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Th eBiologist THE SOCIETY OF BIOLOGY MAGAZINE ■ ISSN 0006 3347 ■ SOCIETYOFBIOLOGY.ORG VOL 61 NO 2 ■ APR/MAY 2014
Contents
Why have we done so little to protect the great apes? Our closest kin
TOXICOLOGY
POISON TO POTION The medical potential of arsenic
NEUROSCIENCE
GUIDING LIGHT Understanding behaviour with optogenetics
INTERVIEW
DR ALISON WOOLLARD
On her Royal Institution Lectures
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Volume 61 No 2 April/May 2014
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9 Opinion: Patently false
Robert Andrews on why biologists shouldn’t fear patenting research
12 Poor relations
Ashley Leiman explores the complex relationship between humans and great apes
18 Great communication
Two science communicators reveal the outreach projects that won them Society awards
22 A very Victorian poison
Alan Lansdown looks at the toxicology and surprising medical uses of arsenic
26 Travellers’ tales
30 Dr Alison Woollard
34 Theory of devolution
Tracking the research adventures of five biologists awarded a £500 Society travel grant
Jenni Lacey explains how optogenetics can help us better understand behaviour Regulars 3 Nelson’s column 8 Opinion 10 P olicy update 40 S potlight 49 Re views 53 T reasurer’s Re port/ Bio feedback 54 Mus eum piece 55 Cr ossword 56 Final w ord News 4 Society news 42 M embers 45 Br anches In this issue
The developmental biologist talks to Tom Ireland about her Royal Institution Christmas Lectures
Catherine Ball on science funding in an independent Scotland
36 Shedding light on the brain
Vol 61 No 2 / the biologist / 1