Research Projects

Cetaceans—whales and dolphins—are long-lived marine mammals exhibiting remarkable physiological adaptations, such as resistance to cancer, tolerance to hypoxia, and survival in extreme pressure and temperature. India hosts over 30 cetacean species, yet most research on cetaceans are disproportionately based on studies from the global North. In countries like China, cetacean research has already led to discoveries such as antihypertensive peptides, highlighting their biomedical potential. Fossil evidence suggest that cetaceans likely originated in the Indian subcontinent around 55 million years ago, near present-day Kashmir. Despite this, we have very little understanding of the genetics of our cetaceans. Given that several important Indian cetaceans are endemic to the subcontinent, we may be overlooking rare genetic traits with high relevance to biomedical research. The lack of genomic research on Indian cetaceans stems from multiple challenges. These animals are difficult to observe and sample in the wild, and tissue collection has largely relied on rare stranding events. Historically, India lacked the necessary infrastructure and expertise to sequence and analyze whole genomes, especially from degraded or non-invasive samples. In addition, long-term specimen collections are limited within the country as many relevant historical samples are housed in British museums from the colonial era. While environmental DNA (eDNA) has emerged as a powerful, non-invasive tool, its use in India has largely been restricted to mitochondrial analyses. Recent advancements in sequencing technologies, bioinformatics, and research infrastructure now provide a timely opportunity to address this gap. This project aims to establish foundational methods for studying cetacean genomics in India using non-invasive samples and to study the genomics of at least two endangered cetaceans of India. We propose to (i) optimise sampling and analytical methods for Irrawaddy dolphins in Chilika Lake using eDNA from water, fecal matter, swabs, and museum samples. (ii) Assess genomic divergence and adaptation between Indus and Gangetic river dolphins using non-invasive and historical specimens, with a focus on identifying genomic regions under selection in the Gangetic population. (iii) Reconstruct historical and contemporary genetic diversity in Gangetic river dolphins using museum and modern samples to evaluate changes over time and space. This work will pioneer genomic research on Indian cetaceans, providing insights into their evolutionary adaptations and identifying candidate genes related to hypoxia tolerance, thermoregulation, and disease resistance. The development of non-invasive techniques will also create a framework for future genomics studies in India’s aquatic ecosystems.