Statement of Purpose

The purpose of learning is to gain knowledge and knowledge is the driving force that keeps the human mind going. It is the pursuit of knowledge that has been my motivation and has me apply for PhD in GENETICS in your esteemed University. I have always striven to realize my potential and I believe the academic program of Louisiana State University Health Science Center will best aid me in doing so.

I have graduated in medicine from Grant Medical College, Mumbai (erstwhile Bombay), which is one of the top five medical colleges in India. My first exposure to the science of genetics was through Biology curriculum in my High School years when I learned about the Mendelian laws, heredity, genetic diseases, mutations ect. Later at different points of time during my undergraduate years, I was exposed to the study of genetics as a part of the Anatomy, Pathology and Pediatrics courses. I found the subject fascinating and my growing interest decided that this was the field of study, which I wanted to pursue. I believe that genetics holds the key to understanding various things that happen around us especially to our own bodies. Study of genetics has the potential of opening hitherto unseen doors leading to find cures to the seemingly incurable diseases. My belief in this was strengthened while studying cases of Down’s syndrome, Becker’s and Duchene’s muscular dystrophy, a wide variet of inherited metabolic diseases ect. during my clinical rotations. I learned how genetics could be of great help and how karyotyping, chromosomal analysis, and various other cytogenetic and molecular genetic studies could prevent a lot of emotional and financial stress for parents. One particular case comes to my mind in which four children of the same family were admitted in the ward with Down’s Syndrome. I still remember the children very clearly and also the distress on the faces of their parents who were faced with the daunting task of raising these differently abled children. I can remember thinking then that if the parents had access to good genetic counseling and diagnostic techniques; this mental anguish could have been avoided.

Again, while studying Pathology during my undergraduate years of Medicine, I came across the concept of cancer-genetics. I was fascinated to learn about the association between cancer and human chromosomes. Ever since 1959 When Peter C. Nowell and David A. Hungerford opened a new chapter in cancer research with the discovery of the Philidelphia Chromosome, attention has been diverted to looking for a genetic basis for the occurrence of a wide variety of malignancies and tumors. I read voraciously about the various chromosomal aberrations, which occur in cancer (Translocations, Deletions, and Chromosomal Breakage Syndromes) and found in enthralling. I was assigned two cases of CML (chronic myeloid leukemia) in my medicine rotations and followed these over a month. I saw their chromosomal analysis results and they both showed the translocation of c-abl oncogene to the bcr gene showed the translocation of c-abl oncogene to the bcr gene of chr.22 (in other words, voth the cases tested positive for the Philadelphia chromosome). Other cases, which I saw and recognized as having a genetic origin, were of Wilms tumor and a case of Fanconis anemia. With the plethora of new avenues opening in the field of oncogenetics, selfdom a day goes by when a new chapter of this enthralling saga is not unfolded. Even with the brief exposure that I have had to the subject, it is evident to me that genetics is an integral part of Clinical Medicine. There cannot possibly be anything more stimulating than learning about the very origin of these diseases that the medical profession strive to eliminate. The future belongs to the study of genes, examining the pathology of cancers at the molecular and chromosomal levels and then as a final step trying to cure them. Genetics ever since its origin in 1865 with Mendel and his laws, has steadily gained prominence as an important adjunct to clinical medicine. Its significance as not only a conceptual basis for medicine but also for clinical practice is now fully recognized. As an example of the load of diseases of genetic origin on the community-‘According to a study based on One million live births, at least Five percent of the live born under twenty five had a genetic disorder of single gene, cytogenetic, multifactorial causation (Baird et al., 1988).’

Thousands of children every year die of no definable reason (e.g. S.I.D.S.). Almost 27-30% of these babies are now proved to be having some Inherited Error of Metabolism. These children often suffer from mental retardation, leaning disabilities, autism, dyslexia, scholastic backwardness ect. It is a difficult task to treat and rehabilitate these children. The most rational and cost effective way of preventing such difficulties is to have a comprehensive Neonatal Screening Program (NSP). I have been intrigued by the role genetics play in reducing the morbidity and mortality due to these conditions and hope to learn more about the same. Pursuing research concentrated on human diseases (like above) and Cancers, is my aim and I hope to fulfill it in you institution.

I believe that the passion that I have for learning more about genetics will ultimately lead me to do serious research in this area. However, I have to equip myself first by studying the fundamentals of the subject systematically. It is with this end in view that I have applied for the Graduate Program in genetics in the Louiisiana State University Health Science Center. I have carefully studied the prescribed curriculum and I do believe that it will equip me excellently to pursue my interest in this subject fruitfully. Having always been in the top five percentile in my classes, I am confident that if accepted, I have the commitment and ability to put in the necessary hard work that the challenging course schedule will undoubtedly require.