Category Archives: Press

Media and public understanding from the Molecular Cytogenetics group, University of Leicester. This category includes interviews and press releases, and citations related to them. For more information, contact Professor Pat Heslop-Harrison, University of Leicester; e-mail phh4(a)le.ac.uk.

EU safety regulations – Dont mar legislation with pseudoscience

Posted on Monday, 25 July, 2016 by

328. Dietrich DR, Dekant W, Greim H, Heslop-Harrison P, Berry C, Boobis A, Hengstler JG, Sharpe R. 2016. EU safety regulations: Don’t mar legislation with pseudoscience. Nature 535: 355 (21 July 2016) doi:10.1038/535355c We are concerned that some of the European Union’s … Continue reading →

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Regulation should follow robust scientific assessments not opinions

Posted on Wednesday, 25 May, 2016 by

University of Leicester scientist in battle to ‘stem onslaught of pseudoscience’ Geneticist at European Commission alarmed at impact of ‘dogma’ in regulation and the negative impact on the environment and European industry A University of Leicester scientist has joined leading … Continue reading →

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Scientists ready to stem the onslaught of pseudoscience in the EU

Posted on Wednesday, 11 May, 2016 by

BRUSSELS, May 11, 2016 /PRNewswire/ A meeting was held between Dr Vytenis Andriukaitis, Commissioner of Health & Food Safety and well established and respected scientists (Prof. Sir Colin Berry, Prof. Alan Boobis, Prof. Wolfgang Dekant, Prof. Daniel Dietrich, Prof. Helmut Greim, … Continue reading →

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Saffron crocus, cooking and Iran on the radio

Posted on Wednesday, 20 January, 2016 by

The spice Saffron is valued worldwide for its flavor, aroma and color. I’ve just broadcast an interview with Robin Young produced by Jill Ryan for NPR’s Here and Now program which let me tell you something about my enjoyment of … Continue reading →

Posted in Crocus, Farming, Genomics, News, Press, Research, Species, Sustainability, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Saffron Crocus, quality and fraud in New York Times

Posted on Tuesday, 29 December, 2015 by

Elaine Sciolino discusses saffron in the New York Times. Saffronomics partners Jean Thiercelin and Pat Heslop-Harrison are quoted, with the outcome of the project in developing methods to detect fraud and measure quality. In the article, the special qualities of saffron are discussed … Continue reading →

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Banana research at the botanic garden

Posted on Monday, 23 November, 2015 by

324. Heslop-Harrison, P. 2015. Banana research at the botanic garden. University of Leicester Botanic Garden Newsletter 12: 4. November 2015. Dessert bananas and the cooking bananas or plantains are among the oldest crops in the world. Most crops were domesticated through a long pathway … Continue reading →

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We need to have more scientific mavericks @guardianletters

Posted on Thursday, 20 March, 2014 by

306. Braben DW, Allen JF, Amos W, Ball R, Birkhead T, Cameron P, Cogdell R, Colquhoun D, Dowler R, Engle I, Fernández-Armesto F, Fitzgerald D, Heslop-Harrison P, Herschbach D, Kimble HJ, Kroto H, Ladyman J, Lane N, Lawrence P, MacIntyre … Continue reading →

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Discussing diversity, genes and the future of bananas on the BBC Food Programme

Posted on Sunday, 04 August, 2013 by

Pat Heslop-Harrison was interviewed for BBC Radio 4 “The Food Programme”. I have posted some of the points I wanted to make on AoBBlog.com, and a link to the whole interesting programme including my interview is here after broadcast of … Continue reading →

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Preserving genetic resources in agriculture: saffron and other EU projects

Posted on Friday, 05 July, 2013 by

Maintaining and developing sustainable uses for agricultural genetic resources is essential for ensuring food security in a sustainable manner. In this report, the outcomes of 17 EU projects on genetic resources in animals, arable crops, forest trees and “fruits, vegetables and spices” … Continue reading →

Posted in Collaborators, Environment, Farming, Farming, Literature, News, Press, Research, Sustainability | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Banana genome sequence in the news

Posted on Thursday, 16 August, 2012 by

The full sequence of the banana genomic DNA was published last week, giving access to the sequences of all the 36000 genes in this important crop. The publication of this information is of both applied importance, giving knowledge of the … Continue reading →

Posted in Press | 2 Comments