A question & answer session to get to know the GG Scholar Kiran Dualla, graduate liaison for the GGS program and PhD student in the Genetics Program.
What aspect of genetics and/or genomics most interests you?
I’m really interested in how a handful of genes, or even just one gene, can drastically change an organism’s morphology. That simple truth never fails to fascinate me because it highlights the power of developmental processes in moulding the shapes and structures of organisms. I’m excited to be working in Dr. Nanette Nascone-Yoder’s lab, where we’re teasing out the complex processes behind left-right organ development, especially as it pertains to stomach curvature. The complexity of it all continues to inspire me, as I want to understand how genes, cells, and mechanical forces drive development.
What (or Who) influenced you to go into your field of study?
My first taste of developmental biology was at UC-Riverside through the NSF-REU experience summer of my sophomore year of undergrad. There, I worked in the Jinkerson lab and focused on genetically engineering tomatoes for urban-controlled environmental agriculture. Researchers in the lab were able to discover genes that drastically altered the size and shape of tomato plants, not to mention the myriad of pathways interconnected not just to the physical properties of the plant but also to processes like photosynthesis and metabolism in general. And all of those intricate processes were completely transformed by just a handful of genes.
Who or what do you hope benefits from your research?
My work now has the potential to benefit a range of different communities, including the scientific community itself. Understanding the processes that drive organ shape and position will broaden the scope of knowledge in the field and hopefully propel subsequent studies in other organs and organ systems. It would also allow a myriad of experts in medical and clinical spheres to design targeted treatments for individuals with birth defects.
What do you think is the most pressing issue or problem in your field of study?
I think one challenge is being able to integrate molecular, cellular, and biomechanical data into a unified model. Of course, there have been major advances in even being able to identify these pathways, but we don’t yet have a comprehensive understanding of how these cues coordinate across these different biological scales. The Nascone-Yoder lab is trying to bridge this gap by working with a physicist (Julio Belmonte) to develop a multi-scale computational model.
How do you expect the GG Scholars program to impact your work?
The GG Scholars program broadened my understanding of how different aspects of genetics and genomics are applied across disciplines and how all of my peers work in various pockets of it. Connecting with other GG Scholars has shown me just how wide-ranging research in genetics can be, and seeing how differently each of my peers approaches scientific questions has pushed me to think more broadly about my own work and the kinds of questions we can ask in developmental biology. I’m excited to stay connected and see all of us grow in our respective fields because of the GG Scholars!
How would you describe your research interests to a 3rd grader?
I research how our stomachs become stomachs! I want to find out how stomachs get into their specific size, shape, and position.
What’s your dream job?
As I’m still early in my career, I’m not sure what I want to do in the future, but having worked in interdisciplinary settings, I know I value opportunities to learn from different disciplines and being able to combine them to uncover new insights. I’m also passionate about science communication and making research more accessible, so I’m excited to see how I can bridge those interests in the future!
