14 Feb 2021: UPSC Exam Comprehensive News Analysis

CNA 14th Feb 2021:- Download PDF Here

TABLE OF CONTENTS

A. GS 1 Related
B. GS 2 Related
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
1. The heights of constant friction
C. GS 3 Related
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
1. Nanophotonics: Hyderabad scientists manipulate tiny crystals
2. Plumbing the ‘dark’ genome for new genes
3. Detailed genome map of malaria vector
D. GS 4 Related
E. Editorials
DISASTER MANAGEMENT
1. Spotlight on dams after Chamoli disaster
HEALTH
1. Probing the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic
F. Tidbits
1. Virus and climate change
2. Water on Mars
3. West Bengal to host Sanskriti Mahotsav
G. Prelims Facts
1. Black hole cluster
2. Small difference
3. Waiting for visitors
4. Bait, plant and control
H. UPSC Prelims Practice Questions
I. UPSC Mains Practice Questions

A. GS 1 Related

Nothing here for today!!!

B. GS 2 Related

Category: INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

1. The heights of constant friction

Context:

• Disengagement of Indian and Chinese troops on the north and south banks of Pangong Tso.

For more information on this development refer to:

12th Feb Comprehensive News Analysis

Details:

• As per the agreement, both sides will cease their forward deployments in a “phased, coordinated and verified manner” and will move back to their permanent bases. The process would be jointly monitored.
• Any structures that had been built by both sides since April 2020 in both north and south bank area will be removed and the landforms will be restored.
• Both sides have also been agreed to a “temporary moratorium” on military activities on the north bank, including patrolling to the traditional areas, which will be resumed only when an agreement is reached in diplomatic and military talks between the two countries.

Significance:

• The disengagement may help end the nine-month-long stand-off in eastern Ladakh. With Pangong emerging as the focal point of the stand-off, the disengagement in the Pangong Tso area is expected to be the first step in addressing outstanding problems at Hot Springs, Gogra and Depsang.
• For India, Pangong positions are critical to maintaining a hold on Chushul Valley. The Chushul sector is critical as it lends room for tank manoeuvres owing to its flat terrain. Over the years, India has strengthened its defences on the south bank through deployment of tanks.

C. GS 3 Related

Category: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

1. Nanophotonics: Hyderabad scientists manipulate tiny crystals

Context:

• Development of the “mechanophotonics” technique by researchers of University of Hyderabad.

Background:

Nanophotonics:

• Nanophotonics or nano-opticsis the study of the behaviour of light on the nanometer scale, and of the interaction of nanometer-scale objects with light.
• Small lasers have various desirable properties for optical communication including low threshold current (which helps power efficiency) and fast modulation (which means more data transmission). Small photodetectors tend to have a variety of desirable properties including low noise, high speed, and low voltage and power.
• Nanophotonics has immense potential in fields ranging from biochemistry to electrical engineering. Nanophotonics would make it possible to go beyond current electronics and build up circuits driven entirely by photons (light).

Details:

• Researchers from University of Hyderabad have developed a technique named “mechanophotonics” which has allowed them to move, slice, bend, and lift micron-sized waveguiding crystals using atomic force microscopy.
  • Crystals are normally rigid, stiff structures.
  • Generally, millimetre- to centimetre-long crystals were bent using hand-held tweezers. This method lacks precision and control. Also, the crystals used were larger than what was required for miniaturisation.
• The researchers have also been able to develop other crucial photonic elements like polymer microcavities or microresonators (light-trapping elements) using the same technique.
• The researchers have been able to build an ‘organic photonic integrated circuit’ or OPIC using the technique.

Significance:

• The ability to manipulate micron-sized crystals with precision and control would be very useful in the field of nanophotonics.
• This technique can help achieve an unprecedented level of miniaturisation and pave the way to all-optical-technology such as pliable, wearable devices operated by light entirely.

2. Plumbing the ‘dark’ genome for new genes

Context:

• Study by a team of the University of Cambridge to find the emergence of new genes in the genome of living organisms and the mechanisms involved.

Background:

The Human Genome Project:

• The Human Genome Project (HGP) was an international scientific research project with the goal of determining the base pairs that make up human DNA, and of identifying and mapping all of the genes of the human genome from both a physical and a functional standpoint.
• It was an historic landmark for genetic research which helped map human genes, strengthened the study of human diseases and aided new drug discovery.

Details:

• The research team have catalogued 1,94,000 novel regions in the human genome. These novel regions have been referred to as novel Open Reading Frames or as nORFs.
  • The study has shown that the mutations in nORFs have physiological consequences. The team found that nORFs are broadly involved in diseases like cancer. Some nORF disruptions are also strongly correlated with the survival of patients.
  • The study notes that nORFs proteins can form structures, can undergo biochemical regulation like known proteins and be targeted by drugs.
• The researchers have also identified nORFs in Plasmodium falciparum, the parasite which causes the deadliest form of malaria.

Significance:

• The study shows that there is an urgent need to redesign the existing drugs that target only the known proteins in the parasite and also target the newly discovered nORFs.
• Better understanding of human genome structure including the newly discovered nORFs can aid diagnosis and cure disease through new drug discovery.

3. Detailed genome map of malaria vector

Context:

• Scientists have unveiled the detailed genome of the Asian malaria vector mosquito Anopheles stephensi.

Details:

• Under the newly upgraded Anopheles stephensi genome, more than 3,000 genes that previously undetected genes have been unearthed.
  • The newly discovered genes are found to play key roles in the metabolism of ingested blood meal, reproduction and immunity against microbial parasites.
  • The discoveries also include 29 formerly undetected genes that play crucial roles in resistance to chemical insecticides.

Significance:

• The detailed genome of the malaria mosquito vector including new genes vital for the development of genetic control strategies of disease transmission would help malaria biologists in India and the rest of the world towards the goal of malaria elimination. In order to engineer advanced forms of defence against malaria transmission, including targeted CRISPR and gene drive–based strategies, scientists require intricate knowledge of the genomes of vector mosquitoes.
  • CRISPR technology is a gene-editing tool which allows researchers to easily alter DNA sequences and modify gene function.
• The newly discovered genes can also help address the issue of growing insecticide-resistant mutations in Asian and African An. stephensi populations.

Additional information:

National goal of malaria elimination:

• The National Framework for Malaria Elimination (NFME) 2016-2030 outlines India’s strategy for elimination of the disease by 2030.
• The framework has been developed with a vision to eliminate malaria from the country and contribute to improved health and quality of life and alleviation of poverty.
• It is in line with the WHO Global Technical Strategy for Malaria 2016–2030 (GTS).

Important goals:

• Eliminate malaria from all low (Category 1) and moderate (Category 2) endemic states/UTs (26) by 2022
• Reduce incidence of malaria to less than 1 case per 1000 population in all States/UTs and the districts and malaria elimination in 31 states/UTs by 2024
• Interrupt indigenous transmission of malaria in all States/ UTs (Category 3) by 2027
• Prevent re-establishment of local transmission of malaria in areas where it has been eliminated and to maintain malaria-free status of the country by 2030.

D. GS 4 Related

Nothing here for today!!!

F. Tidbits

1. Virus and climate change

• A recent study notes the mechanism linking climate change and emergence of the SARS-CoV-2 virus pandemic.
• Southern China has become a hotspot of bat-borne coronaviruses. The study found that 40 new species of bats had moved from their forest habitats to the Yunnan province in the last century, thus increasing the possibility of interactions between humans and the bats.

2. Water on Mars

• Researchers have observed water vapour in the thin atmosphere of Mars.
  • The water found on mars is mostly locked up as ice.
  • The traces of ancient valleys and river channels suggest liquid water once flowed across the mars surface.
• This new finding offers new clues as to whether Mars could have once hosted life.

3. West Bengal to host Sanskriti Mahotsav

• Rashtriya Sanstriki Mahostav is a flagship festival organised by the Ministry of Culture.
• The intent of Rashtriya Sanstriki Mahostav is to showcase the rich cultural heritage of the Country in all its rich and varied dimensions, viz Handicrafts, Cuisine, Painting, Sculpture and Performing Arts-Folk, Tribal, Classical and Contemporary- all in one place.
• It involves the demonstration of folk and tribal art, dance, music, cuisines and culture of one state to other parts of the country to ensure ‘Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat’ and provide platforms for artists and artisans.
• The 11th edition is to be organised in West Bengal.

1. Black hole cluster

• NGC 6397 is a cluster of stars in the Ara constellation. It hosts a cluster of small black holes amidst itself.
• NGC 6397 is among the closest globular clusters to the earth.

2. Small difference

• Ongoing research has revealed that the alteration of a single gene (NOVA1 gene) may be the reason for cognitive variation between modern humans and our predecessors – the neanderthals and denisovans.

3. Waiting for visitors

• Veermata Jijabai Bhonsale Udyan, also known as the Byculla Zoo, is a zoo in Mumbai.
• The Humboldt penguin is a South American penguin living mainly in the Humboldt National Reserve in the North of Chile, although its habitat comprises most of coastal Peru. In South America the Humboldt penguin is found only along the Pacific coast. Humboldt penguins are medium-sized penguins. They nest on islands and rocky coasts.

4. Bait, plant and control

What is NetWire?

• NetWire, is a malware. It is a remote access trojan, or RAT, which gives control of the infected system to an attacker through a command and control server. The commands emerging from this server is what the infected system will carry out.
• Such malware can log keystrokes and compromise passwords.
• While most anti-virus softwares are equipped to counter the threat of data exfiltration (stealing data) posed by malwares, these softwares are found to be largely ineffective in countering infiltration of systems.

Q1. Which of the following are the potential advantages offered by Nanophotonics?

Q2. What are the benefits that could accrue due to the Human Genome Project?

1. Understand vulnerability to certain diseases
2. Diagnosis of diseases
3. Application in forensic applied sciences
4. Development of new drugs
5. Better understanding of human evolution

Options:

1. 1,2 and 4 only
2. 1,2,3,4 and 5
3. 2,3 and 5 only
4. 1,4 and 5 only

Q3. Which of the following statement/s is/are correct?

1. Malaria is caused by Plasmodium parasites.
2. Malaria parasites are spread to people mostly through the bites of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes.

Options:

1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither 1 nor 2

Q4. Which of the following statement/s is/are correct?

1. Humboldt penguin is endemic to South America.
2. In South America the Humboldt penguin is found only along the Pacific coast.

Options:

1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither 1 nor 2

Read the previous CNA here.

CNA 14th Feb 2021:- Download PDF Here