Today's news

Bristol rounds on critics in bias furore
The University of Bristol denies discrimination against private schools and insists it is casting wide for talent. Furious university chiefs believe that the campaign being waged against them through the newspapers by a select group of private school head teachers is based on shaky foundations and evidence, although they wish it were a little easier to get that message across. The row was fuelled when the education secretary, Charles Clarke, and Tony Blair entered the debate. Further evidence is promised early next week from the Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference, which is spearheading the campaign.
(Guardian)

Tutor pestered nurses for dates
A lecturer pestered two student nurses for dates after giving them a preview of their final exam paper, a disciplinary hearing was told yesterday. Chong Hai Lim, 50, admitted showing the exam paper but denied another seven allegations of misconduct. Mr Lim was sacked from the University of Wales College of Medicine and now faces being struck off. The hearing continues.
(Times)

DNA discovery made 50 years ago today
When the double helix structure of DNA was laid bare on February 28 1953, a scientific revolution began. Francis Crick and James Watson, the Nobel laureates involved, describe how it happened and tell of their visions of the future.
(Daily Telegraph)

DNA crystallographer dies
Alexander Stokes, the first scientist to work out that the DNA molecule was probably helical in shape, has died aged 83.
(Daily Telegraph)

Any excuse for a holiday
The Balliol men are on the march again. Two of the candidates for the Oxford chancellorship were educated at the college, Now there are calls for a national holiday to honour Christopher Hill, the Marxist historian and legendary master of Balliol College, Oxford.
(Independent)