It is matter of pride for Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI) that Dr. Meetu Gupta, Associate Professor at the Department of Biotechnology of the university has been elected as a fellow of the prestigious National Academy of Sciences, India (NASI) for her seminal contribution in elucidating cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in heavy metal detoxification, particularly Arsenic (As) stress in crop plants, rice and Indian mustard.
Dr. Gupta’s research has revealed the effect of interaction of arsenic with other metals having similar chemical properties and sharing the same transport system. Her research identified rice varieties that are tolerant to arsenic stress.
JMI Vice Chancellor Prof. Najma Akhtar expressed her happiness over the development and said that this kind of achievement motivates other teachers of the University too to do high quality research. The university is focusing on research and gives freedom to its researchers. It also encourages them to publish their research in high impact journals which helps in getting good research projects from various departments.
Dr. Gupta has also contributed in understanding how auxin and nitrogen signaling pathway regulates root system architecture under arsenic stress. Dr. Gupta’s group identified genes and miRNA that can be engineered to develop arsenic tolerant plants.Currently, her work is focused in understanding the regulation of biological pathways and signature metabolites involved in tolerance mechanisms during combined stress conditions.
