It's the thrill of the chase that's so exciting. ; The malevolence of the bug drives me on Media speculation about the Cellardyke swan and the possibility of a bird-flu pandemic has stoked the nation's fears. It's a cue, as we've come to expect, for the analytical tones of the Sherlock Holmes of bugs detection Media speculation about the Cellardyke swan and the possibility of a bird- flu pandemic has stoked the nation's fears. It's a cue, as we've come to expect, for the analytical tones of the Final Edition

• Published in: Herald (Glasgow, Scotland)
• Main Author: Simpson, Anne
• Format: Newspaper Article
• Language: English
• Published: Glasgow (UK) Gannett Media Corp 14.04.2006
• Subjects: Pandemics; Pennington, Hugh

Viruses and bacteria can indeed be as elusive as master gangsters, and much of Pennington's distinction at Aberdeen University centred on the development of DNA "finger-printing" of bugs, and tracking the twists and turns of every new disguise in an attempt to outwit potential killers. Of the present bird-flu crisis, he reiterates the general scientific and medical advice that on present evidence there is a very low risk of H5N1 transmuting into a strain that could rapidly and lethally infect humans. Our conversation turns to evolution, and [Hugh Pennington] says that he is on the side of zoologist and writer Richard Dawkins. "Yet I wouldn't want to make my living from the subject, like he does, and I do think he sometimes gets a bit carried away." However, through the wonders of microbiology, Pennington says he witnesses evolution in action. "In human beings evolution is not easy to grasp because it's so slow you can't see it happening. But with bacteria it's incredibly fast. The bugs are always there to exploit any advantage." COOL DETACHMENT: Hugh Pennington can't disguise a hint of impatience that one dead swan could attract so much media coverage. Picture: Derek Ironside/Newsline TESTING TIMES: centre manager Douglas Gray inspects a dead swan at SAC Veterinary Service in Aberdeen before sending samples off to government scientists at the Weybridge laboratory in Surrey to be tested for the deadly H5N1 strain of the bird-flu virus. Picture: Danny Lawson/PA