Name: Kaustuv Sanyal

My Area of Interest: comparative genomics, Genetics & Epigenetics of centromeres

My Favourite Quote: “There are many paths to top of the mountain but view is always the same”

I am a: Assistant Professor (Faculty Fellow)

Short Profile:

Question and Answers :

What are your future goals? Where do you see your research going?:
From decades of reserach on centromeres on various organisms, it seems that several key questions are still unanswered. It is clear that in many organisms, centromeres are not merely specified by the DNA sequence itself. The most basic question how centromere is specified by the chromatin state, if so, and propgated through many generations is still a mystery. Our ongoing reserach is centred around to get an answer to this interesting problem of biology.
My reserach, over the years, identifies centromeres of two pathogenic yeasts, Candida albicans and Candida dubliniensis. Interstingly, in both these species, no common conserved sequences are present in all the centromeres of each species. We also demonstrated that the centromere formation is epigenetically regulated in C. albicans. More recently, we have discovered that the centromeres are probably the most rapidly evolving loci. we are trying to understand the genetic and epigenetic factors that control centromere formation and whether rapid change in centromere sequence may be acting as a driving force for speciation. We believe, our research will uncover many important questions of centromere formation to be specific and chromsome segregation in general and in turn help understanding many diseases associated with improper chromosome segregation such as cancers.

Technologies seem to changing faster than ever, how do you adapt to that? What are the current technologies you are using?:
Being a young investigator, I welcome technological advancement and I am happy to adapt to it. We use various modern techniques such as microarray, mass-spectrometry etc. We also plan to start techniques that help quick sequencing and CGH. In addition, we use various modern sequence analysis tools specifically developed for analyzing noncoding sequences.

In the broader picture, where do you see the application for your cutting-edge research?:
With the advancement of technology, availability of genome sequences of more and more organisms, I assume we can crack the puzzle how centromere specificity is achieved. This information will help us to understand the process of chromosome segregation. Since chromosome missgregation leads to many diseases, such as cancers and Down syndrome, understaning this process will greatly help in controlling such diseases.

Fast forward to 2020. What’s your vision of Genomics in 2020?:
Genomics is the key to go forward fast. I am a direct beneficiary of genome sequencing because it helps me in identifying centromeres in a much faster way than any classical approach. It is clear that we need to know how centromeres evolve by knowing where the centromeres are formed on various organisms. Genome sequence projects help me to do it faster. I also agree that only sequence of a DNA does not help, there must be a proper mix of genomics and genetics. We are doing both to achieve our goals by 2020.

Name: Ewa Slota

My Area of Interest: Molecular Cytogenetic, Comparative Genomics, Mutagenesis

My Favourite Quote: Everything is possible, even the impossible

I am a:Professor, Head of the Department at National Institute of Animal Production
Short Profile:

Question and Answer Session:

What are your future goals? Where do you see your research going?:
My future goals are as follows: gene mapping and sequencing. identification of genes responsible for malformations in animals, DNA methylation, nuclear organization - nuclear architecture, QTL identification.

Technologies seem to changing faster than ever, how do you adapt to that? What are the current technologies you are using?:
Gene sequencing, FISH, PRINS, nick-translation, Real Time PCR, obtaining of chromosome and gene sprcific probes by microdissection.

In the broader picture, where do you see the application for your cutting-edge research?:
In modern animal breeding and in the animal models used for studies of genetic basis of diseases that can be later applied to human diseases.

Fast forward to 2020. What’s your vision of Genomics in 2020?:
The genomes of humans and important animal species are well known including knowledge of variation between the individuals. Whole-genome diagnostic DNA sequencing available at reasonable cost in routine clinical laboratories.
The GMO (plants and animals) are environmetally safe and under our control.