Lewis Wolpert discusses development and depression. Interview by Joanne Clough

Lewis Wolpert is Professor of Biology as Applied to Medicine in the Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology at University College, London, UK. His research interests focus on the mechanisms that are involved in embryonic development. Lewis originally trained as a civil engineer in South Africa but in 1955 made the move to research in cellular biology at King's College, London. He was made a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1980 and awarded the CBE in 1990. Lewis was also made a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature in 1999 and has presented science on both radio and TV for several years. He was awarded The Royal Society Michael Faraday Prize in 2000 for his contribution to the public understanding of science, most notably through his Chairmanship of the Committee for the Public Understanding of Science (COPUS; 1993-1998). He is the author of numerous books, including Malignant Sadness: The Anatomy of Depression, Principles of Development, The Unnatural Nature of Science and The Triumph of the Embryo. He also writes a regular column for The Independent.