VOLUME 69 NO 3 Autumn 2022

THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF BIOLOGY

1 Naoroji Street, London WC1X 0GB

Tel: 020 3925 3440 info@rsb.org.uk; www.rsb.org.uk

EDITORIAL STAFF

Editor Tom Ireland MRSB, tom.ireland@rsb.org.uk

Editorial assistant Emma Wrake AMRSB, emma.wrake@rsb.org.uk

Chair of the Editorial Board

Professor Dan Davis FRSB,

Imperial College London

Editorial Board

Professor Matthew Cobb FRSB,

The University of Manchester Dr Anthony Flemming FRSB, Syngenta

Professor Adam Hart FRSB, University of Gloucestershire Dr Sarah Maddocks CBiol MRSB,

Cardiff Met University Dr Esther Odenkule MRSB, GSK Professor Shaun D Pattinson FRSB,

Durham University

Dr James Poulter MRSB, University of Leeds

Professor Diane Purchase FRSB,

Middlesex University Dr Natasha de Vere, National Botanical Garden of Wales

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Cover: Shutterstock

ON THE COVER 16 The science of hidden animals What is cryptozoology, and is it useful to science?

Contents

30 Amphibious vehicles Why toads cross roads and how to save them

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LPhoto

ience

Image/Sc

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8 Digital dilemma Can negotiators solve the impasse over digital DNA data before COP15?

22 Stem cells in orbit The unique conditions in space are accelerating vital research

CONNECT WITH US Have an idea for an article or interested in writing for us?

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UP FRONT 04 Society news RSB launches summer school lab; Fellows honoured, plus Biology Week 2022

08 Policy analysis: DSI Untangling the dispute over digital sequence information

10 Policy news Gene-editing bill discussed; RSB calls for Horizon funding; pig-human transplants closer

FEATURES 12 Champion of science Meet the Society’s new president, Professor Sir Ian Boyd

16 Here be monsters Zoologist and author Darren Naish on his interest in cryptids and cryptozoology

22 Celestial science Growing stem cells in space is furthering our understanding of disease progression

26 The problem with gene drives An exclusive extract from Matthew Cobb’s new book, The Genetic Age

30 Toads in the road The citizen science projects saving spawning toads

REGULARS 34 Members 38 Book reviews 43 Obituary 44 Branches 47 Crossword 48 Biochemical colouring page Clathrin-coated pit

Vol 69 No 3 / THE BIOLOGIST / 1