Writing
I have combined a career in scientific research with a number of independent writing activities. In fact one of my earliest freelance projects for Science magazine was a literal blending of these areas, as I explored my post-PhD career choices.
Since then I’ve written a book chapter on the Nobel Prize-winning, American geneticist Barbara McClintock, for the anthology More Passion for Science: Journeys into the Unknown. You might not think of sweetcorn as having a pivotal role in the understanding of patterns of biological inheritance, but it was McClintock’s work on maize that demonstrated the existence of transposons - jumping genes - that are able to move around the genome.
In addition to science, I’m really interested in all aspects of popular culture, and below are some examples of my writing about antibiotic resistance, and the science of two of my most beloved television shows.
As well as short and long-form science writing, I have also been involved in several projects which have explored the history of today’s 21st century research spaces; translating new findings into a range of engagement and communication outputs.
As part of my role at the Wellcome Sanger Institute, I had a unique opportunity to commission a research project into the history of Hinxton Hall (a building that was the first home of the Institute in the 1990s, and was later converted into a conference centre). This work was completed in 2022 by the House Historian, Melanie Backe-Hansen, revealing the extensive connections between the owners of the Hall and the East India Company.
Once we had this original source material, I collaborated with independent filmmakers Dragonlight Films to co-write the script for a short film.
I worked with exhibition designers Outside Studios to develop the exhibition content and interpretation, that was installed in Hinxton Hall and opened for visitors in 2023.
Scriptwriting and exhibition interpretation
Academic writing and publications
I am the author of several academic research articles and commentaries, drawing on my professional expertise across microbiology, genomics, engagement and learning.
Exploring the experiences of minoritised groups at life sciences conferences in the UK: new perspectives and actions improve inclusivity in the sector. Dutta I, Bishop M, Rayner JC et al. Wellcome Open Research 2025.
Knowledge sharing and 'genomic' healthcare. Dutta I, Brice PC and Wallace S. Nature Biotechnology 2005.
Biochemical and Genetic Characterization of the vanC-2 Vancomycin Resistance Gene Cluster of Enterococcus casseliflavus ATCC 25788. Dutta I and Reynolds PE. Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy 2002.
The vanC-3 vancomycin resistance gene cluster of Enterococcus flavescens CCM 439. Dutta I and Reynolds PE. Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy 2003.
The DNA sequence of the human X chromosome. Ross MT et al. (incl. Dutta I). Nature 2005.
DNA sequence and analysis of human chromosome 9. Humphray S et al. (incl. Dutta I). Nature 2004
The DNA sequence and comparative analysis of human chromosome 10. Deloukas P et al. (incl. Dutta I). Nature 2004.