Dr Modepalli’s scientific goal is to understand the evolution of early animal life forms and its impact on current animal diversity. At the MBA he studies the genetic make-up of the starlet sea anemone (Nematostella vectensis). Sea anemones offer the opportunity to explore the molecular evolution of mechanisms that govern development, reproduction and tissue regeneration. The fact that they share a common ancestor with animals such as worms, insects and mammals, means that scientists can search for similarities and fill in gaps in our knowledge of evolution.
