of life that could not

be captured on film. “Now,” runs

the script, “we can film everything”.

Not so. They cannot effectively film

the microscopic world, which is the

most important aspect of all life

on earth. A tiger may eat you, but

only a living microbe can decimate

your entire nation. Every aspect of

the tiger is familiar to us, from its

mating behaviour and voracious

appetite to its cleansing mud-baths;

yet when did you last see a real living

microorganism on television?

Artificial representations are

widely used in teaching science,

whether it’s a drawing on a board

or a diagram in a textbook. Models

are routinely employed, from plastic

balls to show us the structure of

DNA to scale models that reveal the

proportions of the planets. Not only

are they useful, they are vital. We

know these are models, and they are

the only thing we have to disclose

the crucial information.

The problem with the CGI cells

we see on television is that these are

all we see. The reality is contrived,

and sight of the real cells is nowhere

to be seen. So fashionable has the

electron microscope image become

that it has replaced the reality.

It is curious the most important

aspect of our lives is so crudely

misrepresented by the media. Cells

need a better press and, if they are

unable to say so for themselves, then

I am urging reform on their behalf.

Those polar bear cubs may have

been filmed in a location that the

producers concealed from the viewers,

but they were at least real cubs. Were

the polar bears afforded the same

treatment that producers mete out

to microbes, they’d have used clips of

Winnie the Pooh. Or Paddington Bear.

David Barker, the CGI researcher of

the BBC’s Inside the Human Body,

will be responding to this article in the

next issue of The Biologist. We’d love to

hear your thoughts on the issue too.

Do yoU haVe an oPinion on This arTicle? CONTACT US AT [email protected]

Life under the microscope is so appealing, so revealing, and so easy to observe, that the vogue for CgI is bizarre


Professor brian J ford served on council at the institute of biology and is the author of over thirty books, many of them on the microscope. he first appeared on bbc television 50 years ago and has since presented several major series, appearing in television programmes around the world.

BIOGRAPhY

OPINIONSCIeNCe ON TeLeVISION

eVeN BeTTeR ThAN The ReAL ThING?


understanding of medicine, health,

human biology and cell science is

restricted. The media regularly

screen programmes on nebulae and

the elusive Higgs boson, neither of

which directly influence our lives,

yet the captivating universe that

the microscope alone can disclose

remains unseen.

Programmes that frequently

feature the inner workings of a

cell often use computer generated

imagery (CGI), which has given us a

rich litany of images of chromosomes,

DNA and enzymes. Whenever we see

documentaries on living cells, the CGI

convention spills over and replaces

reality. Soft, succulent cells are

portrayed as hunks of rock; a delicate

living tracery is represented by shiny

plastic cylinders. The subtle exchange

of ions is transmuted into a violent

discharge of electricity. Real cells are

nowhere to be seen.

Television companies spend

huge sums of money on digital

simulations, even when the real

subject is readily available on

video. The BBC television series

Inside the Human Body, presented

by Michael Mosley, contains CGI

sequences purporting to exemplify

the first divisions of a human zygote.

It is wrong from beginning to

end: the sperm cells are modelled

from sputtered scanning electron

microscope images, and look like

rusty nails; the ovum is opaque and

lacks the translucence of human

ova; the TV version looks like a

corroded cannon ball, and the

dividing cells resemble marbles

jostled in a sock. Living human cells

are nothing like that.

What compounds the error

is that micrographs of genuine

living cells are available. Videos

reveal spermatozoa as sleek,

undulating cells with an apparent

sense of purpose and the living

zygote is shown to have a smooth,

limpid surface and a delicate

translucence. We can show how the

dividing zygote convulses as each

asymmetrical cell division takes

place and there is an attractive

juiciness as this meticulously

choreographed sequence sets in

train the development of an embryo.

There is no reason why this should

be substituted by crude cartoons.

Worse, there is nothing in the

commentary that hints at it.

The script exalts the viewer to

accept what is about to be unveiled.

“Hidden deep inside you,” Mosley

intones, “is a wonderful dynamic

world”.

The viewer is presented with

a forest of tapering columns,

upstanding like bristles on an

unshaven chin, and nothing like any

cells in existence. “Tiny movements

trigger immense electrical storms,”

insists the commentary, as hissing

static discharges leap between lurid

metallic rods.

We next encounter “raging

torrents of blood” accompanying

computer graphic images of

discs diving through a duct. They

are roughly the right shape for

erythrocytes, though they lack

the translucence of the real cells.

These versions are portrayed as

rigid biconcave discs, whereas living

erythrocytes are highly flexible and

have the consistency of delicate

balloons of cytoplasm that easily

distort as they squeeze through

constricting capillaries. The CGI

versions in this BBC programme

look more like motor-car wheels,

and are similarly inflexible.

Contrived reality You might justify broadcasting

an artist’s impression of a planet

that nobody can see, but images

of living cells abound and new

sequences could easily be prepared.

Substituting a CGI version for

reality makes no sense; you might as

well transmit Spitting Image in place

of a party political broadcast.

Life under the microscope is so

appealing, so revealing, and so easy

misleading and unrealistic images of biological processes are commonplace on our TV screens.

an extra lustre, so it gleams as the

public might expect (but as it never

does in life). Cloud formations are

sped up to make them interesting;

collapsing buildings are slowed

down to command our attention.

Some are lesser known.

Beautifully lit images of human

embryos can give the impression

that they have been observed

alive in the womb, when they are

actually aborted specimens in a

tank of preservative on a slab in the

laboratory. Glass marbles may have

been added to pond-water so that

elusive organisms, swimming under

the lens, remain visible rather than

sinking in the liquid and being lost

to sight.

We know these visual sleights of

hand happen, and for most of the

time we accept it. Microscopic life,

by contrast, is subject to far more

brutal and misleading portrayals.

Living cells are rarely seen on

television and programmes can go

to great lengths to avoid mentioning

that they exist. A gardening

programme discusses diseases of

plants, though you never see the

organisms that cause them. Reports

on pollution control claim that

reed-beds can purify water, without

mentioning the microorganisms

that actually process the waste. This

is like reporting an election without

mentioning the candidates.

Crude cartoonsAs a result, the public are unfamiliar

with microscopic life and their

GeNeTICSGeNe DOPING AND SPORT


research on rodents has shown that

altering expression levels of single

genes in skeletal muscles of

transgenic animals can result in

significant performance gains.

Skeletal muscle is already a target

tissue for performance enhancement

using drugs, since manipulating

muscle mass has direct benefits for

sports disciplines requiring power

(sprinting, weight lifting), whereas

altering muscle metabolism can

bring benefits for endurance events.

These characteristics make it

attractive as a target for genetic

manipulation in humans.

Skeletal muscle cells (myofibres),

like neurons, are post-mitotic (non-

proliferating) and long lived, so that

stable long-term gene expression can

be achieved if exogenous nucleic acids

can be successfully introduced into a

cell nucleus. In tissues in which cells

are constantly being replaced such as

skin and blood, the genetic material

can easily be lost if it is not integrated

(physically linked) to that of the host.

Perhaps the most remarkable of

the transgenic animal phenotypes

observed to date is that of the

marathon mouse in which the

enzyme Phosphoenolpyruvate

carboxykinase (PEPCK) is over

expressed in skeletal muscles.

These animals are able to run

virtually non-stop for distances of

5km, compared to an average of

0.2km observed in wild types2.

This impressive running capacity

is accompanied by, among other

traits, increased myofibre

mitochondrial content,

intramuscular fat stores and

aggressiveness. The role of PEPCK in

skeletal muscle is not entirely clear

but it appears, from the phenotype of

the mice, that fuel availability and

utilisation, energy generation and

even ‘personality’ all contribute to

the increased performance.

Another notable animal is the

IGF-I (insulin-like growth factor I)

transgenic mouse, which has greatly

increased muscle mass and has been

the subject of much investigation

over the last ten years3.

potential limitationsOne major difference between the

performance enhancement seen in

these animal models and what could

potentially be achieved in humans is

that in most transgenic animals the

altered gene is introduced in the

fertilised egg. As a result, all

embryonic development and postnatal

growth takes place with altered gene

expression and is probably not

predictive of the effects of genetic

manipulation in an adult organism.

Importantly, researchers at the

University of Pennsylvania showed

that significant gains in skeletal

muscle mass and strength could be

obtained by introducing IGF-I into

muscles of adult rats4 using an

adeno-associated virus, one of the

key vectors in use for gene therapy

approaches. In addition, the

presence of the gene curtailed

muscle loss during a period of

detraining, suggesting a scenario

where gene manipulation might be

used illicitly by athletes to prevent

performance loss during periods of

inactivity or recovery from injury.

One important consideration

when trying to imagine the potential

application of studies performed on

laboratory animals to athletes is the

fact that the animals are usually

sedentary and certainly not selected

for their athletic prowess – there is

likely to be considerable potential for

functional gains, which may not be

present in athletes because these

individuals are already operating at

peak performance.

In large animals such as humans,

another key limitation of gene

therapy is the cost of producing

vectors in sufficient purity to meet

clinical standards and sufficient

quantity to provide adequate dosage.

Others issues encountered in clinical

trials include obtaining efficient and

stable integration, efficient

expression, and minimising immune

reactions both to the viral vectors

and to the protein product of the

gene. Non-viral vectors such as

plasmids, essentially a backbone of

DNA that carries the gene of interest,


Dr cristiana Velloso explains how gene therapy or ‘gene doping’ looks set to be the next frontier in performance enhancement

Gene therapy was first proposed

almost 50 years ago, but the

issues hampering the

technology’s progress are only now

being overcome1. Gene doping, the

misuse of gene therapy in sports, is

already of concern to anti-doping

authorities. Defined by the World

Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) as the

non-therapeutic use of cells, genes,

genetic elements or the modulation of

gene expression having the capacity

to enhance athletic performance, it

has been banned since 2003.

The technical principles behind

gene therapy and gene doping are

similar. Both require efficient

delivery of an exogenous gene, or

transgene, into a sufficient number

of cells, and its efficient expression.

In order for the gene to be read and

expressed, certain elements must be

present. Chief amongst these is

something called the promoter, a

short sequence of nucleotides that

tell the gene expression machinery

of the cell where and when to start

reading a gene as well as how much

RNA to make. Some genes, for

example, are only expressed in

particular organs or at certain times

in the life of an organism, such as in

the embryo. Others change in

abundance depending on a stimulus,

for example producing proteins for

increasing muscle mass following

strength training.

By itself, DNA is not efficiently

taken up by cells, but various

methods can be used for its delivery.

In gene therapy, modified viruses are

the most promising vectors for this

purpose. Viruses infect cells by

introducing their genetic material

into them and then using the

machinery of the infected cell to

express viral genes. Viruses used in

gene therapy are made safe by

removing viral genes involved in

reproduction and replacing them

with therapeutic genes.

experimental evidenceCurrently, there is no evidence that

gene doping has been attempted in

or out of sporting competition. Still,

Dr cristiana Velloso is a research associate at the centre for human and aerospace Physiological sciences, King’s college london, and has a special interest in skeletal muscle. she is currently working on molecular mechanisms of muscle mass regulation in humans in health, disease and ageing.

BIOGRAPhY

DeSIGNeR AThLeTeS

genetically engineered athletes are still a distant reality, but knowledge of how genotype is related to certain aspects of health is advancing rapidly


can be produced cheaply, in large

amounts and with relatively simple

laboratory set-ups5. The problem is

that delivery and integrations of

these vectors is inefficient – although

delivery can be improved by various

mechanical manipulations, such as

application of ultrasound.

Theoretically, the inefficiency of

delivery or expression might not be

a major issue if the aim of the

procedure is small gains in

performance, as opposed to

achieving therapeutic dosages.

Successful transfection of a few

myofibres could deliver enough

improvement to overcome the very

small differences often seen among

competitors (less than 1% in the case

of 100m sprints, for example).

Gene variantsA potentially bigger problem is the

genetic diversity among the human

population, and the difficulty in

predicting effects of modulating

expression of specific genes in such

diverse backgrounds. Although

some mutations appear to have

penetrance even among different

species, some phenotypes can be lost

when transferring between

individuals of the same species (for

example, among the various mouse

strains that are used in laboratories

worldwide). In humans, many gene

variants (alleles) have been

associated with performance, but

the associations are not consistently

observed in studies performed by

different laboratories with different

populations. One possible

explanation is that this may be due to

the interplay between variants of a

particular gene and of all the others

with which it interacts.

Based on 23 gene variants thought

to influence endurance performance,

it was predicted that the ideal

athletic genotype would only occur

once in every 20 million individuals6.

This probability should decrease as

the number of genes included in the

calculation increases. It would

therefore seem unlikely that one

ideal genotype could determine elite

athletic performance, and by

extension that one gene would result

in universal performance gains.

Given the above, it is surprising how

few genes have been shown to be

associated with one particular aspect

of adaptation to exercise, namely the

ability to respond to aerobic training

as evidenced by improvements in

physiological measurements such as

resting heart rate.

Using two distinct approaches,

one analysing genotype and the

second looking at expressed mRNAs

in skeletal muscle, researchers have

shown that as few as 20-30 genes can

be used to predict to what extent an

individual will respond to aerobic

training7,8. Participants in the above

studies were not athletes, and it will

be interesting to determine whether

athletes involved in endurance

disciplines, or indeed athletes in

general, have the predictive

genotype/transcriptome of

responders to aerobic exercise. The

studies indicate that even if

modulation of expression of one gene

does not turn out to be universally

beneficial from the perspective of

performance gains, it would

probably be effective on a large

number of individuals given that the

number of genes which influence

function is likely to be limited.

Detection

The question of major concern to the

anti-doping authorities is whether

gene doping would be detectable.

Unlike most drugs, which are

chemical compounds that do not

occur naturally in the body, gene

doping would result in the

production of biological molecules.

If the genetic manipulation results

in some kind of systemic change

which can be measured in blood or

urine, for example the presence of the

particular protein in either of these

body fluids when it is not normally

found there, or abnormally high

levels of it, then this could potentially

be enough evidence for gene doping.

On the other hand, if the

expression and the effect of the

transgene are localised to a site or

tissue that is not easily sampled, then

detection will be more difficult. A

tissue biopsy rather than urine or

blood sample would be required, and

it is difficult to imagine a scenario

where tissue biopsies would be

routinely taken without substantial

supporting evidence obtained by less

invasive means.

The introduction of the transgene

is likely to trigger a cascade of

changes in the expression of several

endogenous genes, a few of which

might be secreted into the blood

stream, even if the expression of the

transgene itself is confined to the site

of injection of the vector (for

example the hamstring muscle of the

right leg). All such indirect effects of

gene doping or indeed drug doping

are not presently known. Large

scale, high throughput analysis of all

urine and blood components will

become technically and

economically feasible in future

allowing detection initially of

abnormal patterns of these

components, leading ultimately to

diagnosis of doping involving either

specific drugs or genes. One such

strategy currently being developed

by WADA is the Athlete Biological

Passport (ABP), where biomarkers

(molecules indicative of a particular

state) for banned practices are

monitored and recorded on an

individual basis9.

The threat of and opportunity for

gene doping are real, but the results,

based on current understanding of

biological processes, are in no way

guaranteed. Neither is safety, despite

the large number of gene therapy

trials and relative paucity of adverse

events reported.

Advancing knowledgeUltimately, the health of the athlete,

in addition to fairness in competition,

is the goal of anti-doping authorities.

The lack of efficient gene delivery

and expression, and the

unpredictability of gene expression

compared to drugs – which can be

started, stopped and dosed precisely

– suggest that genetically engineered

athletes are still a distant reality.

Yet the knowledge of how genotype is

related to certain aspects of health is

advancing rapidly. The time may not

be far off when genotype could be

used as an additional tool to identify

performance potential, or shape

training, nutrition and drugging

regimens. The counterpoint is that

this advancing knowledge will also

provide new weapons in the fight

against doping, whether genetic

or not.

Do yoU haVe an oPinion on This arTicle? ContaCt us at [email protected]

ReFeReNCeS (1) Kay, M. State-of-the-art gene-based therapies: the road ahead. Nature Reviews Genetics 12, 316-328 (2011)

(2) hakimi, P. et al. Overexpression of the cytosolic form of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (GTP) in skeletal muscle repatterns energy metabolism in the mouse. J Biol Chem. 282, 32844-55 (2007).

hanson, R. W. & hakimi, P. Born to run; the story of the PePCK-Cmus mouse. Biochimie 90, 838-842 (2008).

(3) Musarò, A. et al Localized Igf-1 transgene expression sustains hypertrophy and regeneration in senescent skeletal muscle. Nat Genet. 27(2), 195-200 (2001).

(4) Lee, S. et al. Viral expression of insulin-like growth factor-I enhances muscle hypertrophy in resistance-trained rats. J Appl Physiol. 96(3),1097-104 (2004).

(5) Wells, D. J. Gene-doping, the hype and the reality. Br. J Pharmacology 154(3), 623-31 (2008).

(6) Williams, A. & Folland, J. P. Similarity of polygenic profiles limits the potential for elite human physical performance. J Physiol. 586(1), 113-21 (2008).

(7) Timmons, J. A. et al. Using molecular classification to predict gains in maximal aerobic capacity following endurance exercise training in humans. J Appl Physiol 108, 1487–1496 (2010).

(8) Bouchard, C. et al. Genomic predictors of the maximal O2 uptake response to standardized exercise training programs. J Appl Physiol 110, 1160–1170 (2011).

(9) Robinson N. et al. Sottas P-e The Athlete Biological Passport: An effective Tool in the Fight against Doping. Clinical Chemistry 57, 830-832 (2011).

Coghlan, A. The Biological Passport to Catch Sports Cheats, New Scientist 2738 (2009).

GeNeTICSGeNe DOPING AND SPORT

CONSeRVATIONSPeCIeS ReINTRODUCTION


Determining the most

significant conservation work

in Scotland at the moment

isn’t easy. There are the ambitious,

big-scale projects involving

woodland restoration and marine

site protection. Then there is the

management of our extensive peat

bogs to ensure they remain as vital

long-term carbon sinks, water stores

and habitats for wildlife.

These types of projects have the

potential to make the biggest,

positive impact on biodiversity. Yet,

despite this, it is often species-

focused projects that spark the

public imagination and generate

most media attention, and none

more so than some of the UK’s

current reintroduction projects.

Bullock, 1997) or to help restore

healthy ecosystems.

Secondly there is the potential for

increased socio-economic benefits

such as from tourism, education and

interpretation programmes. These

may be supported by cultural links

between the species concerned and

the local area, perhaps based around

history and literature. Scottish

projects also help to establish an

enhanced national image of Scotland

as a leader in conservation and

environmental issues, and a nation

willing to take action to restore

past losses.

Thirdly reintroductions can

provide a focus for raising awareness

of wider environmental issues and

encouraging resources for habitat

restoration programmes. Finally,

carefully-managed reintroductions

can provide positive success stories

with the potential for wide public

interest and support, nationally

or locally.

Best practiceThe challenge is to ensure that any

reintroduction proposal has a clear

rationale and that any decision first

involves a careful consideration of

all the relevant factors. If a decision

is made to release a particular

species, then the right sort of

planning and implementation will

maximise the chances of the species

establishing long-term, self-

sustaining and viable populations,


and minimise any conflict with

local people.

The International Union for the

Conservation of Nature Guidelines

for Reintroductions (IUCN 1998)

were produced to help guide this

process, “to help ensure that the

reintroductions achieve their

intended conservation benefit, and

do not cause adverse side effects of

greater impact”.

The guidelines summarise the key

activities that should be considered

for any reintroduction project under

the following headings:

1(a) Bmolodmcal

■ Feasibility study and background

research

■ Previous reintroductions

■ Choice of release site and type

■ Evaluation of reintroduction site

■ Availability of suitable release

stock

■ Release of captive stock

1(b) Socmo-econommc and

ledal requmrements

2 Plannmnd preparatmon and

release stades

3 Post-release actmvmtmes

These pragmatic and sensible

guidelines are used by conservation

organisations worldwide and have

been formally adopted by all the

statutory conservation agencies in

the UK (see the policy for

conservation translocation in

Britain produced by the Joint Nature

Scottish Natural heritage’s Dr martin gaywood assesses the role of reintroduction as a way of conserving species and restoring ecosystems

BACk TO LIFe Dr gaywood is

manager of the species action framework at scottish natural heritage. following his PhD on snake ecology and postdoctoral work at the University of southampton, Dr gaywood worked at csiro in australia on a royal society Travelling fellowship. on his return he moved to scottish natural heritage in 1994 to work on species conservation and management issues.

BIOGRAPhYnative, and can sometimes result in

animals or plants becoming invasive,

such as Japanese knotweed (Fallopia

japonica) in Britain.

Reintroduction is just one part of a

conservationist’s toolkit but in

recent decades it has become an

increasingly well-used method

(EcoText, 2004 and Soorae, 2010). In

some ways this is surprising as the

species-focused approach to wildlife

conservation has fallen a little out of

fashion, with the bigger habitat,

landscape and ecosystem approach

now judged to be the main direction

we should be heading in.

Reintroductions tend to be

complex projects requiring the

consideration of a wide range of

issues such as ecological

requirements, animal husbandry

and plant cultivation, species

legislation, finance and fund raising,

consultation with stakeholders,

education and interpretation, and

public relations. Usually no single

organisation can provide such a

breadth of multi-disciplinary

expertise so projects often require

the development of partnerships.

They also tend to be relatively

expensive compared to other

types of conservation work and

may sometimes be seen as

diverting resources from more

worthwhile causes.

Critics of reintroductions have

raised other concerns, especially in

relation to some of our recent, high-

profile projects. Reintroduced

species are perceived as risking

unforeseen or unmanageable

damage to other wildlife or habitats

through competition, predation or

more indirect effects. Some species

may have a direct or indirect effect

on land use, with resulting economic

costs to the land user or public purse.

So why is there such continued

interest in reintroduction? Scottish

Natural Heritage (SNH) believes

some reintroductions can help to

bring about certain environmental,

social and economic benefits in

Scotland if done in the right way.

Firstly, reintroductions are a way

of meeting conservation objectives,

such as restoring the range of a

species that has declined as a result

of human pressure (Hodder and

young white-tailed eagles in their holding cage at the east of scotland release site.

Two of the most high-profile

examples at the moment are in

Scotland, where sea eagles and

beavers are the subject of complex

reintroduction projects. Perhaps

part of the reason for the interest

these projects generate is that there

is often so much more to a

reintroduction project than just

returning a particular species back

to a particular place.

why reintroduce species?Reintroductions are used to

establish species in areas where they

have become extinct that were once

part of their historical range. This is

different to the concept of

introduction, where species are

moved to areas where they are not

Conservation Committee, 2003).

They can be used for any type of

reintroduction, although their

application might be relatively

straightforward for some projects

(such as reintroducing a rare plant to

a hillside using donor stock from

another population in the same hill

range) but complex for others (such

as reintroducing a top predator).

The way forwardThe controversial issues surrounding

certain species reintroductions have

meant that conservation interests

have sometimes come into conflict

with those of local land users. In

Scotland, the Scottish Beaver Trial

and the west and east coast sea eagle

reintroduction projects have

generated a particularly high level

of debate.

Arguments have often been

passionate and intense, with much

of it played out in the media and

both sides sometimes playing loose

with the facts. It became clear that

there had to be a more constructive

way of trying to engage stakeholders

in the decision-making process and

so a ‘National Species

Reintroduction Forum’ has been set

up in Scotland made up of land-use

groups, conservation NGOs and

other public bodies. The forum

provides an opportunity for all sides

to discuss issues important to them,

and to try and develop an agreed

way forward.

By the end of 2012, the Scottish

Biodiversity Strategy will have been

revised to have a far bigger focus on

management at the ecosystem scale.

But does this ‘ecosystem approach’

mean species reintroductions will

become redundant? It’s unlikely,

since there will always be a need

for certain types of targeted species

management, and reintroduction

is likely to remain a useful tool

when other options, such as trying to

encourage species to recolonise

areas naturally, will not work in

the medium or long term.

Reintroductions can also

contribute to the restoration of

healthy and functioning

ecosystems, for example by

returning pollinator or other

‘keystone’ species to places where

they had been lost. People are also

an important element of the

ecosystem concept and

reintroductions, if managed

properly, can provide value to our

social, economic and cultural needs.


seen again


CONSeRVATIONSPeCIeS ReINTRODUCTION

The following examples give an idea

of the range of species

reintroductions that are being

carried out in Scotland and the breadth

of geographic scales that we have been

working at.

Wildlife has no interest in political

boundaries so the term reintroduction can

be used where a species is returned to a

country from which it has been lost (such as

sea eagles to Scotland, and indeed the island

of Great Britain), or it might be to a specific

river catchment, mountain top or some

other form of localised, geographic area.

The examples also demonstrate that

although some high-profile species

reintroductions may be controversial,

many others generate far less heat.

eurasian beaver trialThe Eurasian beaver (Castor fiber) is

currently the subject of the first formal

reintroduction project of a mammal

species to Britain. Although SNH started

feasibility studies on beaver reintroduction

in the mid-1990s, it was not until 2009 that

the Government finally granted a licence

to permit the release of four beaver

families into the wild in Knapdale, Argyll,

as part of the Scottish Beaver Trial.

Public consultations have shown that

the majority of members of the Scottish

public surveyed are in favour of

reintroduction, but some groups have

particular concerns over the potential

effects of beaver engineering and

feeding activities. The same activities

are seen by some supporters as having

potentially important benefits – for

example felled trees can be perceived

as a lost commercial crop to some people,

but the creation of naturally coppiced

woodland as beneficial to wildlife

to others.

The trial approach, together with other

ongoing beaver studies (e.g. on beavers

and migratory fish, Kemp et al., 2011) will

therefore allow these factors to be

examined and presented to the Minister

for Environment and Climate Change in

2015, after which a decision on the future

of beaver reintroduction will be made.

The project continues to receive enormous

amounts of public and media attention.

In the meantime, beavers have also

appeared on Tayside, possibly having

originated as escapees from private

collections or from deliberate releases.

Following much debate, the Government

has recently decided to allow the animals

to return for the time being, and use the

opportunity to collect further information

which will also be reported to the Minister

in 2015.

Sea eagle The white-tailed or sea eagle (Haliaeetus

albicilla) is the UK’s largest bird of prey. It

became extinct in the early 1900s but was

reintroduced to the west coast of Scotland

from 1975-98 where there are now about

60 occupied territories. More recently a

new and ongoing phase of reintroduction

has focused around Fife in east Scotland,

with 80 birds released since 2007.

The return of the sea eagle has

generated substantial public interest,

and a recent RSPB study on Mull

suggested that sea eagle tourism boosts

the local economy by about £5 million

every year. However some farmers,

crofters and foresters have reservations,

and the reintroduction of a large raptor is

an expensive business. In 2010 Natural

England withdrew from a proposal to

reintroduce them in England largely due

to budget cutbacks.

In Scotland there is a management

scheme that aims to support projects

that may benefit the eagles, spread the

economic benefits arising from their

presence and assist in the positive

management of land and livestock

which reduces the impact of eagle

foraging behaviour.

VendaceThe vendace (Coregonus albula) is a

freshwater fish typically associated with

large, deep, standing waters. Scotland

lost its last population of vendace in the

1960s as its habitat became unsuitable,

so when reintroduction work began in

the 1990s, it was first necessary to identify

lochs where it was believed the conditions

would enable any new population

to survive.

Since then, vendace has been moved

into three Scottish lochs using donor

stock from the remaining UK populations

in the Lake District. In fact, stock from

the Bassenthwaite population in the Lake

District were moved just in time to

Loch Skeen in Scotland: shortly

afterwards the Bassenthwaite population

became extinct as a result of habitat

change, but the genetically distinct and

diverse stock lives on in Scotland.

loch skeen release site for vendace

Woolly willow

beaver dam built at Knapdale

freshwater pearl mussel

Similar conceptsOur changing environment has led

to the development of a similar

concept to reintroduction called

‘conservation introduction’, where

species are moved deliberately. This

involves trying to establish a species,

for the purpose of conservation,

outside its recorded distribution but

within an appropriate habitat or

geographic area. A good example of

this is the transfer of animals or

plants from populations threatened

by the spread of disease to isolated

refuges (e.g. ‘insurance populations’

of Tasmanian devils have been set up

in response to the spread of Devil

Facial Tumour Disease in Tasmania).

Another important example is

‘assisted colonisation’ in response to

climate change, where species with

poor dispersal powers are given a

helping hand to move away from

areas that are becoming climatically

unsuitable. Because of the growing

interest in this type of translocation,

and because it has many similarities

to reintroduction, the IUCN

Guidelines on Reintroduction are

being expanded to include

conservation introduction as well.

Reintroduction is likely to remain

a useful method for conserving

species and restoring ecosystems.

Ideally, restoring habitats and

enhancing the likelihood of species

recolonising areas naturally, should

be the priority. But in situations

where this is unlikely, for example

where species have poor dispersal

abilities or because of the presence

of natural barriers, then

reintroduction remains a

valuable alternative.

Reintroductions are also not just

about the species – the involvement

and support of people is also

important and can be vital in

ensuring eventual success and the

restoration of viable and self-

sustaining populations.

Most of the projects listed above have

been done under the umbrella of

Scotland’s Species Action Framework

(SNH 2007) and further

information, including details of the

numerous partners involved, can be

found at www.snh.gov.uk/speciesactionframework

Monitoring reports and other

scientific publications are available

online via www.snh.gov.uk/scottishbeavertrial

ReFeReNCeS ecoText: Review of international policy and practice for native species conservation translocations. Scottish Natural heritage Report No. 034 (ROAMe No. F03NC04B), Scottish Natural heritage, Battleby (2004).

hodder, K. h. & Bullock, .J M. Translocation of native species in the UK: Implications for biodiversity. Journal of Applied Ecology 34, 547-565 (1997).

IUCN Guidelines for Re-introductions. IUCN/SSC Re-introduction Specialist Group, Gland, Switzerland (1998)

Kemp, P. S. et al Qualitative and quantitative effects of reintroduced beavers on stream fish. Fish and Fisheries (2011). Pre-publication version available online at http://onlinelibrary.wiley. com/doi/10.1111/ j.1467-2979. 2011.00421.x/abstract

McLean, I. F. G. (on behalf of the Inter-agency Translocations Working Group) A Policy for Conservation Translocations of Species in Britain, Joint Nature Conservation Committee, Peterborough (2003).

SNh A Five Year Species Action Framework: Making a Difference for Scotland’s Species. Scottish Natural heritage, Battleby (2007). www.snh.gov.uk/speciesaction framework

Soorae, P. S. (ed) Global re-introduction perspectives: Additional case-studies from around the globe. IUCN/SSC Re-introduction Specialist Group, Abu Dhabi, UAe (2010)

woolly willow Woolly willow (Salix

lanata) is a low shrub that forms part of

sub-arctic, montane scrub habitat which

was once an important ecotone above the

altitudinal limit of forest. However,

changing land management in the Scottish

uplands has meant that montane scrub is

now restricted to a few fragments, many of

them isolated and vulnerable to localised

extinction. Woolly willow cuttings have

been collected and cultivated at the Royal

Botanic Gardens Edinburgh, with young

plants planted out at carefully selected sites

in the Cairngorms and Angus glens.

Freshwater pearl musselScotland is a European stronghold for the

freshwater pearl mussel (Margaritifera

margaritifera) but continuing threats

from illegal pearl fishing, habitat loss,

water pollution and declines in trout and

salmon, which act as larval hosts, have

meant that the population remains under

threat. More recently, attempts have been

made to reintroduce the mussel into rivers

where it once lived, using stock judged to

be most genetically similar to the extinct

populations.

The locations have had to be kept secret

because of the continued threat of pearl

fishing. Animals can be moved as adult

mussels, or as larvae on host salmonid fish.

However, so far the results have been

disappointing, demonstrating how the

subtle and complex ecological

requirements of some species can often

make reintroduction work challenging.

Efforts are being made to work out how

future reintroductions can be improved.

pine hoverflyThe larvae of the pine hoverfly (Blera

fallax) have particular requirements –

wet rotting heartwood, caused by butt-rot

fungus within the snapped-off stumps of

large pines. Given the lack of large old pines

in Scotland, it is not surprising that several

years ago only a few hundred individuals

were thought to be left at two separate sites

in Strathspey, in the Cairngorms.

A project was therefore launched in

2007 involving research, captive breeding

and the creation of dozens of man-made

breeding sites. The core sites have been

sustained and the three reintroductions

which have been made to historic sites

are already producing new generations

of hoverflies.

eurasian beaver

sea eagle

INTeRVIeWSIR STePheN BLOOM

The phILOSOphY OF FATSIR STepheN BLOOm FSB


what is the solution, or is there no solution?To take it to extremes, one option

is to make food less palatable, force

people to climb stairs and cause

trains to run less frequently and be

overcrowded [laughs]. My favoured

change would be a fat tax – it

wouldn’t be a perfect instrument, but

if high-fat foods were more expensive

and everyone knew that it was to help

with health, then I think it would

encourage people to understand fat

content and may even do some good.

where does oxyntomodulin fit in?We found that some of the gut

hormones, if infused to a physiological

concentration, have an unexpected

effect of reducing appetite. We think

this is the gut saying to the brain: “We

can’t handle the food, please eat less.”

The elevation of satiety hormones is

a feature of chronic gut diseases and

leads to a long-term reduction in

food intake.

One of the hormones that we

worked on was oxyntomodulin,

meaning it modulates the oxyntic

cells and reduces acid secretion

in the stomach, but we noticed it

did two other things – it increases

energy expenditure and decreases

appetite and so led to a reduction in

body weight. When we trialled three

daily injections of oxyntomodulin

in volunteers, after four weeks in

a double-blind trial, they’d lost a

lot of weight. But no one wants to

have injections three times a day, so

our aim was to make a long-lasting

oxyntomodulin, which we did, and

set up a company called Thiakis,

which is now owned by Pfizer.

Oxyntomodulin is about supressing appetite. I tend to snack – it’s not that I’m hungry but I eat a chocolate because I fancy one.Hedonistic eating, eating for

pleasure, seems to be because we

want to get a taste thrill or it gives

us a satisfaction. This however is

not entirely as it seems. People

who are hungry really enjoy food,

people who aren’t don’t, so one’s

enjoyment is adjusted by what the

body thinks is the need for food. So

you get more pleasure when you are

hungry, and the hunger hormone

ghrelin, when infused, increases

the appreciation of food – you think

things are more delicious. This

brings us to an interesting side

issue, which is that these peripheral

hormones are controlling basic

human drives. So our brain is being

controlled by our gut. Sex hormones

control sex drives, so it’s not an

unusual principle. It tells us that we

are automatic machinery and not as

free-willed as we wish to believe.

what is your lifestyle like?My BMI is about 27, which is outside

the healthy range but not seriously

overweight. I have trouble controlling

my appetite. I snack on things like

chocolate. So I feel very sympathetic

to the overweight, and it should never

be a case of getting cross with people,

it’s an issue of trying to help with the

physical and social consequences.

That’s why we’re trying to make an

effective, safe obesity therapy.

when we worked together, I remember you used to lunch on lettuce leaves.Yes, between chocolates I eat

lettuce. I still jog every day, 20

minutes’ worth on a treadmill. I

find it very boring and now I have a

treadmill with a television and lots

of recorded programmes.

why did you decide to specialise in endocrinology?I’d always been interested in sex – I

suppose the other option was obs

and gynae but that was… the less

attractive end.

why science rather than medicine?Despite being a medic I was

interested in science – when the


the Olympics is great, it really stimulates people to sit on a couch and watch television. And it’s bound to have quite an impact – on increasing obesity

The distinguished and recently knighted endocrinologist talks to sue Thorn fsb about his research on obesity

The main drivers of obesity are willpower, genetics and social class – what’s the current view about their relative importance? Obesity is genetic in that if you

have obese parents you are more

likely to be obese. A Swedish study

demonstrated that if you were a thin

orphan bought up in a fat household

you stayed thin, or if you were a fat

orphan (with fat parents) bought up

in a household of thin people you

actually stayed fat – so there is a very

strong inherited propensity to obesity.

In an obesogenic society, i.e. one

where you don’t need to take any

exercise and you have high calorie

delicious food available at all times,

people with a genetic predisposition

will tend to get obese, and those

who are more resistant won’t. So

it’s an environmental and genetic

thing and that plurality is sometimes

difficult to grasp.

Can we do anything by giving

lifestyle advice? Most sensible people

already understand that eating less

and doing more exercise would be

a help, and on the whole, they’ve

already taken that advice or failed to.

We know that if you send dieticians

into people’s houses, they lose weight.

And as soon as they stop visiting, the

subject’s weight goes back up. So if

you make a superhuman effort, you

can lose weight.

One of the problems with taking

more exercise is that people then eat

more as they feel they’ve earned it,

but people who stay slim do generally

go jogging or whatever. Obesity is

more serious than a lack of exercise –

so if you take a lot of exercise and are

obese you still will have a shorter life.

Do you think the Olympics will make any difference to people’s attitude to sport and exercise?The Olympics is great, it really

stimulates people to sit on a couch

and watch television. And it’s

bound to have quite an impact – on

increasing obesity.


opportunity came up to do a

research fellowship I volunteered

straight away and never looked back.

Learning clinical medicine was an

enormous help in understanding

how the whole body fits together and

the effects of things going wrong.

You started off presumably as a classical endocrinologist and now concentrate on obesity – what path took you there?I was a peculiar endocrinologist

because I was interested in diarrhoea

and got into gut hormones, and

unusual regulatory activities of

hormones: neurotransmitter

peptides, neurotransmitters in

the lung and the bladder as well

as the gut. I only came back into

endocrinology rather late in my

career, when we realised that

some of these are neurocrine – i.e.

locally-active hormones or paracrine

– diffusing to act on nearby cells,

and sometimes in the circulation

in classical hormonal fashion as

described by Bayliss and Starling.

The whole body depends on these

signals going from one cell type to

another and the artificial separation

of a field called endocrinology is

exactly that, very artificial.

how have you dealt with stress during your career? I seem to be stress resistant. I was

taken on by a physician who had an

unexpected research position, but

he had no idea what research I was

supposed to do. He was far too busy

to oversee me so I was left entirely

to my own devices. And I had to

invent my own areas, think what to

do, read all about it – possibly that

was excellent training. I suppose

I don’t get stressed because I’ve

always felt I had a reasonable degree

of control over what I was doing.

what are your career highlights?One thing that is a little surprising

is the number of people who are

now professors who trained with

me – I think there is getting on for

30 people who trained with me

and are now heads of department.

That’s very pleasing. It suggests

that at least one hasn’t put people

off from a successful career. My

lab has also tried to provide an

environment that supports

women: we’ve had about 20

researchers who had babies

and none of them have had any

problems with their careers.

On the gravestone one can

say he contributed such and

such, and in my case it would

be a fresh approach to the

treatment of obesity and maybe

an understanding of the wider

areas that regulation of tissues

encompasses. In other words, wider

endocrinology – trying to stop

endocrinology just being all about

the thyroid, the adrenal and the

pituitary. On my deathbed I think

I’ll say how interestingly random

life was and that I’m glad things fell

out the way they did.

what haven’t you enjoyed? One particular beef is the

current legislation around drug

development, whereby if I want to

give a peptide to someone to see

if it works, it’s going to cost me a

million pounds doing animal trials.

This means we fail to cure diseases

because of the high administrative

burden. If I want to test 20 peptides,

all slight variations on each other, I

would need over £20 million.

The administrative burden is all

about absolute safety and because

of this there are people dying today,

perhaps millions who we could easily

cure if it wasn’t so expensive and

difficult testing drugs. A particular

irritation is minor changes to drugs

that help their handling – each minor

change has to go through all the drug

development process before you can

test it. It is practically impossible to

test a family of like agents to see which

ones are handled best by the human

body, because every single one of those

has to be an investment of 1, 2 or 3

million pounds before you can test it.

So we’re missing out on opportunities.

When it comes to sending people

to Afghanistan we accept a certain

death rate. When it comes to road

traffic we accept a certain accident

rate. In drug development you

can’t have a single problem and,

as a result, we’re so risk averse in

this area that we’re missing out

on a lot of opportunities to cure

Alzheimer’s, infections and so on.

would you recommend an ambitious young clinician today to

enter a research career?We’ve recently gone through an

unprecedented period of largesse

in research. Despite cutbacks,

doing research is more feasible

now than it’s ever been, which

must be good for UK Ltd in

the long term. The NHS on the

other hand is now going through

a retrenchment and that’s painful.

People going into a medical career

with an interest in research are

finding they’re having to do more

and more on the medical side and

there’s less time to do research.

Nonetheless, there are various

schemes to allow people time off

to do research and, given that the

prospects for a satisfying job in

the NHS are less than they used

to be, with less autonomy and

more management protocols, the

attractiveness of the academic

career has grown greater than

ever. If we think of UK Ltd, the fact

we are developing more academic

physicians is nothing but good.

We’ve got used to the oil industry

making lots of money for the UK,

but in the future I think effective

university-based research is going

to be a major profit centre. Brain

rather than brawn should be the

future of the UK.

what advice would you give someone wanting to be a clinician and a scientist?You have to get used to the idea

you’re going to be a rotten clinician

and a bad scientist because you

won’t have the time to devote

yourself fully to either. Yet you

are valuable because you bring a

holistic understanding of the body

and its disorders to the science field

and this is uniquely advantageous.

This bridging field yields important

outcomes, actual improvements in

mankind’s lot and indeed in the lot

of animals, who also suffer from

endless diseases. I’d say it’s a very

good career and I’d encourage

people to go for it.

how do you feel about being Sir Stephen Bloom?The honours system is interesting.

It’s set up to make people jealous

and to have that effect it has to be

totally random – and it gives every

impression of being totally random.

One’s not going to object when one

receives largesse out of the blue, but

I can’t really feel I deserved it.

Nonsense! how did your family react?The family were impressed because,

of course, the title has an impact, and

then they wanted to know if there

was anything in it for them and of

course there isn’t. At that point, they

lost interest! Actually, my daughters,

in particular, are very proud.

INTeRVIeWSIR STePheN BLOOM

Do yoU haVe an oPinion on This arTicle? CONTACT US AT [email protected]

Professor sir stephen bloom is head of Division for Diabetes, endocrinology and metabolism, chair of the section of investigative medicine at imperial college london and chief of service for Pathology at imperial college healthcare nhs Trust. among many other roles he heads a 40-strong research team investigating the physiology of regulatory peptides in cns and periphery. he was knighted in last year’s new year’s honours list for his pioneering work on obesity and diabetes.

BIOGRAPhY

phYSIOLOGY

SCIeNCePhYSIOLOGY


what are you working on at the moment?My main speciality is the role of

neurophysiology and psychobiology

in people’s perception of effort and

how it is nearly always athletes’

perception of fatigue, not muscle

or cardiovascular fatigue, which

limits performance.

Also, how mental fatigue limits

performance. Every time a football

manager’s team performs badly

you’ll often hear them say they were

mentally tired or under pressure but

there’s very little science on it, while

there is an awful lot of research

about muscle fatigue.

There are two main theories on

how you perceive fatigue: the first

is that perception comes from the

variety of receptors in the muscle/

heart and lungs that are stimulated

by physical changes during exercise.

The receptors send something

called afferent feedback to the brain

that generates a perception of effort.

The other theory, the one I

support, is that how you perceive

effort is actually based on the

brain’s central motor command –

how forcefully the brain activates

the muscle. If you block afferent

feedback by injecting anaesthetic

into the muscles of the legs, when

you move you will not feel any

signals or pain from them but will

still feel a perception of ‘effort’.

what applications do you hope your research could lead to?Working with patients affected by

rheumatic diseases, kidney disease

and cancer, which cause muscle

wasting problems, the thing that

limits their quality of life the most

is often chronic fatigue, which

makes even the simplest task seem

like a massive effort. So I became

very interested in their perception

of effort. There is a lot known

about the perceptions like pain and

appetite and their physiology, but

not fatigue.

My mum got an acute blood

disease and had to have a kidney

transplant. Fatigue is one of the

worst ways it has affected her

quality of life so I have a personal

interest in this.

Do you think there is any possibility your work on the perception of effort could lead to pain-free exercise, which could help reduce obesity?

Absolutely. If you can better

understand and reduce the

perception of effort you may be

able to help increase the number of

people taking exercise. Hopefully

we will receive funding for this area

of our research as they have tried

everything else – the fact is people

find exercise too much work

and uncomfortable.

how did you get into physiology?It started through sport and then

I moved into physiology. When

I was young I was a competitive

athlete – basketball and American

football were my sports. Like

anyone else I was interested in how

you can improve your training, your

performance and your nutrition;

you start to get into the physiology

of it. During my PE degree we had

to study anatomy, biochemistry

and physiology, and so I became

interested in it that way.

has your work ever led to working with sporting greats or high-profile teams?I’ve been scientific advisor to Mapei,

a professional cycling team that in

the early 2000s was the best in

the world.

what other research does your team do at the Centre for Sports Studies?Like most sport science departments,

we have two main research groups. In

our sports performance group we look

at fatigue and endurance in athletes.


INTeRVIew AT A GLANCe

Name Professor Samuele Marcoraprofession Professor of exercise Physiology and Director of Research at the Centre for Sports Studies, University of KentQualificationsPhD in exercise Physiology, MSc in human Performance, BSc in Physical educationResearch Interests Neurophysiology of perceived exertion and endurance exercise performance; fatigue in clinical populations

If you can understand and reduce the perception of effort, you may be able to increase the number of people exercising

The other group concentrates more

on physical health and rehabilitation,

involving both athletes and people like

cardiac patients.

what are the most exciting advances or areas of research being studied in physiology generally at the moment? There are two hot topics based

on how the body responds to

exercise: there was the BBC Horizon

programme on the benefits of very

short bursts of intense exercise

(Michael Mosley’s The Truth About

Exercise). It’s very catchy because it

sounds so convenient, to just do three

minutes of exercise a week instead of

three hours or something. But I think

it needs much more research.

The other is of more industrial

appeal – there are drug companies

looking at exercise as a cheap way

of finding molecular targets for

their drugs. Exercise has a big effect

on conditions like, say, diabetes or

cardiovascular disease, and they

are looking at ways to get the same

effects with a drug instead.

what do you like about sport physiology and does it suit any particular type of scientist?We work with humans, not mice!

I think it is good for people who

like to see the direct application

of science to humans. Much of my

research is picked up by coaches and

athletes and that gives me a lot of

satisfaction knowing it has improved

their lives.

SpOTLIGhT ON

what is physiology?Often described as the science of life, physiology is the science of how the body works. Cellular and molecular biology have enabled us to strip the body down to its constituent parts, but physiology is about putting those components back together and understanding how they interact. Physiologists study every aspect of

how organisms function, from the actions of individual proteins within cells to how organ systems interact in the body.

why is it important? Physiology provides a foundation for all of the biological and clinical sciences. Physiologists in the lab use their understanding of how

the body functions to try to find cures for diseases, such as cystic fibrosis and Alzheimer’s. Neurophysiologists work on brain function, understanding how we learn and remember, and why it sometimes goes wrong. Clinical physiologists work in hospitals and clinics, diagnosing and managing disease.

however, not all physiologists work in a lab. This summer, exercise physiologists will be applying their science to help Olympic athletes reach the peak of their performance, while others apply their knowledge more broadly to assess how exercise can help the general population combat aging and cardiovascular disease.

what’s the best route into a career in physiology?If you have studied biology at any level, you will have studied physiology. Most physiologists will have studied a biomedical science or sports science degree at university level. Following university, many will take a post-graduate qualification in the area of physiology that most interests them.

however, not everyone will continue to post-graduate level. Many people choose to go straight into industry or clinical roles, gaining experience alongside professional qualifications. Some go on to study medicine or dentistry, become teachers and lawyers, and communicate science to the public. Due to the breadth of the subject, physiologists really can be found in all walks of life.

where can I find out more?The Physiological Society offers information about diverse areas of physiology on its website (www.physoc.org). here you can find information on the society’s public engagement activities, meetings and training courses. You can also find back issues of the Society’s magazine, Physiology News. Further educational resources and careers information can be found on www.understanding-life.org.

Vol 59 No 2 / The BIOLOGIST / 3736 / The BIOLOGIST / Vol 59 No 2

Reviews

LIFe’S A GAS

Oxygen and the Evolution of Life “three chapters cover the biological role of oxygen, notably how organisms developed mechanisms for coping with an oxygen-rich atmosphere”

Our regular round-up of books published in the fields of biology and related sciences

Owlet Caterpillars of eastern North AmericaDavid L wagner, Dale F Schweitzer, J Bolling Sullivan & Richard C Reardon

Princeton University Press, £59.00Over a million insect species are

known to science, with anything

between 3-8 million – perhaps as

many as 13 million – still to go. A lot,

certainly, are mostly described in

the adult stage only. For less than a

third we have knowledge of the early

stages and many, extinct already,

we will simply never know. Happily,

the Lepidoptera are one group

where the larvae are comparatively

well known, at least for the better-

studied regions, although often this

information is scattered and arcane.

This volume, the latest by Wagner

and co-authors, packs an absurd

amount of information about the

larvae of noctuoid moths of eastern

North America into its 576 pages,

with scarcely an inch wasted. After

a concise introduction it launches

straight into the descriptions, genus

by genus, with a large photograph of

the mature larva of each species and

a brief résumé of key features,

habitats, distribution, food plants

and comments, citing from a

bibliography of over 260 references

but with plenty of new, unpublished

and corrected data also.

In many cases there are

photographs of the adult moth in

natural repose or as set specimen,

often both. The photographs are

uniformly excellent, and the

diversity of forms and habits is

staggering – a real eye-opener.

Over 800 species are included.

This book wouldn’t necessarily

catch the attention of European

lepidopterists, but it should – even if

only for the beautiful illustrations.

The fact that many of the genera

share taxa with Europe also gives it

real utility beyond its home range.

David clements cbiol msb

Stem Cells – From mechanisms to Technologiesmichal k. Stachowiak and emmanual S Tzanakakis (eds)World scientific, £84.00

Many people have now heard of stem

cells and their remarkable capacity

to differentiate into mature cells

with specific functions, potentially

facilitating the treatment of the

previously untreatable.

They, and indeed some biologists,

will be far less aware of the variety

of problems still to be solved before

stem cells can find a central place in

clinical medicine.

Adopting a systems approach,

this book surveys the requisite

research on both basic physiology

and the technology necessary to

generate these cells in medically

useful quantities. The editors

co-author three of the 12 chapters,

on stem cell bioprocessing for

regenerative medicine, the

triggering of neurogenesis by

endogenous brain stem cells with

DNA nanoplexes, and a common

integrative nuclear signalling

module for stem cell development.

Overall, the book affords a highly

accessible portrait of this nascent

therapy, not only for researchers

directly involved but also for

biologists and medicos in other

areas. Two particularly challenging

chapters are those on the

engineering of bioactive scaffolds

for vascular therapy and the

possible treatment of central

nervous system disorders using

stem cells from the human

umbilical cord.

“Stem cells have an astounding

capability to self-renew or

differentiate under a plethora of

seemingly chaotic external and

internal inductive signals which

may lead to contradicting fate

decisions,” write the editors. This

book will go a long way to clarify the

components of the chaos and to

facilitate progress towards

applications that may, in time,

become crucial components of

routine medical practice.

bernard Dixon

Reframing Rights: bioconstitutionalism in the genetic ageSheila Jasanoff (ed)miT Press, £17.95

Many lab-based bioscientists

consider that the low level of public

enthusiasm for recent advances in

the life sciences is frustratingly

reactionary. Despite biologists’

widespread acceptance for over 150

years of (neo) Darwinian theory,

which has received indisputable

endorsement from recent advances

in genomics and biotechnology,

public resistance to embracing the

vast potential benefits for medicine,

agriculture and industry is often

viewed, from the laboratory bench,

with incredulity.

But, as Jasanoff stresses in her

opening chapter, these new levels of

understanding and technological

capability have transformed

traditional “notions of race, diversity,

kinship, ethnic and social identity,

normality, deviance, criminality,

justice and human uniqueness”, while

biotechnology has, inter alia, created

“new forms of life, embryos, stem

cells and human-animal chimeras”.

So it is hardly surprising that they

have enormous political, legal and

social implications.

Arguably, most bioethicists’

responses to such developments

have tended to be rooted in

deterministic thinking: for example,

focusing on the (supposedly

inevitable) legal consequences for

safety, privacy, liability, equitable

healthcare provision and

environmental pollution. But, more

radically, the perspective of the

bioconstitutionalism that runs

through this book acknowledges the

‘irreducible contingency of life-law

relationships that aims to restore

normative agency to social factors’.

The 13 chapters address issues

such as cloning, forensic uses of DNA

databases, xenotransplantation,

human population genomics and the

precautionary principle. Except for a

single chapter from the UK, all

authors have strong associations

with one department of government

at Harvard University. Even so, this

important book should be available

in every bioscience library.

ben mepham

Dragonflies and Damselflies of the eastDennis paulsonPrinceton University Press, £24.95A counterpart to Dragonflies and

Damselflies of the West, together

these books provide a complete,

concise and encyclopaedic

reference work covering all

dragonflies and damselflies in

continental USA and Canada.

Dragonflies and Damselflies of the

East includes 336 out of the total of

462 species of the order Odonata

found within the USA and Canada.

The introduction contains details

of the dragonfly’s lifecycle, habitats,

behaviour, and suggested methods

of observation and study. This book

Oxygen and the evolution of Lifeheinz Decker & kensal e van holdespringer Dordrecht, £53.99All elements are important but some

are more important than others.

Oxygen falls into the latter category,

due to its significance in the

evolution and continuance of life on

Earth, and its penchant for

combining with other elements. This

short introduction provides synopses

of oxygen’s major characteristics.

It opens with oxygen’s chemistry:

its atomic structure, bonding capacity

and roles in ozone, water and carbon

dioxide formation, as well as its

solubility, hydrolysis, dehydration

and redox reactions. The subsequent

chapter begins with cosmic history

and the formation of the solar system,

then focuses on the early Earth

with its carbon dioxide rich

atmosphere, and how that was

transformed over billions of years

into an atmosphere with 21 % oxygen.

The development of photosynthesis

is highlighted as a major biological

and geological force.

The next three chapters cover the

biological role of oxygen, notably how

organisms developed mechanisms for

coping with an oxygen-rich

atmosphere, the physiological benefits

of aerobic conditions and the evolution

of multicellular organisms, plus

oxygen transport systems in animals

involving proteins like haemoglobins.

Chapters six and seven focus on

oxygen-climate relationships, on long-

term Earth history with its warm and

cool stages, and real and potential

human impact due to increasing

carbon dioxide emissions since the

1800s. A further chapter examines

oxygen-related medical conditions

such as hypoxia and oxidative stress

and their treatment. The final chapter

speculates on oxygen and life beyond

planet Earth as well as problems with

supplying oxygen to space explorers.

This book adopts an interesting,

indeed risky approach when it comes

to sales. It is relevant to a wide but

scientific audience though the cost is

prohibitive for purchase by individuals.

Dr a m mannion

me and the Biospheres: a memoir by the inventor of Biosphere 2 John Allen

synergetic Press, £25.00Me and The Biospheres is the

autobiography of John Allen,

inventor of the world’s largest

laboratory of global ecology,

Biosphere 2. I’m not surprised

Allen’s book was voted best

autobiography of 2010 by the

Benjamin Franklin Awards for

independent publishing. He is

the most amazing man I know.

I’ve learned even more about him

and his associates from this book

- and what associates: from

Konrad Lorenz and Buckminster

Fuller to William Burroughs,

Sir Ghillean Prance and

Richard Schultes.

Allen started the Biosphere

enterprise at the Synergia Ranch in

Santa Fe having bought and

renovated – by hand – a great stretch

of Australian outback to prepare

specimens. He did this while

building a ship, Heraclitus, setting

up the Vajra hotel in Kathmandu

and the October Gallery in London.

When it became clear Biosphere 2

would need a tropical rainforest, he

bought a patch of Puerto Rican land,

planted hardwood trees and used it

for the source of the rainforest biome

– creating a conservation-focused, as

well as profit-making business. I

can’t begin to detail his many other

enterprises here – buy the book!

The culmination of it all is

Biosphere 2 in the Arizona desert.

This was a completely closed system

in which eight people lived for two

years, with air, water and agriculture

all perfectly recycled, with four

connected-but-independent biomes

including a coral reef, desert and

rainforest. This is a great book for

biologists. Read it to see just how

much can be done during an eclectic

life. Did I mention that the author

is also Johnny Dolphin, the poet

and playwright?

Jack cohen fsb

dragonflies and damselflies of the East “Of interest to all dragonfly enthusiasts thanks to its beautiful and meticulous close-up pictures of both the male and female of each species”


ReVIeWSBOOKS

will be of interest to all dragonfly

enthusiasts thanks to its beautiful

and meticulous close-up pictures of

both the male and female of each

species. Anyone able to visit the

USA and spend time looking for

dragonflies will find the notes, full

descriptions and labelled line

diagrams helpful to assist in species

identification.

Information is clearly and

systematically presented with

species grouped by genus. Habitats

are described to assist observations

and locations are identified

diagrammatically as highlighted

areas on a thumbnail map of the

USA. The use of diagrams make it

ideal for taking out on fieldwork;

however it may be better in e-book

or paperback format. In hardback

edition this book feels like a coffee

table book, containing as it does

such a wealth of attractive and

vibrant pictures. A list of dragonfly

societies, websites and a glossary of

all terms used are given as

appendices.

Dr amanda hardy

Statistical and Data handling Skills in Biology (3rd edition)Roland ennosPearson, £28.99For many biology students the

least enjoyable and most feared

part of their university course is

when they have to learn statistics.

Part of this may be due to a general

‘maths phobia’, but I suspect that

the majority of the problems stem

from the inability of professors and

lecturers to clearly explain how

to use statistics or to convey the

excitement and sense of satisfaction

when the data finally yields to your

analysis. This is unfortunate: not

only is a grasp of basic statistics

an integral part of any biologist’s

toolkit, it is also essential for robust

data collection, experimental design

and, at the most basic level, the

generation of hypotheses.

What is required is a well-written,

clearly-illustrated and user-friendly

guidebook that explains the

mysteries of biostatistics without

either oversimplifying or scaring off

first-year students with complex-

looking equations. This is exactly

what Roland Ennos has produced in

a well-deserved third edition of his

basic statistics textbook.

The new edition differs from the

former in that equivalent parametric

and non-parametric statistics are

now dealt with in the same chapters,

and the book has been expanded to

include some additional statistical

tests – including logistic regression,

an increasingly important model

in many sub-disciplines of biology.

Moreover, and perhaps most

usefully, there are comprehensive

instructions on how to perform

statistical tests in two of the most

common software packages:

SPSSv19 and MINITABv6.

There are lots of basic statistics

textbooks out there, but this is one

of the best.

ana claudia mendes malhado

meat for mice – A vet’s diary of the London Natural history museum 1962 expedition to Northern RhodesiaIan keymer

romney Publications ltd, £45.00In 1962, Ian Keymer set out with

museum staff from the London

Natural History Museum for

Northern Rhodesia (now known as

Zambia) to collect specimens. As a

vet and pathologist, his main job was

to carry out post-mortems on the

animals, checking for zoonoses and

animal diseases communicable to

humans, though at times he also

acted as unofficial doctor to

expedition members and others.

Based on diaries kept by the

author, there is remarkable detail

on the people, dates and places

involved in this expedition, which

was primarily a hunting safari.

The idea of killing animals for

research specimens mostly belongs

to an era long gone, and as attitudes

towards animal welfare have

changed, some of the activities

described are disturbing.

Although the author addresses

issues to do with apartheid in his

introduction, some terminology

used in the book is also controversial

e.g. “piccaninnies”. Nevertheless,

this provides a historical vignette

into how these kinds of expeditions

were once run.

Over 90 photos, sketches and maps

make this a well-illustrated account.

Considering most of the photos were

taken over 50 years ago, their quality

is good, but be warned not all are

pretty pictures: for example, the

puka deer being skinned.

Appendices include a list of the

specimens collected, including

stomach contents and external

parasites, from 516 mammals of at

least 79 different species; the results

of examinations for protozoan and

viral diseases; a list of government

and university departments;

and people mentioned in the text

and a glossary.

Students of tropical medicine

and anyone curious about east

African natural history might find

this of interest.

sue howarth fsb

Birds of SeychellesAdrian Skerrett & Tony Disleybloomsbury Publishing, £24.99

The Seychelles consists of more

than 155 separate islands scattered

over a vast area of the Indian Ocean

and, as such, has a rich diversity of

birdlife, all of which have been

comprehensively covered in this

slim volume.

With around 257 species so far

recorded in the Seychelles, equal

consideration is given to resident

species as well as to migrants and

vagrants, and there is also a small

section on six extinct species.

The text is concise yet informative,

with a great deal of detail about

key identification features, and

there are over 800 extremely

useful colour illustrations.

Included in the text for each species

are relevant facts on habitat,

birdsong, distribution and status.

There is a helpful colour coded

table at the back of the book that

shows when to expect bird species

to be found on the main islands,

although this may prove

cumbersome to use in the field

and distribution maps adjacent

to the text for each species might

have been preferable.

This is an indispensable bird

guide for visitors to the Seychelles,

whether they are visiting birders

or nature-loving tourists. It will fit

neatly into pockets or bags and I can

see this being used effectively in the

field by anyone who wants to identify

the birds they encounter. It is

certainly a book I wish I’d had when

I visited the Seychelles some years

ago – it is superb.

Dr alan Woollhead

statistical and data handling skills in Biology “A well-written, clearly-illustrated and user-friendly guidebook that explains the mysteries of biostatistics without scaring off first-year students with complex-looking equations”

member news


neW member Profile

FROm SOIL TO SAILINGDr Lucy Gilliam mSB

Social Notices

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

My mum is a Chartered Biologist with the society so she will probably see this

I am currently workmnd as a

storyteller on a project called New

Dawn Traders, sailing the old trade

routes on a sailboat imagining what

the world will look like beyond

profligate fossil fuel consumption.

Prevmously I worked mn the

Internatmonal Chemmcals and

Nanotechnolodmes Team at DEFRA.

My role was commissioning R&D and

advising policy makers negotiating

international agreements on the use

of chemicals and nanotechnologies.

I have a Fmrst class honours dedree

mn Bmolodmcal Scmences from Exeter

Unmversmty and a PhD mn Molecular

Mmcrobmal Ecolody from Readmnd

Unmversmty. My specialism is the use of

molecular diagnostics to study plant

microbe interactions in soil. I then

went on to use molecular diagnostics

to study greenhouse gas emissions

from soil under different land use

management. My PhD and post-doc

were based at Rothamsted Research.

My mother mnspmred me mnto

studymnd bmoscmences. She is an

incredible biologist and a Chartered

Biologist with the Society so she will

probably see this. My childhood was

spent being dragged up mountains,

along beaches and on country walks

pointing out all the bugs, animals

and plants en route.

I’m really passionate about

biodiversity loss, climate change and

ocean acidification so I thought

studying biosciences would be the best

way to stick up for the things I care

about. I remember being inspired by

the save the whales campaigns when I

was about eight and wanting then to

be an environmental scientist or

environmental lawyer.

I jomned the Socmety for contmnumnd

professmonal development. I also

think the Society does great work in

promoting science.

In my spare tmme I’m emther on my

bmke, on the water samlmnd or mn a

fmeld mn a rmdmculous outfmt at a music

and arts festival.

members’ and Fellows’ lunchesChief executive Dr Mark Downs FSB will be holding a series of informal buffet lunches with small groups of members and Fellows in a round table format. Places are on a first come, first served basis. You must be a society member (MSB) or Fellow to attend.

Please contact Zoë Martin on 020 7685 2564 to attend or email [email protected]

17 July fellows’ lunch - london 12:30-14:00, Charles Darwin house 18 september fellows’ lunch - birmingham 12:30-14:00, Ramada Birmingham City8 november members’ lunch – london 12:30-14:00, Charles Darwin house20 november fellows’ lunch – london 12:30-14:00, Charles Darwin house

members’ receptioncharles Darwin house, london 13 september 17:30-19:30We are holding an informal reception for AMSB, MSB and FSB members of the Society of Biology here at our hQ in London. The reception will provide members with the opportunity to hear from our Chief executive, Mark Downs FSB, discuss current biological issues and the Society’s overall direction, as well as to meet Society of Biology staff and other members.

You must be a member at the AMSB grade or above to be eligible to attend. Places are limited to 80 and are available on a first come, first served basis. Please contact Zoë Martin on 020 7685 2564 or email [email protected]

hONORARY FeLLOwSCongratulations to TV entomologist

Dr George McGavin (left) and

biochemist Sir Tom Blundell (right),

who have been elected as Honorary

Fellows by the Society.

George is best known for

presenting television programmes

on insects and is Honorary Research

Associate at Oxford University

Museum of Natural History. Sir Tom

is President of the Science Council

and has held the posts of President of

the Biosciences Federation, the Sir

William Dunn Professor of

Biochemistry and head of the

Biochemistry department at the

University of Cambridge.


MeMBeR NeWSNeW MeMBeR PROFILeS/NeW MeMBeRS LIST


Qualified Personscongratulations to our new Qualified Persons – Azhar Salahudeen mSB and David Talbot CBiol, mSB.

Qualified Persons play an essential role in assuring that the medicinal and veterinary products made and released by the pharmaceutical industry conform to the high standards demanded by legislation to ensure their effectiveness and safety.

only individuals who have demonstrated, in a demanding oral examination, that they have had the required training and experience to take on the responsible role can be entered onto the Qualified Persons register.

I am an academmc at the School of

Bmoscmences, Unmversmty of

Nottmndham. Research in my lab

aims to discover and describe how

different cell types and different

organisms interpret their DNA. This

research field – epigenetics – is

relevant for our mechanistic

understanding of development,

health and disease in animals. For

this reason we study a broad range of

organisms, ranging from honey bees

to humans. Currently, our work aims

to answer questions of how

environmental stressors influence

the function of genes and energy

homeostasis. Besides research, I

develop and teach undergraduate

courses that cover topics of cell and

developmental biology, as well as

topics of endocrinology, respiration

and evolution. I’m supervising a

number of BSc, MRes and PhD

research projects.

I studmed bmolody, mmcrobmolody

and denetmcs, followed by a PhD at

the Unmversmty of Vmenna, Austrma.

Later, I carried out research at

King’s College London, the Fred

Hutchinson Cancer Research Center

and the University of Washington,

Seattle, USA.

At a yound ade I was allowed to

collect buds and was encouraded to

do smmple expermments like

phototropism with sunflower

seedlings. Motivating teachers, good

books and David Attenborough’s

documentaries did the rest.

I lmke the spectrum of Socmety

members, including non-

professionals and having access to

information, which might benefit

the career prospects of my students.

I expect the Society to be an

influential and sensible voice for life

science policies.

I work for the pharmaceutmcal

company Recmpharm, providing

technical support to various

production areas, which involves

validation, project management and

problem solving.

I have a BSc (Hons) and MSc mn

mmcrobmolody from the Unmversmty of

Karachm, Pakmstan. After finishing

university, I worked in various

pharmaceutical and medical device

industries including Johnson &

Johnson and now have over nine years’

professional experience. My areas of

specialty include pharmaceutical

microbiology, sterilisation, clean-room

technology and validation. I’m also

passionate about probiotics.

It was always a dream for me to

become a scmentmst. Although I can’t

remember any specific moment that

inspired me to work in biosciences,

looking back, I think a number of

fictional comic book characters like Dr

Bruce Banner (The Incredible Hulk),

Reed Richards (Fantastic Four) and Dr

Henry Hank (X-Men) inspired me.

I jomned the Socmety because I

wanted to be part of a body that

embraces all members of

bmolodmcal scmence and represents

them whatever their individual roles,

and in whatever sectors they work. I

wanted to be a member of a body that

speaks authoritatively on all aspects

of biology, protects and represents

the interest of members and is both

proactive and reactive in promoting

and supporting the role of biology.

I enjoy playmnd badmmnton, watchmnd

movmes and vmsmtmnd museums and

exhmbmtmons. Whether I am at work or

home, I participate in several online

pharmaceutical forums to help others

by answering their microbiology and/

or validation queries.

Shoaib haroon khan mSB

I qualmfmed as a vet mn 1961, but

dmdn’t really want to be a vet. I

wanted to do bmolody. I chose the

veterinary course because it offered

applied biology, and a job. I have

never regretted it, but the outcome

was that I became several different

vets in the course of one career.

Vetermnary practmce dmdn’t really

sumt me. I never had time to find out

what was really going on. When the

owner was satisfied, that was that –

on to the next client. I always wanted

to look deeper. And I wanted to travel.

I took a two-year contract mn Kenya,

looking after livestock loaned to

African farmers. This changed my

life. I learned not just about animals

and habitats, but about peoples –

African, European and Asian – and

their languages, customs, problems

and prejudices. I then came home the

long way, via Afghanistan, Nepal and

a dozen other countries. In France I

took a course in tropical veterinary

medicine, and then returned to

Kenya. There I taught biology as well

as animal health, and in my spare

time I studied the local hedgehogs.

My heddehod work helped me to

det the job I wanted – parasitology

research in the Central Veterinary

Laboratory, Weybridge. There I

worked on ovine coccidiosis for 13

fascinating years – pathology, life

cycles and epidemiology.

I then started a new career mn

vetermnary epmdemmolody, which

has kept me busy in Yemen, Nepal,

Senegal, Pakistan, Armenia and

Albania.

I stmll redard myself as a bmolodmst.

If I have any spare time I write and

illustrate children’s stories –

biological stories, of course.

martin Gregory FSBDr Reinhard Stoger FSB

New, Transfer & Chartered Membersmember Profiles

Georgina podd AmSB

I am a bmolodmst and study dmrector

wmthmn the department of Aquatmc

Ecotoxmcolody and Bmodedradatmon

for a larde contract research

ordanmsatmon.

I work with a wide range of aquatic

animals and invertebrates to

determine the toxicity of chemicals

in the environment. This year I have

spent a lot of time outdoors

identifying freshwater invertebrates

as part of a large project.

I always enjoyed studymnd scmence

at school and was fortunate

enoudh to have some mnspmratmonal

teachers alond the way, studying

biology, chemistry, maths and

computing at A-level. I am fascinated

by how things work, especially living

things, which is why I chose Human

and Applied Biology when I left high

school. Although my degree was

quite different from my career path,

I learnt an amazing range of skills

which I have been able to transfer to

my current role.

I studmed human and applmed

bmolody at Unmversmty Campus

Suffolk/UEA and draduated wmth

BSc (Hons) mn 2008. I worked as a

laboratory technician in a local high

school whilst studying; working with

children was very rewarding.

The Socmety of Bmolody was

recommended to me by a colleadue

as a means of valmdatmnd the

expermence I have damned smnce

draduatmnd. The Society is renowned

worldwide and by joining I am also

able to keep abreast of developments

within my area of interest.

In my spare tmme I spend a lot

of tmme wmth my fammly and

my frmends. I like to get outdoors

as much as possible, walking

and cycling.

BioNet (14-19 year-olds) Jessica Appleby, Ayodeji Aregbesola, James Bapty, Laura Bramwell, Willow enis Race, Gagan Grewal, Joshua harvey, Jenny Jarman, Jeff Youngseouk Lee, Amanda Li, Laura Maginley, harriet Myers, George Ollis-Brown, Ms evie Picton, honor Pollard, Sophie Rennison, Sophie Robinson, Danial Shirazi, Katie Smith, Marianne Smith, Lucy Starbuck, Soorya Sunil, Andrew Taylor, Laura Taylor, ella Wagland, Nathan Waldie, Natalie Warren, Amber West, Cong Ye.

Affiliate Kathryn Acheson, Michelle Adsett, Islam Uddin Ahmed, Abrar Alharbi, eyman Almohammed, elizabeth Anderson, Kavetta Arulanantham, Amy Ashe, Mohammed Atcha, Nigel Atkinson, Fiyin Awosoga, Christopher Olanrewaju Ayanwale, Rehman Baig, Paulina Bajko, Yahya Bakar, Gowree Balendran, Andrew Ball, Daniel Barnes, Daniel Barry, Jasmeet Bhatia, Sezen Bickici, Sophie Billington, Tom Bishop, Caroline Black, Sam Blacknell, Lisa Bliss, Richard Borne, Yavor Bozhilov, Anneka Bracken, helen Bradbury, Jillian Britton, Joanne Brodie, Sarah Bromley, Callum Brown, William Brown, Aaron Brunt, Alexander Bryant-evans, Alison Bullions, Victoria Bullock, Saskia Burden, James Busby, Trudi Button, Vedia Can, Caroline Champion, holly Cheriton, Sonal Choudhary, Neelem Choudry, James Clark, Louise Clark, Adam Clarke, Joel Clarke, Ashford Clovis, Louise Collard, Amanda Collier, Matthew Cook, Simon Cooper, Jason Cortis, Jen Cottingham, Paulette Courage, Lucy Cull, Trystan Davey, helania Davies, helena Davies, Isobel Davis, Simon Davis, Alex Day, Natalie Day, Jaspreet Kaur Dhaliwal, Angeliki Ditsiou, Kerry Dixon, Abigail Doe, Conor eastop, Jessica edmed, Yasmin edwards, Timothy elton, Benjamin evans, Mel evans, Daniel Fabbro, Jessica Farrington, Shaun Fell, Sian Finney, Shaun Samuel Fletcher, Shona Forge, Oliver Foster, Alexander James Fotheringham, Timothy Fountain, emily Fowler, Beth Francis, Noelia Garcia, Victoria Gehrke, Sarah Getgood, Dawn Gibbons, Jethro Gibbons, Katharina Giebel, Jennifer Gilchrist, Zoe Gillespie, Nikoletta Gkatza, Sophie Goodier, Ash Grey, Catherine Griffin, Marcus D Griffiths, Peter hacker, elliott hails, Amanda hardy, Vanina harel, William harrison, Jacinta harrow, Naomi hartopp, Ben harvey, Amber heath, Lisa hoang, Lorna holtom, Katherine hooton, Ben hubery, emma hughes, Michael hunter, Fiona hynd, Lucy Jackson, hussain Jaffery, Joe James, Matthew Jarman, Alistair Jones, Lahary Jothinathan, Marina Kamil, Katherine Karacaoglu, Maria Kelly, Saneil Kent, Jackie Kerr, Carla Kerstan, Richa Khatiwada, Nikul Khunti, Daniel Knevitt, Anchala Kuruppu, Ciaran Laverty, Rachel Leach, hayley Leech, Leanne Lipscomb, Manuel Loeffler, Insiyah Lotia, Christopher Lucas, elaine Ma, Grace MacGregor, Kate MacKenzie, Rabiah Mahmood , Dmitri Maiski, Tammy Mak, Joanne Makin, Roshni Mansfield, Crystel Marcos, Poppy Marriott, Jessica Mason, Charlotte Maspero, Will Matthews, Lisa McCrellis, Stewart Mcewen, Dewyme McGarry, Jessica McGugan,

ella McKnight, Ka an Miah, John Miles, Rory Miles, Owen Miller, Lucy Minshall-Pearson, Justyna Mleczko, Rebecca Molland, Vikki helen Moran, Tan Morgan, Christopher Morton, Farya Mubarik, Lukas Karl Brenton Muller, Gemma Napaul, Mark Naylor , Andra Necula, Smeret Negassi, Rebecca Newton, Ruth Offor, Adedeji Ogunlana, Blaine Oliver, Timothy Omisanya, James Ord, Jayne Parker, Rosamond Parker, hiten Patel, Serena Patel, Jaimie Paterson, Jessica Patricot, Soraya Marie Payet, emily Payne, Fay Pearson, Georgina Peate, Jake Pennington, Rachael Penzo, David Pettiser, Kate Petty, Jennifer Phillips, Deepa Pindoria, Chris Poonian, Siobhan Porter, Rachel Postlethwaite, Jamie Pownall, Giorgio Praulins, Clair Preece, Lisa Preece, Katherine Price, Allison Proudlove, Luba Prout, Jaskarn Rai, Pratima Rai, Nilma Ra under, Zoe Raynsford, Batool Raza, Jade Reeves, Melissa Reyes, Christopher Richardson, Louise Richens, Timothy Robbins, Amy-Louise Roberts, Fiona Robins, Janey Robins, Nicola Robson, Sarah Rowe, elizabeth Russell, Natalee Ryan, Raya Saber, Laurie Salt, Melanie Schneider, Alicia Scott, elizabeth Seabourne, Raghavendra Prasadh Selvam, Misbah Shafiq, Zermeen Shah, Zoe Shaw, Daniel Shenton, Thomas Shepherd, Rebecca Shields, Niyati Shukla, Lynsey Silvestri, Josie Slade, Chloe Smith, Olivia Smith, Toby Smith, Rachel Spicer, Charles Stanley, evelina Statkute, Coleen Suckling , Oliver Summers, hope Swift, Daniel Taylor, Liam Thomas, Karen Thompson, Danielle Thorburn, eleanor Thornton, Andrew Tindall, Freha Tipu, Sarah-Jane Turner, Arni Vaughn, Ashley Vey, Sue Wagland, Rosemary Ward, Mark Anthony Warrington, Jackie Wells, Kezia Whatley, Tara Joyce Wheeler, Robin Wild, Zoe elizabeth Wilkinson, Paula Willis, Lucy Inez Witter, Abigail Wood, Jessica Woods, Tim Wright, Jenny Wyatt, Jialin Xiao, Christopher Yemm, Matthew Young, Zachary James Young, Aristos Zachariades, ella Zakrzewski, Maria-Theresa Zarzour, Jiusi Zhang, Chumin Zhou, Maria Zuckschwert.

Associate (AmSB) Kyrillos Adesina-Georgiadis, Waseem Bashirdeen, Sarah Joanne Beesley, Katy Bell, Natasha Botha, Lucy Brooks-Matchant, James Brunel, Nicholas Carey, Angela Cooper, James Cooper, Sarah Cotterill, Joanne Amanda Craig, Jason Fletcher, George Gyamfi-Brobbey, Zoe Margaret harris, Jo harrison, Matthew henwood, emma Johnson, Matthew Jones, Waheed Mahmood, George Mahoney, Rachael emily Susan Mansbridge, Kim Martin, Lindsay McKay, Jonathan Milward, Laura Moody, Amreen Nasim, Mia Kate O’Gorman, Sarah O’Neill, Mary O’Sullivan, Donna Page, Lisa Pritchard, elliott Roberts, Colin Kenneth Taylor, Samuel Thomas Vaughan, Matthew Watson, Rebecca Woodward.

member (mSB)Omolola Akintoye, hani Al-hallak, Wilson Andoh, Martin Baker, eleanor Barnfield-Jones, Richard Bartlett, Ruth Bastow, Paul Bolam, Iain Thomas Boyes, Sally Caveill, Ching-Lung Cheung, Alexander Corbishley, Steven Thomas

Cornelius, Susan Lilian h Craven, Marion Isobel Croy, Joanne Catherine Duffy, Marc-emmanuel Dumas, Christopher eskiw, Stephen John Farrow, Matthew Field, Ashleigh Filtness, Richard John Fitzgerald, Adrian Freeman, Adrian Freeman, Alison Frostick, Paolo R Gomez-Pereira, Lee Gonzalez, Adrian Goodman, Marie Goua, Sarah Naomi Gretton, Peter Griffiths, Laith F Gulli, Alan Gunn, Steven Guy, Tamryn hassel, Mary hughes, Tom Ireland, Adam Robert Jones, harshad Joshi, Shoaib haroon Khan, Nga Sze Kwok, Thomas Laws, Sabina Leonelli, Wai Chin Li, Joanne Li Suk Yee, Michael Loughlin, Carol Lynch, Amelia Markey, Tracey Amanda Martin, Jane Martindale, Douglas McMillan, Catherine elizabeth Meadowcroft, Sanjay Mistry, Andrew Morris, Sterghios Moschos, Diane Carolyn Munday, Denise Geraldine Nemitz, Rebecca Nesbit, Chikere Nkwonta, Ilia Nouretdinov, hemraz Palawan, elizabeth Parker, Surekha Aruna Pasupuleti, Kinga Piekarczyk, Shirley Price, Mark Rose, Jill Runciman, David Skingsley, Adam Smith, Melanie Stefan, Neil Swainston, Rachel Taylor, Simon Taylor, My-Linh Tran, Adrian Watson, Miles Witham, Jamie Woodhall, Jonathan Wooley, Joseph Wright, Matt Zeale.

Chartered member (CBiol mSB) Duncan Armstrong, Martin Brown, Rory Canavan, Anne Clements, Amanda Cooper, Steve Crimes, Tracy Dove, Alison Foster, Marc Fox, Clare Garner, Claire Grant, Nicola Griffin, Frida Gustafsson, Thomas Laws, Geoff Maud, hemraz Palawan, Patricia Pimlott, Sandra Richards.

Fellow (FSB)David James Adams, harrison Atagana, Rosyln Bill, Alan Stewart Bowman, Jan Joris Brosens, Brian Burlinson, Steve Byford, Paul Clarke, Christine Ann Cochrane, Jean e Crabtree, henry Terence Donnelly, John Dover, Caroline Drummond MBe, Mark edwards, Tim elliott, Maurice Richard elphick, Jane endicott, Matthew evans, John Fazakerley, Anne Ferguson-Smith, Ian Forsythe, Stephen Forsythe, hani Gabra, Judith Goodship, Angela hatton, Paul hayes, Karl herholz, Anthony Craig hilton, Shirley hodgson, Michael holdsworth, John hutchinson, John e hyde, Munira Kadhim, Jim Kaufman, David Kelsell, Stephen Keyse, Asim Khwaja, eric Wing-Fai Lam, Nilli Lavie, Tim Lenton, Louise Leong, Richard John Lewis, Kenneth Linton, Andrzej Loesch, Ian MacDonald, David Macewan, George MacFarlane, Michael Mendl, James Moreland, David Nutt, edward Christien Michael Parsons, Nathan Pike, David John Potter, Colin Roberts, Nick Robinson, Adriano Rossi, Peter Rothwell, Adele Rowley, Ismail Saadoun, Paul Smith, Olivier Andre ettore Sparagano, Norah Spears, Jane e Taylor, Andrew Taylor-Robinson, Mike Turner, Charles Tyler, Mark Ungless, Nicholas James Watmough, Dominic Wells, William Wisden, Stephen Woodward, Alimuddin Ismail Zumla.

Chartered Fellow (CBiol FSB) Jean-Pierre Valentin.

Biology weekFrom the 13-19th October, the Society will be running a range of activities across the county as part of the first ever Biology Week (see page 5). More information will be available over the coming weeks, and our website will be kept updated about events near you. If you have an event which you would like to include in Biology Week, or if you would like more information about ways to get involved, contact Rebecca Nesbit on [email protected] or 0207 685 2553

aPril 2012 elecTion

Primary schools toured the

Seawater Hall, took part in alien

species workshops, and learnt about

‘how fish work’ and the world of

seaweed. Secondary school students

toured behind the scenes at the

Marine Biological Association and

enjoyed a ‘plankton safari’ plus

workshops on killer algae and our

changing seas.

Students were asked to write a

short illustrated poem about their

experience of the day. The Devon &

Cornwall Branch sponsored book

prizes for the winners and

their schools.

The winners were: Daniel

Wintour, Boringdon Primary School;

Annie Macklin, Thomas Hardy

School; Sophie Minns (attended

without her school).

Devon & Cornwall

Museum for making this a very

enjoyable and informative visit.

Jacky mcPherson msb

baT WalK22 June 2012 at 21:30

Up & COmING

We have been invited to join

the Beds Bat Group for a bat

walk in Priory Park. During

an interesting evening there last

year, we saw Daubentons, Pipistrelles

and Noctule bats. The branch has a

limit of 10 places so if you would like

to join the walk this time please

contact our chairman Viv Heys by

emailing [email protected]. Venue

details can be found here: www.

priorycountrypark.co.uk


War horse WalK9 september 2012

Up & COmING

Steven Spielberg, director of

War Horse, said of the

landscape at Dartmoor:

“There’s no place like it in the world.

When I got to Dartmoor I realised I

had a third character that I had to

include in War Horse and that was

the land and sky.”

For those who saw the film, this

event is a must. Ecologist Sue

Goodfellow is our guide, so biology

will not be left out. Some walking

will be over rough open moorlands

but this is a walk that most people

could enjoy.

For more information and to book

a place please contact Chris Fry

[email protected], ring

01395 278556 or contact the Society.

For non-members there is a charge

of £3. Members attend free of

charge. Family and friends welcome.

Meet at 10:00 at Gutter Tor Car

Park (SX 578 674) Sheepstor area,

south of Burrator Reservoir.

naTional science &engineering WeeK13 march 2012

eVeNT RepORT

A carousel of free interactive

workshops took place at

Plymouth Marine

Laboratory during National Science

Week where students were invited to

be a marine biologist for a day.

east Anglia


❱ news and reports of events going on in your local areaBranch news

Beds, essex & herts

members of the beds, essex & herts group pictured on their natural history museum tour.

mUseUm mollUscs20 march 2012

eVeNT RepORT

In March members enjoyed

a guided tour of the Spirit

Collection at the Natural

History Museum in London.

Guide and society member

Alastair Hendry showed us the

‘real’ museum, home to over

70 million specimens.

Alastair’s main interest is in

molluscs and along the way we were

intrigued to see some of the different

forms this phylum takes, including a

cone snail whose appearance belies

its extreme toxicity, a giant squid

caught off the Falkland Islands and a

significant portion of a colossal

squid. We discussed the importance

of reference collections and the

gradual DNA typing of specimens to

augment the anatomical detail.

When touring some of the

cramped spaces it became obvious

why numbers are kept so low – we

may try to arrange another visit if

interest is shown. All of us would like

to extend a warm thank you to

Alastair and the Natural History

cambriDge sciencefesTiVal17-18 march 2012

eVeNT RepORT

For the fourth year running,

the East Anglia branch

continued its involvement

with the Cambridge Science Festival,

which this year was bigger and

better than ever.

For the first time, we operated on

both Saturday and Sunday and

numbers exceeded our wildest

expectations, with around 1,700

visitors on Saturday and 630 on

Sunday. Activities at our stand

included the ever-popular ‘smells

quiz’ and mirror tracing, which

many families did against the clock

and with many a child beating their

parents, to much excitement. The

biggest crowd-grabber was Barn Owl

pellet dissection – some visitors sat

for hours as they identified whole

skeletons from a range of small

mammals and birds.

Once again, the Science Festival

was a fantastic event and next year

we hope to welcome more Member

Organisations to our stand.

micha Thomas, 6th form college student representative

secreTs of seDgWicK2 february 2012

eVeNT RepORT

A giant Iguanodon skeleton

greeted us on arrival at the

Sedgwick Museum of Earth

Sciences, University of Cambridge.

Sedgwick’s Collections Manager,

Dan Pemberton, and his Collections

Assistant, Matthew Riley, guided us

through the galleries and provided

informative commentary and

academic anecdotes while we

meandered, nibbled and sipped.

We learnt that Adam Sedgwick

became Cambridge’s Woodwardian

Professor of Geology in 1818. He

established a major academic school

and continued collecting specimens

until the museum ran out of space. In

1904, King Edward VII opened the

present Sedgwick Museum, built as a

memorial to Adam Sedgwick.

Our evening spanned more than

500 million years of life on Earth,

from bacterial stromatolites over

3,000 million years old, to the

Cambrian and Ordovician explosion

of life 440–544 million years ago, up

to the swampy Carboniferous with

its lush vegetation.

Dan and Matthew’s enthusiasm

and willingness to share their

knowledge enabled us all to gain so

much more from the galleries’

exhibits. This was an attention-

grabbing visit and a definite must for

scientists across the spectrum.

Krystyna zielinski-smith cbiol msb

laKenheaTh fen VisiT16 June 2012 at 10:00

Up & COmING

The RSPB has converted an

area of arable farmland at

Lakenheath Fen into a large

wetland, consisting mainly of reed

beds and grazing marshes, and a

haven for wildlife. The new reed beds

The Barn owl pellet dissection was a big crowd-grabber at the Cambridge Science Festival.

e Anglia (contd)


BRANCh NeWSeAST ANGLIA/eAST MIDLANDS/KeNT, SURReY & SUSSeX/NORTh WeSTeRN/YORKShIRe

Years 11-13 writing an essay or

producing a podcast. All of the

posters were impressive but Miriam

Woods won the £50 first prize with

her poster on human development,

entitled ‘The Race From Africa’.

Sarah Parkin and Sophie

Richardson’s entry, ‘The World of

Flight’ came second.

In the senior group, joint first

prize went to Komal Joshi for her

essay on ‘Huntington’s Disease:

Motor Symptoms and Genetics’ and

to Charlotte Hall for her podcast on

prosthetic limbs. Runners-up prizes

of £20 went to Harry Bessey-

Saldanha for his essay entitled ‘How

Do I Get There’ and to Hiba Hasnain

for her podcast ‘Lego Man and the

Sliding Filament Theory’.

kent, Surrey & Sussex‘The Immune Response to Infection’.

Aimed at 6th form students

studying biology, the lecture was

engaging and interactive, covering

topics including the basic concepts of

microbiology, the history and

development of diseases, today’s

most prevalent diseases, the

significance of an incomplete course

lecTUre: The immUneresPonse To infecTion7 march 2012

eVeNT RepORT

To support National Science

and Engineering Week,

Professor Mark Fielder from

Kingston University visited Sutton

High and delivered a special lecture on

east midlands

have attracted hundreds of pairs of

reed warblers and sedge warblers, as

well as bearded tits and marsh

harriers. Bitterns have been heard

and seen increasingly in all seasons

of the year, and in early summer

hobbies catch insects high over the

marshes. Golden orioles breed in the

remnant poplar woods on the

reserve, along with blackcaps,

garden warblers and woodpeckers.

The visit will include an

introductory talk followed by a

guided walk. Footwear for ‘soggy

underfoot’ is recommended and

binoculars/telescopes and a bird

guide would be useful.

Further details available at

www.societyofbiology.org/branches/

east-anglia/events

sanD DUnes anDsalT marshes7 July 2012 at 10:45

Up & COmING

We have arranged a summer

visit to the Brancaster

Sand Dunes and Salt

Marshes. Committee members

Amanda Burton and Ian Harvey will

lead a guided walk and talk on how

dunes and salt marshes form, the

wildlife present and the process of

succession so beautifully illustrated

by both habitats. The walk is about

four miles, mostly over soft sand, but

some of it may be a bit soggy

underfoot. Binoculars and a plant

identification guide are useful if you

have them.

After the dunes we’ll visit the

RSPB Titchwell Nature Reserve

three miles down the coast for a bit of

bird-watching – and there are some

nice pubs nearby too.

For more details see our website:


east-anglia/events

regional schoolscomPeTiTion12 march 2012

eVeNT RepORT

During 2012 National

Science and Engineering

Week the East Midlands

Branch hosted another successful

schools event in March. Hosted by

GENIE (Genetics Education

Networking for Innovation and

Excellence), over 100 people

streamed into the University of

Leicester Medical School, with

teachers and parents alongside

pupils from the nine different

schools taking part.

This year’s theme was ‘Our World

in Motion’ with pupils in Years 8-10

producing posters and students from

winner miriam woods with her poster on human development, entitled ‘The Race From Africa’. the york and

district Beekeepers society will be holding an open day

BEDS, ESSEX & HERTS

Mrs Jacqueline McPherson

[email protected]

DEVON & CORNWALL

Miss Christine Fry

[email protected]

EAST ANGLIA

Miss Amanda Burton

[email protected]

EAST MIDLANDS

Mrs Rosemary Hall

[email protected]

KENT, SURREY & SUSSEX

Dr David Ware

kentsurreysussex@

societyofbiology.org

LONDON

Miss Mercy Nimako

[email protected]

NORTH WALES

Dr Rosemary Solbé

[email protected]

NORTH WESTERN

Mr Glenn Upton-Fletcher

[email protected]

NORTHERN

Dr Michael Rowell

[email protected]

NORTHERN IRELAND

Dr David Roberts

[email protected]

SCOTLAND

Dr Jacqueline Nairn

[email protected]

THAMES VALLEY

Dr Michael Keith-Lucas CBiol FSB

[email protected]

WESSEX

Ms Rachel Wilson

[email protected]

WEST MIDLANDS

Ms Debbie Dixon

[email protected]

WESTERN

Ms Joan Ashley

[email protected]

YORKSHIRE

Mr Paul Bartlett

[email protected]

BRANCh CONTACTS

The assembled winners in all of the various age groups.

North western

university campus of Blackpool and

Fylde College, where he explained

various aspects of animal behaviour.

Students were captivated by the

many examples of intrinsic and

intellectual behaviours.

They were advised not to confuse

intellect with ability: instinct is ‘blind’

but animals do have intellectual

capacity, for example the rook that

dropped stones in a cylinder of water

to raise a buoyant treat. Our attention

was drawn to self-awareness in

chimpanzees, the importance of play,

cross-species interaction and the

interaction of man and other animals.

Professor Manning closed with a

Richard Attenborough quote from

Jurassic Park 2: “These creatures need

our absence to survive not our help.”

The Professor was an inspiration

to the many potential life scientists

he met, and also heartily promoted

the importance of being a member

of the Society.

Jean Wilson fsb

aUbrey manning VisiT27-28 march 2012

eVeNT RepORT

It was our privilege to

welcome Professor Aubrey

Manning OBE FSB for a

two-day visit to Manchester

Grammar School (MGS) and

Blackpool and the Fylde College,

where he shared his passion for the

history of the earth and animal

behaviour with young people and

members of the Society in our region.

After lunch, staff and students

listened attentively to Professor

Manning’s lecture, which followed

the history of the planet: the fossil

evidence of early life, and the impact

of continental drift on the

distribution of species and the

dilemma of exploitation. Thanks

must be expressed to Dr Peter

Bowen-Walker FSB, our host at MGS

who ensured a most successful day.

The following day saw Professor

Manning at the Brick Theatre of the

of antibiotics and the challenge of

drug-resistant microbes.

A wide range of diseases were

discussed, from those of historical

significance such as the plague,

cholera and cowpox, to current

issues such as MRSA, E. coli 0157,

swine flu and malaria.

asma raheem (student)

professor Aubrey manning with students from the manchester Grammar School Natural history Society.

YorkshirenaTUre anD farming1 July 2012 at 10:00 and 14:00

Up & COmING

A tour of St Nicholas Fields,

explaining the

transformation of this

former brick pit and landfill site into

a thriving, Community Green Flag

Award winning, 24-acre urban

nature reserve. It is a haven for

wildlife and people alike, located just

one mile from the city centre of York.

Meet at 10:00 at the urban nature

reserve St Nicholas Fields, York

Environment Centre, Rawdon

Avenue, York YO10 3ST. The tour

starts at 10:30 and is free.

At 12:30 we move along the Hull

Road to the Yorkshire Museum of

Farming at Murton. After lunch, at

14:00 there will be an introduction

by the director. The museum is

dedicated to the history of farming

in Yorkshire, with agricultural

exhibits around the 16-acre site and a

range of friendly livestock.

Additionally, the York and District

Beekeepers Society will be holding

an open day at the museum. Further

details at www.murtonpark.co.uk.

Adults: £5.00; children: £4.00;

under 3s: free (family ticket £16.00).

Contact Clive Tiney, 01904760216

[email protected] or see


yorkshire/events for more details.

Beds, essex and hertsFriday 22 June at 21:30Bat walkSee Beds, Essex and Herts section of

Branch News for details.

Devon & CornwallSunday 9 September‘war horse’ walkSee Devon & Cornwall section of

Branch News for details.

east AngliaSaturday 16 June at 10:00Lakenheath fen VisitSee East Anglia section of Branch

News for more.

Saturday 7 July 10:45-15:00Brancaster dunes and salt MarshA guided walk and talk about the

dune and salt marsh ecosystems at

Brancaster beach in North Norfolk.

Only 30 places. Email

[email protected]

Saturday 6 October 10:00-12:30fungal forayLed by Tony Leech, this event will be

taking place in Lynford Arboretum,

Mundford, Thetford. Details TBC.

east midlandsSunday 28 Octoberfungal foray with Jane OstlerHeld jointly with the Lincolnshire

Wildlife Trust, Jane Ostler explains

the mushrooms and toadstools we

find in Twyford Woods, Colsterworth.

For details contact

[email protected]

Saturday 10 NovemberVisit to donna nook, north sutton-on-sea, LincolnshireSee the seals with their pups and

meet the wardens. This is an all-day

meet and booking will be necessary.

Contact marianneoverton@

biosearch.org.uk for details.

kent, Surrey & SussexSaturday 23 June 11:00 guided wild-flower walk

Enjoy a wild-flower walk around

Ranscombe Farm Reserve, led by

Richard Moyse, the Ranscombe

Project Manager. The site is

renowned for its collection of rare

wild plants, especially arable wild

flowers and orchids.

Thursday 28 June 18:00AgM and lecture on tB

Our AGM will be held at Charles

Darwin House. A lecture by

Professor Agil Lalvani, Chair of

Your guide to upcoming events at your local branch.

for more information on any event, email the contacts provided in the regional list on page 45, unless otherwise stated here.


BRANCh eVeNTS CALeNDAR

Infectious Diseases and Director of

the Tuberculosis Research Unit at

the National Heart and Lung

Institute, Imperial College, on

preventing tuberculosis, will follow.

Sunday 1 July Visit to the Pannel Valley nature reserveGuided tour of the Wetland Trust’s

Pannel Valley nature reserve,

Winchelsea, led by the reserve’s

Conservation Co-ordinator. The

reserve attracts bitterns, avocets,

marsh harriers, water rail and reed

warblers, wetland flora and over 840

species of moths and butterflies.

Contact David Ware david.ware1@

ntlworld.com for further details.

Saturday 21 July 10:30Visit to gilbert white MuseumGilbert White was a pioneering

naturalist who made careful and

detailed notes on the local flora and

fauna. Meet at 10:30 at the Tea

Parlour. Dr June Chatfield will show

us around the grounds. After lunch,

members may tour the house.

Cost: £5.95. More details at

www.societyofbiology.org/

newsandevents/events/view/374

Sunday 5 August 12:00tour of rsPCA Centre MallydamsThe centre at Mallydams near

Hastings is where injured and sick

animals are rehabilitated. Manager

Bel Deerin will lead a tour around

the nature reserve and the centre. To

reduce disturbance they have

requested that we exclude dogs,

though children are welcome.

Peter James Lane, Fairlight, East

Sussex, TN35 4AH.

wednesday 22 August 11:00guided tour of rye harbour nature reserveWe have a tour of the flora and fauna

of the designated SSSI at Rye

Harbour nature reserve, led by

Dr Barry Yates, the Reserve

Manager. For details

contact Dr David Ware

at david.ware1@

ntlworld.com

LondonSunday 15 JulyLondon Zoo VisitThere will be a morning visit

to London Zoo including an hour-

long guided tour and reduced

admission price. Further details at


london/events

North wales

Saturday 1 SeptemberVisit to south stack rsPB reserveWe will meet in the South Stack

Visitor Centre, Holyhead, Anglesey,

LL65 1YH at 11:30 for a guided hour-

long walk. There will then be a talk

on the geology of South Stack. Grid

ref SH210818.

Friday 9 NovemberAgMWe will be holding a second AGM

this year to align ourselves with the

end of the society’s financial year.

Our AGM will be held at The Bod

Erw Hotel, St Asaph, Denbighshire,

and Dr Claire Drew from npower will

be speaking on wind farms.

Thames Valley BranchTuesday 9 OctoberAgM & LectureThis free lecture is at Harwell

Oxford science park. Colin

Blakemore, Professor of

Neuroscience at the University of

Oxford, will be lecturing on

‘Mad cows and mobile phones:

whose science is it anyway?’

Further details online soon at

www.societyofbiology.org/

newsandevents/events/view/413

west midlandsSaturday 30 June 10:00-16:30wyre forest family dayA family day out in the Wyre Forest

in Worcestershire – free to Society of

Biology members and their guests.

For further details and to book

please contact Pamela Speed (tel:

01384 296292; email: pamela.

[email protected]) or Lesley

Payne (tel: 0121 745 7839; email:

[email protected]).

YorkshireSunday 1 Julysummer social EventTour of St Nicholas Fields nature

reserve and trip to Yorkshire

Museum of Farming. See Yorkshire

section of Branch News for details.

Saturday 10 NovemberAnnual symposium and AgMThis year’s annual symposium will be

held in collaboration with the MRC

Centre for Developmental and

Biomedical Genetics at the University

of Sheffield. Speakers invited include

Professor Peter Holland, University

of Oxford, Professor Paul Martin,

Professor of Cell Biology, University

of Bristol. Further details will appear

in our next issue.

Crossword1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

9 10

11

12

13 14 15

16 17

18 19

20

21 22

23 24

25 26 27 28

29 30

31


Across1 Critic could go so mad to discover

banned substances (15)

9 Sadly can cost end of career if

one’s absorbed banned

substances (9)

10/23 Boo plodding around - you can’t

allow that in Olympics (5,6)

11 That’s the way heroic Olympians

win – taking first places (3)

12 Often games set up around what

is attractive (6)

14 I’m bribed to lose first of races and

get taken in (7)

16 Cider, it stimulates us, not allowed

for the Olympics (9)

20 Count, French one upset me

with pace (9)

21 See 15 Down

23 See 10

26 One couldn’t take off medallion

once anthem starts (3)

29 It does have a good sound gold.

I’d be upset getting nothing (5)

30 Last-minute exercising squanders

energy, that’s a no-no for Olympic

athletes (9)

31 I isolated carbon compound that

shouldn’t be found in athletes (8,7)

Down1 Many have edge over youth picked

to join early Olympians (8)

2 Run over, then I finish off arranging

to take things down (5)

3 Do more running around outside of

event – it’ll clock up the distance (8)

4 exclude one in leaders of Olympic

medal table (4)

5 Make a botch of shot, the result’s

rubbish (4)

19 With getting edge somehow

outcome is biased (8)

21 It is a natural source of energy.

After prohibition one’s not

available (6)

22 OK upset when boxing I’m found

with no robe (6)

24 No longer immature I’m wanting

a game (5)

25 Novel aid to retain energy that’s

a thought (4)

27 Participating in gymnastics a fizzy

drink is needed (4)

28 Cut up wrestler does this to

opponent (4)

how to enterTo be in with a chance of winning a

£25 book token please send us your

completed puzzles by 20 July 2012.

Please include your name, address

and membership number with your

entry – an email address would

be handy too. Post your entries to:

Crossword, The Biologist, Society

of Biology, Charles Darwin House,

12 Roger Street, London, WC1N 2JU.

winners Thanks for your completed puzzles

and well done to the winners, who

are Margaret Janet McLellan MSB

and Paul Frederick Micklewright.

Book tokens on the way.

WIN A £ 25

BOOK TOKENAn Olympian challenge for the mind this month

Last issue’s SolutionVol 59 No1 ➜

6 We get drawn into opening of

Olympics BBC broadcast - it’s hard

to escape it (6)

7 It is used in golf or in swimming (4)

8 Some races I’d led having moved

only slowly (6)

13 One acrobatically coming down

from a height requires I have

doctor around (5)

14 One trace of substance use

unfortunately can become the

main topic (5)

15/21A To wager on bloke throwing race

before the finish – that’s not

allowed (4,7)

17 Taking part in run does loosen

things (4)

18 Lose, true to form not lacking

determination you find (8)

Can Save

How Biology

theWorld

CompetitionPhotography

Closing date: 31 July 2012For more information visit www.societyofbiology.org/photocomp

Enter our 2012 amateur photography competition

Theme:

How Biology Can Save the World Photographer of the Year (over 18) £1,000 top prize

Young Photographer of the Year

(18 and under) £500 top prize

In association with

CorrectionApologies to last

issue’s winner

Dr K W G

Shilliam FSB

who is in fact

a Fellow of the

Society rather

than a member.

Get ideas and tell us yours at societyofbiologyblog.org and using #BiologySaves

COMPeTITION

Any parent will have

seen how enthusiastic

young children are

about science at

school. If we want to

see more students studying science,

and a greater understanding of the

scientific method in civil society, we

surely need to harness this passion

from the earliest age possible. Sir

David Attenborough Hon FSB made

clear his views at the launch of the

Society in March 2010: collecting

bugs, fossils and basic taxonomy

excites and entrances young

children – and it’s something we

need to build on.

The National Curriculum provides

a good framework for primary

science education but most primary

teachers have not studied science

to any advanced level and often feel

uneasy with the subject. If specialist

science skills are seen as important

for secondary education, the same

should apply to primary. We need to

see more science graduates entering

primary education and better

support for non-scientists. Having at

least one science graduate in every

school could provide support for

peers and help with the increasing

wealth of material that is there to

help science become more accessible.

Learned Societies have a key

role to play here. The Wellcome

Trust does a great deal, producing

educational material for all schools,

but so do the many professional

bodies within the Society of Biology

– our Member Organisations. Our

role is to help bring this together

wherever possible, signpost teachers

to these rich sources of help and to

look at new approaches wherever

possible. One such initiative is

the Gopher Science Lab project,

which we have partnered with the

Biochemical Society.

Gopher Science Lab, with its own

quirky cartoon character, allows

8- to 9-year-olds to spend a morning

in a secondary school science lab

enjoying hands-on, practical science.

When they return to their primary

school, they explain the experience

to their classmates, showing them

what they can do themselves

using cheap and easily available

materials. Feedback from a pilot

at Aylesbury Grammar School has

been fantastic, from both the sixth-

form demonstrators and the young

children. Local MP and Foreign

Office Minister David Lidington

dropped by to see for himself and

was delighted to see a project like

this starting in his locality.

Once schools are engaged they

are always keen to do more and

teaching resources such as

the Biochemical Society’s

‘Scibermonkey’ (www.scibermonkey.

org) are a good place to start. The

real challenge, however, is reaching

large numbers of primary school

children and their parents, given

the resource implications of trying

to deliver projects such as Gopher

Science Lab on a large scale.

This means working closely with

the media, and the Society recently

teamed up with Fun Kids Radio

and its 180,000 weekly listeners to

develop an Introduction to Biology

series. Fun Kids Radio is the only

station aimed exclusively at children

under 11, and we are delighted with

the Marina Ventura Inside Biology

series of short broadcasts that

went live to air on the 16th April.

Each episode focuses on a different

aspect of biology, with the first

based around how we hear. They are

deliberately short and told through

the adventures of ‘Marina Ventura’

to help maintain attention and

ensure a fun approach. Links are

available on the Society’s website

and are available to download for

free on iTunes.

Supporting primary teachers

and education is a relatively new,

but certainly exciting, area for

the Society. We hope that this

will help children pick up on Sir

David’s passion for recognising

and identifying organisms and

have the courage to try their own

experiments.


pRImARY pASSIONS

FINAL WORDDR MARK DOWNS FSB, ChIeF eXeCUTIVe, SOCIeTY OF BIOLOGY

If specialist science skills are seen as important for secondary education, the same should apply to primary

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