Dr. Laasya Samhita is a postdoc and DBT/Wellcome Trust early career fellow working with Dr. Deepa Agashe at the National Centre for Biological Sciences (NCBS), Bangalore. As an independent postdoctoral fellow in an Evolutionary Biology lab, she blends molecular biology with evolution—investigating how errors in protein synthesis influence bacterial adaptation and may even benefit the cell. She’s also interested in antibiotic resistance and its relationship to translation accuracy.
Dr. Laasya obtained her PhD from the Indian Institute of Science, where she explored the molecular mysteries of bacterial protein synthesis. After her PhD, she worked as a freelance science writer for a year. In the future, she aims to explore how non-genetic variation contributes to adaptation and evolution.
This interview is based on her work titled “The impact of mistranslation on phenotypic variability and fitness” published in Evolution journal.
Author interview
How would you explain your paper’s key results to the non-scientific community?
DNA is often called the “code of life,” and it is decoded into RNA and then into proteins. Proteins are the workers of the cell. Usually, changes in DNA cause changes in proteins. However, proteins can also change due to mistakes during decoding—even without any DNA changes. These mistakes, called mistranslations, can affect how a cell behaves.
While such mistakes don’t pass on to future generations like DNA changes do, they can still influence a cell’s fitness if they change important properties. In our study, we found that mistranslation not only changes the average behavior of cells but also increases the diversity (variability) of traits in the population.
For example, imagine a classroom where children’s heights range from 3 to 4 feet. If new children are added who range from 2 to 5 feet, the height range expands, leading to new possibilities—like a taller child reaching higher shelves. Similarly, new trait variations from mistranslation can lead to new capabilities in cells.
What are the possible consequences of these findings for your research area?
Variation in traits is the raw material of evolution. Since mistranslation increases this variation, it may influence which cells survive and thrive. This is especially exciting because proteins (unlike DNA) aren’t inherited. Still, by affecting traits linked to survival and reproduction, mistranslation might shape evolutionary outcomes.
What was the exciting moment (eureka moment) during your research?
This project had many ups and downs, and several “almost-eureka” moments didn’t pan out. But the most exciting moment came from single-cell observations by our team member Godwin, who found that cells experiencing mistranslation had a wider spread in their lengths and division times. This confirmed increased variability due to mistranslation.
What do you hope to do next?
I plan to establish my own research group in India. My goal is to mix basic and applied research, especially looking at how non-DNA changes can influence evolution.
“Every successful experiment is a confidence and enthusiasm booster!”
Where do you seek scientific inspiration?
From successful experiments, discussions with mentors and peers, and even from quiet walks or unrelated breaks from work. All of these help sharpen focus and renew motivation.
How do you intend to help Indian science improve?
Indian science has grown a lot, especially in terms of skilled manpower. I hope to collaborate widely and deepen my expertise. At the same time, I want to be a supportive and empathetic mentor—helping students and postdocs navigate the pressures of modern research while staying excited about science.
Reference
Samhita, L., Raval, P. K., Stephenson, G., Thutupalli, S., and Agashe, D. (2021). The impact of mistranslation on phenotypic variability and fitness. Evolution. https://doi.org/10.1111/evo.14179
Edited by: Pratibha Siwach
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