Animal Magic

Rebecca Stott discovers that some of the most ugh-inducing creatures on the planet are proving indispensable to modern science.

1/5. Cockroaches:

One of the oldest life-forms on Earth could help us colonise Mars.

Rebecca Stott discovers that some of the most ugh-inducing creatures on the planet are proving indispensable to modern science.

2/5. Leeches:

Still the doctor's friend, but now they're giving their brains to make bio-computers.

Rebecca Stott discovers some of the most repellent creatures are proving indispensable to science. 3/5: Ants: Ants are helping technologists work out how to design tiny robots.

Rebecca Stott discovers that some of the most ugh-inducing creatures on the planet are proving indispensable to modern science.

4. Rat. With 90 per cent of their genes the same as ours, rats can teach us a lot about ourselves.

Rebecca Stott explains how some creatures are proving indispensable to science. 3/5: Oysters. Ancient oyster shells can tell us about prehistoric life, as well as predict climate change.

Rebecca Stott discovers how some of the most repellent creatures on the planet are proving indispensable to modern science.

1/5. Cockroaches

One of the oldest life forms on Earth could help us colonise Mars.

Rebecca Stott discovers how some of the most repellent creatures on the planet are proving indispensable to modern science.

2/5. Leeches

Still the doctor's friend, but now their brains are being utilised to make bio-computers.

Rebecca Stott discovers how some of the most repellent creatures on the planet are proving indispensable to modern science.

3/5. Ants

These industrious insects are helping technologists work out how to design tiny robots that will possess collective intelligence.

Rebecca Stott discovers how some of the most repellent creatures on the planet are proving indispensable to modern science.

4/5. Rats

With a genetic structure very similar to our own, rats can teach us a lot about ourselves.

Rebecca Stott discovers how some of the most repellent creatures on the planet are proving indispensable to modern science.

5/5. Oysters

Ancient oyster shells can tell archaeologists about prehistoric ways of life. They can also help to chart the past and predict the future of climate change.

One of the oldest life-forms on Earth could help us colonise Mars.

Still the doctor's friend, but now they're giving their brains to make bio-computers.

These industrious insects are helping technologists work out how to design tiny robots that will possess collective intelligence.

With 90 per cent of their genes the same as ours, rats can teach us a lot about ourselves.

Ancient oyster shells can tell us about prehistoric life, as well as predict climate change.

Second series of three political dramas.

By Avie Luthra.

MP Bobby Khan's marriage to Lucy is very unsettled. Bobby backs the opening of a new laboratory involving animal testing in his constituency which leads to a violent backlash, and an old flame of Lucy's is inextricably linked to the whole affair.

Bobby....Zubin Varla

Lucy....Nichola Stephenson

Elizabeth....Barbara Marten

Terry....John Mcardle

Karl....Graeme Hawley

David....James Quinn

Minister....Malcolm Raeburn

Helen....Christine Brennan

Sara....Millie Rose Kinsey

News reporter....Shari Vahl

School children from St Mary's Church of England Infant and Junior School, Manchester.

Political adviser Andrew Russell

Directed by Pauline Harris.

By Avie Luthra. MP Bobby Khan backs a new lab involving animal testing in his constituency