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Dr Mark D’Arcy
Dr Mark Sean D’Arcy (born July 20th 1975) is a British scientist, university lecturer, and science director of Athanasia Genetics Limited. His scientific publications focus on cellular biology and molecular genetics. With a more specific focus on the major forms of cell death and cellular repair (apoptosis and autophagy respectively). His paper entitled ‘Cell death: a review of the major forms of apoptosis, necrosis and autophagy’ has been cited (according to google scholar) 892 times, making it one of the most highly cited articles in the field in recent years.

On his Science on the Edge podcast, Mark D’Arcy has focussed on popularising science and technology and has also interviewed the prominent thinkers Prof A.C Grayling, Prof Lee Cronin and Yasmine Mohammed. The majority of his podcast and YouTube channel episodes however have related to providing insights into science, philosophy and technology. His background in both the computer industry and biology have allowed him to discuss a wide variety of topics.

Early life, education and career
Born in Greater Manchester, Northern England, Mark D’Arcy grew up in a deprived council estate with his mother, father and younger sister. His father became unemployed in the early 1980’s following the shutdown of industry in the North by the Thatcherite government of the time. His parents remained unemployed throughout his childhood. His sister suffers from a severe mental handicap, needing full time care. Following the death of his mother when he was 16, his father Brian D’Arcy became sole carer for his sister until he died when Mark was in his late 20’s.

Mark did not achieve during his school years as he said his school did not value education and children pursuing learning were not treated well by other children. He therefore avoided school and instead spent much of his time reading, particularly science and science fiction. He left school at 16 and pursued a number of low skilled jobs until the age of 22, when following learning that a friend had started university and was looking for a housemate, decided to move to the city of Cambridge and following much persuasion of the enrolment team at Anglia Ruskin University, was allowed to take a degree in Biomedical Science. Following graduation, he moved into the rapidly growing IT industry, where he remained for the next decade. His role was as a technical analyst, specialising in Unix and Linux networks. He spent time working in Finland, Singapore and around the world as part of this role and during that time became a proficient specialist in network technology.

In the late 2000’s he started his own IT companies, Work Out of Office Limited, and then Cambridge IT Consultants Limited, which had moderate success for the next few years. Meanwhile, he decided to re-engage with his interest in biology by taking a part-time Masters degree in DNA Analysis, following which he took a PhD in Cellular Pathology and Molecular Genetics. His PhD title was ‘Investigation of the effects of phytochemical induced changes in TG2 activity on three cell line models of cancer chemotherapy.’ At which point he closed his IT consultancy to focus exclusively on science. To do so, he began lecturing in Biology and publishing on cellular biology and molecular genetics.

Dr D’Arcy then launched his own youtube channel and podcast entitled ‘Science on the Edge.’ A channel focussed on educating the public in science and technology and on discussing cutting edge science, technology and philosophical topics.

Currently, together with his lecturing role and podcast, he is the Science director and founder of the Genome analysis company ‘Athanasia Genetics Limited.’ A company that specialises in analysing genomes and providing information on disease susceptibility, health, nutrition, healthspan and lifespan. The company aims to help customers to improve health and lifespan from becoming more familiar with the impact of the genetic variants that they carry.

Research
Dr Mark D’Arcy specialises in cancer biology and research into cell death and cellular repair. His PhD thesis was titled ‘Investigation of the effects of phytochemical induced changes in TG2 activity on three cell line models of cancer chemotherapy.’

Publications include:


 * 1) Cell death: a review of the major forms of apoptosis, necrosis and autophagy
 * 2) A review of the chemopreventative and chemotherapeutic properties of the phytochemicals berberine, resveratrol and curcumin, and their influence on cell death via the pathways of apoptosis and autophagy
 * 3) A review of biologically active flavonoids as inducers of autophagy and apoptosis in neoplastic cells and as cytoprotective agents in non-neoplastic cells
 * 4) A novel combined resveratrol/berberine phytochemotheraputic using the HePG2 cell line as a model for the treatment of hepatocarcinoma

Political and other views
Dr Mark D’Arcy is active on Twitter and uses the platform to promote science and the benefits of technology. He also uses the platform to discuss topics such as religion and politics. He states that his leaning is left of centre, and he is an atheist. His atheism sometimes becomes apparent when he enters discussions with religious tweeters online and some discussions become quite heated.

He is in favour of the integration of science and technology in the human body in order to use cybernetics and knowledge of genetics to help benefit human health and lifespan. This is explored in detail in some of his more controversial podcasts.