Merge pull request #188 from wtsi-npg/devel

pull request from wtsi devel to master to create release 77.7
Merge pull request #189 from wtsi-npg/devel

additionally, pull MANIFEST changes to release 77.7
Merge pull request #195 from wtsi-npg/devel

pull request from wtsi devel to master to create release 77.8
Allow refs method to work for object which does not implement tag_index
Merge pull request #198 from dkj/devel

Allow refs method to work for object which does not implement tag_index
Merge pull request #196 from mgcam/status_watch

Status watch and DBIx update status refactoring
Merge pull request #199 from wtsi-npg/devel

pull request from wtsi devel to master - release 77.9
Merge pull request #200 from wtsi-npg/master

pull from master to devel after release 77.9
Remove (accidental?) symlink
Merge pull request #201 from dkj/devel

Remove (accidental?) symlink
fix intermittently failing test; remove versioning of test files via svn keywords
DBIx run and run-lane status update: ensure duplicate records are not created, allow to create a record for a status that is already current if the date of the new record is earlier that the current status date; remove discrepancy with authors in documentation