Lakhotia's research is focused on cytogenetics,
gene expression, cell and developmental biology. He carried out pioneering research on
Drosophila (fruit flies) with regards to its chromosome organization and replication, tissue-specific differences in expression of
heat shock proteins, and discovery of
Hsp60 in
Drosophila. He has carried out life-time studies on the organization and functions of the 93D or the
hsromega gene long-non-coding RNA locus of
Drosophila melanogaster. During his doctoral studies on
dosage compensation in Drosophila he further confirmed the hyperactive male-X model and elucidated its cellular autonomy. His discovery of active transcription in
heterochromatin in Drosophila in early 1970s was one of the first documentations of transcriptional activity of heterochromatin. His later studies revealed the existence of two distinct
replicon types in different cell types of Drosophila. He has been a pioneer researcher studying the long
non-coding RNAs since 1980s and has contributed significantly to a wider appreciation of their function through sustained studies on the
hsromega gene. in Drosophila nuclei and established essential functions of the lncRNAs produced by the
hsromega gene in organization of the intra-nuclear omega speckles. His studies also helped identify how this lncRNA gene modulates
apoptosis and
neurodegeneration in Drosophila models of human diseases. Since 2008, he established Drosophila as a good model to understand the mechanisms of actions of some of the
ayurvedic formulations. His studies indicate that the Ayurvedic Amalaki Rasayana and Rasa-Sindoor can substantially suppress neurodegeneration associated with
polyQ and Alzheimer's disorders. He has published more than 200 original research papers, review articles, and chapters in books, available at
PubMed, an online repository of medical articles, and at
ResearchGate. He has also written more than 100 articles relating to policies on higher education, research publications, their assessment and ethics. He has mentored more than 35 scholars in their doctoral studies. He was associated with the
International Union of Biological Sciences, as a member of its executive committee from 2000 to 2003 and later as its vice president from 2003 to 2006. He is a former member of the INSA council, a former vice president, and vice president of its Inter-Academy Exchange Committee. He was the editor-in-chief of its journal (
Proceedings of the Indian National Science Academy) from January 2014 to December 2018. He has been associated with the
Council of Scientific and Industrial Research,
University Grants Commission of India,
Department of Atomic Energy,
Department of Science and Technology and
Department of Biotechnology as a member of their various committees, == Awards and honors ==