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Author Archives: Tony Campbell

  1. Prize poem

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  2. Eureka moments

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    Eureka moments

    Email us your eureka moments to info@theyoungdarwinian.com, and we will put them in this post.
    1. Tony Campbell

    Tony Campbell had a eureka moment in the Marine Biological Association lab at Plymouth in 1973. He was trying to extract a bioluminescent protein from the hydroid Obelia geniculata. It just was not working. By 9 pm he was about to give up. But he decided to carry out one final experiment, by extracting the hydroid in different pH’s. Eureka! It worked. The oscilloscope screen used to detect the light from his extract was wiped out. He jumped around in delight! Bioluminescence really did have the wow factor! This experiment changed his life, and career, for ever! He realised that a flash was better than a glow. This eureka moment, when no one else was there, led him to develop a way of replacing radioactive antibody and DNA labels with a chemical that emitted light. This technique is now used in several hundred million clinical tests per year world wide. He also realised he could use the DNA from these bioluminescent animals to light up chemical processes in living cells and whole organisms, such as calcium signals that control the whole of life. This has revolutionised biomedical research and drug discovery. His eureka moment has led to the creation of three individual billion dollar markets, with jobs for thousands of scientists. It also inspired him to set up The Darwin Centre in Wales, and The Young Darwinian.

    Curiosity inspires, but discovery reveals.

  3. Latest articles

    2 Comments

    Download these articles by clicking on the link

     1. Regulation of Integrin Alpha 6 in Relation to Myelination: An Exploration of Peripheral Nervous System Repair

    by Rachel Gump, a biology student at Callington Community College, Cornwall, UK

    Download her project here Gump 2018 final


    2. Star trek science comes alive
    By Stephanie B Matthews

    ART 2017_1


    3    . Curiosity inspires, discovery reveals
    By Anthony Campbell
    ART 2017_2

     

  4. Safeguarding policy

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    www.theyoungdarwinian.com

    Please email us your comments to info@theyoungdarwinian.com

     The Young Darwinian (TYD), through The Welston Press Ltd, is committed to safeguarding the welfare of young and/or vulnerable people, who are involved in any way with our work. Everyone who works with TYD has a responsibility for the protection of young people when meet in person, and when in communication on-line. The Young Darwinian is registered under the UK Data Protection Act. All personal information is regarded as confidential, unless we are given permission to publish it, by the student who is over 18, or by the parent or guardian, if the student is under 18.

    Child protection policy

    The Young Darwinian believes that a young person should never experience abuse of any kind. We are committed to practice in a way that protects young people.

    In the event of a young person feeling threatened, either on line or in person, due to activities relating to The Young Darwinian, they must contact the Designated Safeguarding Officer immediately (see below). Appropriate action will be taken.

    The Young Darwinian recognises that:

    • The welfare of the child is paramount, as enshrined in the Children Act 1989 in the UK.
    • All children, regardless of age, disability, gender, racial heritage, religious belief, sexual orientation or identity, or country of residence, have a right to equal protection from all types of harm or abuse.

    The Young Darwinian will seek to keep children and young people safe by:

    • Valuing them, listening to, and respecting, them.
    • Appointing a Designated Safeguarding Officer (DSO) for children and young people, a deputy and a lead board member for safeguarding.
    • Adopting child protection and safeguarding practices through procedures and a code of conduct for staff and volunteers.
    • Developing and implementing an effective e-safety policy and related procedures.
    • Providing effective management for staff and volunteers through supervision, support, training and quality assurance measures.
    • Recruiting staff and volunteers safely, ensuring all necessary checks are made. In the UK, this involves using the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). We recommend registering as a STEM ambassador with your local representative, who will get the DBS check done for you (https://www.stem.org.uk/stem-ambassadors/ambassadors).
    • Recording and storing information professionally and securely.
    • Using our safeguarding procedures to share concerns and relevant information with agencies who need to know, and involving children, young people, parents, families and carers appropriately.
    • Using our procedures to manage any allegations against staff and volunteers appropriately.
    • Ensuring that we provide a safe physical environment for our children, young people, staff and volunteers, by applying health and safety measures in accordance with the law and regulatory guidance.

    Help and advice is available on line for young people:

    Adult policy

    • In the UK, all adults should have a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.
    • Register as a STEM ambassador with your local representative, who will get the DBS check done for you (https://www.stem.org.uk/stem-ambassadors/ambassadors).
    • When you work, or meet, with children always have another adult with you.
    • Report any concerns you have to the appropriate authority.
    • Report any issues and ask for advice by contacting us on info@theyoungdarwinian.com.

    Help and advice is available on line for parents/adults:

    • Visit nspcc.org.uk/o2 There is also an NSPCC Helpline on 0808 800 5000
    • Net Aware net-aware.org.uk and the app can be downloaded from Google Play/iTunes stores for free.
    • Share Aware https://www.nspcc.org.uk/shareaware
    • Call the Online Safety Helpline for free 0808 800 5002
    • (Mon-Fri 9am-7pm, weekends 10am-6pm, Bank Holidays 10am-4pm) – they can help with some of the technical/practical elements.
    • Book a Guru appointment in an O2 store o2.co.uk/help/guru
    • CEOP and ThinkuKnow
    • UK Safer Internet Centre

    Our policy is based on best practice and the legal requirements in the United Kingdom. If you have any questions, or require advice in your own country please contact us via info@theyoungdarwinian, or contact the equivalent organization to the NSPCC or STEM ambassadors in your country.

    Legal framework

    This policy has been drawn up on the basis of law and guidance that seeks to protect children, namely (in the UK):

    • Children Act 1989
    • United Convention of the Rights of the Child 1991
    • Data Protection Act 1998
    • Human Rights Act 1998
    • Sexual Offences Act 2003
    • Children Act 2004
    • Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006
    • Protection of Freedoms Act 2012
    • Children and Families Act 2014
    • Special educational needs and disability (SEND) code of practice: O to 25 years – Statutory guidance for organisations which work with and support children and young people who have special educational needs or disabilities; HM Government 2014
    • Information sharing: Advice for practitioners providing safeguarding services to children, young people, parents and carers; HM Government 2015
    • Working together to safeguarding children: a guide to inter-agency working to safeguard and promote the welfare of children; HM Government 2015

    Contact details

    Designated Safeguarding Officer (DSO) for The Young Darwinian:

    Dr Stephanie B Matthews; email: stephanie@theyoungdarwinian.com

    This policy was last reviewed in May 2019

  5. DNA sings and makes music

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    This is an example of DNA sings, by converting two protein sequences into music
    This has been done by setting a note for each amino acid in the protein sequences

    Aequorin and obelin are both bioluminescent proteins that produce light when they bind calcium

    DNA sings and so DNA makes music

     

    Why not try to make DNA sing, and convert your own DNA into music. This is quite easy using software available in most schools. Proteins use up to 20 amino acids to form their sequence, and, of course, DNA uses triplets of four bases Adenine (A), Guanine (G), Cytosine (C), and Thymine (T) to code for these. So, in C major, you give each amino acid a note around middle C. I decided to use the low notes for basic amino acids like lysine and arginine, and high notes for acidic amino acids like aspartic acid and glutamic acid. I then typed these in using Sibelius, that then puts the notes on a stave. You can then play this with any instrument. I used two calcium binding bioluminescent proteins I have studied for forty years. The result is in the picture. Listen to the Wav file. When you hear high notes, this is where the calcium binds. You can then use software like Cubase or Garage band to add an accompaniment.

    Have a go, and email us your results. We will put them up on the web site.  email us at info@theyoungdarwinian.com

    Good luck.

    Tony

    Professor Anthony K Campbell
    Editor in Chief
    The Young Darwinian
    info@theyoungdarwinian.com
    27/03/2017

     

  6. About the journal

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    Prize winning poem from Pembrokeshire student
    This a journal from The Welston Press Ltd. The ISSN numbers are:
    ISSN (Print) 2398-2446; ISSN (Online) 2398-2454
    The first issue will be available Autumn, 2017.
    It is Diamond open access, i.e. free on line to authors and readers
    Click here to download the pdf of individual articles available so far

  10. Video of flashing jelly fish and a water flea

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    This video shows an amazing flashing jelly fish, and the tiny heart of a water flea, Daphnia. Daphnia are found in ponds throughout the world and are great for school projects.