HOW HUMANS AFFECT THE GENETIC CONNECTIVITY OF FOUR MAMMALS
Why in News? A new study of four wide ranging mammals – Jungle cats, Leopards, Sloth Bears and Tigers in central India – from the National Centre for Biological Sciences (NCBS), Bengaluru, has shown that anthropogenic activities can impact genetic connectivity or the movement among habitat patches usually resulting in mating and genetic exchange. Details […]
WHO PREQUALIFIES PNEUMOCOCCAL VACCINE
Why in News? Pneumococcal vaccine developed by the Pune-based Serum Institute of India has been pre-qualified by the World Health Organisation (WHO) in the third week of December 2019. This Vaccine costs only 2$ per dose, 30% lesser than Gavi. Serum Institute had optimised an efficient conjugate vaccine manufacturing processes for its meningitis A vaccine […]
C.N.R. RAO
Why in News? C.N.R. Rao, the chief guest at the Indian Science Congress told that Neither the Quality nor the quantity of publications that come out of India are adequate. He said China had made major strides in science, and as of today, it nearly equalled the research publication output of the U.S. — the […]
NOBEL PRIZE WINNER CALLS FOR PATHOGEN SPECIFIC DRUGS
Ada. E. Yonath (Winner of Nobel Prize for Chemistry in 2009) delivered a talk in 107th Indian Science Congress She said – Concerns surrounding anti-biotic use, including environmental hazards and the appearance of multi-drug resistant bacteria can be minimised by designing antibiotics that are specific to each species of pathogen, instead of using the broad-range […]
ISRO: GAGANYAAN AND CHANDRAYAAN-3 IN MISSION MODE
Mission Gaganyaan: Under the Gaganyaan schedule, three flights will be sent in orbit. Of the three, there will be two unmanned flights and one human spaceflight. The human space flight programme, called the Orbital Module will have three Indian astronauts, including a woman. It will circle Earth at a low-earth-orbit at an altitude of 300-400 […]
INDIA SET TO PARTICIPATE IN WHO’S MEDICINE TRIAL
Focus: GS-III Science and Technology Why in news? India is all set to join World Health Organisation’s “Solidarity trial” aimed at rapid global search for drugs to treat COVID-19. The country has stayed away so far from this multi-country trial “due to its small sample size and because our contribution would have looked minuscule,” said […]
SCIENTISTS IDENTIFY DRUG CANDIDATES AGAINST VIRUS
Focus: GS-III Science and Technology, Disaster Management Why in news? Nearly 70 drugs and experimental compounds may be effective in treating the coronavirus, a team of researchers reported on 22nd March 2020 night. Some of the medications are already used to treat other diseases, and repurposing them to treat Covid-19, the illness caused by the […]
IIT-D TEAM DEVELOPS A CHEAPER COVID-19 TEST
Focus: GS-III Science and Technology Why in news? Researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology here have developed a method to detect COVID-19 which can significantly reduce the test cost, making it affordable for large sections. The “probe-free detection assay” has been optimised and tested for sensitivity at the research laboratories of IIT. Other Details […]
COVID-19 IS A NEW ANIMAL IN THE ZOO
Focus: GS-III Science and Technology, Disaster Management Why in news? Co-chair of the Empowered Committee for COVID-19 Response, India, Dr. V.K. Paul said the changed circumstances of the spread of the disease called for a revised testing strategy and marshalling all resources to contain the pandemic. He also indicated that India is close to rolling […]
CENTRE SET TO REVAMP IT ACT
Focus: GS-II Governance, GS-III Industry and Infrastructure, Science and Technology, Prelims Why in news? The government will soon kick-start the process of revamping the nearly 20-year old Information Technology Act, 2000, with an aim to bring it in tune with the technological advancements with a focus on stronger framework to deal with cybercrimes. An expert […]