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PN
Issue 110 / Spring 2018
Physiology
News
Early to bed and early to rise
Makes a teen healthy, wealthy and wise?
Experimental models in physiology
27 – 29 June 2018 | University of Exeter, UK
The Mighty Mouse and the might of other models
Why is the mouse not so mighty?
Complementary models
Pathophysiological models: Cells to complex systems
Insights from animal models of human disease
Towards human models
Future directions: Opportunities and challenges
www.physoc.org/models
Physiology News Scientific Editor
Roger Thomas
We welcome feedback on our membership magazine, or letters and suggestions for (University of Cambridge)
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Please email Julia Turan at magazine@physoc.org Julia Turan
Editorial Board
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Karen Doyle
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Experimental Physiology and Physiological Reports, and travel grants to attend scientific
Rachel McCormick
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Keith Siew
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(University of Cambridge)
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2 Physiology News / Spring 2018 / Issue 110
Contents
Welcome to the Spring 2018
edition of Physiology News
Introduction Features
05 Editorial 22 Early to bed and early to rise
06 President’s view: Committing to inclusivity 26 Future directions in cardiac and respiratory physiology
07 Letters to the Editor 28 Alveolar ventilation-perfusion ratios and pulmonary gas
exchange: 100 years since recognition
32 Charles Bell’s ‘sixth sense’
News & views 36 Nanoscopy and cardiovascular physiology
08 Reports of recent Committee meetings
09 Physiology Feed
Membership
10 Book review: A Crack in Creation
40 The genesis of a new Sports and Exercise Science degree
11 A new video series about research in our journals
Bringing inspiring physiology to disadvantaged parts of the UK
Newly-elected Fellow Members
41 The road to winning the Outstanding STEM Technician Award
13 Policy Focus
A problem shared is a problem halved: blogging my way
through a PhD
42 Solidifying my career choice of research - a Rob Clarke Award
Events winner’s account
43 Publishing my first paper in The Journal of Physiology
14 2018 Forthcoming events Learning a research career is within my reach: Vacation
H3 symposium: Muscle Physiology and Metabolism Studentship Scheme case study
15 H3 symposium: Sensory Transduction in Insects 44 Obituary: John H Coote
16 Future Physiology 2017: Early Career Conference 45 Obituary: Hans-Christoph Lüttgau
18 Thinking outside the box: Translational Research and Career
Options beyond Academia
H3 symposium: Purinergic Signalling in Obesity and Renal
Pathophysiology Journal insights
19 Europhysiology 2018: Bringing Together Physiologists From
46 The latest from our Journals
Around the World
21 From the Archives
Cover image: Designed by Matteo Farinella. There are biological reasons which help explain why teenagers have a tendency to be late to bed and
late to rise, and why they might not actually be getting enough sleep to make them healthy, wealthy, and wise. Read more on page 22.
3
Europhysiology 2018 A partnership between The Physiological Society, the Scandinavian Physiological Society, Deutsche Physiologische Gesellschaft and the Federation of European Physiological Societies 14–16 September 2018 The QEII Centre, London, UK Abstract submission 1-31 May 2018 www.europhysiology2018.org
Editorial
Roger Thomas situation has changed enough. I have a
brother who is in favour of Brexit, but he does
for the upcoming vacancies. The numbers
nominated were equal to the number of
Scientific Editor not read the Daily Mail. vacancies. A note stated that any five ordinary
members could also nominate a candidate.
There is also a fascinating feature on No such nomination had occurred in living
chronobiology, or why do teenagers sleep at memory, so there was never a real election.
So. This is my last issue of Physiology News as different times from small children or mature In 1974, convinced that Ordinary Members
Scientific Editor. I have thoroughly enjoyed my adults. An article about Charles Bell and ought to exercise a meaningful vote, I
time in the editor’s chair, ably helped by a proprioception reveals him to be rather persuaded four colleagues to join me in
sequence of managing editors, first Helen jealous of competitors. And the obituaries nominating Tim Biscoe. This was in spite of
Burgess, then Helga Groll and currently Julia inevitably make me think about my own considerable misgivings by Arthur Buller and
Turan. The current attractive format and lifetime, which began a few months before Andrew Huxley. Tim was duly elected, and has
appearance owes much to Alex Ford, the Germany invaded Poland in 1939. I might add had a distinguished career since. But I now
designer at the printers Lavenham Press. that the advertisements in Physiology News wonder if my desire to make AGMs more
Andrew Mackenzie, the new Head of Policy are not the Scientific Editor’s responsibility. interesting did not set in train a series of
and Communications, has already taken a very changes that led to The Society’s slow decline
keen interest. One minor problem that has My own involvement with The Society goes in its support for members of The Society
worried me is the overlap between the back to 1963, when I and Robert Walker rather than the science. The committee
magazine and the more ephemeral Society demonstrated snail brain neurophysiology stopped choosing nominees for its own
outputs of Twitter feeds and email during a meeting at the University of vacancies, allowing more and more
Newsletters. I think Facebook might be Southampton. I gave my first oral involvement of troublemakers who had little
involved too. But Physiology News has the communication to The Society 5 years later, at experience of administration or time to spend
great advantage of being a printed magazine, the Charing Cross meeting in January 1968, managing The Society’s activities. In 1981,
often kept by members for many years. One 50 years ago. This event was not mentioned in Arthur asked me to organise the next
of my first efforts as editor was to find a copy the meeting’s minutes, reproduced in this Physiological Society meeting in Bristol, and I
of the lost issue number one, which I finally issue. I remember being consoled afterwards enjoyed arranging the dinner in the ballroom
tracked down, thanks to Bob Banks, as by the late Alison Brading and Anne Warner. of the Grand Hotel. At the next Bristol meeting
described in PN 100. The Society dinner was held in the House of in 1985, I hired a train to take members to a
Lords, but I was not invited. I had already given dinner in the pump rooms in Bath. I was the
This issue has as usual many reports on two demonstrations so was then qualified to local organiser for several more meetings later.
Society activities as well as features on apply for membership, and was indeed
physiological topics. Charles Michel’s feature elected in 1969. The same year I was As this is my last opportunity, I would like to
on work a century ago by Haldane is appointed as a lecturer in the University of thank four people who played crucial roles
particularly intriguing as it describes how he Bristol in the Department of Physiology. The early in my career; my PhD supervisor Gerald
was removed from important work on gas department was chaired by Arthur Buller, who Kerkut, the PI’s for my two postdoc posts
masks during WW1 simply because his was very supportive in setting up my lab. I still Victor Wilson and EJ Harris, and the man who
brother had been accused by the Daily Mail use two Prior micromanipulators he gave me. invited me to Bristol, Tony Ridge. Finally, I
of having German sympathies. The accusation welcome the choice of my successor, Keith
was based on his having praised German After my election in 1969, I began to take an Siew. He has been a member of the editorial
Universities several years before. But why the interest in the politics of The Society. Each board for several years, so is much better
physiologist Haldane should be penalised for year before the AGM, then always held at prepared than I was three years ago. I am
his brother’s view is very strange, as indeed is UCL in March, members were sent a list of sure he will do a great job, and hope he
the fact that that newspaper apparently had the committee members who were available enjoys the numerous discussions he will have
such power. Brexit makes me wonder if the for re-election, with suggested nominations to undertake.
5
President’s view
Committing to considerations would therefore lead to
women comprising between 20 to 50%
surprise in this but it does result in ‘the same
old people’ giving talks at most meetings.
inclusivity of speakers. The Physiological Society
currently requires at least 25% and sets a
Not only does it discriminate against female
speakers but also against the large number of
target of 33% female speakers. Perhaps The male speakers who are not on the conference
David Eisner
Society should lead the way by being even circuit. Paying more attention to how speakers
more ambitious than making the number are selected, trying to avoid people who
of speakers proportional to the number of spoke at the last year’s event, would therefore
President, The Physiological Society women. The fact that today only a minority of benefit men as well as women. The Society
our most senior scientists are female reflects is dedicated to ensuring that its meetings
a number of influences during their careers encourage, support and provide opportunities
including overt discrimination and problems for all researchers. In this context, the recent,
There is much discussion about issues relating of combining childcare with work, particularly successful Future Physiology meeting should
to diversity in science, and many of these when maternity leave was more restrictive be seen as providing opportunities for early
ideas are relevant to our subject and Society. than today. These senior women have also career researchers.
One important area concerns gender and the spent their careers in environments where
extent to which our activities should consider harassment occurred at levels regarded as So far, I have only discussed gender balance
this. The Physiological Society was founded unacceptable today. Therefore, in order to and paid no attention to other matters of
in 1876 and, in keeping with the customs of provide role models to encourage younger diversity. What about ethnic diversity? Here
the time when, for example, women could women scientists, a more realistic 50% of it is much harder to obtain data to assess the
not vote, membership was restricted to men. speakers should be female. issue as only 317 members of The Society
Women were finally admitted as members
in 1915 but it will have taken more than a
century before, at this year’s Annual General
Meeting (AGM) in September, Bridget Lumb
will become the first female President. As far
as our journals are concerned, we had to wait
until 2012 for our first female Editor-in-Chief
when Sue Wray established Physiological
Reports. The Journal of Physiology existed for
140 years before Kim Barrett became its first
ever female Editor-in-Chief in 2016.
The Physiological Society is committed to
taking account of Equality and Diversity
issues and this area is championed by Sue
Deuchars and Rachel Tribe.
Some issues are still, however, unresolved,
‘Therefore, in order to provide role models to
and an important one is the extent to which
female speakers participate in meetings.
encourage younger women scientists, a more
Today, many organisations, The Society
included, require some kind of gender
realistic 50% of speakers should be female’
balance in scientific programmes. There
are many arguments for this; not only on
grounds of justice but also the need to The difficulty of this issue was first brought have provided data on ethnic origins for the
provide role models for women at the start home to me in my role as Chair of the membership database. Of these, the largest
of their careers. A more difficult question International Scientific Programme Committee group after White British/European is Asian
is, in quantitative terms, what is meant by for the International Union of Physiological British/European which makes up 10% of
‘balance’? Should it reflect the gender balance Sciences (IUPS) meeting held in Birmingham membership. Here again, there are differences
of researchers in the field? This balance in 2013. We decided that there needed to with age: 20% of the under 40s but only
changes with age, with a female majority at be appropriate female representation and 3% of the over 60s are Asian. Given these
PhD student level declining to a minority as agreed that this would be about 30%. A vocal figures, it is hard to suggest what appropriate
people progress through the ‘leaky pipeline’. minority objected to even this conservative representation as speakers means but I am
Looking at The Society’s membership, 50% figure on the grounds that fulfilling it would be sure that this will be an important issue for
of the under 40s are female whereas positive discrimination and would risk diluting the future.
only 16% of the over 60s are. Another the quality of the science in the meeting. I still
indication of this comes from looking at hear this argument today, phrased as, ‘in my The Society is committed to ensuring that
those researchers awarded grants. Figures field there just aren’t enough female leaders’. all its processes are fair and transparent.
from the Medical Research Council from I would have more sympathy with it if I felt Members are encouraged to provide
2016/2017 show that women received that people had considered all the people suggestions on how to improve inclusivity.
35% of grants. Again, the effect of career in the field. I have now been involved in Please, also, make sure that you have included
stage is obvious with women obtaining 46% organising enough symposia and meetings to your diversity data on the membership
of New Investigator Grants but only 18% realise that, when asked to suggest speakers, database – https://portal.physoc.org/
of programme grants. Depending on the most of us (me included) think of people that Equality-and-Diversity.
sort of talk being considered, proportionality we have heard speak recently. There is no
6 Physiology News / Spring 2018 / Issue 110
Letters to the Editor
The importance of poster presentations and general sessions,
thereby widening horizons and extending
Minutes from the
attracting young people access for all. Communications describing a Meetings of 50 years ago
variety of methodological approaches,
to physiology preparations from different phyla or species,
novel techniques and original, imaginative Mordecai P Blaustein
ideas should be welcomed. Video- School of Medicine, University of Maryland, USA
Brian Bush
University of Bristol, UK conferencing may also be worth trying, with
advice and technical support in setting up I recently was browsing through the Summer
Since a new Scientific Editor will be in place cameras, etc. 2017 issue of Physiology News, and was
for the next issue of Physiology News, it delighted to see the transcription of the
might be timely to share a few thoughts on A few personal landmarks may help to explain minutes of the Cambridge Meeting of The
the magazine and The Society. Physiology is, my take. Born in South Africa, I left for Physiological Society (May 20-21, 1967,
I think, the most interesting, important and Cambridge in 1957, completing a PhD on I believe). It brought back many memories.
relevant to everyday life of the Natural Crustacean neurobiology in 1960. At Bristol It was my first Society meeting and oral
Sciences, and an invaluable source of University from 1966, my first Physiological presentation to The Society; I rehearsed my
self-knowledge as well as a pathway to all Society ‘Demonstration’ (a requirement for talk so much that I memorised it (was I
sorts of interesting careers. Many skills Membership then) was a live experiment on nervous!). That was the public announcement
learned in physiological research and teaching a novel non-spiking muscle receptor organ in of our discovery of Na/Ca exchange. Also, I
are widely transferable, not only within the the shore crab: Andrew Huxley’s questions still remember helping Sir Henry Dale into his
sciences. were incisive and stimulating. In 1975, a seat at the dinner in Pembroke, and later
sabbatical year at Monash University, being admonished for passing the claret in
Physiology should therefore appeal to young Australia, gave me experience of ‘proper’ the wrong direction (what did a provincial
people, so I believe it’s important to try and (neuro-) physiology experiments - on know about such things!). As I recall, the July
attract new recruits at an early age, and also monkey and possum. And in my last research 1967 meeting was in Oxford, and I was
to encourage and empower a questioning decade, I ran PhD and BSc projects utilising reprimanded by Sir Lindor Brown (‘In England
mind-set and a real curiosity about ‘how the ideas developed from our work on crayfish we stand when we speak!’). I was sitting in
body works’. To this end, The Society should and recording hand EMGs to study ‘writer’s the very centre of the hall when I made a
offer to schools, particularly secondary cramp’ in students (and myself)! comment during a discussion, and had do to
schools lacking good science teaching, a hold my tongue from responding, ‘Yes, but in
variety of talks on bio-physiological topics, Now, despite recent reorganisation of the America we do not embarrass our guests.’
to be given by research-active physiologists, Biomedical sciences in Bristol (and
preferably enthusiastic, young Society elsewhere), I remain convinced that the Thanks for helping me recall those memories.
members for whom this would be a valuable continued pursuance of Physiology as an
learning experience and to whom school academic and research discipline is vitally By the way, my last piece in Physiology News,
students should more readily relate. important, and that everything should be about my postdoctoral experience in the UK
done to encourage and support aspiring evoked several very nice responses –
Nowadays, there seem to be fewer Society physiologists in their early careers and e.g. from David Eisner, Bertil Hille, Otto
meetings than in my day, and most are in beyond. More frequent and varied Hutter & Bill Van der Kloot. The one from
London and the south-east. More ordinary opportunities to meet and exchange research Otto led to a wonderful exchange of
meetings at different universities throughout results and ideas with physiologists at other correspondence and articles. Thanks again
the UK would extend opportunities, institutions, and perchance to set up new for inviting me to write the memoir.
especially for geographically ‘disadvantaged’ collaborations on problems of mutual
physiologists, to communicate their research interest, could provide invaluable and
and interact with colleagues from elsewhere. motivating experience for future
Such meetings could, as in times past, include physiologists - and may help broaden the Please send your correspondence
live or video-recorded demonstrations scope of British Physiology as Brexit looms! to magazine@physoc.org
focusing on local research projects, as well as
www.physoc.org/volunteer SAVE THE DATE
7
News & Views
Reports of recent Committee meetings
The purpose of these short updates is to The Society was invited to nominate in summer 2017 (building on the survey
keep you informed about the work of our candidates for REF2021. Nine candidates reported at the last meeting); highlights
Committees. The following summaries detail submitted completed forms for REF2021 and included the large proportion of awardees
the meetings of the past few months. requested The Society endorse their continuing to higher degrees or related work.
nomination. The Trustees reviewed each One of the case studies gathered as part of
candidate in turn and supported them all, this project is published on page 43. The
noting the mix of areas of physiology and that Committee also received a favourable report
Council several candidates could be submitted for on The Society’s MOOC, ‘Physiology: The
more than one of the sub-panels, if required. Science of Life’, which ran for the first time this
Overseeing the development of a charity’s The Society had previously supported the autumn. Over 7,000 people registered for the
strategy is one of the most important tasks a application of three individuals to be sub- MOOC (exceeding the 6k target), and further
trustee must fulfil, and strategy update was panel chairs. Council agreed that, should any analysis of learners’ engagement with, and
on the agenda at the November Council. It of these not be appointed as a REF sub-panel feedback on, the content is in progress. The
was noted that considerable progress had Chair, The Society should support them as results of this analysis will inform any
been made in developing each strand of the sub-panel members. modifications to the MOOC, before it is
2018-2022 Strategy, and Committees will offered again in 2018; further details will be
now develop their activities further: Membership trends were reviewed by released as soon as the dates are agreed.
Council, and the success of the Society
• Meetings (scientific) – to advance Representatives event in November was also
physiology through our meetings and noted. One of the outcomes from this
improve networking opportunities for meeting was the development of a resources
physiologists including opportunities to pack to support the Society Representatives
present their work. when promoting The Society and benefits of
• Publications – to ensure our journals
membership at their institutions, for example,
at university induction days.
Finance Committee
continue to be international flagships for
physiological research, across the sub- It was also noted that the Fellowship scheme The Finance Committee met with the
disciplines of physiology, where any was being reviewed to explore how The haysmacintyre Audit Partner to agree the
researcher is proud to publish. Society could engage better with the Fellows 2017 audit planning and confirm the
and draw on their considerable experience. statutory requirements and process for
• Engagement – through the overarching This would include exploring opportunities for compiling the 2017 accounts. The
theme of ‘Lifelong Health’, The Society will Fellows to engage with early career Committee noted the inclusion of risk
engage our target audience as well as physiologists and Affiliate Members. management in their Terms of Reference as of
secondary audiences (such as policy-makers November 2017 and discussed the Charity
and press) required to influence them. Commission guidance on reporting key risks in
the Trustees Annual Report.
• Internal processes – to include more
efficient working, better measures of The Committee also received the Q4
outcomes and impact, improved Management Accounts and noted key
governance, budgetary control and
cross-departmental ways of working.
Education & Outreach variances against forecasts. The updated
financial delegations and anti-fraud policy was
Committee reviewed and approved for recommendation
It was agreed the draft strategy would be to Council. Finally, the Committee received a
submitted to Council on 7 March for approval. At a busy meeting of the Education and presentation from Cazenove Capital
Outreach Committee in October, the main Management on The Society investment
Another important point of business included points of business included updates on The portfolio performance.
an update from the Property Strategy Working Society’s 2018-2022 Strategy review, our
Group, chaired by President-elect Bridget Physiology MOOC, a review of the Vacation
Lumb. Following the closing date for the Studentship Scheme (VSS), and discussion of
submissions to tender for the internal and proposals for developing Public Engagement
external building work it was noted that two (PE). The Committee put forward a number
of the tenders were being explored in further of suggestions for the theme and target
detail by consultants Peter Fox (TP2MC) and audience of the Strategy, and discussion of Meetings Committee
Janie Price (Kennedy O’Callaghan Architects), these suggestions is ongoing. The Outreach
who both have extensive technical knowledge. Officer presented some recommendations on The recent Meetings Committee was held on
It was agreed that they would review the how future PE work might align with The 4 October and was chaired by Sue Deuchars,
design and build techniques used for each Society’s new Strategy, and the Committee University of Leeds, UK.
tender and would make a recommendation to discussed several ways that The Society could
The Society regarding the best firm to better encourage, support and recognise The main steer of this meeting was to
engage. Members may be interested to note Members’ PE activities. An undergraduate from conduct a review of the current portfolio of
that Roxwells have been engaged to carry out Brunel University presented the outcomes of Society events, taking into consideration the
the building work, which is now well underway. his studentship at The Society’s London office aims of the core strategy working group,
8 Physiology News / Spring 2018 / Issue 110
Physiology Feed
together with the results of the membership increases in both submissions and full-text
survey. Society meetings give members the downloads in 2017 compared with 2016.
opportunity to present and share their research, Bringing you snippets of the latest
and also provide networking. The format, Tom Kleyman has been recruited as the new intriguing research
structure and timing of the Main Meeting was Editor-in-Chief of Physiological Reports, from
appropriate, but may be enhanced by the the beginning of 2018.
addition of satellite meetings and workshops. An internal ‘bathroom scale’ for
regulating body weight and fat
Topic Meetings provide breadth across a topic
and an opportunity for attendees to meet A newly discovered leptin-independent
with those that they would not ordinarily body weight homeostat, ‘gravitostat’, has
engage with. They can also explore the been discovered in rodents. This new
interfaces of physiology with other disciplines. Nominations Committee osteocyte-dependent sense detects
changes in body weight via the weight-
The format of these will therefore not
radically change but the planning of each The Nominations Committee met to review bearing bones to regulate food intake and
Topic Meeting programme will involve a wider the candidates for the three Honorary Officer fat mass, providing a possible explanation
team of people. positions (President-Elect, Chair of Meetings for the anti-obesity effect of standing.
Committee, and Chair of Publications DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1715687114
The funding originally allocated to support Committee) and the External Trustee
three H3 symposia at Hodgkin Huxley House position. Results will be ratified by Council
will now be allocated to support satellite and where required put to the member vote. The answer to the ultimate
meetings and workshops ahead of the annual The outcomes will be announced at the question of life, the universe and
Main Meeting. 2018 Annual General Meeting (AGM). everything, really is 42 (million)
A new method has been devised to reliably
Since the last meeting, we have confirmed
and accurately pin down the number of
that Physiology 2019, the Main Meeting, will
protein molecules in a single cell to the
take place in Aberdeen from Monday, 6 to
nearest million. To achieve this, the team
Wednesday, 10 July, and funding will be
normalised and combined data from 21
available on a competitive basis for members
analyses of protein abundance in the model
to organise satellite meetings and workshops
on Sunday, 5 July 2019. Affiliate Working Group organism Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and
arrived at the bizarrely coincidental famous
number 42.
Following a very successful early career
conference, Future Physiology, last December, DOI: 10.1016/j.cels.2017.12.004
the Affiliate Working Group (AWG) met in
London to discuss their forthcoming plans.
First attempt at gene editing
inside the human body
Publications Committee The main agenda item was a revision to the
groups’ terms of reference, including how the The first patient in a small clinical trial of in
The Publications Committee met at the Chair is appointed. All members were agreed vivo gene editing has received treatment
beginning of November 2017. This was the that the new Chair should be selected from for a rare metabolic syndrome called Hunter
first Publications Committee to be led by the current members of the group, and that syndrome. To increase safety, virus-
Interim Chair Debbie Baines, who welcomed the new Chair would also serve as the Affiliate delivered zinc finger nucleases under the
the other new members of the Committee: representative to Council. Current members control of a hepatocyte-specific promoter
Sue Deuchars (Interim Chair of Meetings will be invited to express an interest in inserted the corrective gene into a ‘safe
Committee), Frank Sengpiel (Honorary becoming the new AWG Chair, and in the harbour’ under the albumin promotor,
Treasurer) and Federico Formenti (Trustee). event of more than one expression of interest restricting the treatment to the liver.
it will be opened up to an online Affiliate
The Editors-in-Chief of The Journal of Member vote. DOI: 10.1126/science.aar5098
Physiology and Experimental Physiology
updated the Committee about their continuing The group also discussed the Early Career Body clock problems may be an
strategic plans for the journals. Physiologists’ Symposium taking place ahead
early warning of Alzheimer’s
of Europhysiology in September. Planning is in
Kim Barrett, Editor-in-Chief of The Journal of progress, and the event is sure to be a great disease
Physiology, has been working to increase the opportunity for members to present their Circadian rhythm disturbances occur in
number of non-traditional physiology papers research. symptomatic Alzheimer disease and are
submitted to The Journal of Physiology, hypothesized to contribute to its
particularly those that use non-mammalian If you have any ideas or suggestions for ways pathogenesis. However, new research
animal models. She also outlined the steps The the group should be supporting Affiliate shows that preclinical Alzheimer’s disease
Journal has taken to encourage submissions Members and early career researchers, or is associated with rest-activity rhythm
from currently underrepresented areas of would like to express an interest in joining the fragmentation, independent of age or sex,
physiology. Also, the Editorial Board has been group, please get in touch. You can provide suggesting circadian dysfunction occurs
rationalised to ensure a more equal workload ideas by getting in touch with Jen Brammer, very early before cognitive symptom onset.
for the Reviewing Editors. Membership Engagement Manager at
jbrammer@physoc.org DOI: 10.1001/jamaneurol.2017.4719
Mike Tipton, Editor-in-Chief of Experimental
Physiology, reported strong growth, including Physiology Feed continues on page 11
9
Book review
A Crack in Creation:
Gene editing and the unthinkable power to control evolution
Jonathan Ashmore You can hardly have missed the rise of
CRISPR. It is not shorthand for a new app or
editing) the power and practical simplicity of
the method is undeniable.
University College London, for a Chinese dish, but for the gene-editing
London, UK technology that makes precise, low-cost The second half of the book is about Doudna’s
manipulation of DNA possible. Once a response to opening Pandora’s Box. Perhaps.
curiosity of bacterial DNA, it has now become Hers is the voice of a rational, liberal scientist
a molecular biology tidal wave which many who has organised conferences to discuss the
laboratories and companies are riding. Even ethics of her discovery. She admits to not
the financial pages report on a patent rights knowing all the answers. But she spells out
fight to this potentially very lucrative what can and maybe should not be done. The
technology. This fight, between MIT and UC issues include that the technology is cheap to
Berkeley, is still running. implement (just order the appropriate
reagents) and that modification of the DNA of
CRISPR (Clustered Regularly Interspaced germline cells (read: ‘designer babies’) will
Short Palindromic Repeats) describes sections propagate into the future with unforeseen
of bacterial genomes which a bacterium uses consequences.
to identify and target invading viruses.
Although originally identified as a genomic Science has been here before. When
quirk in 1987, it became clear about 10 years homologous recombination was discovered in
ago that this could be a sort of bacterial the 1970s, a moratorium was proposed on
immune system as the repeating sections such molecular biology engineering. The
store a history, between the repeat sections, proposal was not implemented but it gave
of previous viral attacks. These CRISPR pause to think about consequences of
regions activate, using the associated RNA, a unfettered technology. Similar issues faced
family of Cas (CRISPR associated proteins) the nuclear scientists – and gave rise to the
endonucleases which can then slice up the Pugwash conferences, and may yet do so for
viral DNA. The key discovery, made by the new developments in artificial intelligence
Jennifer Doudna and Emmanuelle Charpentier, and robotics where society’s discussion is not
was that one of these proteins, Cas9, also keeping pace with the technology.
efficiently cuts eukaryotic DNA once targeted
with the appropriate CRISPR-RNA. Once Has the horse already bolted before the stable
precisely cut, the rest of the cell’s machinery door has closed? To date, PubMed shows
Jennifer Doudna & Sam Sternberg can be hijacked to stitch up the cut strand or over 7000 CRISPR-related publications since
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2017 to insert a known sequence. And that is what the Doudna–Charpentier paper in 2012 with
ISBN: 978054476940 makes it a very powerful technology. no sign of the growth slowing down.
Undoubtedly, there are companies promising
The story of CRISPR-Cas9 technology, what correction of familial disease and removal of
it is, what it might do and how we should undesirable traits. A treatment for one form
think ahead, is the topic of ‘A Crack in of muscular dystrophy using CRISPR was
Creation’. Even to the uninitiated – I include described by Eric Olsen in our 2017 Annual
‘The subheading myself here – this is a gripping primer to the Prize Lecture. There have already been plant
suggests ‘unthinkable’ molecular biology. Doudna and Sam
Sternberg, a research fellow in her Berkeley
varieties engineered to increase shelf life. In
the UK, the use of CRISPR on human eggs has
but this is precisely laboratory, have written a book with a to-die-
for title and cut a wide swathe through a large
been strongly regulated, but that does not
extend everywhere. ‘A Crack in Creation ‘gives
why this book should raft of topics in contemporary science. These
include how Doudna found herself running a
one pause for thought. The subheading
suggests ‘unthinkable’, but this is precisely
be on every graduate’s laboratory studying RNA biochemistry, a why this book should be on every life science
slightly folksy account of how she met graduate’s reading list. For those who have
reading list’ Charpentier (walking around San Juan in Porto lost the habit of reading books, Jennifer
Rico) and how in a brief collaboration this lead Doudna is the 2018 Croonian Lecturer at the
to the discovery of the CRISPR-Cas9 Royal Society in May. It should be worth
mechanism. And how, in an a-ha moment, hearing what she has to say.
she realised that this would allow precise
genetic engineering of any living organism,
bacterium, plant or animal. The separation
between the laboratories which initially
collaborated so effectively is slightly glossed
over and although there are still some
unresolved wrinkles (for example ‘off-target’
10 Physiology News / Spring 2018 / Issue 110Physiology Feed
Non-aging mammals
In addition to total immunity to cancer,
naked mole rats also appear to defy
Gompertzian laws, meaning that their
age-specific hazard of mortality does not
increase as they get older. Even at 25 times
past their time to reproductive maturity,
their risk of death does not increase.
DOI: 10.7554/eLife.31157
Evidence for epigenetic ‘muscle
memory’
New clusters of genes have been found to
record periods of exercise-induced skeletal
muscle growth as epigenetic modifications.
Load-induced muscle hypertrophy causes
gene hypomethylation that persists even
after muscle mass returns to baseline,
leading to larger increases in gene expression
and muscle mass after re-loading.
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-20287-3
Why young blood can rejuvenate
old brains
A new video series about research in esearchers have discovered an enzyme in
our journals mice called Tet2 that when decreased in the
young mouse hippocampus impairs
neurogenesis and cognition. Loss of Tet2 in
At a time when fake news, alternative facts and science deniers are hitting the headlines, aged mice is associated with regenerative
strengthening the public understanding of science is as important as ever. While global climate decline, but young blood can restore levels to
change is most widely discussed, physiology is also vulnerable. With this in mind, we’re working rescue neurogenesis and enhance cognition.
to widen the reach of the research published in our journals by continuing to harness the press, DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2018.02.001
and reaching the public via videos and blogs. We’ve released four blogs and one video to date.
Read and watch these, and stay tuned for more throughout the year.
The type of alcohol you drink
Our first video can be watched at bit.ly/2FHQHOK. really DOES affect your mood
when drunk
Responses from 30,000 people in the
Global Drug Survey, aged 18-34 across 21
countries who reported drinking all alcohol
Newly-elected Fellow Members types, show that drinking spirits is
associated with aggression but also
confidence, energy and feeling sexy,
The Society’s Members newly elected to Fellowship are as follows: whereas red wine and beer are associated
with relaxation.
• Peying Fong, Kansas State University
DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2017-016089
• David Foster, University of Manchester
• Gwendoline Hughes, University of Nottingham Science search engine links
papers to grants and patents
• Prem Kumar, University of Birmingham
A new database called Dimensions connects
• John Lockhart, University of the West of Scotland scientific publications to related grants,
• Frank Sengpiel, Cardiff University funding agencies, patents and clinical trials,
and provides some of this data free of
• Lucia Sivilotti, University College London charge. Compared to other similar
platforms, the company is more transparent
• Anatoly Soloviev, Taras National Shevchenko University of Kyiv
about its data sources and wants to work
with researchers to improve the software.
go.nature.com/2GudwqF
11How can we
better support
your career?
Our Members are at the heart of
everything we do. We want to be the
first-choice society for all those
involved in physiology, be it in
academia, industry or clinical.
Throughout 2018, we are carrying
out a project to better understand our
membership and how to support you
in your career.
We want to know what influenced
your decision to join The Society and
how we can help you remain engaged
with The Society as your career in
physiology progresses.
There will be a number of
opportunities for you to take part over
the next few months through
interviews, surveys and focus groups.
We are really looking forward to
listening to your thoughts and then
using them to shape a Society that
works better for you. We look forward
to sharing our findings in the early part
of next year.
Sign up to our member insight panel
now at www.physoc.org/member-
insight-panel.
For any questions, please contact Jen
Brammer, Membership Engagement
Manager, jbrammer@physoc.org.
12 Physiology News / Spring 2018 / Issue 110Policy Focus
Henry Lovett Physiological Society has made sure to put
across the position of in vivo scientists.
Ministerial changes
Policy and Public Affairs Officer, It is imperative that the new legislation is affecting science and
The Physiological Society compatible with existing rules such as the
Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986,
academia
known as ASPA. This sets the constraints
scientists work within over what animals can The January government reshuffle saw Sam
be used in research, what procedures can be Gyimah MP given the brief for universities
The Society informs performed and the levels of harm involved. and science, which continues to be split
government on the details between the Departments for Education
Among our priorities at the consultation (DfE) and Business, Energy and Industrial
of animal sentience and phase are to tighten the definitions in the Strategy (BEIS). At the time of writing, his
welfare concerns Bill of ‘animal’ and ‘sentience’ to take into
account the true scientific understanding of
official title is listed as ‘Minister for Higher
Education’, but we have not heard of any
these terms, and not use a very broad lay change in the Minister’s responsibilities, and
In a vote on an amendment to the European definition which could, for example, lead to Gyimah himself tweeted ‘Off to my new
Union (Withdrawal) Bill at the end of last research on insects counting as contravening role as Universities & Science Minister and
year, the government voted not to transfer animal welfare rules and becoming prohibited. looking forward to the challenges ahead’.
the EU protocol on animal sentience into UK The previous incumbent, Jo Johnson MP, was
law. This led to some campaigners claiming The EU undertook a long period of moved to the position of Minister of State in
that MPs had voted not to recognise animals research before determining its own animal the Department for Transport.
as sentient, and in doing so reduced the research laws, and used definitions the
protection they enjoy. However, the vote did research community support. Unless the Gyimah has been identified as ‘one to watch’
not weaken existing UK law covering animal UK government wishes to duplicate and in the Conservative Party for some time. He
rights, and many MPs took to social media update this effort, the pragmatic approach was first elected to Parliament in 2010 and
to defend this action and stress that no one would therefore be to adhere to the EU was brought into the government in 2013.
in the House of Commons disagreed that conclusion: that is, ‘animal’ includes non- Previous Ministerial responsibilities have been
animals display sentience. human vertebrates and cephalopods. We as Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State
also advocate that ‘sentience’ should be for Childcare and Education (2014-2016)
Despite this rebuttal of the criticism, some recognised as more than displaying an escape and Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State
members of the public continued to be reflex, but rather that a sentient creature for Prisons and Probation (2016-2018),
concerned. The Secretary of State for the needs to be able to determine what is making his new role a promotion to Minister
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Michael pleasurable or painful and consciously make of State level.
Gove MP, released a statement saying ‘This learnt choices that reflect these perceptions.
government will ensure that any necessary This demonstrates thought, emotion and The Secretary of State for Education has
changes required to UK law are made in a learning. also been replaced, with Damien Hinds MP
rigorous and comprehensive way to ensure succeeding Justine Greening MP. These new
animal sentience is recognised after we The consultation closed at the end of January, personnel in charge of higher education could
leave the EU. The Withdrawal Bill is not the but The Society has continued to work open the door to new changes affecting
right place to address this; however, we are with the Department for the Environment, academics’ teaching and research activities.
considering the right legislative vehicle.’ Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) on the new
legislation, and the Home Office, which
A consultation has now been released on oversees ASPA, going forwards. We aim to
a draft Animal Welfare (Sentencing and ensure the development of the Bill reaches an
Recognition of Sentience) Bill, and The effective and mutually agreeable conclusion.
Public Engagement Grants 2018
Funding of up to £5000 is available for activities that promote the discussion
of physiology with public audiences
Deadline: 14 June 2018
www.physoc.org/public-engagement-grants
13Events
2018 Forthcoming events
27-29 June 13 September 14-16 Sept. 5-6 December
Experimental Models in Physiology Early Career Physiologists’ Europhysiology 2018 Sleep and Circadian Rhythms from
University of Exeter, Symposium (ECPS 2018) – Main Meeting Mechanisms to Function
Exeter, UK QEII Centre, The QEII Centre, Barbican,
London, UK London, UK London, UK
www.physoc.org/models www.europhysiology2018.org/ www.europhysiology2018.org www.physoc.org/sleep_
ECPS2016 circadian/sleep-and-circadian-
rhythms-mechanisms-function
friends with Prof. Rennie. As a final year PhD assisted amino acid transport was of great
Meeting Notes student, the opportunity to attend this relevance to my own research going forward.
symposium provided a unique chance to
H3 Symposium: network with these academics from whom I
gained invaluable knowledge not only about
At this symposium I was lucky enough to be
awarded one of the inaugural Michael Rennie
Muscle Physiology and muscle physiology but also how they all – Universities of Dundee and Nottingham
managed to succeed in their respective Awards, an honour which I will treasure for
Metabolism careers. In particular, learning how young the entirety of my research career. The
faculty members made the transition from chance to present before such an esteemed
30 November 2017, postdoctoral fellows to faculty was audience of muscle physiologists certainly
Hogkin Huxley House, fascinating and will definitely help with my improved my presentation skills, something
London, UK future career in research. which will no doubt aid any future
presentations I may give.
This symposium, much like other Society
events I have attended, was structured in I would certainly recommend the H3 symposia
Nathan Hodson such a way to permit these networking
opportunities, and all attendees contributed
to all early career physiologists, as a chance to
‘learn from the best’ in your field and have the
University of Birmingham, UK to such a friendly atmosphere allowing opportunity to network with the people you
stimulating discussions to flow. Having spoken normally may only see as a final author on a
to several other early career physiologists paper. Finally, I would like to thank The
who attended this meeting, all agreed with Physiological Society for organising this event
On 30 November 2017 the H3 symposium: this observation, commenting on how which, as I’m sure all who attended would
Muscle Physiology and Metabolism was held enlightening it was to have such an agree, was a great success and a fitting
in the memory of Professor Michael Rennie. opportunity to converse with such high- tribute to one of the major contributors to
This event brought together numerous profile researchers. Specifically, hearing our field.
leaders in the fields of amino acid metabolism experts present about lesser-publicised areas
and transport, many of whom had been good such as Hippo/Yap signalling and proton-
14 Physiology News / Spring 2018 / Issue 110transduction in insects was for me a joy from frequencies, so it should come as no surprise
Meeting Notes start to finish. I attended purely as an once more that mechanical involvement turns
observer, as my own work focuses on out to be critically important in olfaction too.
H3 Symposium: mammalian mechanoreceptors, but I am also
a zoologist, so when the symposium was
Sensory Transduction announced it was clearly one I should not miss. ‘I must not, of course,
in Insects The symposium was divided into three presume to know the
sessions of oral presentations and two of
8 December 2017, posters. The first oral session was on the motives of anyone else,
Hogkin Huxley House, physiology of sensory neurons, often with
London, UK instances of the importance of the particular but I’m sure I can’t be
sensory system to the insect’s behaviour. The
second was on the electrophysiological basis
alone in having been
Bob Banks
of sensory transduction; with a strong
emphasis on mechanotransduction, this was,
motivated primarily by
perhaps, of particular relevance to me. The a desire to understand
University Of Durham, final oral session consisted of three plenary
Durham, UK lectures on cross-sensory modalities in how things are and how
sensory neurons. Roger Hardie (Cambridge)
spoke on the contribution of mechanical they work’
events in phototransduction. Martin Göpfert
In these days of ‘impact’, ‘translation’, (Göttingen) showed us the complementary
‘outreach’ and other political impositions, involvement of opsins in mechanotransduction,
it can sometimes be difficult to hold on to and presented a fascinating idea on the
the intrinsic importance of science as a way possible common evolutionary origin of In this very brief account, although I could not
of understanding. I must not, of course, photoreception and mechanoreception do justice to all the individual oral and poster
presume to know the motives of anyone but through the role of opsins in maintaining presenters, I must note that the standard was
myself, but I’m sure I can’t be alone in having sensory dendrite structure. Andrew French universally high and enlightening, including
been motivated primarily by a desire to (Dalhousie) concluded the session with his the discussions both formal and informal
understand how things are and how they talk on the dynamics of insect olfaction, around posters and refreshments. And so my
work. Now, in my retirement from my including the development of a system for initial thought that this meeting was not to be
academic post, I try to maintain an active rapid presentation of odorants such as CO2 missed was amply confirmed; I congratulate
involvement in research and my primary while recording single units from antennal The Society on supporting the meeting and
motivation remains the same. In this spirit, nerves – a technical tour-de-force. Of especially Ben and Jörg for organising it.
the one-day symposium organised by Ben course, odorant molecules are in constant
Warren and Jörg Albert on sensory thermal motion with characteristic
Photo: Martin Hauser
15Future
Physiology
at my stage could do to make the right the luckier you get’, that I sometimes remind
Meeting Notes choices for his future career. The conference myself of.
did not fail to provide valuable food for
thought. On that note, it was also nice to feel
Future Physiology 2017: supported by other researchers going
Early Career Conference The attendees included a wide range of through similar difficulties in a research
representatives of the academic career system that seems to very often put
13–14 December 2017, continuum, from undergraduates to high pressure on individuals and can lead
professors. A majority of these were, to sub-optimal life quality and, in many
University of Leeds, seemingly, early career researchers (ECRs) cases, burnout. Uncertainty seems to be a
Leeds, UK and they belonged to a reasonably wide common denominator for many researchers
range of areas within the field of physiology. in different stages of their careers (more so
www.physoc.org/futurephysiology/ This showed that the purpose of the ECRs). Making this explicit is important to
conference was to go beyond delving into find a solution for it. I think this conference
their specific areas of expertise. A dominant was a good first step to bridge the gap
topic of interest seemed to be commonalities between ECRs who have a lot of questions
Jose L. Areta irrespective of the specific area of expertise, on how to progress through the ranks,
meaning the ins and outs of working in and while making meaningful contributions to
Norwegian School of Sport Sciences, growing through academia. science, and more experienced researchers
Oslo, Norway talking about their specific experiences or
Several of the sessions provided examples professionals providing advice.
of more established researchers showcasing
how they built their own academic careers Personally, one of my favourite events was
Attending the Future Physiology meeting in the context of research in physiology. The a small grant-writing workshop I had the
in Leeds in December 2017, coming all the take-home message for me was that there chance to attend that also turned into a bit
way from Oslo, Norway, was a privilege I is no ‘one’ way to become an established of a career advice workshop. Transitioning
had thanks to a Physiological Society travel researcher in any given area. The impression towards being an independent researcher
grant. I am a postdoctoral researcher in the that I got is that love for the work you do is a very significant milestone for anyone in
early stages of what, I think, might turn followed by dedication and a solid network research, I think. Gathering some tools to do
into a long academic career. I signed up for play a key role, immediately followed by so in the context of finding one’s place in the
this conference specifically to get a better serendipity. This seemed to provide some field was a nice addition to the experience
overview and insights on what a researcher support to the saying ‘the harder you work, of the conference.
16 Physiology News / Spring 2018 / Issue 110In conclusion, I think this conference was a
good first step to put the uncertainties that
ECRs face throughout their development
as researchers in the spotlight, and provide
them (us!) with tools and networks for better
tackling these.
Dan Brayson
Kings College London,
London, UK
As a member of the Affiliate Working Group
of The Society, I was privileged to have the
opportunity to help with the planning and
execution of the Future Physiology meeting, whilst five talks were given by senior than merely taking part. At least this was
an early career researcher (ECR) focused scientists (for balance, of course). Of these, my perception of it, and I would definitely
meeting held at the University of Leeds three were young principal investigators and do it again.
recently. The meeting was ‘by ECRs for shining examples that we don’t have to wait
ECRs’. This meant that the Affiliate Working around for professors to retire in order to Reflecting now on the meeting, I feel that it
Group was placed at the forefront of the make significant progress in our careers. We was a good first crack at a meeting for ECRs.
brainstorming process to come up with a plan hoped that this would add a motivational However, I also feel that there is further
for a meeting which facilitated an engaging slant for attendees. If they can do it, why scope to create the most engaging and
experience for early career scientists. can’t we? immersive experience for young scientists.
One idea would be to have facilitated debate
What we hoped for was an opportunity On a personal note, it was a red letter day. workshops on general topics (neuroscience,
for ECR’s to shed their inferiority complex I was charged with sharing the chairing and cardiovascular physiology, gastrointestinal
baggage (we all have it) and to feel presentation-marking duties with my fellow physiology, etc.). This would engage people
invigorated by the conference experience Affiliate Working Group members, a first for in a relaxed environment to talk more
rather than being overwhelmed. To this end, me, and with this, I got to experience the joy generally about the big issues/questions
20 ECRs were selected for oral presentations of facilitating meeting proceedings rather facing their chosen fields.
The winners and finalists of the 2017 Rob Clarke Awards
17You can also read
