Anita Goel is enthralled by motor and not the kind that resides under the lid of your car. But the molecular motors that stick along strands of DNA, reading and replicating genetic information. They are the motors of life itself. Goel, a 29 year-old researcher in the physics department at Harvard, hopes to learn how these nanoscopic machines work. In particular, she is interested in how the environment can affect the motor's operation.

"I find it intriguing," says Goel, "that conditions within cells can affect the flow of information encoded in DNA." It all sounds complex but for Goel this is what she always wanted to do and get. While visiting the Santa Fe Institute in New Mexico, Goel began thinking more deeply about theories that might adequately describe the interaction of DNA molecular motors with their environment.

To Goel, the common understanding of DNA is a bit oversimplified. "We currently think of DNA as the sole source of information necessary for building a living organism. But if the environment affects the way the DNA is read and replicated, then perhaps the information embedded within the environment is also important for life.

And if this proves true, it will affect our understanding of evolution, at least on the molecular level. Simply put, the environment doesn't just lead to a selection of the fittest creature's DNA. It could also change the way that cells process the information encoded in DNA."

Trained as both a physicist and a physician, Dr Anita Goel, was named among the world's Top 35 young high-tech innovators by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's (MIT) prestigious Technology Review magazine. She was also awarded the Hindustan Times Award for NRI Achievers for making her country proud on the global forum.

The young, dynamic lady studies the tiny proteins that edge their way along DNA, reading and copying the genes inside each cell and believes, "Many obstacles can come on the road from the first inner conception of an idea to its actual material realization. But a resolute purpose, faith, hope, and a calm steady effort can enable even seemingly ordinary people to accomplish extraordinary feats. But you must never consider yourself to be just ordinary."

While visiting the Santa Fe Institute in New Mexico, Goel began thinking more deeply about theories that might adequately describe the interaction of DNA molecular motors with their environment. To Goel, the common understanding of DNA is a bit oversimplified.

Along with a PhD in Physics from Harvard University and an MD from the Harvard-MIT Division of health Sciences and Technology (HST), Anita is also a Fellow-at-Large of the Santa Fe Institute and a Trustee and Scientific Advisor to India-Nano, an organization devoted to bridging breakthrough advances in nanotechnology with the burgeoning Indian nanotech sector.

As an undergraduate at the Stanford University, Dr Goel envisioned a human bridge between the world's two largest democracies in the world- US and India. Inspired by this vision she founded 'Setu' (Sanskrit for bridge), an international conference and think-tank comprising world leaders from academic, business, political and humanitarian sectors dedicated to bringing together these two countries.

Goel also through her group has proposed to invest $400 million project in Himachal Pradesh to manufacture world-class equipment for a global market. Apart from being an impeccable physician, she is also a great manager. Recently she won two rounds of funding from the US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) and the US Air Force Office of Scientific Research to develop platform nanobiotechnologies at Nanobiosym.

In the words of her sponsoring DARPA Program Manager Dr Anantha Krishnan, "Although Anita's research has focused on fundamental aspects of nano-biotechnology, she has been extremely active in striking up collaborations with private companies and national laboratories in attempting to transition this technology to meet commercial and national security needs."

"There's a special kind of excitement associated with looking at life and living systems through the lens of modern physics," says Goel.