These are studied with a range of genetic and biochemical tools including high throughput methods. He is currently retired from teaching and administration but runs an active research programme funded by BBSRC, the Leverhulme Trust, and the Darwin Trust of Edinburgh, with several international collaborations, and he also leads a European COST Action. He has worked in several other research fields in both academia and industry. In addition, he has held positions on national advisory committees dealing with aspects of regulation of genetically-modified organisms.