Dr. Kavita Rao

Real Name
Kavita Rao

Occupation
Benetech Researcher/Doctor

Citizenship
Indian

Place of Birth
India

Known Relatives
Unknown

Group Affiliation
X-Men; X-Club; formerly Benetech

Education
Unrevealed

Height
5' 9"

Weight
133 lbs.

Eyes
Brown

Hair
Black

Powers
None

Abilities
Genius-level intellect, Master geneticist.

Other Info
Dr. Rao is a world-renowned geneticist from India. Thanks to her intelligence and help from her sponsor, Benetech, she formulated a serum (later called "Hope") that could possibly wipe the mutant X-gene; therefore, "curing" mutantkind into everyday human beings. Dr. Rao explained that she regarded the mutant gene as a "corruption" of healthy tissue, and justified her research by looking at mutants who committed suicide or hurt others because of their powers, such as a female mutant with a butterfly-like appearance known as Tildie (a child whose nightmares can manifest into monsters).

After the announcement of the "cure," hundreds of mutants immediately signed up for the procedure. The X-Men debated the merits of the "cure" and the significance of labeling the mutant condition as a "disease." However, at the chance of shedding his "beastly" appearance and avoiding any further secondary mutations held significant appeal for Beast and he too considered taking the serum. Although, Wolverine objected by saying that an X-Man taking the serum would be the equivalent of admitting that there was something to "cure" in the first place. (To learn about the team and/or characters above, just click on their highlighted names.)

It was later revealed that Dr. Rao had been working for the alien Ord of the Breakworld who also had in his custody Colossus (who was, at that time, thought to be dead, but had been resurrected by Ord's technology). Eventually, the X-Men defeated Ord and destroyed Benetech. Dr. Roa and Ord were then delivered into the hands of S.H.I.E.L.D.. Dr. Rao's work was also destroyed by Wolverine, which left Beast with the last sample of "Hope." (Click on the highlighted names above to learn about the characters and/or team.)

After the events of M-Day (where most mutants on Earth lost their powers and abilities), Dr. Rao is recruited by Beast to join the X-Club (a team of scientists whose primary goal is to find a way of reversing the effects of M-Day). With her old research into "curing" the mutant gene now irrelevant after so many mutants lost their powers, she agreed to aid Beast in his quest. She even allowed Beast to see all of the samples she had collected when she worked on the "cure." Unfortunately, all the samples were destroyed. (To learn about the M-Day event, click on the highlighted name above. Note: Beware of the revealing and/or form-fitting outfits worn by some on the M-Day bio page.)

Later, thanks to the New Mutants, the X-Club discovered that Bastion has erected towers in certain points around San Francisco in order to exterminate mutantkind. Cyclops sends the X-Club to investigate. Upon arriving on one of his oil platforms, where one of these towers is located, they come across a timer which goes off. At this time, Dr. Rao's life flashes before her eyes and when the timer hits zero they end up transported to a dystopian future where they meet a now human Hank McCoy, who warns them to keep Dr. Rao safe at all costs. Hank reveals that Hope Summers powers eventually grew out of control and he needs Dr. Rao to recreate her Hope serum to stop her from creating the future they see before them. After some convincing, Dr. Rao revealed that she kept an encrypted copy of the formula on her Mala bracelet and the team goes to Utopia to take out Hope. (To learn about the team, characters, and/or place, just click on their highlighted names. Note: Beware of the revealing and form-fitting outfit of Emma Frost on Cyclops' bio page.)

Upon arriving on Utopia, it is revealed that the dystopian future that the X-Club saw was a lie created by Graydon Creed using holographic hard-light technology. Dr. Rao also reveals that she knew of the deception all along and did not recreate the Hope serum, but instead she created an unstable pyrovirus which caused the oil platform to explode. The X-Club was able to get out in time only to see the dome envelope Utopia and the citizens of San Francisco. Later they work with the Avengers and Fantastic Four in trying to bring the dome down. (Just click on the highlighted names above to learn about the character and/or teams.)

There is nothing there, but the Marvel.com bio of Dr. Kavita Rao is, http://marvel.com/universe/Kavita_Rao.