Science Affairs Coverage from Jan 2019 to December 2019 - UDAAN - Abhipedia
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Science Affairs Coverage from Jan 2019 to December 2019 Abhimanu ias UDAAN
Science and Technology | Udaan by Abhimanu IAS
Biotechnology
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DNA technolgy (use and application) regulation bill, 2019
Context-Recently a Parliamentary panel headed by congress leader Jairam Ramesh began
hearing the contentious DNA technolgy (use and application) regulation bill, 2019 with
members grilling officials from the Department of biotechnology on scope for violation of
privacy in the proposed DNA data bank.
•The DNA technology (Use and Application) Regulation Bill, 2019 was introduced in Lok Sabha by
the Minister for Science and Technology, Mr. Harsh Vardhan, on July 8, 2019.
About The DNA technology (Use and Application) Regulation Bill, 2019
•Use of DNA Data: Under the Bill, DNA testing is allowed only in respect of matters listed in the
Schedule to the Bill. These include offences under the Indian Penal Code, 1860, and for civil
matters such as paternity suits. Further, the Schedule includes DNA testing for matters related
to establishment of individual identity
•Collection of DNA: While preparing a DNA profile, bodily substances of persons may be collected
by the investigating authorities. Authorities are required to obtain consent for collection in
certain situations. For arrested persons, authorities are required to obtain written consent if the
offence carries a punishment of up to seven years. If the offence carries more than seven years
of imprisonment or death, consent is not required. Further, if the person is a victim, or relative
of a missing person, or a minor or disabled person, the authorities are required to obtain the
written consent of such victim, or relative, or parent or guardian of the minor or disabled person.
If consent is not given in these cases, the authorities can approach a Magistrate who may order
the taking of bodily substances of such persons.
•DNA Data Bank: The Bill provides for the establishment of a National DNA Data Bank and
Regional DNA Data Banks, for every state, or two or more states. DNA laboratories are required
to share DNA data prepared by them with the National and Regional DNA Data Banks. Every Data
Bank will be required to maintain indices for the following categories of data: (i) a crime scene
index, (ii) a suspects’ or undertrials’ index, (iii) an offenders’ index, (iv) a missing persons’ index,
and (v) an unknown deceased persons’ index.
•Removal of DNA profiles: The Bill states that the criteria for entry, retention, or removal of the
DNA profile will be specified by regulations. However, the Bill provides for removal of the DNA
profiles of the following persons: (i) of a suspect if a police report is filed or court order given, (ii)
of an undertrial if a court order is given, and (iii) on written request, for persons who are not a
suspect, offender or undertrial, from the crime scene or missing persons’ index.
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•DNA Regulatory Board: The Bill provides for the establishment of a DNA Regulatory Board,
which will supervise the DNA Data Banks and DNA laboratories. The Secretary, Department of
Biotechnology, will be the ex officio Chairperson of the Board. The Board will comprise additional
members including: (i) experts in the field of biological sciences, and (ii) Director General of the
National Investigation Agency and the Director of the Central Bureau of Investigation.
•Functions of the Board: The functions of the Board include: (i) advising governments on all issues
related to establishing DNA laboratories or Data Banks, and (ii) granting accreditation to DNA
laboratories. Further, the Board is required to ensure that all information relating to DNA profiles
with the Data Banks, laboratories, and other persons are kept confidential.
•DNA laboratories: Any laboratory undertaking DNA testing is required to obtain accreditation
from the Board. The Board may revoke the accreditation for reasons including, failure to: (i)
undertake DNA testing, or (ii) comply with the conditions attached to the accreditation. If the
accreditation is revoked, an appeal will lie before the central government or any other authority
notified by the central government. Further, every DNA laboratory is required to follow
standards for quality assurance in collection, storing, and analysis of DNA samples. After
depositing the DNA profile for criminal cases, the laboratory is required to return the biological
sample to the investigating officer. In all other cases, the sample must be destroyed.
•Offences: The Bill specifies penalties for various offences, including: (i) for disclosure of DNA
information, or (ii) using DNA sample without authorization. For instance, disclosure of DNA
information will be punishable with imprisonment of up to three years and fine of up to one lakh
rupees.
What is DNA profiling ?
• DNA profiling is the process where a specific DNA pattern, called a profile, is obtained from a
person or sample of bodily tissue
• Even though we are all unique, most of our DNA is actually identical to other people’s DNA.
However, specific regions vary highly between people. These regions are called polymorphic.
Differences in these variable regions between people are known as polymorphisms. Each of us
inherits a unique combination of polymorphisms from our parents. DNA polymorphisms can be
analysed to give a DNA profile.
• Human DNA profiles can be used to identify the origin of a DNA sample at a crime scene or test
for parentage.
• In a human, 0.1 per cent of the DNA or genetic material is unique to each individual and this
identifying information can be obtained from any cell, including hair and skin
DNA profiling is used to:
• identify the probable origin of a body fluid sample associated with a crime or crime scene
• reveal family relationships
• identify disaster victims, for example, ESR scientists travelled to Thailand to help identify
victims of the 2004 Boxing Day tsunami.
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Controversy regarding Bt Cotton
• A group of more than 1,000 farmers gathered in a village in Akola of Maharashtra to sow seeds
of an unapproved, genetically modified variety of cotton, defying government regulations. The
government is now investigating what was planted.
Bt Cotton:
• Bt Cotton is developed by Bayer-Monsanto and it involves insertion of two genes viz ‘Cry1Ab’
and ‘Cry2Bc’ from the soil bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis into cotton seeds.
• This modification codes the plant to produce protein toxic to Heliothis bollworm (pink
bollworm) thus making it resistant to their attack. The commercial release of this hybrid was
sanctioned by the government in 2002.
• Bt cotton remains the only GM crop allowed to be cultivated in the country.
India and GM Crops:
• In India, it is the responsibility of the Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC) under
the Environment Ministry to assess the safety of a genetically modified plant, and decide whether
it is fit for cultivation. The GEAC comprises experts and government representatives, and a
decision it takes has to be approved by the Environment Minister before any crop is allowed for
cultivation.
• Besides Bt cotton, the GEAC has cleared two other genetically modified crops — brinjal and
mustard — but these have not received the consent of the Environment Minister.
Concerns:
• Genetic changes made in a plant can make it unsafe for consumption, have adverse impacts
on human or animal health, or introduce problems in the soil or neighbouring crops. There is an
elaborate process of tests and field trials to be followed. Critics of GM technology argue that
some traits of genes start expressing themselves only after several generations, and thus one can
never be sure about their safety.
CCMB scientists sequence Asiatic lion genome
Context: For the first time, the entire genome of Asiatic lion has been sequenced by scientists
from CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Hyderabad.
The objective is to understand the species at DNA level and study if there are any specific
problems with regard to adaptability to environment or behaviour vis-à-vis other big cats.
Need and significance:
This firsthand information would help researchers to better understand the evolution of Asiatic
lions and also make possible comparative analysis with other big cats.
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The genome sequencing would enable scientists to develop specific markers to study population
genetics (the differences at the gene level within a population) and get newer insights into its
population status and subsequent management.
The study will enable better disease and population management of the endangered big cat by
identifying characteristics which are specific to Asiatic lions.
About Asiatic Lion:
• IUCN Red List Status: Endangered
• Listed in Schedule I of Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972, in Appendix I of Convention on
International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES).
• At present the only home of Asiatic lion is Gir National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary in Gujarat.
• The population of the endangered Asiatic lion is very low — only 523 animals are present in
the Gir forests.
Project MANAV: Human Atlas Initiative
News
• For the first time, Indian scientists will be mapping every single tissue of the human body to
have deeper understanding of the roles of tissues and cells linked to various diseases.
• Department of Biotechnology (DBT) launched MANAV: Human Atlas Initiative towards
improving knowledge on human physiology.
MANAV: Human Atlas Initiative
• It is a project funded by DBT, which aims at creating a database network of all tissues in the
human body from the available scientific literature.
• It is a project that involves scientific skill development for annotation, science outreach along
with handling big data.
• It will involve gaining better biological insights through physiological and molecular mapping,
develop disease models through predictive computing and have a holistic analysis and finally
drug discovery.
• The student community, who will be the backbone on assimilating the information, will be
trained and imparted with skills to perform annotation and curation of information that will
ultimately form the online network.
• DBT has invested funds shared between two institutions in Pune – National Centre for Cell
Science (NCCS) and Indian Institute of Science, Education and Research (IISER), Pune.
• Besides, Persistent Systems Limited has co-funded the project and is developing the platform.
Utility of the project
• The aim of the project remains to understand and capture the human physiology in two stages
– in a normal stage and while in a disease stage.
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• Such a database on individual tissues, once ready, can come handy in tracing the causes of a
disease, understanding specific pathways and ultimately decode the body’s disease stage linked
to tissues and cells.
• The teams will also study any potent elements or molecules that have never been used in the
form of drugs, to target the specific cells or tissues.
Importance
• So far, researchers and students have had little or no expertise in reading scientific literature
and develop or build further information on the same.
• This platform will impart key skills to the student community to read classified scientific
literature, in this case, on individual tissue-basis, and perform annotation and curation.
• Since all the information generated will pass through multiple levels of reviews, it will be an
Atlas or a reliable collection on human body tissues.
• This collated data can be useful for both future researchers and parallelly, to the clinicians and
drug developers, who finally handle human bodies in disease conditions.
Gene Editing
• Chironex fleckeri is among the deadliest box jellyfish species, with an explosive sting that
causes cardiac arrest in humans. Scientists are still unsure exactly how its venom works. But a
team of researchers has managed to develop an antidote to block its venom using the powerful
gene-editing tool CRISPR. The drug, cyclodextrin, is already tested safe for humans, cheap and
readily available.
• Genes contain the bio-information that defines any individual. Physical attributes like height,
skin or hair colour, more subtle features and even behavioural traits can be attributed to
information encoded in the genetic material.
• An ability to alter this information gives scientists the power to control some of these features.
Gene “editing” — sometimes expressed in related, but not always equivalent, terms like genetic
modification, genetic manipulation or genetic engineering — is not new.
About CRISPRs (Clustered Regularly Interspersed Short Palindromic Repeats)
• CRISPRs are elements of an ancient system that protects bacteria and other single-celled
organisms from viruses, acquiring immunity to them by incorporating genetic elements from the
virus invaders.
• CRISPRs evolved over millions of years to trim pieces of genetic information from one genome
and insert it into another. And this bacterial antiviral defense serves as an astonishingly cheap,
simple, elegant way to quickly edit the DNA of any organism in the lab.
• Discovery of CRISPRs has changed gene therapy. CRISPRs work by using an enzyme — Cas9 —
that homes in on a specific location in a strand of DNA. The process then edits the DNA to either
remove unwanted sequences or insert payload sequences. CRISPRs use an RNA molecule as a
guide to the DNA
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CRISPR Technology
Why in news? CRISPR anti-venom: Antidote to world’s most venomous sting made with gene
editing.
Chironex fleckeri is among the deadliest box jellyfish species, with an explosive sting that causes
cardiac arrest in humans. Scientists are still unsure exactly how its venom works. But a team of
researchers has managed to develop an antidote to block its venom using the powerful gene-
editing tool CRISPR. The drug, cyclodextrin, is already tested safe for humans, cheap and readily
available.
What are Genes and what is gene- editing?
Genes contain the bio-information that defines any individual. Physical attributes like height, skin
or hair colour, more subtle features and even behavioural traits can be attributed to information
encoded in the genetic material.
An ability to alter this information gives scientists the power to control some of these features.
Gene “editing” — sometimes expressed in related, but not always equivalent, terms like genetic
modification, genetic manipulation or genetic engineering — is not new.
What is CRISPR-Cas9?
The clustered, regularly interspaced, short palindromic repeats, or CRISPR/CRISPR-associated
protein 9 (Cas9) (CRISPR-Cas9) system has revolutionised genetic manipulations and made gene
editing simpler, faster and easily accessible to most laboratories.
CRISPR technology is basically a gene-editing technology that can be used for the purpose of
altering genetic expression or changing the genome of an organism.
• The technology can be used for targeting specific stretches of an entire genetic code or editing
the DNA at particular locations.
• CRISPR technology is a simple yet powerful tool for editing genomes. It allows researchers to
easily alter DNA sequences and modify gene function.
• Its many potential applications include correcting genetic defects, treating and preventing the
spread of diseases and improving crops. However, its promise also raises ethical concerns.
How it works?
CRISPR-Cas9 technology behaves like a cut-and-paste mechanism on DNA strands that contain
genetic information.
• The specific location of the genetic codes that need to be changed, or “edited”, is identified on
the DNA strand, and then, using the Cas9 protein, which acts like a pair of scissors, that location
is cut off from the strand. A DNA strand, when broken, has a natural tendency to repair itself.
• Scientists intervene during this auto-repair process, supplying the desired sequence of genetic
codes that binds itself with the broken DNA strand.
Concerns:
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Tampering with the genetic code in human beings is more contentious. Leading scientists in the
field have for long been calling for a “global pause” on clinical applications of the technology in
human beings, until internationally accepted protocols are developed.
Way ahead:
This CRISPR technology is indeed a path-breaking technology, to alter genes in order to tackle a
number of conventional and unconventional problems, especially in the health sector. However,
experiments and tests to validate its use must be subjected to appropriate scrutiny by the
regulators, and their use must be controlled to prevent commercial misuse.
SALT TOLERANT RICE VARIETY
Context
A group of Indian scientists has developed a new salt-tolerant transgenic rice plant
Facts to Know
• A group of Indian scientists led by ArunLahiriMajumderhas developed a new salt-tolerant
transgenic rice plant by over-expressing a gene from a wild rice called Porteresiacoarctata into
the commonly used IR 64 indica rice variety.
•Porteresiacoarctata is a native of India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Myanmar and is grown mainly
in saline estuaries.
• The new crop can withstand salt concentration of up to 200 micromole per litre (about half as
saline as sea water) without affecting normal growth and grain yield under greenhouse
conditions.
• The study has also indicated that inositol, a vitamin like substance found in all plants and
animals including human being, acts as a stress-ameliorator and as a switch for a number of other
pathways important for imparting salt-tolerance.
• There are several plants called halophytes, which are rich sources of salt stress tolerance genes
and Porteresiacoarctata is one of them.
• One of the genes isolated earlier by the scientists from this plant, PcINO1 , codes for a salt
tolerant enzyme which synthesizes inositol even in presence of salt, while the second gene
isolated by the group, PcIMT1 from the same plant converts inositol to another compound called
pinitol.
• The researchers over-expressed these two genes into IR64 indica rice. They generated three
types of transgenic lines: one with introgression of PcINO1 only, the second with PcIMT1 only
and the third with combinations of both.
• The rice lines created with PcINO1 gene exhibited significantly higher tolerance, with a salt
concentration of upto 200 micromole per litre or higher in pots, with little compromise in growth
or other physiological parameters.
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• The two other transgenic lines, one with PcIMT1 gene alone and the second with both PcINO1
and PcIMT1 genes were less efficient.
• The scientists then compared the quantities of inositol/pinitol in the three set of transgenic
lines. They found that under saline conditions inositol production remained uninterrupted only
in the transgenic plant created with PcINO1.
• The new finding indicates that such manipulation of the inositol metabolic pathway may be
one of the ways to combat salt stress in plants.
Significance of the Discovery
• The new findings assume importance particularly in the context of the growing concerns over
the global climate change, as there is a particularly need to develop new rice varieties that are
salt and drought resistant.
• Conventional breeding programmes have led to the development of some salt and drought-
tolerant rice varieties and they are in use in India and other countries like Philippines and
Bangladesh. However, conventional breeding has not been able to meet the requirements fully.
• There is a need for efforts to develop new varieties through genetic manipulation also.
About the Research Team
Besides Prof. ArunLahiriMajumder who led the team, the research team consisted of Rajeswari
Mukherjee, Abhishek Mukherjee, SubhenduBandyopadhyay, Sritama Mukherjee,
SonaliSengupta and Sudipta Ray of Division of Plant Biology at Kolkata-based Bose Institute. The
work had been supported by funds from the Department of Biotechnology.
Genome sequencing to map population diversity
• In an indigenous genetic mapping effort, nearly 1,000 rural youth from the length and breadth
of India will have their genomes sequenced by the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research
(CSIR). The project aims at educating a generation of students on the “usefulness” of genomics.
• Globally, many countries have undertaken genome sequencing of a sample of their citizens to
determine unique genetic traits, susceptibility (and resilience) to disease. This is the first time
that such a large sample of Indians will be recruited for a detailed study.
• The project is an adjunct to a much larger government-led programme, still in the works, to
sequence at least 10,000 Indian genomes.
About Genome Sequencing:
• Genomes will be sequenced based on a blood sample and the scientists plan to hold at least
30 camps covering most States.
• Every person whose genomes are sequenced will be given a report. The participants would be
told if they carry gene variants that make them less responsive to certain classes of medicines.
For instance, having a certain gene makes some people less responsive to clopidogrel, a key drug
that prevents strokes and heart attack.
• In some cases, the correlation between disease and genes is weak. A person can request such
information through their clinician because many disorders have single-gene causes but no cure
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or even a line of treatment. Ethics require such information to be shared only after appropriate
counselling.
Analysis:
• Ever since the human genome was first sequenced in 2003, it opened a fresh perspective on
the link between disease and the unique genetic make-up of each individual. Nearly 10,000
diseases — including cystic fibrosis, thalassemia — are known to be the result of a single gene
malfunctioning. While genes may render some insensitive to certain drugs, genome sequencing
has shown that cancer too can be understood from the viewpoint of genetics, rather than being
seen as a disease of certain organs.
• Globally, many countries have undertaken genome sequencing of a sample of their citizens to
determine unique genetic traits, susceptibility (and resilience) to disease. This is the first time
that such a large sample of Indians will be recruited for a detailed study.
IndiGen Genome project
• The IndiGen initiative was undertaken by CSIR in April 2019.
• It was implemented by CSIR-Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology (IGIB), New Delhi
and CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB), Hyderabad.
• IndiGen programme aims to undertake whole genome sequencing of thousands of individuals
representing diverse ethnic groups from India.
• The objective is to enable genetic epidemiology and develop public health technologies
applications using population genome data.
• The outcome of project will have applications in a number of areas such as predictive and
preventive medicine with faster and efficient diagnosis of rare genetic diseases.
The whole-genome data will be important for building the knowhow, baseline data and
indigenous capacity in emerging area of Precision Medicine.
Genome sequencing is figuring out the order of DNA nucleotides, or bases, in a genome—the
order of As, Cs, Gs, and Ts that make up an organism's DNA. The human genome is made up of
over 3 billion of these genetic letters.
National Genomic Grid (Cancer)
Government plans to set up a National Genomic Grid, so as to take cancer research to the next
level and make treatment viable for people of different economic classes.
• The National Genomic Grid for India-specific cancer research will collect samples from cancer
patients from India to study genomic factors influencing cancer and identifying the right
treatment modalities for Indian population.
• The grid to be formed will be in line with National Cancer Tissue Biobank (NCTB) set up at
Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Madras.
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• NCTB functions in close association with Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR) and has
the capacity to stock 50,000 genomic samples from cancer patients.
• The government plans to set up National Genomic Grid in same style as that of NCTB with pan-
India collection centres by bringing all cancer treatment institutions on board.
•The grid will have four parts, with the country divided into east, west, north and south.
Nigeria first to approve Bt cowpea
Context-Nigeria has become the first country to approve open cultivation of genetically
modified (GM) Bt cowpea.
Reason for approval and benefits
• Pests, particularly pod borer (Maruca vitrata), have hampered production of cowpea, the most
important legume in the west African country.
• Bt cowpea was pest-resistant and needed just two sprays while current varieties need eight. It
could potentially increase yield by 20 per cent, a researcher said.
• The GM food crop can also help combat malnutrition rates, especially in children, according to
a statement.
Concerns
• Bt cowpea, faced opposition for years in Nigeria due to fears of an adverse impact on health.
It contains the transgene Cry1Ab, which can be toxic for human liver cells and also alter immune
systems of lab animals, anti-GM groups claimed.
• It was banned in South Africa where the cultivation of modified maize led to enormous pest
resistance and infestation. Moreover, it hasn’t been approved for commercial use elsewhere in
the world
GM crops
• GM is a technology that involves inserting DNA into the genome of an organism. To produce a
GM plant, new DNA is transferred into plant cells. Usually, the cells are then grown in tissue
culture where they develop into plants. The seeds produced by these plants will inherit the new
DNA.
• Genetic modification of plants involves adding a specific stretch of DNA into the plant’s
genome, giving it new or different characteristics. This could include changing the way the plant
grows, or making it resistant to a particular disease. The new DNA becomes part of the GM plant’s
genome which the seeds produced by these plants will contain.
ICRISAT identified climate resilient genes in chickpea
International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), Hyderabad
identified climate resilient genes in chickpea.
•Genome sequencing of 429 chickpea lines from 45 different countries, identified that chickpea
has four important genes for heat tolerance and three important genes for drought tolerance.
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• The identification of other genes with important agronomic traits (high yield, test weight,
kernel weight, maturity, plant height, and lodging resistance) will help in increasing crop yield
and providing better resistance to pests and diseases.
• Identification of these climate-resistant genes will help in developing newer chickpea varieties
which can tolerate temperatures up to 38°C.
ICRISAT: It is an international non-profit organization which undertakes agricultural research for
rural development in the semi-arid tropics (SAT) region.
• It was established in 1972, and its charter was signed by the Food Agriculture Organization
(FAO) and the
• It performs crop improvement research on crops like Chickpea, Pigeonpea, Groundnut, Pearl
millet, Sorghum, Finger Millet and Small millets.
Genome Sequencing to Map Population Diversity
Published On - 4/25/2019 |Science Affairs| Biotechnology
In an indigenous genetic mapping effort, nearly 1,000 rural youth will have their genomes
sequenced by the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR).
• The project is aims to sequence at least 10,000 Indian genomes.
• Those recruited as part of genome-sample collections are representative of the country’s
population diversity.
• In this case, the bulk of them will be college students, both men and women, and pursuing
degrees in the life sciences or biology.
• The project aims to reach out to a lot of collegians, educating them about genomics and putting
a system in place that allows them to access information revealed by their genome.
Genome Sequencing: Genome refers to an organism’s complete set of DNA, including all of its
genes. Each genome contains all of the information required to build and maintain that organism.
Genome sequencing refers to figuring out the order of the DNA nucleotides, or bases, in a
genome.
Golden rice
Bangladesh intent to allow commercial production of golden rice after completion of confined
field testing by Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI), Gazipur.
• It is genetically-engineered rice, it contains beta-carotene — by inserting bacteria and daffodil
and maize genes into it. This is called golden rice because of the golden colour of its grains.
• The newly developed food grain claims to overcome child blindness in this region, owing to
Vitamin A deficiency (VAD) .
• Philippines, Vietnam and Indonesia have adopted the commercial cultivation of the GM rice
variety.
• Commercial production of goldern rice is not allowed in India.
Rice Fortification
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Fortification is the practice of deliberately increasing the content of an essential micronutrient,
i.e. vitamins and minerals (including trace elements) in a food, so as to improve the nutritional
quality of the food supply and provide a public health benefit with minimal risk to health.
Rice fortification is the practice of increasing the content of essential micronutrients in rice and
to improve the nutritional quality of the rice.
• Regular milled rice is low in micronutrients and serves primarily as a source of carbohydrate
only. The fortification of rice is a major opportunity to improve nutrition.
• Fortified rice are contains Vitamin A, Vitamin B1, Vitamin B12, Folic Acid, Iron and Zinc.
Regulations under Food Safety and Standards (Fortification of Foods) Regulations, 2016’ sets the
standards for food fortification and encourage the production, manufacture, distribution, sale
and consumption of fortified foods.
• The regulations also provide for specific role of FSSAI in promotion for food fortification and to
make fortification mandatory. This sets the premise for the national summit on fortification of
food.
Wild Food Plants
Wild food plants (WFPs)
• WFPs which are neither cultivated nor domesticated constitute a special category.
• They grow wild in forests as well as in farmlands and are harvested by local people as sources
of food.
• The tradition of eating WFPs, to augment staple food crops, continues in the present day.
• For forest- dwelling communities, forests remain the main source of food, nutrition, and
livelihoods even today.
• The Soliga tribe is one such community in the Western Ghats who use their indigenous tradition
of eating WFPs, to augment staple food crops
Soligas and their traditional knowledge
• The Soligas are one of few remaining forest-dwelling tribes in and around the forests of Biligiri
Ranganath (BR) Hills, MM Hills, and Bandipur in Karnataka and the Sathyamangalam forests in
Tamil Nadu.
• The study revealed that the diversity of WFPs consumed by the Soligas evolved over
generations as a survival strategy.
• They relate the usage of WFPs to seasonal plant availability and the status of resources.
• These tribals can even predict the availability of WFPs with respect to micro-climatic changes,
indicating a long-term intimate knowledge of their surroundings.
• In addition to their role in balancing food baskets of the poor, WFPs play an important role in
maintaining the nutritional and livelihood security for forest communities during periods of
drought or scarcity.
Examples of WFPs
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• According to Soligas, they get a variety of mushrooms, tender bamboo shoots, and fruits like
Jamune, Karanada, wood apple, custard apple and several varieties of leaves during the rainy
season.
• Honey and tubers like Dioscorea, makal and many ceropegia are harvested throughout the
year.
• In the hot dry summers, the Soligas use leaves and fruits like mango, jackfruit, amla, beland
tamarind.
• Except rice, another staple food of Soligas which they grow, the forests give them everything
else.
Why WFPs?
• For example, edible leaves such as Kaddisoppu and Javanesoppu available in the forest have a
very high content of pro-vitamin A (Beta Carotene), anti-oxidants and soluble protein.
• It is found that the leaves are rich in digestible iron, zinc, and manganese as well.
• Tubers and fruits from the forest that are rich in vitamins and anti-oxidant, are in high demand
in local markets.
• Some of the tubers and mushrooms also have high iron, zinc, vitamins and anti-oxidant content
that is vital for nutritional security.
Threats to WFPs
• Despite their role in food security, forests are mostly left out of policy decisions related to food
security and nutrition.
• Forest foods are in high demand, both in tribal community markets and nearby rural markets.
• Though this may appear an opportunity for economic empowerment of tribal communities, if
not managed, over-harvesting could lead to degradation of the forests and ultimately,
disappearance of these very species.
• Activities such as stone quarrying, mining and development pose grave threats to WFPs.
• The other threat is from commercial monoculture plantations on forestland under
afforestation and social forestry programmes, which are crowding out these wild species.
Way forward
• For WFPs to be preserved for posterity, the forests must be co-managed by tribal communities.
• For the tribal communities, the forest is not just a source of food, but is also a part of their
identity.
• Their way of life is respectful of nature and recognizes diversity in its different manifestations.
• The tribal community’s relationship with the forest is one of belonging rather than ownership.
• Community forest management is good for the health of the forests.
• Implementation of India’s landmark 2006 Forest Rights Act that offers provisions to involve
communities in safeguarding forest resources and developing co-management plans is needed.
Defence
ASTRA Missile
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Context-Recently Air-to-Air missile, ASTRA, has been successfully flight tested off the coast of
Odisha.
• The missile was launched from Su-30 MKI as a part of User trials. The live aerial target was
engaged accurately demonstrating the capability of first indigenous air-to-air missile.
ASTRA missile
• Astra is an indigenous Beyond Visual Range Air-to-Air Astra missile with a range of over 70 km.
• The missile can fly towards its target at a speed of over 5,555 kilometres per hour. It has a 15-
kilogramme high-explosive pre-fragmented warhead.
• The Astra missile has been developed by Defence Research and Development Organisation
along with 50 other public and private organisations, involved at various stages of its
development.
• Modifications of the Sukhoi-30 MKI jets to accommodate Astra missiles has been carried out
by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL)
• Astra is capable of engaging targets at varying range and altitudes allowing for engagement of
both short-range targets (up to 20 km) and long-range targets (up to 80 km) using alternative
propulsion modes.
BrahMos:
The Anti-ship version of supersonic cruise missile BrahMos was test fired from the launch
complex-3 of Integrated Test Range (ITR) at Chandipur in Odisha.
• The name BrahMos is formed from names of two riverse. Indian river Brahmaputraand the
Moskva River of Russia.
• Manufactured at BrahMos Aerospace Limited which is a joint venture between India’s Defence
Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Russia’s NPO Mashinostroyenia (NPOM).
• The medium-range ramjet supersonic cruise missile has a strike range of about 290 km.
• The BrahMos is the fastest cruise missile of its class in the world.
Mother of All Bombs
China has developed a massive bomb. China's defence industry giant NORINCO for the first time
showcased the aerial bomb, the country's largest non-nuclear bomb.It is dubbed as the Chinese
version of the "Mother of All Bombs" due to its huge destruction potential that is claimed to be
only second to nuclear weapons, the daily said.The bomb was airdropped by an H-6K bomber
and caused a gigantic explosion, showed a promotional video released by China North Industries
Group Corporation Limited (NORINCO) on its website at the end of December.
Bhabha Kavach
Bhabha Kavach
• Bhabha Kavach, billed as “India’s lightest bullet-proof jacket”, was launched at the
International Police Expo 2019 in New Delhi.
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• The bullet-proof jacket is developed jointly by the Ordnance Factories Board and the public
sector metals and metal alloys manufacturer MIDHANI.
• It can withstand bullets from an AK-47 assault rifle (7.62 mm hard steel core bullets), and the
5.56 mm INSAS rifle.
• The Kavach weighs 9.2 kg, a half kilogram less than the weight for a bullet-proof jacket
prescribed by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).
• The jacket is powered with nano technology from Bhabha Atomic Research Centre and has a
five-year warranty.
Stands all Quality standards
• The trials have validated that the Bhabha Kavach meets US National Institute of Justice (NIJ)
Level III standards, which guarantees protection against 7.62 mm NATO-standard bullets.
• Most army bulletproof jackets meet the lesser NIJ Level II standard, which protects soldiers
from 9 mm bullets fired from a carbine or handgun.
• That is because the army places a premium on mobility as well as protection and does not want
a heavy jacket.
Imbibing strength
• Bhabha Kavach is built from layers of “high-density, high-tenacity polyethelene, which are
thermo-sealed” by MIDHANI.
• This means the layers are fused together at high temperature.
• This forms a thick, hard armour plate, which is then sprayed with BARC’s carbon nanomaterial.
• Soaking into the layers of the plate, the nanomaterial instils the toughness and tenacity needed
to slow down and trap a bullet as it passes through the plate.
• Bulletproof jacket armour is of two types. Soft armour provides lesser protection, suitable for
threats from handgun and small arms bullets and is worn by bodyguards and VIPs against
personal threats.
• Hard armour is stronger and heavier and is designed to stop high calibre rounds.
• NIJ Level IV jackets even provide protection against armour-piercing rounds.
• Each Bharat Kavach has four hard armour plates, which protect the wearer from the front,
back, and either side.
Akash Missile
• Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has successfully test fired AKASH-
MK-1S missile from ITR , Chandipur, Odhisa. Akash MK 1S is an upgraded version of existing Akash
missile with indigenous technology.
• Akash MK-1S is a surface to air missile which can neutralize advanced aerial targets. The Akash
weapon system has combination of both command guidance and active terminal seeker
guidance. Seeker and guidance performance have been consistently established in both the
missions
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About Missile:
• This is surface to air anti-aircraft missile with a strike range of 25 km and capability to carry
warhead of 60 kilogram.
• It has a launch weight of 720 kg, a diameter of 35 cm and a length of 5.78 metres.
• It can reach an altitude of 18 km and can be fired from both tracked and wheeled platforms.
• The missile is guided by a phased array fire control radar called ‘Rajendra’ which is termed as
Battery Level Radar (BLR) with a tracking range of about 60 km.
• The Akash-MK-1S is capable of striking down enemy fighter jets and drones very effectively
and accurately.
• The Akash surface-to-air missile was designed to intercept enemy aircraft and missiles from a
distance of 18 to 30 km.
Akash Missile:
Context: Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has successfully test fired
AKASH-MK-1S missile.
Key facts:
• This is surface to air anti-aircraft missile with a strike range of 25 km and capability to carry
warhead of 60 kilogram.
• It can reach an altitude of 18 km and can be fired from both tracked and wheeled platforms.
• The missile is guided by a phased array fire control radar called ‘Rajendra’ which is termed as
Battery Level Radar (BLR) with a tracking range of about 60 km.
• The Akash-MK-1S is capable of striking down enemy fighter jets and drones very effectively
and accurately.
• The Akash surface-to-air missile was designed to intercept enemy aircraft and missiles from a
distance of 18 to 30 km.
Indian Coast Guard ship (ICGS) Vigraha
• Indian Coast Guard Ship (ICGS) Vigraha, a frontline offshore patrol vessel, sailed into history.
After 29 glorious years of service from 1990 to 2019, the ship was decommissioned.
• ICGS Vigraha was the seventh offshore patrol vessel built by the Mazagaon Dock Limited,
Mumbai and it was commissioned on April 12, 1990. The ship was later based at Visakhapatnam
and has been instrumental in protecting the east coast in general and Andhra Pradesh coast in
particular since then.
About ICGS Vigraha
• During the 29 years of service, the ship has participated in major coast guard operations
involving search and rescue, anti-poaching, pollution response, humanitarian assistance and
disaster relief, repatriation and joint exercises among others.
• ICGS Vigraha is the symbolic representation of an able-minded warrior in the battle field and
true to her name, she has brought many laurels.
• Vigraha has been instrumental in saving many lives at sea and helped in apprehension of many
smugglers and poachers.
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• Among them, 275 kg silver haul was the most prominent.
• The decommissioning ceremony was attended by eight former Commanding Officers who had
been at the helm of the ship, along with former and the present crew.
Apache helicopters
• The Indian Air Force (IAF) has received the first AH-64E (I)-Apache Guardian helicopter at the
Boeing production facility in Mesa, Arizona, USA.
• Better known as an ‘attack helicopter’, the Apache was received by a team of Indian Air Force
officers led by an Air Marshal.
How many Apache helicopters are being acquired by India?
• The Indian government has signed a contract for 22 Apache helicopters with the US
government and Boeing. This contract was signed in September 2015 for $3 Billion at current
rates and was for the supply of helicopters to the IAF. A follow-up order for six Apache helicopters
was placed for the Army at an estimated cost of $930 Million.
When will the helicopters arrive in India?
• The first of these helicopters is scheduled to be shipped to India in July this year and are likely
to be inducted in the IAF at a special ceremony in Pathankot air base. Selected aircrew and ground
crew have been trained at the US Army base Fort Rucker in Alabama. This nucleus of trained
personnel will lead the induction of the helicopters in the IAF.
IAF gets first Apache Guardian attack helicopter
• US aerospace major Boeing has handed over first of the 22 Apache Guardian attack helicopters
to the Indian Air Force today.
• The addition of AH-64E (I) Apache helicopter is a significant step towards modernization of the
force’s chopper fleet.
AH-64E Apache
• The AH-64E Apache is a leading multi-role attack helicopter and is flown by the US Army.
• The helicopter has been customised to suit the IAF’s future requirements and would have
significant capability in mountainous terrain.
• It has the capability to carry out precision attacks at standoff ranges and operate in hostile
airspace with threats from ground.
• Its ability to transmit and receive the battlefield picture, to and from the weapon systems
through data networking makes it a lethal acquisition
India’s Anti-Satellite (ASAT) missile
• In March, India demonstrated an operation called ‘Mission Shakti’, the Defence Research &
Development Organisation demonstrated India’s ability in offensive defence capability, using a
missile to destroy a satellite in Low Earth Orbit.
• Mission Shakti is a joint programme of the Defence Research and Development Organisation
(DRDO) and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).
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About Mission Shakti:
• It is the technological capability to hit and destroy satellites in space through missiles launched
from the ground.
• The technology is aimed at destroying, if necessary, satellites owned by enemy countries. The
test, however, can be carried out only on one’s own satellite.
• There are a large number of satellites currently in space, many of which have outlived their
utility and orbiting aimlessly.
• One such satellite was chosen for the test. India did not identify the satellite it had chosen to
hit for the test.
Analysis:
• Satellites are extremely critical infrastructure of any country these days. A large number of
crucial applications are now satellite-based. These include navigation systems, communication
networks, broadcasting, banking systems, stock markets, weather forecasting, disaster
management, land and ocean mapping and monitoring tools, and military applications.
Destroying a satellite would render these applications useless. It can cripple enemy
infrastructure, and bring it down on knees, without causing any threat to human lives.
• It requires very advanced capabilities in both space and missile technologies that not many
countries possess.
• But more than that, destroying space infrastructure like satellites is also taboo in the
international community — at least till now — just like the use of a nuclear weapon.
• Almost every country agrees that space must not be used for wars and has spoken against
weaponisation of space. There are international treaties governing the use of space, that
mandate that outer space, and celestial bodies like the Moon, must only be exploited for peaceful
purposes.
• There is a Outer Space Treaty of 1967, to which India is a signatory, that prohibits countries
from placing into orbit around the Earth “any objects carrying nuclear weapons or any other kinds
of weapons of mass destruction”. It also prohibits the stationing of such weapons on celestial
bodies, like the moon, or in outer space. “The moon and other celestial bodies shall be used by
all state parties to the treaty exclusively for peaceful purposes.
Nirbhay missile
• India successfully test-fired its first Sub-sonic cruise missile, Nirbhay. The launch was conducted
from a test range in Odisha.
About Missile:
• Nirbhay is a long range, all-weather, subsonic cruise missile designed and developed in India
by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
• It is a two-stage missile powered by Solid rocket motor booster.
• It has an operational range of 1000 km (long range).
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• The Nirbhay cruise missile is an Indian version of the American Tomahawk.
• The missile, which can be deployed from multiple platforms, was launched by the Defence
Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) from complex-3 of the Integrated Test Range
(ITR) at Chandipur,
• This missile is capable of loitering and cruising at 0.7 Mach at altitude as low as 100 meters,
covered the designated target range in 42 minutes and 23 seconds.
• Nirbhay was tracked with the help of ground-based radars and other parameters were
monitored by indigenous telemetry stations developed by DRDO. The missile test was conducted
in a phased manner.
Health & Medicine
Lymphatic filariasis
Context: National Symposium on Lymphatic Filariasis was held in India on the theme ‘United to
Eliminate Lymphatic Filariasis’.
Lymphatic filariasis:
Also called as elephantiasis, it is Caused by infection with parasitic worms living in the lymphatic
system. The larval stages of the parasite (microfilaria) circulate in the blood and are transmitted
from person to person by mosquitoes.
May Cause abnormal enlargement of body parts, and leading to severe disability and social
stigmatization of those affected.
The parasites are transmitted by four main types of mosquitoes: Culex, Mansonia, Anopheles and
Aedes.
Triple drug therapy:
The World Health Organization (WHO) is recommending three drug treatment to accelerate the
global elimination of lymphatic filariasis.
• The treatment, known as IDA, involves a combination of ivermectin, diethylcarbamazine citrate
and albendazole.
• The plan is to administer these drugs for two consecutive years. The life of the adult worm is
hardly four years, so it would die a natural death without causing any harm to the person.
Need for and significance of the therapy:
• Lymphatic filariasis poses a grave threat to India.
• Over 40% of worldwide cases are found in India.
• Since 2004, two drug therapy for lymphatic filariasis has been in place but the addition of the
third drug now will give a boost to the overall campaign.
•India has missed earlier deadlines to eradicate the disease by 2015 and 2017.
• The global deadline now is 2020 and the three drug approach may help the country get there.
Anthrax
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Context: Anthrax scare at Assam’s Pobitora sanctuary after death of 2 buffaloes Asiatic Water
Buffaloes.
What is anthrax?
A disease caused by Bacillus anthracis, a germ that lives in soil.
Affects animals such as cattle, sheep, and goats more often than people. People can get anthrax
from contact with infected animals, wool, meat, or hides.
Spread: It does not spread directly from one infected animal or person to another; it is spread by
spores. These spores can be transported by clothing or shoes.
Symptoms & Infection:
Respiratory infection in humans initially presents with cold or flu-like symptoms for several days,
followed by pneumonia and severe (and often fatal) respiratory collapse.
Gastrointestinal (GI) infection in humans is most often caused by consuming anthrax-infected
meat and is characterized by serious GI difficulty, vomiting of blood, severe diarrhea, acute
inflammation of the intestinal tract, and loss of appetite.
Cutaneous anthrax, also known as Hide porter’s disease, is the cutaneous (on the skin)
manifestation of anthrax infection in humans.
Treatment:
• The standard treatment for anthrax is a 60-day course of an antibiotic. Treatment is most
effective when started as soon as possible.
• Although some cases of anthrax respond to antibiotics, advanced inhalation anthrax may not.
By the later stages of the disease, the bacteria have often produced more toxins than drugs can
eliminate.
Use in Bioterrorism:
Anthrax has been used in biological warfare by agents and by terrorists to intentionally infect. It
was spread in US through a mail. It killed 5 people and made 22 sick.
WHO report on TB cases in india
Context-The tuberculosis incidence rate in India has decreased by almost 50,000 patients over
the past one year, according to the World Health Organization (WHO)
Key findings
• The report notes that in 2017, India had 27.4 lakh TB patients which came down to 26.9 lakh
in 2018.
•Incidence per 1,00,000 population has decreased from 204 in 2017 to 199 in 2018.
• The number of patients being tested for rifampicin resistance has increased from 32% in 2017
to 46% in 2018.
• And the treatment success rate has increased to 81% for new and relapse cases (drug sensitive)
in 2017, which was 69% in 2016.
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Disease trends
• According to experts, TB remains the top infectious killer in the world claiming over 4,000 lives
a day.
• This report presents progress towards targets set at the first-ever United Nations General
Assembly high-level meeting on TB in 2018, that brought together heads of state, as well as the
targets of the WHO End TB Strategy and Sustainable Development Goals.
Covering all cases
• Meanwhile, the India TB-Report 2019 notes that India is closest ever to covering all TB cases
through the online notification system (NIKSHAY). “With the aim of universal access to free
diagnostics and treatment services, state-of-the-art diagnostic tests and quality assured drugs
have been extended to all patients seeking TB care,” notes the India report.
• In India, of the estimated 2.69 million TB cases emerging in 2018, 2.15 million were reported
to the Government of India — leaving a gap of 5,40,000 patients who are going unreported.
What is Tuberculosis?
• Tuberculosis -- or TB, as it’s commonly called -- is a contagious infection that usually attacks
the lungs. It can also spread to other parts of the body, like the brain and spine. A type of bacteria
called Mycobacterium tuberculosis causes it.
How Is TB Spread?
• Through the air, just like a cold or the flu. When someone who’s sick coughs, sneezes, talks,
laughs, or sings, tiny droplets that contain the germs are released. If you breathe in these nasty
germs, you get infected.
• TB is contagious, but it’s not easy to catch. You usually have to spend a lot of time around a
person who has a high load of bactilli in their lungs. That’s why it’s often spread among co-
workers, friends, and family members.
• Tuberculosis germs don’t thrive on surfaces. You can’t get the disease from shaking hands with
someone who has it, or by sharing their food or drink.
Lancet’s Findings on India
•India’s goal to end the epidemic by 2025(five years ahead of the UN SDG) is too “ambitious",
“unrealistic", and, therefore, unattainable. As it requires high quality of care to every person from
diagnosis to treatment.
• TB incidence in the country being 204 cases per 1,00,000 in 2017.
• 10% of individuals with TB die or self-cure before presenting for care.
• Patient delay before the first presentation for care is 4.1 months.
• The proportion of people with TB completing treatment is 85%.
• India has the highest number of multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB) cases in the world. the
majority of cases due to direct transmission.
• The early diagnosis and prompt initiation of effective treatment should be high priority to curb
MDR-TB transmission.
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