RESEARCH INTERESTS
Plant taxonomy, population genetics and molecular phylogenetics.
Details of PhD Work:
Title: “ Systematics and Phylogeny of the genus Calamus L. (Arecaceae) in the Western Ghats”.
Main areas of the thesis work: Molecular taxonomy, Morphometric analysis, Phylogenetic studies and population genetic analysis
The objectives are to apply molecular and mophometric techniques for species identification, species delimitation and molecular phylogenetic evolution of rattans. Genetic diversity parameters such as gene diversity, heterozygosity, identification of genetically viable, bottle necked and superior rattan populations from different geographic zones. The centre of research work is at Kerala Forest Research Institute, Peechi, Thrissur under the supervision of Dr. C. Renuka, Programme Co-ordinator, KFRI. During the work rattan gene banks and germplasm were established from different phyto-geographic areas from all over India including Andamans & Nicobar Islands.
Technical skills
Plant Systematics
Identification (molecular & morphology), nomenclature and Herbarium techniques.
Genomics:
DNA isolation, characterization and sequencing, mRNA isolation, purification of cDNA synthesis, Northern, Southern and Western blotting, PCR, RACE, RT-PCR, primer design, analysis of PCR products and PCR cloning, Screening of Phage library using antibody and oligonucleotide probes. Molecular marker techniques (RAPD, AFLP and SSCP).
Proteomics:
Protein purification, Western blot assays, Protein N-terminal sequencing, sequence analysis.
Computational Biology:
Data mining using ENTREZ, BLAST, etc., Sequence submission and retreival systems. Fully competent with all Microsoft Office packages and a number of scientific packages (Nona, Winclada, Clustal W, PHYLIP, PAUP, NTSYS, SPSS, POPGENE, WINAMOVA, TFPGA)