IAS YAN Academy for Civil Services Pvt. Ltd. 2021 SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY Complete Current Affairs Compilation Vol- I from July 2020 to March 2021 SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY Content Biotechnology 2 Space Technology 6 IT & Computer 46 Health 55 Alternate Energy 71 Defence Technology 76 Miscellaneous & New discovery 79 P a g e | 1 BIOTECHNOLOGY Nobel Prize in Chemistry What is in news? This year‘s Nobel Prize in Chemistry has been awarded to two scientists who transformed a bacterial immune mechanism, called CRISPR, into a tool that can edit the DNA/genomes of everything from wheat to mosquitoes to humans. CRISPR CRISPR (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats) is a family of DNA sequences found in the genomes of prokaryotic organisms such as bacteria and archaea. The CRISPR-Cas system is a prokaryotic immune system. It defends against phage and conjugative plasmid infection. o A bacteriophage, also known informally as a phage, is a virus that infects and replicates within bacteria and archaea. o A plasmid is a small, extra-chromosomal DNA molecule within a cell that is physically separated from chromosomal DNA and can replicate independently. It can cause infection. Cas9 Cas9 – is one of the enzymes produced by the CRISPR system – which binds to the DNA and cuts it, shutting the targeted gene off. Significance The ability to cut DNA wherever we want has revolutionized the life sciences. This editing process has a wide variety of applications including basic biological research, development of biotechnology products, and treatment of diseases. CRISPR-based therapies hold promise for the treatment of cancer and inherited disorders such as sickle cell disease and for the prevention and treatment of infectious diseases. CRISPR could enable scientists to repair genetic defects or use genetically modified human cells as therapies. Traditional gene therapy uses viruses to insert new genes into cells to try to treat diseases. The crispr-Cas9 genetic scissors were discovered 8 years ago, but have already benefited humankind greatly. P a g e | 2 Concerns Various ethical concerns can emerge with genome editing including safety. Studies have shown that it could lead to mutations that lead to others down the line. If genetic edits are made to embryos, or to egg or sperm cells, these changes will be inherited by all future generations. CRISPR has also been used in one of the most controversial biomedical experiments, when a Chinese scientist edited the genomes of human embryos, creating a Designer Baby. Way Ahead Genome editing should be regulated within the framework for gene-transfer research for allaying ethical concerns and reaping the benefits of this novel technology in medicine, genetics and agriculture to its fullest potential. Indigen Project Context Results from the computation analysis of 1,029 sequenced genomes from India under the Indigen Project were recently released. What is IndiGen Project?? IndiGen project is concerned with whole genome sequencing og human representative population of India. This project was undertaken by Center for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) in April 2019. Under this project 1400 blood samples were collected from all over India. This collection sample included 55 various variant populations in India. Out of these complete genome sequencing of 1008 individuals was successfully done. The project was completed is six months. What is whole genome sequencing? A genome is the DNA, or sequence of genes, in a cell. Most of the DNA is in the nucleus andintricately coiled into a structure called the chromosome. The rest is in the mitochondria, the cell‘s powerhouse. Every human cell contains a pair of chromosomes, each of which has three billion base pairs or one of four molecules that pair in precise ways. The order of base pairs and varying lengths of these sequences constitute the ―genes‖, which are responsible for making amino acids, proteins and, thereby, everything that is necessary for the body to function. It is when these genes are altered or mutated that proteins sometimes do not function as intended, leading to disease. Sequencing a genome means deciphering the exact order of base pairs in an individual. peutics for targeting the disease P a g e | 3 Genome Sequencing is the gold standard of precision medicine. Aquaponics Context Recently, a pilot ‗Aquaponics facility‘ has been developed by the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing Mohali. Aquaponics Aquaponics is a form of agriculture that combines raising fish in tanks (recirculating aquaculture) with soilless plant culture (hydroponics). In aquaponics, the nutrient-rich water from raising fish provides a natural fertilizer for the plants and the plants help to purify the water for the fish. o Hydroponics is the cultivation of plants without using soil. Hydroponic flowers, herbs, and vegetables are planted in inert growing media and supplied with nutrient-rich solutions, oxygen, and water. P a g e | 4 About The state-of-the-art facility in Mohali is equipped with advanced sensors for monitoring and automated controls. It has been developed with the funding support from Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology. The facility is nearly 100% organic, need much less land for a give yield of crop, consumes 90% less water. The fish and plants grown are more nutritious. Benefits of Aquaponics Because aquaponics recycles the water in the system, we can grow in droughts and areas with little water. Less pests to deal with since we are growing indoors. There‘s no weeding. Plants Grows Twice As Fast. Due to the naturally fortified water from the fish. Water Conservation: Aquaponics uses 90% less water than traditional farming. Water and nutrients are recycled in a closed-loop fashion which conserves water. Aquaponics Protects Our Rivers & Lakes: No harmful fertilizer run off into the water shed. In efforts to maintain nutrient rich soil, farms have to use a lot of fertilizers, those excess fertilizers eventually make it the rivers, where there are countless harmful side effects. Land Conservation: The system grows six times more per square foot than traditional farming. Fish have no growth hormones, no mercury, no antibiotics. Cancer Genome Atlas Context The Minister of Science and Technology virtually inaugurated the 2nd Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) 2020 conference. About TCGA The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) is a project to catalogue genetic mutations responsible for cancer, using genome sequencing and bioinformatics. TCGA applies high-throughput genome analysis techniques to improve the ability to diagnose, treat, and prevent cancer through a better understanding of the genetic basis of this disease. Lab-Grown Meat Context The Singapore Food Agency (SFA) has approved the sale of a lab-grown meat product. This is the first time cultured meat has been cleared for sale anywhere in the world. Lab-grown or cultured meat VS plant-based meat Plant based meat is made from plant sources such as soy or pea protein, while cultured meat is grown directly from cells in a laboratory. Both have the same objective: to offer alternatives to traditional meat products that could feed a lot more people, reduce the threat of zoonotic diseases, and mitigate the environmental impact of meat consumption. In terms of cellular structure, cultured or cultivated meat is the same as conventional meat — except that cultured meat does not come directly from animals. According to the Good Food Institute (GFI)‘s 2019 State of the Industry Report on cultivated meats, compared to conventional meat could reduce land use by more than 95%, climate change emissions by 74-87% and nutrient pollution by 94%. The report adds that since cultivated meat is created in clean facilities, the risk of contamination by pathogens such as salmonella and E coli, which may be present in traditional slaughterhouses and meat-packing factories, is significantly reduced. It does not require antibiotics either, unlike animals raised for meat, thereby reducing the threat posed to public health by growing antibiotic resistance. P a g e | 5 Intentional Genomic Alteration Context Recently, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a first-of-its-kind intentional genomic alteration (IGA) in a line of domestic pigs referred to as GalSafe pigs. What is intentional genomic alteration? Intentional genomic alteration in animals means making specific changes to the genome of the organism using modern molecular technologies that are popularly referred to as ―genome editing‖ or ―genetic engineering‖. Such changes in the DNA sequence of an animal may be carried out for research purposes to produce healthier meat for human consumption and to study disease resistance in animals among other reasons. One example is of using IGAs to make an animal more susceptible to certain diseases such as cancer, which helps researchers get a better understanding of the disease and develop new therapies to treat it. Normal animal vs IGA animal The FDA maintains that the only difference between an animal with an IGA and one that does not have an IGA is that the IGA gives them a new trait or characteristic, such as faster growth or resistance to certain diseases. Essentially, an IGA is inserted into an animal to change or alter its structure and function. Significance of FDA‘s recent approval The FDA allowed IGA in GalSafe pigs to eliminate a type of sugar found in mammals called alpha-gal. This sugar is present on the surface of these pigs‘ cells and when they are used for products such as medicines or food (the sugar is found in red meats such as beef, pork and lamb), the sugar makes some people with Alpha-gal Syndrome (AGS) more susceptible to developing mild to severe allergic reactions. Since GalSafe pigs may potentially be used to produce human medical products, IGA will help eventually free these products from detectable alpha-gal sugar, thereby protecting their human consumers from potential allergies.