From alpacas to seaweed: the five most surprising life sciences research projects

A lot of modern life sciences research is focussed on things that would surprise most people, such as alpacas. Photograph: Graham Turner for the Guardian

Life sciences is one of our fast-growing industries, encompassing a wide range of scientific disciplines from anatomy to zoology.

Described by politicians as a “jewel in the crown” of the UK economy thanks to its impressive growth, the sector has a total annual turnover of £56 billion and accounts for 183,000 UK jobs (UKTI Inward Investment Report 2014 to 2015).

Since 2014 it has even been championed by its own government minister.

However, just as impressive as the financial statistics is the sheer variety of groundbreaking life sciences projects taking place and the innovative ideas that are being investigated.

Scientists are exploring the potential of plants, animals and even our own bodies in creating new drugs, materials and processes to transform the future.

Here are five fascinating areas of life sciences research you might not have heard about:

Daffodils have functions beyond St David’s Day and inspiring poems. Photograph: Bob Gibbons / Alamy/Alamy

Daffodils for dementia

National emblem of Wales, inspirer of poets, and potential treatment for Alzheimer’s disease? The humble daffodil is a good source of galantamine, a naturally occurring chemical capable of easing the symptoms of dementia among sufferers of Alzheimer’s disease.

Until recently the chemical was mainly extracted from snowdrops grown in Bulgaria and China. But trials have shown daffodils grown at high altitude in a wet climate produce blooms with large concentrations of galantamine.

A number of businesses have sprung up in the Black Mountains of Mid Wales to take advantage of the region’s ideal conditions to grow and harvest large crops for international drug companies.

Woolly jumpers are only the beginning of the alpaca’s powers. Photograph: Tim Ireland/PA

Alpaca antibodies

Alpacas are already farmed for their fleece, which is warmer than wool as well as being hypoallergenic, but it’s their antibodies scientists are interested in.

Alpaca antibodies are significantly smaller than those from other commonly used lab mammals, such as mice, and can survive the harsh environment inside cells and retain the ability to ‘seek out’ targets.

As such they could have a range of pharmaceutical applications, including the possibility to treat ultra-rare blood clotting disorder thrombocytopenic purpura, known as TTP.

No brain, no heart, but some very handy collagen nonetheless. Photograph: Andrey Nekrasov/Getty Images/Imagebroker RF

Jellyfish collagen

Though jellyfish bodies are well known for being mostly water (between 95 and 98 per cent in fact, depending on the species) their collagen could have a range of uses.

Pharma-grade jellyfish collagen is being harvested for use in a variety of medical applications, including bone grafts, wound healing and treating rheumatoid arthritis.

The first successful harvest and extraction of jellyfish collagen in the UK took place in Wales in 2013. The firm involved is now moving to larger scale extraction to support the creation of groundbreaking medical devices.

Bolognese may be better for you than you think. Photograph: Nathan King / Alamy/Alamy

From food to pharmacology

Tomatoes and garlic are renowned as two of the cornerstones of cooking, but now these kitchen essentials are also proving their worth in medicine.

Tomatoes are being genetically engineered to produce larger amounts of their health-related compounds Revervesterol, which could have positive effects on cardiovascular disease, and Genistein, which could help prevent breast cancer.

Garlic has long been lauded and mythologised for its apparent health benefits, and now scientists are examining its unique biochemistry in the hope that garlic extracts could have a wide range of medicinal benefits. These could range from antimicrobial (including antibacterials and antifungals) to cardiovascular to immunomodulation (medicines that modify the body’s immune response).

Seaweed. An alarmingly diverse plant. Photograph: Karen Kasmauski/Science Faction/Corbis

Seaweed research

Seaweed might prove to be one of the most useful natural products of the 21^st century. Already farmed as a foodstuff and fertiliser, the potential of this aquatic algae is only just being realised.

Just some of its possible applications include:

• HPV prevention: Research has shown that seaweed extract carrageenan, already used to thicken sexual lubricants, is extremely effective at preventing human papillomavirus.
  
• Biofuel: Research is ongoing into the use of seaweed as a biofuel. Its rapid growth, cheap production and lack of impact on food supplies could see it eventually replacing other biofuels produced from sugar cane and corn.
  
• Wastewater treatment: Seaweed has been shown to reduce nitrogen and phosphorus content from sewage and agricultural run-off compounds. Researchers have also used seaweed to remove up to 95 per cent of toxic metals from industrial wastewater.
  

Ian Barwick is Chief Operating Officer of Life Sciences Hub Wales