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Subject: Basic Sciences

  • GEAC gives its nod for commercial cultivation of GM mustard yet again

    mustard

    The Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC) has yet again cleared the proposal for commercial cultivation of genetically modified (GM) mustard.

    What exactly is GM (Hybridized) Mustard?

    • Hybridization involves crossing two genetically dissimilar plant varieties that can even be from the same species.
    • The first-generation (F1) offspring from such crosses tend to have higher yields than what either parent can individually give.
    • Such hybridization isn’t easy in mustard, as its flowers have both female (pistil) and male (stamen) reproductive organs, making the plants largely self-pollinating.
    • Since the eggs of one plant cannot be fertilised by the pollen grains from another, it limits the scope for developing hybrids.

    How has hybridisation been achieved in mustard?

    • This has been done by genetic modification (GM).
    • Scientists at Delhi University’s Centre for Genetic Manipulation of Crop Plants (CGMCP) have developed the hybrid mustard DMH-11.
    • It contains two alien genes isolated from a soil bacterium called Bacillus amyloliquefaciens.
    • The first gene (‘barnase’) codes for a protein that impairs pollen production and renders the plant into which it is incorporated male-sterile.
    • This plant is then crossed with a fertile parental line containing, in turn, the second ‘barstar’ gene that blocks the action of the barnase gene.
    • The resultant F1 progeny is both high-yielding and also capable of producing seed/ grain, thanks to the barstar gene in the second fertile line.

    How did researchers achieve this?

    • The CGMCP scientists have deployed the barnase-barstar GM technology to create what they say is a robust and viable hybridisation system in mustard.
    • This system was used to develop DMH-11 by crossing a popular Indian mustard variety ‘Varuna’ (the barnase line) with an East European ‘Early Heera-2’ mutant (barstar).
    • DMH-11 is claimed to have shown an average 28% yield increase over Varuna in contained field trials carried out by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR).

    What has GEAC now done?

    • GEAC has recommended the environmental release of DMH-11 for its seed production and testing prior to commercial release.
    • In other words, it has given the green signal for commercial cultivation by farmers, with production of seed material being the first step.
    • This move was earlier vetoed in 2016 by Environment Ministry.

    Why did it take so long for GEAC to clear?

    • There has been opposition to GM crops in general, from assorted green groups.
    • Major concern is the presence of a third ‘bar’ gene, which makes GM mustard plants tolerant to the spraying of glufosinate ammonium, a chemical used for killing weeds.
    • This, the opponents allege will cause displacement of manual labour engaged in weeding by promoting use of chemical herbicides.
    • Another concern is over GM mustard threatening or undermining the population of honey bees.
    • Mustard flowers are a source of nectar for honey bees and many other pollinator insects.

    Try this PYQ:

    Q.With reference to the Genetically Modified mustard (GM mustard) developed in India, consider the following statements:

    1. GM mustard has the genes of a soil bacterium that give the plant the property of pest-resistance to a wide variety of pests.
    2. GM mustard has the genes that allow the plant cross-pollination and hybridization.
    3. GM mustard has been developed jointly by the IARI and Punjab Agricultural University.

    Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

    (a) 1 and 3 only

    (b) 2 only

    (c) 2 and 3 only

    (d) 1, 2 and 3

     

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    Back2Basics: Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC)

    • The GEAC is a statutory body notified under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.
    • It was formed as the Genetic Engineering Approval Committee and was renamed to its current name in 2010.
    • It functions under the Ministry of Environment, Forests & Climate Change.
    • The body regulates the use, manufacture, storage, import, and export of hazardous microorganisms or genetically-engineered organisms and cells in India.

     

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  • Five new varieties to expand India’s Basmati platter

    basmati

    Five new Basmati varieties, developed by a group of scientists from Indian Agriculture Research Institute (IARI), in 2020 and 2021 are all set to bring revolutionary changes in the way this type of paddy is cultivated in the country.

    About Basmati Rice

    • Basmati, pronounced is a variety of long, slender-grained aromatic rice which is traditionally grown in India, Pakistan, and Nepal.
    • As of 2019, India accounted for 65% of the international trade in basmati rice, while Pakistan accounted for the remaining 35%.
    • Many countries use domestically grown basmati rice crops; however, basmati is geographically exclusive to certain districts of India and Pakistan.
    • India accounts for over 70% of the world’s basmati rice production.
    • The areas which have a geographical indication are in the states of Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Delhi, Uttarakhand, Western Uttar Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir

    Export potential of Basmati

    • Basmati rice has a market abroad and brings about ₹30,000 crore in foreign exchange every year.
    • While 75% of the export is to West Asian countries, European Union countries also import Indian Basmati.
    • However, recently, the export to EU countries faced certain hurdles due to the increase in the pesticide residue levels in the rice from India.

     

     

  • India tests medium-range ballistic missile Agni Prime

    agni

    India has successfully test-fired indigenously-developed new generation medium-range ballistic missile Agni Prime from the Odisha coast.

    Agni-Prime Missile

    • Agni-P is a new generation advanced variant of the Agni class of missiles.
    • It is the sixth missile in the Agni series of ballistic missile.
    • It is a two-staged canisterised missile with a range capability between 1,000 and 2,000 km.
    • Many advanced technologies including composites, propulsion systems, innovative guidance and control mechanisms and state-of-the-art navigation systems have been introduced.
    • Significantly, it weighs 50 per cent less than the Agni 3 missile and has new guidance and propulsion systems
    • The missile strengthens India’s credible deterrence capabilities.

    Back2Basics: Agni Missiles

    agni

    • Agni missiles are long range, nuclear weapons capable surface to surface ballistic missile.
    • The first missile of the series, Agni-I was developed under the Integrated Guided Missile Development Program (IGMDP) and tested in 1989.
    • After its success, Agni missile program was separated from the IGMDP upon realizing its strategic importance.
    • It was designated as a special program in India’s defence budget and provided adequate funds for subsequent development.

    Variants of Agni missiles

    1. Agni I: It is a Medium Range Ballistic Missile with a Range of 700-800 km.
    2. Agni II: It is also a Medium Range Ballistic Missile with a Range more than 2000 km.
    3. Agni III: It is also an Inter-Medium Range Ballistic Missile with Range of more than 2,500 Km
    4. Agni IV: It is also an Inter-Medium Range Ballistic Missile with Range is more than 3,500 km and can fire from a road mobile launcher.
    5. Agni-V: Currently it is the longest of Agni series, an Inter-Continental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) with a range of over 5,000 km.
    6. Agni- VI: The longest of the Agni series, an Inter-Continental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) with a range of ICBM 11,000–12,000 km.

     

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  • What is Web 3.0?

    web

    India has a rapidly-growing Web3 ecosystem with more than 450 active start-ups in the space that raised $1.3 billion in funding till April 2022.

    What is Web 3.0?

    • Web3 help users interact with decentralized applications built on blockchain technology.
    • Web3 technologies like distributed ledgers, artificial intelligence, Metaverse and others aim to create the next-generation internet, which is accessible to everyone and offers benefits.
    • Web2 is what we know and use today.

    Why need Web 3?

    • Centralization has helped onboard billions of people to the World Wide Web (www) and created the stable, robust internet infrastructure.
    • At the same time, a handful of centralized entities have a stronghold on large swathes of the World Wide Web.
    • They unilaterally decide what should and should not be allowed over Internet.

    Key features of a Web3

    • Immutable ecosystem, i.e., trust that people will download the digital product just as the original creator intended.
    • Enhanced transparency and security,
    • Quicker browsing performance,
    • Complete user anonymity and confidentiality,
    • Integrating cryptocurrency wallets with multiple blockchains,
    • Complete control over the content due to decentralization.

    Evolution of (world-wide) web

    • The Web most of us know today is quite different from originally imagined.
    • To understand this better, it’s helpful to break the Web’s short history into loose periods—Web 1.0 and Web 2.0.

    (1) Web 1.0: Read-Only (1990-2004)

    • The first inception of ‘Web 1.0’, occurred roughly between 1990 to 2004.
    • It was mainly static websites owned by companies, and there was close to zero interaction between users – individuals seldom produced content – leading to it being known as the read-only web.

    (2) Web 2.0: Read-Write (2004-now)

    • The Web 2.0 period began in 2004 with the emergence of social media platforms.
    • Instead of a read-only, the web evolved to be read-write.
    • Instead of companies providing content to users, they also began to provide platforms to share user-generated content and engage in user-to-user interactions.
    • As more people came online, a handful of top companies began to control a disproportionate amount of the traffic and value generated on the web.
    • Web 2.0 also birthed the advertising-driven revenue model.
    • While users could create content, they didn’t own it or benefit from its monetization.

    How is Web3 prospected to be?

    • The premise of ‘Web 3.0’ was coined by Ethereum co-founder Gavin Wood shortly after Ethereum launched in 2014.
    • Gavin put into words a solution for a problem that many early crypto adopters felt: the Web required too much trust.
    • That is, most of the Web that people know and use today relies on trusting a handful of private companies to act in the public’s best interests.

    Core ideas of Web3

    Although it’s challenging to provide a rigid definition of what Web3 is, a few core principles guide its creation.

    • Web3 is decentralized: instead of large swathes of the internet controlled and owned by centralized entities, ownership gets distributed amongst its builders and users.
    • Web3 is permission-less: everyone has equal access to participate in Web3, and no one gets excluded.
    • Web3 has native payments: it uses cryptocurrency for spending and sending money online instead of relying on the outdated infrastructure of banks and payment processors.
    • Web3 is secure: It operates using incentives and economic mechanisms instead of relying on trusted third-parties.

    Why is Web3 important?

    • Ownership: Web3 gives you ownership of your digital assets in an unprecedented way. Web3 allows for direct ownership through non-fungible tokens (NFTs).
    • Censorship resistance: The power dynamic between platforms and content creators is massively imbalanced.
    • Decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs): As well as owning your data in Web3, you can own the platform as a collective, using tokens that act like shares in a company.

     

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  • What is RNA Origami?

    rna

    This newscard is an excerpt of the original article published in The Hindu.

    Note: It appears to be too much biological. And suddenly out of our ease of understanding.

    What is Ribo Nucleic Acid (RNA)?

    • RNA is an important biological macromolecule that is present in all biological cells.
    • It is principally involved in the synthesis of proteins, carrying the messenger instructions from DNA, which itself contains the genetic instructions required for the development and maintenance of life.
    • In some viruses, RNA, rather than DNA, carries genetic information.
    • The type of RNA dictates the function that this molecule will have within the cell.
    • Aside from the coding region of messenger RNA (mRNA) molecules that will be translated into proteins, other cellular RNA elements are involved in different processes.

    What are RNA Origami?

    • RNA origami is the nanoscale folding of RNA, enabling the RNA to create particular shapes to organize these molecules.
    • It is an attempt to generate complex human-made RNA-based devices.
    • They are stable in cells, interact with other biomolecules, including other RNA and proteins, and enable unique applications, particularly in the context of gene regulation.

    Why are they used?

    So far there have been two approaches in RNA origami and both attempt to regulate the production of protein.

    (1) To achieve precise control of protein production

    • Self-inhibiting protein expression cassettes were made by installing a strong binding site for the expressed protein in its own gene.
    • Afterwards, RNA origami decorated with the same protein-binding sites was expressed in large excess.
    • In this way, the RNA origami serves as a protein-sponge that sequesters proteins in the cell and allows expression of the self-inhibited protein.
    • This approach helped to regulate several proteins simultaneously and turn on enzymatic pathways for improved product yields.

    (2) Using for gene editing

    • The RNA origamis were integrated in the small RNAs that guide CRISPR-Cas9 enzyme to target specific sequences in the DNA genome.
    • Its scaffolds were decorated with protein-binding sites capable of recruiting transcription factors.
    • By targeting the RNA scaffolds to promoter regions, the transcription factors activated gene expression.
    • Researchers have shown that the expression strength can be tuned by the orienting the scaffold and level of transcription factors recruited.
    • These multi-enzyme pathways could be controlled for high-yield production of the anti-cancer drug violacein.

     

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  • What is Carbon Dating?

    carbon dating

    A Varanasi district court has rejected the plea to conduct carbon-dating of the disputed structure known to have been found inside the premises of the Gyanvapi mosque.

    What is Carbon Dating?

    • Carbon dating, also called radiocarbon dating is method of age determination that depends upon the decay to nitrogen of radiocarbon (Carbon-14).
    • This method was developed by the American physicist Willard F. Libby about 1946.
    • Carbon-14 is continually formed in nature by the interaction of neutrons with nitrogen-14 in the Earth’s atmosphere.
    • The neutrons required for this reaction are produced by cosmic rays interacting with the atmosphere.

    How it works?

    • Radiocarbon present in molecules of atmospheric carbon dioxide enters the biological carbon cycle: it is absorbed from the air by green plants and then passed on to animals through the food chain.
    • Radiocarbon decays slowly in a living organism, and the amount lost is continually replenished as long as the organism takes in air or food.
    • Once the organism dies, however, it ceases to absorb carbon-14, so that the amount of the radiocarbon in its tissues steadily decreases.

    The half-life concept

    • Carbon-14 has a half-life of 5,730 ± 40 years—i.e., half the amount of the radioisotope present at any given time will undergo spontaneous disintegration during the succeeding 5,730 years.
    • Because carbon-14 decays at this constant rate, an estimate of the date at which an organism died can be made by measuring the amount of its residual radiocarbon.

    Its uses

    • It has proved to be a versatile technique of dating fossils and archaeological specimens from 500 to 50,000 years old.
    • The method is widely used by geologists, anthropologists, archaeologists, and investigators in related fields.

     

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  • UN World Geospatial Information Congress (UNWGIC)

    UNWGIC

    PM has inaugurated the second United Nations World Geospatial Information Congress (UNWGIC) in Hyderabad.

    What is UNWGIC?

    • The first United Nations World Geospatial Information Congress was held in Deqing, Zhejiang Province, China in 2018.
    • The United Nation Committee of Experts on Global Geospatial Information Management (UN-GGIM) organizes the UNWGIC every four years.
    • It is hosted by the Ministry of Science and Technology of the Government of India.
    • The objectives are enhancing international collaboration among the Member States and relevant stakeholders in Geospatial information management and capacities.
    • The theme of UNWGIC 2022 is ‘Geo-Enabling the Global Village: No one should be left behind’.

    Objectives of UNWGIC

    • The move aims to provide high-quality and trustworthy geospatial data to support global and national policy agendas.
    • It also stresses international cooperation and coordination in the development of human data linked to geography.
    • It promotes societal development and well-being, addresses environmental and climate challenges, and embraces digital transformation and technological advancement.

    Why collaborate on geospatial technology?

    • Geospatial technology can be used to create intelligent maps and models which help to collect geographically referenced data.
    • Decisions based on the value and importance of resources, most of which are limited, can become easy through geospatial technology.
    • Intelligent maps and models can be created using geospatial technology.
    • It can be used to reveal spatial patterns hidden in large amounts of data that are complex to access collectively through mapping.

     

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  • Nobel for work on Click Chemistry

    click

    Scientists Carolyn R. Bertozzi, Morten Meldal and K. Barry Sharpless won the 2022 Nobel Prize in Chemistry on for discovering reactions that let molecules snap together to create desired compounds and that offer insight into cell biology.

    What the scientists worked on?

    • Sharpless came up with the term ‘Click Chemistry’ and worked extensively on it,
    • Meldal came up with a special chemical structure called ‘Triazole’ which has many significant applications, and
    • Bertozzi took the next step of developing click reactions that could work inside living organisms — ‘bioorthogonal’ reactions take place living systems without interfering with native biochemical processes.

    What is Click Chemistry?

    • Chemists often try to recreate complex chemical molecules found in nature, and this has applications, among other things, in the field of medicine – how to target and block pathogens in cells.
    • However, this process can be complicated and time-consuming.
    • Instead of trying to wrangle reluctant carbon atoms into reacting with each other, Barry Sharpless encouraged his colleagues to start with smaller molecules that already had a complete carbon frame.
    • If chemists choose simple reactions – where there is a strong intrinsic drive for the molecules to bond together – they avoid many of the side reactions, with a minimal loss of material.

    Applications of click chemistry

    • Meldal through his experiments came up with the useful chemical structure called triazoles, whch are stable and are found in pharmaceuticals, dyes and agricultural chemicals.
    • He also found that the reaction he used could bind together numerous different molecules.
    • Bertozzi, using the work of Sharpless and Meldal, came up with an efficient and innovative method to map glycans, which are carbohydrate-based polymers made by all living organisms.

     

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  • Places in news: Ram Setu

    ram setu

    A movie has once again generated buzz around the chain of shoals off the southeast coast of India that many believe is the Ram Setu or the bridge to Lanka mentioned in the Ramayana.

    The Ram Setu

    • The Ram Setu, also known as Adam’s Bridge, is a 48-km chain of limestone shoals between Rameswaram on India’s southeast coast and Mannar Island near Sri Lanka’s northwest coast.
    • The structure has significance in both Hindu and Muslim mythology – while Hindus believe this is the bridge (Setu) built by Lord Ram and his army to cross to Lanka and fight Ravan.
    • As per Islamic legend, Adam used this bridge to reach Adam’s Peak in Sri Lanka, where he stood on one foot for 1,000 years in repentance.

    Factual details of the bridge

    • Scientists believe Ram Setu is a natural structure formed due to tectonic movements and sand getting trapped in corals.
    • However, over the years, evidence has been offered to claim that the bridge is man-made.
    • The bridge is not entirely natural, Hindu right wing outfits argue, which proves that it was indeed built by Lord Ram.

    When was the structure came into highlights?

    • The Ram Setu issue snowballed into a major controversy when the Sethusamudram Project, flagged off during the UPA I government.
    • The project aimed to reduce travel time between the eastern and western coasts of India, as ships would no longer have to circle Sri Lanka to travel between the Bay of Bengal and Arabian Sea.
    • The project was perceived as an attack on Hindu sentiments.
    • Various studies have been proposed on the Ram Setu, with the most recent being in 2021, when the government approved an underwater research project to ascertain its origins.

    Ecological arguments against the project

    • The Sethusamudram project has been opposed on environmental grounds.
    • Some claims that it will harm marine life, and that dredging of the line of shoals will make India’s coast more vulnerable to tsunamis.
    • In March 2018, the Centre told the Supreme Court that the Ram Setu will not be affected in the execution of the Sethusamudram Shipping Canal project.

    NASA images, and other proofs

    • Images of the Ram Setu clicked by NASA have been used over and over again to claim that this proves the existence of a man-made bridge.
    • NASA has repeatedly clarified that it does not agree with these claims.
    • Remote sensing images or photographs from orbit cannot provide direct information about the origin or age of a chain of islands.
    • It certainly cannot be determined whether humans were involved in producing any of the patterns seen.

     

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  • In news: Rotterdam Convention

    International trade of two new hazardous pesticides — Iprodione and Terbufos — has been recommended for “prior informed consent” (PIC) procedure under the Rotterdam convention.

    Why in news?

    • In India, the use of these chemicals was permitted by the 2015 Anupam Verma committee report. The country is among the largest exporters of Terbufos.
    • The chemicals are dangerous for humans and aquatic animals.

    Rotterdam Convention

    • The Rotterdam Convention is formally known as the Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade.
    • It is a multilateral treaty to promote shared responsibilities in relation to importation of hazardous chemicals.
    • The convention promotes open exchange of information and calls on exporters of hazardous chemicals to use proper labelling, include directions on safe handling, and inform purchasers of any known restrictions or bans.
    • Signatory nations can decide whether to allow or ban the importation of chemicals listed in the treaty, and exporting countries are obliged to make sure that producers within their jurisdiction comply.
    • India is a party to the convention, with 161 other parties.

    What is the Prior Informed Consent (PIC) procedure?

    • The PIC procedure is a mechanism for formally obtaining and disseminating the decisions of importing parties on their willingness to receive future shipments of hazardous chemicals.
    • The PIC procedure is a mechanism for formally obtaining and disseminating the decisions of importing Parties as to whether they wish to receive future shipments of those chemicals listed in the Convention.
    • For each of the chemicals listed in Annex III and subject to the PIC procedure a decision guidance document (DGD) is prepared and sent to all Parties.
    • All Parties are required to take a decision as to whether or not they will allow future import of each of the chemicals in Annex III of the Convention.
    • These decisions are known as import responses.

    Which are the new chemicals listed?

    • Iprodione, a fungicide used on vines, fruits, trees and vegetables, has been classified as carcinogenic and toxic for reproduction.
    • Terbufos is a soil insecticide used commonly on sorghum, maize, beet and potatoes. It has also been found to pose risk to aquatic organisms due to its toxicity.
    • Both pesticides, which are used in agriculture, are known for their harmful impacts on human health and the environment.

     

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