They don’t pass on their genes, yet they pass on profound evolutionary insights. Sterile hybrids—from mules to lab-bred bees—are changing how we think about life, legacy, and the limits of nature.
Sabyasachi Parija, a fourth-year undergraduate student at the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Berhampur, is exploring the fascinating world of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), a critical process in cancer biology. In this opinion article, Sabyasachi reflects on the molecular intricacies of EMT and its role in cancer progression, sharing his thoughts on why understanding this process could be key to unlocking new strategies in cancer treatment and research.
Posted on in Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Science, Personal Experience & Research
The intersection of artificial intelligence (AI) with biotechnology has ushered in a period of innovation in healthcare. The interdisciplinary nature of AI enables it to analyse and interpret large data sets from multiple domains. In the case of the life sciences, AI-biotech convergence holds the potential to alter the landscape of diagnostics, monitoring of disease progression, precision medicine, and prediction of public health threats.
Posted on in Health & Medicine, Biotechnology, Science, Policy, Interdisciplinarity & Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning
The Genome India Project—an effort to sequence 10,000 genomes from 83 population groups across the country, represents a turning point in India's transition to precision health. This historic initiative heralds the dawn of a health genomics revolution, but also raises pressing concerns about long-standing disparities in global genomics research, where South Asian populations are grossly underrepresented. As India enters this new frontier, issues of data privacy, informed consent, and community sovereignty are paramount. To fully realise the potential of genomic medicine for all, India needs to establish an inclusive, ethically grounded framework aligned with international benchmarks and culturally responsive governance that prioritises both scientific advancement and social justice.
Posted on in Health & Medicine, Genetics, Science, Research & Interdisciplinarity
In this final article of the Journey of a Young Investigator 2025 series, Sudipta Tung from the Department of Biology, Ashoka University, writes about how his early research interactions shaped his scientific interests and the trials and tribulations of establishing and running a Drosophila evolution lab.
Posted on in Other, Science, Networking, Personal Experience & Young Investigators
Rajalakshmi Srinivasan leads the Aging Genomics lab at the Institute of Bioinformatics and Applied Biotechnology, Bengaluru. In this Journey of Young Investigator (JOYI) 2025 article, she shares how her India-centric path has shaped her career and sheds light on the pros and cons of pursuing postdoctoral training in India.
Posted on in Other, Science, Networking, Personal Experience & Young Investigators
Chetana Baliga studies interventions for antimicrobial resistance at the M. S. Ramaiah University of Applied Sciences (RUAS), Bengaluru. In this inspirational Journey of Young Investigator (JOYI) 2025 article, she shares the story of her difficult postdoc to PI transition and how the support from her friends and colleagues, near and far, propelled her to success.
Posted on in Other, Science, Networking, Personal Experience & Young Investigators