Dronamraju Krishna Rao
Encyclopedia
Dronamraju Krishna Rao Ph.D (born January 14, 1937) is an India
n born Geneticist
and currently President
of Foundation for Genetic Research, Houston, USA. He was born in Pithapuram
, in the state of Andhra Pradesh
, India
. He is the leading world expert on the research of the famous scientist and his late mentor, J. B. S. Haldane
. He aims at promoting close cooperation between the USA and India in Science and Technology. He was nominated for the Nobel Prize for Peace.
, (Pithapuram is an old historic city which has been famous for several centuries for Telugu poetry, literature, and scholarship) Andhra Pradesh
. Since childhood, Dronamraju has always been interested in observing nature, especially butterflies, birds and earthworms, which created an early interest in biology. He went to M.R. College in Vizianagaram, Andhra University to study Botany
and attained his bachelor's degree in 1955. He went on to get a master's degree
from Agra University in 1957 where he studied Plant Breeding & Genetics.
When in 1957, the famous scientist Prof. J.B.S. Haldane moved to India, it gave him an opportunity to pursue biological and genetic research. After finishing M.Sc. he wrote to J.B.S Haldane for an opportunity to pursue research career under his direction at the Indian Statistical Institute in Calcutta. Haldane tested his knowledge in genetics and was happy to offer him a Research Scholarship at the Indian Statistical Institute.
Early in his research career, he discovered the first case of a gene on the human Y chromosome and published a paper in 1960, which made him famous. It was also part of his Ph.D. thesis at the Indian Statistical Institute, Calcutta.
Dronamraju research with J.B.S Haldane at the Indian Statistical Institute included many areas. Dronamraju contribution to the mechanisms of Speciation in plants and plant-pollinator interaction, and also the pollinating behavior of butterflies is considered quite significant.
His research papers on the visits of several species of lepidoptera to different colored flowers of Lantana camara
reported the discovery of a species-specific pattern of color preference behavior by pollinating insects. This indicated the possibility that reproductive isolating mechanisms in plants could result from the behavior of pollinators, leading to sympatric speciation which was considered unlikely by some leading experts such as Ernst Mayr until then. This papers created a sensation among biologists.
His research (and that of L.D. Sanghvi at the Tata Cancer Center in Mumbai) in human genetics in India laid the foundations of that field which later led to the founding of the Indian Society of Human Genetics.
In 1966, Dronamraju completed his Ph.D
from the Indian Statistical Institute, Calcutta. He studied under J.B.S. Haldane and famous Statistician Dr. C.R. Rao. The topic of his doctorate thesis was "Genetic Studies of the Andhra Pradesh population".
Eminent scientists who inspired him were Nirmal Kumar Bose
(Anthropologist and former secretary to Mahatma Gandhi), and Satyendra Nath Bose
(Physicist) in Calcutta; as well as visiting scientists in Calcutta such asT. Dobzhansky from Columbia University, New York, and Ernst Mayr
from Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Dronamraju received advanced training at University College, London, and Johns Hopkins University Medical School, USA followed by Post-doctoral Fellowship in Genetics at the University of Alberta, Canada.
After he moved to the USA, he continued research on inbreeding in human populations such as the Amish population in Pennsylvania in collaboration with Victor A. McKusick
at the Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore.
His research continued in the USA covering several investigations in human population genetics, including the Seneca Indians in New York State and others both in the US and Canada.
A major contribution was his series of research papers on the etiology of cleft lip and palate, making a significant and original contribution to the relationship between fetal mortality and the occurrence of oral cleft defects in families.
His significant contributions to science include several studies in plant biometry.
Read Reviews
Guardian http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2009/jan/31/what-i-require-from-life-jbs-haldane
New Scientist http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg20126962.700-review-what-i-require-from-life-writings-on-science-and-life-from-j-b-s-haldane.html
The Lancet http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(09)60531-6/fulltext
Other Books
Buy from Amazon.com
Awards
Concurrent Positions
(a) Sympatric speciation: His first research (under Haldane's direction) revealed the species-specific pattern of colour preferences by pollinating lepidoptera, while visiting the two varieties of Lantana camara L, one with white-pink flowers and another with orange-yellow flowers. His observations provided evidence supporting at least partial reproductive isolation between the two plant varieties, raising the possibility of sympatric speciation by further isolation and differentiation in due course (Nature, 186: 178, 1960). The existence of such sympatric situations was considered unlikely by Ernst Mayr.
(b) Y-linked inheritance in man. Another research finding of fundamental significance was the proof provided by Dronamraju's research (conducted under Haldane's direction) on human pedigrees that the trait "hairy ears" (hypertrichosis pinnae auris) represents Y-chromosome linked pattern of inheritance (Journal of Genetics, 57: 230, 1960). Until then, the prevailing view, which was supported by Curt Stern and other leading geneticists, was that the human Y chromosome was genetically inert. Dronamraju's research led the way in the 1960s to change that view. It was also the centerpiece of his Ph.D. dissertation that was submitted to the Indian Statistical Institute in 1964.
(c) Human inbreeding: Dronamraju and his colleagues led the study of human inbreeding in Andhra Pradesh, reporting the highest inbreeding coefficient in human populations known at that time (Journal of Genetics, 58: 387, 1963). His publications on the high degree of inbreeding and its impact have had a worldwide influence on all later investigators both in India and other countries.
(d) Cleft lip and Cleft palate in association with fetal mortality: In a series of papers published in Clinical Genetics (vols.23-27, 1983–85), Dronamraju showed that there is a positive correlation between the degree of liability to oral clefts and the extent of fetal mortality in their sibships, indicating that the fetal loss occurring in these families is most likely due to increased multifactorial liability resulting in complex malformations that are associated with clefting in the fetuses. These results, which are indicative of prenatal selection, are summarized in his book: Cleft Lip and Palate: Aspects of Reproductive Biology (1986).
(e) Biotechnology and the impact of recombinant DNA research: Dronamraju's books made a significant intellectual contribution to the subject, summarizing and evaluating the latest advances and the controversies they generated. These are: Biological and Social Issues in Biotechnology Sharing (1998), and Biological Wealth and Other Essays (2002).
(f) Genetics of infectious diseases: His two recent books on infectious diseases, (based on international conferences organized by himself in the UK and Italy), are a valuable contribution to the study of infectious diseases, providing insights on the genetics and epidemiology of malaria. These books are: Infectious Disease and Host-Pathogen Evolution (2004), and Malaria: Genetic and Evolutionary Aspects (2006).
(g) History of Genetics: In several papers and books, Dronamraju made a significant contribution to the history of genetics, especially the contributions and the impact of J.B.S. Haldane. Of particular interest are: (ed) Selected Genetic Papers of JBS Haldane (1990), Foundations of Human Genetics (1989), and The History and Development of Human Genetics (1992). Also, his paper on Haldane which was published in the Notes & Records of the Royal Society of London. (1987).
(h) Social consequences of Genetics: Dronamraju's book: (ed) Haldane's Daedalus Revisited (1995) presents an excellent discussion of the ethical and social impact of the applications of genetics.
(i) Scientific biography: He is the author of two biographical books: The Life and Work of JBS Haldane with special reference to India (1985) and The Life and Work of Julian Huxley (1993). In addition, he is the author of several biographical articles on the scientific works of JBS Haldane, Erwin Schrödinger, Julian Huxley, George W. Beadle, Archibald Garrod, William Bateson, Herman J. Muller and others.
Dr. Dronamraju was a member of the U.S. Presidential delegation to India led by President Bill Clinton in 2000. Since 1990, he actively promoted the scientific cooperation between the U.S. and India. In particular, he has been a strong advocate of the intellectual property rights of the indigenous people and the biodiversity of the developing countries.
Past Research
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n born Geneticist
Geneticist
A geneticist is a biologist who studies genetics, the science of genes, heredity, and variation of organisms. A geneticist can be employed as a researcher or lecturer. Some geneticists perform experiments and analyze data to interpret the inheritance of skills. A geneticist is also a Consultant or...
and currently President
President
A president is a leader of an organization, company, trade union, university, or country.Etymologically, a president is one who presides, who sits in leadership...
of Foundation for Genetic Research, Houston, USA. He was born in Pithapuram
Pithapuram
For famous Playback singer see Pithapuram Nageswara RaoPithapuram is a town and a municipality in East Godavari district in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh....
, in the state of Andhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh , is one of the 28 states of India, situated on the southeastern coast of India. It is India's fourth largest state by area and fifth largest by population. Its capital and largest city by population is Hyderabad.The total GDP of Andhra Pradesh is $100 billion and is ranked third...
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. He is the leading world expert on the research of the famous scientist and his late mentor, J. B. S. Haldane
J. B. S. Haldane
John Burdon Sanderson Haldane FRS , known as Jack , was a British-born geneticist and evolutionary biologist. A staunch Marxist, he was critical of Britain's role in the Suez Crisis, and chose to leave Oxford and moved to India and became an Indian citizen...
. He aims at promoting close cooperation between the USA and India in Science and Technology. He was nominated for the Nobel Prize for Peace.
Education and early career
Dronamraju Krishna Rao was born on 14 January 1937, in PithapuramPithapuram
For famous Playback singer see Pithapuram Nageswara RaoPithapuram is a town and a municipality in East Godavari district in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh....
, (Pithapuram is an old historic city which has been famous for several centuries for Telugu poetry, literature, and scholarship) Andhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh , is one of the 28 states of India, situated on the southeastern coast of India. It is India's fourth largest state by area and fifth largest by population. Its capital and largest city by population is Hyderabad.The total GDP of Andhra Pradesh is $100 billion and is ranked third...
. Since childhood, Dronamraju has always been interested in observing nature, especially butterflies, birds and earthworms, which created an early interest in biology. He went to M.R. College in Vizianagaram, Andhra University to study Botany
Botany
Botany, plant science, or plant biology is a branch of biology that involves the scientific study of plant life. Traditionally, botany also included the study of fungi, algae and viruses...
and attained his bachelor's degree in 1955. He went on to get a master's degree
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
from Agra University in 1957 where he studied Plant Breeding & Genetics.
When in 1957, the famous scientist Prof. J.B.S. Haldane moved to India, it gave him an opportunity to pursue biological and genetic research. After finishing M.Sc. he wrote to J.B.S Haldane for an opportunity to pursue research career under his direction at the Indian Statistical Institute in Calcutta. Haldane tested his knowledge in genetics and was happy to offer him a Research Scholarship at the Indian Statistical Institute.
Early in his research career, he discovered the first case of a gene on the human Y chromosome and published a paper in 1960, which made him famous. It was also part of his Ph.D. thesis at the Indian Statistical Institute, Calcutta.
Dronamraju research with J.B.S Haldane at the Indian Statistical Institute included many areas. Dronamraju contribution to the mechanisms of Speciation in plants and plant-pollinator interaction, and also the pollinating behavior of butterflies is considered quite significant.
His research papers on the visits of several species of lepidoptera to different colored flowers of Lantana camara
Lantana camara
Lantana camara, also known as Spanish Flag or West Indian Lantana, is a species of flowering plant in the verbena family, Verbenaceae, that is native to the American tropics. It has been introduced into other parts of the world as an ornamental plant and is considered an invasive species in many...
reported the discovery of a species-specific pattern of color preference behavior by pollinating insects. This indicated the possibility that reproductive isolating mechanisms in plants could result from the behavior of pollinators, leading to sympatric speciation which was considered unlikely by some leading experts such as Ernst Mayr until then. This papers created a sensation among biologists.
His research (and that of L.D. Sanghvi at the Tata Cancer Center in Mumbai) in human genetics in India laid the foundations of that field which later led to the founding of the Indian Society of Human Genetics.
In 1966, Dronamraju completed his Ph.D
Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy, abbreviated as Ph.D., PhD, D.Phil., or DPhil , in English-speaking countries, is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities...
from the Indian Statistical Institute, Calcutta. He studied under J.B.S. Haldane and famous Statistician Dr. C.R. Rao. The topic of his doctorate thesis was "Genetic Studies of the Andhra Pradesh population".
Eminent scientists who inspired him were Nirmal Kumar Bose
Nirmal Kumar Bose
Nirmal Kumar Bose was a leading Indian anthropologist, whoplayed a formative role in "building an Indian Tradition in Anthropology". A humanist scholar with a broad range of interests, he was also a leading sociologist, urbanist, Gandhian, and educationist...
(Anthropologist and former secretary to Mahatma Gandhi), and Satyendra Nath Bose
Satyendra Nath Bose
Satyendra Nath Bose FRS was an Indian mathematician and physicist noted for his collaboration with Albert Einstein in developing a theory regarding the gaslike qualities of electromagnetic radiation. He is best known for his work on quantum mechanics in the early 1920s, providing the foundation...
(Physicist) in Calcutta; as well as visiting scientists in Calcutta such asT. Dobzhansky from Columbia University, New York, and Ernst Mayr
Ernst Mayr
Ernst Walter Mayr was one of the 20th century's leading evolutionary biologists. He was also a renowned taxonomist, tropical explorer, ornithologist, historian of science, and naturalist...
from Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Dronamraju received advanced training at University College, London, and Johns Hopkins University Medical School, USA followed by Post-doctoral Fellowship in Genetics at the University of Alberta, Canada.
After he moved to the USA, he continued research on inbreeding in human populations such as the Amish population in Pennsylvania in collaboration with Victor A. McKusick
Victor A. McKusick
Victor Almon McKusick , internist and medical geneticist, was University Professor of Medical Genetics and Professor of Medicine at the Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, MD, USA...
at the Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore.
His research continued in the USA covering several investigations in human population genetics, including the Seneca Indians in New York State and others both in the US and Canada.
A major contribution was his series of research papers on the etiology of cleft lip and palate, making a significant and original contribution to the relationship between fetal mortality and the occurrence of oral cleft defects in families.
His significant contributions to science include several studies in plant biometry.
Books
New Book- What I Require from Life: Writings on Science and Life from JBS Haldane (2009)Oxford University Press ISBN 978-019-923770-8
Read Reviews
Guardian http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2009/jan/31/what-i-require-from-life-jbs-haldane
New Scientist http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg20126962.700-review-what-i-require-from-life-writings-on-science-and-life-from-j-b-s-haldane.html
The Lancet http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(09)60531-6/fulltext
Other Books
- Emerging Consequences of Biotechnology (2008), World Scientific Publishing Company ISBN 978-981-277500-9
- Genetic and Evolutionary Aspects of Malaria (2006), Springer ISBN 978-038-728294-7
- Infectious Disease and Host-Pathogen Evolution (2004), Cambridge University Press ISBN 978-052-182066-0
- Biological Wealth and Other Essays (2002), World Scientific Publishing Company ASIN B-001-T63O7-0
- Science and Society (1998), University Press of America ISBN 978-076-181007-0
- Biological and Social Issues in Biotechnology Sharing (1998), Ashgate Publishing ISBN 978-184-014897-8
- Haldane's Daedalus Revisited (1995), Oxford University Press ISBN 978-019-854846-1
- The History and Development of Human Genetics in Different Countries (1993), World Scientific Publishing ISBN 978-9810209001
- If I am To Be Remembered: The Life and Work of Julian Huxley (1992), World Scientific Publishing ASIN B-001-KJODG-M
- Selected Genetic Papers of JBS Haldane (1990), Garland Science ISBN 978-082-400473-6
- The Foundations of Human Genetics (1989), Charles C Thomas Pub Ltd ISBN 978-039-805537-0
- Cleft Lip and Palate: Aspects of Reproductive Biology (1986), Charles C Thomas Pub Ltd ISBN 978-039-805228-7
- Haldane: The Life and Work of JBS Haldane with special reference to India (1985), Pergamon Pr ISBN 978-008-032436-4
- Haldane and Modern Biology (1968), The Johns Hopkins University Press ISBN 978-080-180177-8
- Haldane in India (1998)
Buy from Amazon.com
Achievements
Honors- Nominated for Nobel Prize for Peace.
- The Recombinant DNA Advisory Committee (RAC) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), US Government.
- National Agricultural Committee on Research and Economics (NAREEE), US Government.
- Invited to join President Bill Clinton's official delegation to India in 2000.
Awards
- National Research Service Award (NRSA) from the U.S. National Institutes of Health in Washington D.C.
- Yellapraggada Subba Rao Memorial Award, India.
- Nayudamma Award in Technology, India.
Concurrent Positions
- Formerly Advisor, Biotechnology, US Government
- Honorary Professor, Albert Schweitzer International University, Geneva, Switzerland
- Invited Professor, University of Paris, France
- Honorary Visiting Professor, Andhra University, India
- Honorary Research Fellow, University of London, UK.
- Chairman, International Advisory Committee, Chemtech Corp.
- Adjunct Professor, Pennsylvania State University.
Summary of Research Contributions
Dr. Krishna R. Dronamraju was a student and close associate of J.B.S. Haldane, receiving his Ph.D. in genetics in 1966 from the Indian Statistical Institute in Calcutta. His research publications cover several subjects. These are briefly described below.(a) Sympatric speciation: His first research (under Haldane's direction) revealed the species-specific pattern of colour preferences by pollinating lepidoptera, while visiting the two varieties of Lantana camara L, one with white-pink flowers and another with orange-yellow flowers. His observations provided evidence supporting at least partial reproductive isolation between the two plant varieties, raising the possibility of sympatric speciation by further isolation and differentiation in due course (Nature, 186: 178, 1960). The existence of such sympatric situations was considered unlikely by Ernst Mayr.
(b) Y-linked inheritance in man. Another research finding of fundamental significance was the proof provided by Dronamraju's research (conducted under Haldane's direction) on human pedigrees that the trait "hairy ears" (hypertrichosis pinnae auris) represents Y-chromosome linked pattern of inheritance (Journal of Genetics, 57: 230, 1960). Until then, the prevailing view, which was supported by Curt Stern and other leading geneticists, was that the human Y chromosome was genetically inert. Dronamraju's research led the way in the 1960s to change that view. It was also the centerpiece of his Ph.D. dissertation that was submitted to the Indian Statistical Institute in 1964.
(c) Human inbreeding: Dronamraju and his colleagues led the study of human inbreeding in Andhra Pradesh, reporting the highest inbreeding coefficient in human populations known at that time (Journal of Genetics, 58: 387, 1963). His publications on the high degree of inbreeding and its impact have had a worldwide influence on all later investigators both in India and other countries.
(d) Cleft lip and Cleft palate in association with fetal mortality: In a series of papers published in Clinical Genetics (vols.23-27, 1983–85), Dronamraju showed that there is a positive correlation between the degree of liability to oral clefts and the extent of fetal mortality in their sibships, indicating that the fetal loss occurring in these families is most likely due to increased multifactorial liability resulting in complex malformations that are associated with clefting in the fetuses. These results, which are indicative of prenatal selection, are summarized in his book: Cleft Lip and Palate: Aspects of Reproductive Biology (1986).
(e) Biotechnology and the impact of recombinant DNA research: Dronamraju's books made a significant intellectual contribution to the subject, summarizing and evaluating the latest advances and the controversies they generated. These are: Biological and Social Issues in Biotechnology Sharing (1998), and Biological Wealth and Other Essays (2002).
(f) Genetics of infectious diseases: His two recent books on infectious diseases, (based on international conferences organized by himself in the UK and Italy), are a valuable contribution to the study of infectious diseases, providing insights on the genetics and epidemiology of malaria. These books are: Infectious Disease and Host-Pathogen Evolution (2004), and Malaria: Genetic and Evolutionary Aspects (2006).
(g) History of Genetics: In several papers and books, Dronamraju made a significant contribution to the history of genetics, especially the contributions and the impact of J.B.S. Haldane. Of particular interest are: (ed) Selected Genetic Papers of JBS Haldane (1990), Foundations of Human Genetics (1989), and The History and Development of Human Genetics (1992). Also, his paper on Haldane which was published in the Notes & Records of the Royal Society of London. (1987).
(h) Social consequences of Genetics: Dronamraju's book: (ed) Haldane's Daedalus Revisited (1995) presents an excellent discussion of the ethical and social impact of the applications of genetics.
(i) Scientific biography: He is the author of two biographical books: The Life and Work of JBS Haldane with special reference to India (1985) and The Life and Work of Julian Huxley (1993). In addition, he is the author of several biographical articles on the scientific works of JBS Haldane, Erwin Schrödinger, Julian Huxley, George W. Beadle, Archibald Garrod, William Bateson, Herman J. Muller and others.
Dr. Dronamraju was a member of the U.S. Presidential delegation to India led by President Bill Clinton in 2000. Since 1990, he actively promoted the scientific cooperation between the U.S. and India. In particular, he has been a strong advocate of the intellectual property rights of the indigenous people and the biodiversity of the developing countries.
Research interests
Present Research- Threats to biodiversity in the tropics - (Laurance, Wright, Raven, Swaminathan, Shiva, Mgbeoji, and Patrick Tierney's "Darkness in El Dorado")
- Biotechnology and biodiversity
- Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) and global Biodiversity
- IPR in human genetics and genomics
- Infectious disease, especially Malaria: Genetics and Evolution (Vaccine research)
- Sharing technologies between the U.S. and India
- Origin of life, chemical evolution
- Origins and development of genetics, and
- The Biography of JBS Haldane and his popular scientific writings.
Past Research
- Sympatric speciation and lepidopteran behavior
- Plant biometry, meristic variation
- Nest building activity in solitary wasps (Sceliphron Spp)
- Cleft Lip and Cleft Palate, and fetal mortality
- Human Y-linkage of hairy pinnae (Ph.D. thesis)
- Human cousin marriage, inbreeding in Andhra Pradesh
- Sex-ratio in the newborn and immunological implications
- Scientific Biographies of JBS Haldane and Julian Huxley
External links
- Foundation for Genetic Research website
- Dronamraju Curriculum Vitae
- Dronamraju in Mathematics Genealogy Project
- Books by Dronamraju
- An Interview
- Jim Watson and DNA
- Hybrid Paradigms
- Haldane's dilemma and its relevance today
- Arthur C Clark Letter2
- Arthur C Clark Letter1
- Erwin Schro¨dinger and the Origins of Molecular Biology
- Clinton's Indian Science Guru
- Exploring new territories
- Arthur C Clark Letter2