Center for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB) scientists in Hyderabad are researching the sources of biodiversity in India.
-Galla S Kiran Kumar, Bureau Chief
Scutigeramorpha
Hyderabad: Scientists at the Center for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB) in Hyderabad are conducting research on the origins of India’s biodiversity. Where did the creatures found in our country come from? Dr. Jahnavi Joshi’s team at CCMB has undertaken research in this sense. The organisms of the Western and Eastern Ghats mountain ranges, which are home to biodiversity, were studied. Two million years ago, the Indian peninsula was part of Gondwana. They are trying to find the answer to the question whether all living things came from there. This time Scutigeramorphala, which is a specimen of spider mites, was tested. Genetic samples collected from the Western and Eastern Ghats were compared with global genetic data. They said that the Scutigeramorphs of India originated in Gondwana and continued to evolve thereafter. Looking at the history, the relationship between India and Australia is very little. But the presence of Scutigeramorpha organisms in India has also been found in Australia, the researchers said. Maya Manivannan, one of the researchers, said that it is estimated that they would have gone from Gondwana to Australia via India.
