GS Paper: GS3

Central Idea

• Two US-based companies have received approval from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to produce and sell cell-cultivated chicken, a type of lab-grown meat.
• This development is seen as a significant step towards reducing carbon emissions associated with the food industry.

Cell-Cultivated Chicken: How is it made?

• Cell Isolation: The companies isolate cells from live animals that are likely to taste good and reproduce consistently.
• Nutrient-Rich Mixture: The isolated cells are combined with a broth-like mixture containing essential nutrients, such as amino acids, fatty acids, sugars, salts, vitamins, and others required for cell growth.
• Cultivation in Bioreactors: The cells are placed in bioreactors or cultivators, creating a controlled environment that supports cell growth.
• Rapid Proliferation: Within two to three weeks, the cells multiply and form either large sheets (Upside Foods) or cell aggregates (Good Meat).
• Processing and Shaping: The cellular materials are collected, processed, and shaped into various meat products such as cutlets, sausages, or other forms.

Forms of Cell-Cultivated Meat

• Focus on Chicken: Good Meat and Upside Foods initially concentrate on cell-cultivated chicken, given its global consumption demand.
• Expansion Plans: These companies aim to extend their offerings to include other meats in the future. Research is underway for cell-cultivated versions of beef, sea bass, tuna, and shrimp.

Motivations behind Cell-Cultivated Meat

• Climate Mitigation: Cell-cultivated meat has the potential to reduce carbon emissions and land use associated with livestock production, addressing climate change concerns.
• Animal Welfare: By eliminating traditional animal farming, it aims to prevent animal cruelty.
• Food Security: Advocates view alternative meat as a means to meet nutritional demands worldwide.

Challenges to Overcome

• Consumer Acceptance: Ensuring that cell-cultivated meat matches the taste, texture, and appearance of traditional meat remains a challenge for widespread adoption.
• Cost Factors: The cost of cell-cultivated meat is expected to remain high in the near future, with concerns regarding quality control at scale.
• Resource Requirements: High-quality cells, suitable growth mediums, and other resources are necessary for successful cultivation.
• Environmental Impact: Studies highlight uncertainties regarding the environmental impact of cell-cultivated meat production, particularly concerning the growth medium used.

Central Idea: All five crew onboard the Titan submersible are dead after a catastrophic implosion.

What is Submersible?

• Submersibles are vessels designed for underwater travel, often used for research, exploration, and tourism purposes.
• They are white tubes of about 6.7 meters long and 2.8 meters wide, and have a top speed of three knots or 5.5 kilometers (3.5 miles) an hour.
• In the context of tourism, submersibles provide passengers with the opportunity to experience the wonders of the underwater world and explore marine ecosystems.
• Submersible tourism has gained popularity among adventurous travellers, offering unique opportunities to explore the underwater world.

Submersible Tourism and the Titanic Site 

• The wreckage of the RMS Titanic, discovered in 1985, has been a popular destination for tourists over the years.
• OceanGate Expeditions began offering Titanic expeditions, taking crews of “citizen scientists” and “crew members” to the site since 2010.

About Titan Submersible 

• The Titan submersible was constructed using titanium and filament-wound carbon fiber.
• With a length of 22 feet and a weight of 10,432 kg, it was capable of reaching depths of 4,000 meters (13,123 feet).

Functionality and Equipment

• The submersible employed 4 electric thrusters for movement and maneuverability.
• Equipped with an array of cameras, lights, and scanners, the Titan facilitated deep-sea exploration and surveying.
• Communication in deep waters was achieved using sound waves (sonar) since radio waves do not transmit effectively.

Differentiating Submersibles and Submarines  

• Submersibles, such as the Titan, are not fully autonomous and require support ships for launch and recovery.
• They descend using weights and do not possess the power to launch independently.
• Submarines, on the other hand, are self-propelled and capable of launching and returning without external support.

Depth and Cost

• The maximum depth for the OceanGate Titanic expedition is around 12,800 feet, with the wreck located at 12,500 feet.
• The cost of touring the Titanic varies, with the OceanGate expedition priced at $250,000 per person.

Safety Considerations in Submersible Tourism 

• The submersible tourism industry adheres to international safety standards and has maintained a safety record without incident for 50 years, according to the Marine Technology Society (MTS).
• Submersible tour companies conduct detailed risk assessments for each experience, ensuring clients are aware of the potential risks involved.
• Clients often undergo risk assessments and sign waivers before embarking on submersible journeys.

Central idea

• Hope Dwindling for Titan Submersible: The Titan submersible lost all crew in an underwater implosion.
• Indigenous Indian Submersible: Indian scientists are preparing to undertake a similar dive in an indigenous vehicle called Matsya-6000.

What is Samudrayaan Mission?

• Samudrayaan is a mega mission related to the ocean/sea-launched in October 2021.
• It is aimed to develop “a self-propelled manned submersible to carry three human beings to a water depth of 6,000 meters in the ocean with a suite of scientific sensors and tools for deep ocean exploration.
• It seeks to carry out deep ocean exploration of non-living resources such as polymetallic manganese nodules, gas hydrates, hydro-thermal sulfides, and cobalt crusts, located at a depth between 1000 and 5500 meters.

About MATSYA 6000

• Developed indigenously, MATSYA 6000 is a manned submersible vehicle.
• It will facilitate the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) in conducting deep ocean exploration.
• It has an endurance of 12 hours of operational period and 96 hours in case of emergency, according to the ANI news agency.
• The manned submersible will allow scientific personnel to observe and understand unexplored deep-sea areas by direct intervention.

Design specifications

• Titanium Enclosure: Matsya-6000 features a titanium casing on the front and back, chosen over carbon fiber for enhanced safety.
• Syntactic Foam: The submersible is equipped with syntactic foam, a flotation device that helps determine its location even if it cannot resurface.

Need for such a mission

• Huge coastline: India has a unique maritime position, a 7517 km long coastline, which is home to nine coastal states and 1,382 islands.
• Blue Economy: The mission aims to boost the Central government’s vision of ‘New India’ that highlights the Blue Economy as one of the ten core dimensions of growth.
• Coastal Economy: For India, with its three sides surrounded by the oceans and around 30% of the nation’s population living in coastal areas and coastal regions play a major economic factor. It supports fisheries and aquaculture, tourism, livelihoods, and blue trade.

Lessons learned from Titan Submersible

• Precautions in Place: The Indian scientists working on Matsya-6000 assure multiple back-up safety measures for the crew.
• Safety System Reviews: There may be reviews of the employed safety systems in light of the Titan submersible incident.
• Test Dives and Depth Limit: Prior to the main dives, NIOT divers will undertake test dives up to 500 meters inside a steel submersible.
• Titanium vs. Steel: Titanium, being stronger yet lighter than steel, is preferred for resurfacing ease and balancing extreme ocean depths.
• Spherical Hull Perfection: The submersible’s hull must be perfectly spherical to evenly distribute extreme pressure at ocean depths.

Impact on Safety Measures

• Reviewing Safety Measures: The incident involving the Titan submersible prompts a reevaluation and rechecking of safety measures for the Matsya-6000 mission.
• Incorporating Lessons Learned: The accident serves as a learning opportunity to enhance the safety and reliability of the upcoming Indian mission.