Name: James Adjaye

My Area of Interest: functional genomics of human embryonic stem cells

My Favourite Quote: Never give up till you succeed

I am a:Group Leader at the Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics- Berlin

Short Profile:

Dr James Adjaye is Group Leader of the molecular embryology and aging group in Prof. Hans Lehrach’s department at the Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics- Berlin.
He is an expert in analysing the molecular basis of pluripotency and self-renewal of human ES cells using a functional genomics approach. He is also interested in the generation and characterisation of individualised healthy and diseased (Alzheimer) iPS cells with the goal of differentiating these into hepatocyte-like cells for the application of drug testing and discovery.
Dr Adjaye graduated in Biochemistry from University College Cardiff in Wales, followed by a Ph.D at Kings College London. He moved to the Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry, in Goettingen, Germany in 1992 and between 1996 - 2001, worked as a Senior Postdoctoral Fellow at the Institute of Child Health, University College London.

http://www.molgen.mpg.de/~molemb/
http://goblet.molgen.mpg.de/cgi-bin/stemcell/pluripotency.cgi

Question and Answers :

What are your future goals? Where do you see your research going?:
One of my golas is the generation and characterisation of individualised healthy and diseased (Alzheimer) iPS cells with the goal of differentiating these into hepatocyte-like cells for the application of drug testing and discovery. This would be the road to personalised medicine.

Technologies seem to changing faster than ever, how do you adapt to that? What are the current technologies you are using?:
Microarray-based gene expression profiling
CHIP-Chip
CHIP-Seq
Next -generation sequencing- Solexa

In the broader picture, where do you see the application for your cutting-edge research?:
In personalised medicine

Fast forward to 2020. What’s your vision of Genomics in 2020?:
genomics would be a thing of the past- we will be talking of metabolomics, glycomics, proteomics

Name: Narendra Tuteja

My Area of Interest: Functional Genomics, Abiotic Stress Tolerance

My Favourite Quote:

I am a:Senior Scientist at International Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, New Delhi

Short Profile:
Narendra Tuteja, Ph.D., D.Sc., FNA, FNASc.
Senior Scientist, ICGEB, Aruna Asaf Ali Marg, New Delhi - 110067
EDUCATION:

1975 B.Sc., (Chemistry, Botany & Zoology), University of Lucknow, India
1977 M.Sc. (Biochemistry), University of Lucknow, India
1982 Ph.D. in Biochemistry, University of Lucknow, India
(Thesis title: “Biochemical & immunochemical alterations in Leucocytic malignancies)
2008 D.Sc. in Biochemistry, University of Lucknow, India
(Thesis title: DNA helicases: the long unwinding road)

EMPLOYMENTS:

1995-Present: Senior Scientist at ICGEB, New Delhi (isolated the first plant DNA helicase &
discovered novel role of helicases and G-proteins in abiotic stress tolerance in plant).
1988 to 1995: Asso. Scientist at ICGEB, Italy (isolated the first human DNA helicase)
1986 to 1988: PDF at UCLA, Los Angeles (cloned cGMP-PDE from retina of eyes).
1983 to 1986: Visiting Scientist at NIH, Maryland, USA (cloned cytochrome P450)

RESEARCH CONTRIBUTION:

Dr. Tuteja’s Group is working on cloning, characterization and modulation of expression of stress-induced genes of follwing pathways: 1. Calcium signaling, 2. G-protein signaling, 3. Protein translation initiation and 4. DNA/RNA metabolism. Dr. Tuteja has made major contributions in isolating novel DNA/RNA helicases and several components of calcium and G-proteins signaling pathways. He has presented the first direct evidence for a novel role of a pea DNA helicase in salinity stress tolerance and pea heterotrimeri c G-proteins in salinity and heat stress tolerance. Dr. Tuteja has reported the first direct evidence in plant that PLC functions as an effector for Gá subunit of G-proteins. He has also discovered novel substrate (pea CBL) for pea CIPK. He has developed the salinity tolerant tobacco & rice plants without affecting yield. Overall, Dr. Tuteja’s research uncovers two new pathways to plant abiotic stress tolerance. His results are an important success and indicate the potential for improving crop production at sub-optimal conditions.

OTHER CONTRIBUTIONS/ACHEIVEMENTS/AWARDS:

2003: FNASc. (Elected Fellow of National Academy of Sciences, Allahabad).
2007: FNA (Elected Fellow of Indian National Science Academy, New Delhi).
2007: Editorial Advisory Board: Arch. Biochem. Biophys (ABB).
2007: Editorial Advisory Board: Plant Physiol. Biochem. (PPB).
2008: Editorial Advisory Board: The Open Plant Science Journal.
2000: Advisory Board: Agricultural Scientist Recruitment Board, New Delhi.
2007: Expert Member of SAC: Institute of Life Science, Bhubneswar.
2008: Expert Member of SAC: Rajiv Gandhi Biotechnology Centre, Nagpur.
Total Publications: 117; Patents: 3; Thesis Supervised: 10
Dr. TUTEJA BECAME THE FIRST INDIAN SCIENTIST FROM INDIA TO HAVE PUBLISHED THE FOLLOWING PAPERS:
i. The first paper in Nature Genetics 13, 11-12, 1996. (Cover Image Article)
ii. The first paper in Track II system of PNAS, USA 102, 509-514, 2005.
iii. Publish four research papers in Plant J [out of a total of only 8 papers published from India].

Question and Answers :

What are your future goals? Where do you see your research going?:
To develop stress tolerant crop plants.
Our research has been successful in model plant.

Technologies seem to changing faster than ever, how do you adapt to that? What are the current technologies you are using?:
According to need, scientists have to adopt the changing technologies. We can also modify the existing technologies for our better point of view.
Currently we are using almost all the technologies related to cloning of the genes; expression, purification and characterization of the gene encoded protein; immunolocalyzation through confocal microscopy; functional validation of the gene through transgenic approaches; developmemt of stress tolerant plants; translational research etc.

In the broader picture, where do you see the application for your cutting-edge research?:
Development of stress tolerant crops will have their biotechnological applications.Through this approach the crop production will increase even in the stress conditions.

Fast forward to 2020. What’s your vision of Genomics in 2020?:
Function(s) of almost all the genes will be clear.

Name: ZHANG Jin

My Area of Interest: Functional Genomics

My Favourite Quote: What does not destroy me, makes me stronge.

I am a: an associate professor

Short Profile:

Question and Answers :

What are your future goals? Where do you see your research going?:
My goal is to become an distinguished expert in lipids metabolism field.

Technologies seem to changing faster than ever, how do you adapt to that? What are the current technologies you are using?:
Technology is very powerful. But technology is just a tool to solve the biological problem.
I am using real-time PCR recently.

In the broader picture, where do you see the application for your cutting-edge research?:
To solve the human obesity problem.

Fast forward to 2020. What’s your vision of Genomics in 2020?:
in ten years, I hope we can know most genes function and develop relevant applicatio

Name: Zujun Yang

My Area of Interest: Functional genomics

My Favourite Quote: Nothing is impossible

I am a:Professor

Short Profile:

Question and Answers :

What are your future goals? Where do you see your research going?:
My future goals are applied the approaches of the functionsl genomics and bioinformatics to largely enhance the crop improvement, and we can manipulate the crop chromatins and genes freely to fight the food crisis easily. In coming decades, I would like to see our researches full of application in crop improvement and the related field of agriculture advances.

Technologies seem to changing faster than ever, how do you adapt to that? What are the current technologies you are using?:
The genomics, transcriptomics and proteomic et al were developed very fast. In related to the plant improvement, the field of the OMICS will be widely used to the molecular breeding of the each crops. We expected that the Nex-gen sequencing will be able to use in the genome of the agronomically important crops. The knowledge of the crop genomes will provide the understanding of the genome evolution and the espects of crop improvement.

In the broader picture, where do you see the application for your cutting-edge research?:
I focused on the new approaches of molecular and cell biology on the wheat improvement. I will be able to establish a useful system to breed and release new cultivars to China, which will fight the hanger to the local people. The new germplasm we produced can also exploited by the scientists all over the world of wheat breeding.

Fast forward to 2020. What’s your vision of Genomics in 2020?:
At the year of 2020, each person will have his ID card with genomic i nformation, and the important crops have completed their genome project. The disgnostic genetic markers will easily use in the genetic improvement of the crops with high yield, novel resistance and diversified quality

Name: Latha Rangan

My Area of Interest: Functional Genomics

My Favourite Quote: “It is not the strongest of the species that survive, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change”

I am a:Assistant Professor

Short Profile:

I am an Assistant Professor at Department of Biotechnology, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati (http://www.iitg.ernet.in/biotech/faculty.htm) since November, 2004.

I received my doctoral degree from University of Madras in Plant Sciences and later finished post doctoral fellowship from Norman Borlaug Institute of Plant Sciences Research, United Kingdom.

I had a key role in Plant Biotechnology and Sustainable Development in thrust areas of energy security (biofuels and bienergy), food security (genetic engineering of important crops and functional genomics), climate change etc. The frontiers of science technology and great humanitarian significance of these projects have been recognized by awards from funding agencies like Department of Science and Technology (DST) and Council of Industrial Research (CSIR), Department of Biotechnology, (DBT) India that supports my ongoing research.

I have also been responsible for the delivery of scientific outcomes involving the construction of cloning vectors for plant growth genes, transformation of elite rice cultivars (including New Plant Type, Ey-105 and IR72), allele mining for abiotic stress genes and bioresources protection and barcoding of useful economic plants of NE India. The work has been recognized by Maharashtra Association for Cultivation of Sciences (MACS) by conferring Dr R. B Ekbote Prize in field agriculture and sustainable development.

Currently I have a key-coordinating role in Biodiesel Network to create elite genotypes of biof uel crops. I also played a vital role in the research and extension programme at IIT Guwahati and has diverse interest.

I was among very first few to raise issues on IPR and Biosafety. Her strong inclination towards the area enabled her to get grant from MHRD to conduct a Regional workshop on IPR, first of its kind at IITG. Currently I have been empanelled as Academic counselor for IGNOU distance learning programme on IPR.

What are your future goals? Where do you see your research going?:
We are in the midst of accelerated progress in science and technology. Today, the spectrum of accumulated knowledge in biology is immense and far more extensive than any individual can assimilate. The discovery of DNA has been such an important one that it has opened uncommon opportunities for progress in the fields of medicine, agriculture, environment and industry. Work is progressing rapidly to sequence the DNA from different organisms. A comprehensive understanding of genetic codes would be possible with the sequence information from different organisms, their protein complements and their function. The discovery of Watson and Crick has made new technologies like genetic engineering, gene therapy and bioinformatics possible, with some of them attracting controversies. Any technology must take into consideration, its likely impact on humanity and the biosphere as a whole.

This is where I would like to take proactive role in DNA based barcoding and biodiversity inventory with special reference to Northeast India as it is the Biogeographical Gateway to India’s rich biodiversity wealth.

Accurate identification of species is fundamental to both basic and applied research and forms the foundation for all biology. Taxonomic identification is still a major hurdle. It is here, genomics approach will be significant especially towards protection and utilization of bioresources from Northeast India (Rangan et al 2008a). With almost 22 genera and 178 species, the family Zingiberaceae has immense medicinal value and finds extensive use in the indigenous system of medicine and many are endemic to this region. However, work on this family is regularly constrained by difficulties in species identification. DNA barcodes have been developed which provides unambiguous identification of species especially of those in which biologically important properties or molecules with IPR potential have been identified (Sumit et al 2008).

The work has important implication in germplasm utilization and conservation.

Technologies seem to changing faster than ever, how do you adapt to that? What are the current technologies you are using?:
It is very true that the pace of progress in the evolution of new technologies is much faster than the evolution of societal understanding of their implications. This mismatch between technological progress and societal understanding of change is at the heart of the ongoing conflict between the “do” and “doom” environmentalists (Swaminathan 2004). This can be resolved only through dialogue, transparency in research objectives and outputs, and mutual learning and respect.

The current technology being used in my group is high throughput tool of DNA Based Barcoding for biodiversity inventory in plants. DNAB is an identification method using short orthologous DNA sequences from any unidentified sample to previously identified samples through comparison of sequence divergence (Hebert et al., 2003). The idea is that a short stretch of genetic code from a reference gene is unique enough to one species to distinguish it from every other species, and that comparison of sequence variations in that stretch of gene can reveal evolutionary relationships among species (Kress et al., 2005; Hajibabaei et al., 2006).

In the broader picture, where do you see the application for your cutting-edge research?:
Today biologists believes that DNA barcode is a high throughput tool that can rapidly an d accurately identify both individuals of a species and entirely new species and has produced noticeable success in terms of scientific citation and media coverage (Smith, 2005). Contrary to other DNA-based methods with taxonomic purposes (Vogler & Monaghan, 2006), identification through DNAB is becoming widely popular and acceptable tool to many scientists.

Initially referred to as DNA typing or profiling, the DNAB initiative has taken a huge leap forward direct applications includes;

i. make the outputs of systematic available to the largest possible community of end-users by providing standardized and high-tech identification tools, e.g. agriculture (pests), environmental assays and customs (trade in endangered species);

ii. relieve the enormous burden of identifications from taxonomist, so they can focus on more pertinent duties such as delimiting taxa, resolving their relationships and discovering and describing new species;

iii. pair up various life stages of the same species (e.g. seedlings);

iv. provide a bio-literacy too for the general public

v. facilitate basic biodiversity inventories

Fast forward to 2020. What’s your vision of Genomics in 2020?:
My vision of Genomics 2020 overlaps with that of Ocimum biosolution that is empowerment of all stakeholders including grassroots level to foster improved Academia-Industry collaboration to support global biotech pursuit for bringing improved, affordable healthcare and therapeutics.