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 study 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.
As an internationally recognised scientist, Dr Modepalli has brought to the MBA extensive knowhow in bioinformatics, molecular biology, synthetic biology and cell culture.
