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Celebrating the unsung heroes of biology
Dolly
Dolly was created in 1997 by a team of scientists at the Roslin Institute.
Plaque to be unveiled will celebrate Dolly the sheep

A plaque will be unveiled this week to celebrate the team who created Dolly the sheep - the first clone of an adult mammal.

The plaque is one of 10 to be unveiled around the country in a drive to celebrate unsung heroes and inspire a new generation of biologists.

Dolly was created in 1997 by a team of scientists at the Roslin Institute. Lead researcher Sir Ian Wilmut from the University of Edinburgh says the project "revolutionised our understanding of the mechanisms that regulate development."

It was previously believed that a cell could not be changed once it had differentiated to a specific tissue type. "The birth of Dolly showed that this is not the case," he added. "This result stimulated research which is now providing revolutionary opportunities in medicine."

The plaque celebrating Dolly and the team will be unveiled by the Society of Biology at the Roslin Institute.

As part of the society's national project - Biology: Changing the World - a further nine plaques will be unveiled. They will honour unsung biologists including Dorothy Hodgkin from Suffolk, who discovered the structure of penicillin; Steptoe, Edwards and Purdy from Oldham, who pioneered IVF treatment; and Richard Owen from Lancaster who invented the word "dinosaur".

Biologists contribute to our understanding of the world, but do not always receive the same recognition as other great figures in history. The Society of Biology is hoping to change this with its national project.

As well as giving these biologists the commendation they deserve, chief executive Dr Mark Downs says the project is also about celebrating biology and biologists today.

"The life sciences will be essential for solving the problems of the 21st century such as food security and antibiotic resistance," he explained. "By highlighting our great biology heritage we hope to inspire the next generation."

Alongside a public engagement programme, the society has also launched a new free app. By detecting the user's location, the app allows them to learn about great biologists who lived and worked in the area and the discoveries they made.

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Equine Disease Surveillance report released for Q4 2025

News Story 1
 The latest Equine Disease Surveillance report has been released, with details on equine disease from Q4 of 2025.

The report, produced by Equine Infectious Disease Surveillance, includes advice on rule changes for equine influenza vaccination.

Statistics and maps detail recent outbreaks of equine herpes virus, equine influenza, equine strangles and equine grass sickness. A series of laboratory reports provides data on virology, bacteriology, parasitology and toxicosis.

This issue also features a case study of orthoflavivus-associated neurological disease in a horse in the UK. 

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News Shorts
RCVS annual renewal fee for vets due

RCVS' annual renewal fee for veterinary surgeons is now due. Vets must pay their renewal fee before Wednesday, 1 April 2026.

This year's standard annual fee has increased to 431 from last year's 418. This is an approximately three per cent increase, as approved by RCVS Council and the Privy Council.

Tshidi Gardner, RCVS treasurer, said: "The small fee increase will be used to help deliver both our everyday activities and our new ambitious Strategic Plan, which includes aims such as achieving new legislation, reviewing the Codes of Professional Conduct and supporting guidance, and continuing to support the professions through activities such as the Mind Matters Initiative, RCVS Academy and career development."

A full breakdown of the new fees is on the RCVS website. Information about tax relief is available on the UK government website.