Associate Professor, Biological Sciences |
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lolitika(AT)iisermohali.ac.in |
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Phone |
+91 172 2293172 |
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Fax |
+91 172 2240266 |
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Personal Page |
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Research Area Developmental Genetics |
Research Focus Stem cells are the source of virtually all highly differentiated cells that are replenished during the lifetime of an animal. The critical balance between stem and differentiated cell populations is crucial for the long-term maintenance of functional tissue types. A microenvironment that is supportive of stem cells is commonly referred to as a stem cell niche. We have previously identified a hematopoietic niche within the Drosophila larvae. Due to the limited access of mammalian hemtopoietic niche this amenable system will allow us to unravel molecular regulation of stem cell progenitors and its relation with the niche. The power of Drosophila as a model organism is very well established, most notably its genetics and developmental biology. Taking advantage of these strengths our group aims to find novel genes and mechanisms controlling hematopoietic progenitors cell specification and differentiation. Given the high degree of conservation of blood development between Drosophila and the vertebrates, we hope that the ability to manipulate the function of such genes in Drosophila would aid in understanding function and dysfunction in human hematopoiesis. |
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