Science, society and salamanders

One of the unique features of the Wellcome Trust is the remarkable range of activities it is associated with. In many ways, this harks back to the interests of its founder, Sir Henry Wellcome (1853-1936), who was driven by the belief that the future of medicine lay in research, but who also recognized that human health was not isolated from cultural and social surroundings. In his collecting and other work, he saw medicine firmly embedded within a historical and social context.

Today, science may have moved on considerably - and the Wellcome Trust, established as an independent charity on Henry Wellcome's death in 1936, has certainly changed dramatically. Yet, in rather different guises - and perhaps with rather different objectives - many of Henry's beliefs seem more pertinent than ever and are reflected in the full range of activities the Wellcome Trust now carries out. While biomedical research remains core to the work of the Wellcome Trust, it also focuses on the practical application of that work, as well as its social and historical context.

In this issue, for example, is an insight into the genetic control of blood formation - 'basic' science with the possibility of dramatic medical benefits. One of nature's curiosities - the [brokenlink] axolotl, a Mexican salamander frozen permanently in its juvenile form - makes a welcome appearance. Perhaps best known for its ability to regrow severed limbs, the axolotl may also tell us more about the creation of stem cells, currently one of science's hottest topics.

Moving on, the feature on [brokenlink] Neospora infections in cattle is a reminder that research stands to benefit animals as well as humans. A single-celled parasite, Neospora is responsible for thousands of spontaneous terminations every year in the UK alone. A better understanding of interactions between cow, parasite and unborn calf could help reduce this number.

One application of human genetics research is in genetic testing for inherited diseases. There are a number of potential advantages to genetic testing, but fears have been expressed about insurance companies' access to individuals' genetic information. This is an area where research can provide hard data to inform wide debate and policy making, as illustrated in the article [brokenlink] Loading the dice.

Raising awareness of the social context of science is a theme running through several articles in this issue. 'Head On: Art with the brain in mind', a new Wellcome Trust exhibition at the Science Museum, compares scientific and artistic interpretations of the brain (see the article [brokenlink] Brain power). A teachers' conference on science in citizenship (see the article [brokenlink] Life skills) offers a view on how the citizenship curriculum could be used as a vehicle to explore the ethical and social aspects of developments in biomedicine. And the Science Centrestage project at Wolsingham school in County Durham (see the article [brokenlink] Building Britney) illustrates how drama can help enthuse pupils and bring science to life, in ways the young can relate to.

Historically, studies of institutions such as the Peckham Health Centre (see the article [brokenlink] Positively healthy), and the accounts of medical practice in the twentieth century (see the article [brokenlink] Learning to be a doctor), can remind us that the context in which medical research is applied never stands still.

On the topic of historical research, brief mention must be made about [brokenlink] Roy Porter, who died tragically in March 2002. He made a stupendous contribution to the academic study of the history of medicine, but more than that, he perhaps did more than anyone else to bring this learning and understanding to wider audiences. His death leaves an enormous gap that will be difficult to fill.

The Editor

IMAGE CREDITS
All images, unless otherwise stated below, are from the Wellcome Trust's [brokenlink] Medical Photographic Library. Historical images are from material held in the Wellcome Library for the History and Understanding of Medicine. Material can be viewed at the Wellcome Library or copies obtained through the Medical Photographic Library. Images labelled 'TMR' are from the Wellcome Trust's [brokenlink] Tropical Medicine Resource.

NEWS SECTION

•Two Clinical Research Facilities opened
Front image: The CRFs will enable clinicians to undertake patient-oriented research in a hospital setting. Back image: Opening of the Clinical Research Facility at Birmingham's Queen Elizabeth Hospital.

•Two new organisms sequenced
Image: Schizosaccharomyces pombe. Core analysis of the fission yeast genome was carried out by Val Wood, Rachel Lyne and Mike Lyne from the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute.

•Roy Porter
Image: Professor Roy Porter.

•sciart awards
Image: Conductor 2000. Jane Prophet. Commissioned by Wapping Art. Photography by John Spinks,

ANALYSIS SECTION

•Life skills
Images: Audience at the citizenship Education in Science conference. Photography by Caroline Penn.

•Brain power
Front image: Prenology Head, 1887. Back image: Detail taken from the 'Head On' exhibition promotional materials.

RESEARCH DIRECTIONS SECTION

•Axolotls and arteries
Front image: 'Axolotl' is often translated as 'water dog', but an alternative interpretation connects it to the Aztec god of deformations and death, Xolotl.
Back image: Red blood cells.

•Lethal immunity
Front image: The Neospora parasite transmits from mother to offspring in cattle, though the infection does not always result in abortion.

•Loading the dice
Front image: Genes and the insurance industry: Dr Lindsay Prior is part of a team examining people's insurance-buying behaviour.

POLYPTYCH SECTION

•Playing the field
Front image: Dr Robert Knell. Back image: The sexual habits of ladybirds could shed light on the spread of STDs in human populations.

•Positively healthy
Front image: Image from the Peckham Pioneer Health Centre archives. Back image: An exercise class on the roof of the Peckham Pioneer Health Centre.

•Learning to be a doctor
Back image: Bedside training of student nurses in the 1950s.

•Building Britney
Front image: Anthony Tuffery, Head of Science at Wolsingham School. Back image: Wolsingham School pupils rehearse scenes from their play, You're Not God You Know.

•A Ukraine brain gain
Front image: Prenology Head, 1887. Back image: Ukraine flag.

•Breaking the news
Front and back images: Katie Woolley spent a summer at the BBC Radio Science Unit ass part of her BA Media Fellowship.

•Vitreous circles
Front image: Argonauta argo (octopus) male, two stages. National Museum & Gallery, Cardiff. Back image: Sophie Roët's 'Wandering Lines - Green' shown under ultraviolet light.

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