Author Archives: argylesock

About argylesock

I wrote a PhD about veterinary parasitology so that's the starting point for this blog. But I'm now branching out into other areas of biology and into popular science writing. I'll write here about science that happens in landscapes, particularly farmland, and about science involving interspecific interactions. Datasets and statistics get my attention. Exactly where this blog will lead? That's a journey that I'm on and I hope you'll come with me.

How genetic modification is done: 1. Agrobacterium

Posted on August 30, 2015 by argylesock

Genetic modification (GM, genetic engineering) for eukaryotes matters because we humans are eukaryotes and we use eukaryotes. As you know, eukaryotes have nucleated cells. Among the eukaryotes we eat angiosperms (flowering, fruiting plants), herbivores which eat them, and predators which … Continue reading →

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Biotechnology in Action

Posted on July 29, 2015 by argylesock

My column Biotechnology in Action will go live soon. I’ll promote each article – on the first day of each calendar month, starting September 2015 – here on WordPress.

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New contact details

Posted on July 10, 2015 by argylesock

Hello after a year’s silence. I don’t expect to write Science on the Land for a while, perhaps nevcr, but soon I’ll be writing on Science 2.0. My new column there will be about applied biotech, working title Biotechnology in Action, … Continue reading →

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Neonic makers might pay for research about neonics on the land

Posted on July 28, 2014 by argylesock

Here in Europe, three insect-killing neonicotinoids are under a temporary ban. During the ban our UK Government is welcoming new research. It’s now become known that pesticide manufacturers might fund some of this research. Vested interests! Last year my fellow … Continue reading →

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A neonic that’s bad news for birds

Posted on July 25, 2014 by argylesock

Here in Europe, three insect-killing neonicotinoids are under a temporary ban. One of the banned neonics is called imidacloprid. Six months into the neonic ban, here’s new science about imidacloprid and insect-eating birds in the Netherlands. The chemical and biotech … Continue reading →

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Hello Ms Truss

Posted on July 15, 2014 by argylesock

Our new UK Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs is Elizabeth Truss. Er… who? She’s been working for improvements to education, very important, yes, but I haven’t seen much to suggest that she knows anything about the … Continue reading →

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Goodbye Mr Paterson

Posted on July 15, 2014 by argylesock

Here in Britain, our Secretary of State for Environment Food and Rural Affairs has been Owen Paterson. Not any more! Today, in a Cabinet reshuffle, Mr Paterson’s been sacked. I wonder who’ll take his place. Whoever that person is, I … Continue reading →

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Séralini’s rat-feeding trial (part 5)

Posted on July 15, 2014 by argylesock

Professor Gilles-Eric Séralini is a French scientist researching pesticides and GM (genetically modified, genetically engineered, GE) crops. A research paper from his team was published in 2012, retracted (withdrawn) in 2013 and republished in 2014. Here it is. This is … Continue reading →

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New Séralini study shows Roundup damages sperm

Posted on July 13, 2014 by argylesock

Professor Gilles-Eric Séralini is a French scientist researching pesticides and GM (genetically modified, genetically engineered, GE) crops. He’s published a new study in which rats (Rattus norvegicus) were exposed to the world’s most popular weedkiller, Roundup (active ingredient glyphosate) for … Continue reading →

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America’s dwindling diversity

Posted on July 13, 2014 by argylesock

Here’s a graphic picture about the range of crop varieties available to farmers and growers in the United States. A range falling and falling between 1903 and 1983. Of course some of the now-extinct varieties will have been weak, but … Continue reading →

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