Dr. Vidya Patwardhan

Biography

Her Scientific Career: M.Sc. (Zoology) – Pune University 1983 Ph. D. (Zoology) – Pune University 1993, Scientist B- ARI- 1994, Scientist C- ARI- 1999, Scientist D- ARI- 2003, Scientist E- ARI- 2008. Her studies confirm that genes important in regulating fundamental processes of development are recruited early in evolution though not essentially for identical functions in vertebrates. For instance, function of Noggin protein in hydra cannot be compared to that in higher vertebrates which is to pattern the neural tube early in development. Hydra has only a diffused nerve net. They have shown that hydra noggin mRNA, when injected into Xenopus embryo can cause duplication of dorsoventral axis by inhibiting BMP signaling, thus indicating its remarkable functional conservation.

Research Interest

Hydra is one of the most ancient multicellular organisms with a definite body plan. A large number of developmental phenomena occur continuously in the hydra polyp. Hydra has three continuously dividing stem cell lineages: ectodermal and endodermal epithelial stem cells and interstitial stem cells. It shows no organismal ageing since it renews almost all the cells of its body continuously. Hydra reproduces asexually by budding under favorable conditions and sexually, under stress. It has an amazing regenerative ability. These attributes make hydra an interesting model system to study pattern formation, stem cell biology and ageing. The ability of small pieces of hydra to regenerate into normal adults indicates that the key molecular players in pattern formation can be activated in this system on demand. Several developmental events that occur in vertebrate embryos exist in hydra, albeit in simpler form.