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Algae scooping is a behaviour in which wild chimpanzees in Bossou (Guinea) use tools to feed on aquatic algae by scooping and wrapping algae round the stick. Algae scooping has been suggested to require social learning to develop due to its rarity across other chimpanzee sites in Africa and differe...
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Algae scooping is a behaviour in which wild chimpanzees in Bossou (Guinea) use tools to feed on aquatic algae by scooping and wrapping algae round the stick. Algae scooping has been suggested to require social learning to develop due to its rarity across other chimpanzee sites in Africa and differences in techniques within the community of Bossou. Here we argue that algae scooping does not necessarily require social transmission to develop but instead is within the chimpanzee’s ‘Zone of Latent Solutions’: their cognitive repertoire.

Cancer is one of the biggest health concerns today. DNA strands where the sequence has changed can be indicative of the disease. This project aims to detect changes in DNA sequence using Ferrocene, an iron based compound. It is easily manufactured within the lab, is stable and non toxic. These quali...
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Cancer is one of the biggest health concerns today. DNA strands where the sequence has changed can be indicative of the disease. This project aims to detect changes in DNA sequence using Ferrocene, an iron based compound. It is easily manufactured within the lab, is stable and non toxic. These qualities make it an excellent candidate for DNA sensing.

The Peacock Group has developed a new MRI imaging probe with the potential to drastically improve the identification of disease compared to the current standard. This new design uses a miniature protein which binds to an active metal. MRI is a technique commonly used in hospitals to look inside the ...
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The Peacock Group has developed a new MRI imaging probe with the potential to drastically improve the identification of disease compared to the current standard. This new design uses a miniature protein which binds to an active metal. MRI is a technique commonly used in hospitals to look inside the body without the need for invasive surgery. Contrast agents can be injected to allow for easier diagnosis of disease. Factors affecting contrast agents: 1.Rate of tumbling (peptide length) 2.Association with water

Homecare products are in demand all over the world. As such the formulations need to be able to withstand extreme weather, such as cold climates. As the temperature of a surfactant system (e.g. dish liquid) is lowered some precipitated crystals may be visualized, especially if the temperature is be...
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Homecare products are in demand all over the world. As such the formulations need to be able to withstand extreme weather, such as cold climates. As the temperature of a surfactant system (e.g. dish liquid) is lowered some precipitated crystals may be visualized, especially if the temperature is below the Krafft point of the surfactant system.

The thymus is the unique site of production of T-cells, an essential arm of the adaptive immune system which is targeted by vaccinations as a defense against infectious diseases. In generating a potent cohort of pathogen- clearing T-cells, small numbers of cells capable of attacking tissues within t...
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The thymus is the unique site of production of T-cells, an essential arm of the adaptive immune system which is targeted by vaccinations as a defense against infectious diseases. In generating a potent cohort of pathogen- clearing T-cells, small numbers of cells capable of attacking tissues within the body are also produced. Under normal conditions these are kept in check by “regulatory” cells, however if the balance of “auto-immune” and regulatory cells is altered, it has the potential to trigger auto-immune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis and diabetes. Using mouse models, we aim to investigate the potential to manipulate thymic production of anti-inflammatory T-cells to aid treatment of auto-immune disease.