VACCINE HESITANCY
Recently, the World Health Organization (WHO) in a report held that Vaccine hesitancy is among the top 10 threats to global health in 2019. WHO defines Vaccine hesitancy as a delay in acceptance or refusal of vaccines despite the availability of vaccination services. Vaccine hesitancy has been reported in more than 90% of countries in the world. Instances of Vaccine […]
microRNA
A team from the National Centre for Biological Sciences (NCBS), Bengaluru, has found that the rich colour in fruits and leaves of plants are indirectly controlled by specific micro RNAs, miR828 and miR858. What is microRNA? A microRNA, also known as miRNA is a small non-coding Ribonucleic acid (RNA) molecule containing about 22 nucleotides. It […]
MUKTOSHRI ARSENIC-RESISTANT RICE
West Bengal government’s rice research centre has come up with a new variety of rice called Muktoshri that can be grown in arsenic prone areas. It was developed jointly by the Rice Research Station at Chinsurah, coming under West Bengal’s Agriculture Department and the National Botanical Research Institute, Lucknow. Background: West Bengal has a high concentration of arsenic in groundwater, with 83 blocks […]
FOOD IRRADIATION
Food irradiation is a technology in which food products are subjected to a low dosage of radiation to treat them for germs and insects, increasing their longevity and shelf life. It is the application of ionizing radiation to food in which energy is transmitted without direct contact in the targeted food. The radiation can be […]
POLYCRACK TECHNOLOGY
It is world’s first patented heterogeneous catalytic process which converts multiple feed stocks into hydrocarbon liquid fuels, gas, carbon and water. The process is a closed-loop system and does not emit any hazardous pollutants into the atmosphere. Feeders Polycrack Plant can be fed with all types of plastic, petroleum sludge, un-segregated MSW (Municipal Solid Waste) […]
INDIAN COBRA GENOME SEQUENCED
An international team of researchers have sequenced the genome of the Indian cobra, in the process identifying the genes that define its venom. What is the significance? This genome sequence can provide a blueprint for developing more effective anti-venom. The cobra genome sequence is of really high quality. Sequence information of the genes that code […]
GOLDEN RICE
Golden Rice is a new type of rice that contains beta-carotene (provitamin A), which is converted into vitamin A as needed by the body and gives the grain its golden color. It is developed through genetic engineering and produces two new enzymes that complete the beta-carotene expression in the rice grain. Research has indicated that one cup of Golden Rice […]
‘IndiGen’ GENOME PROJECT
The initiative was implemented by the CSIR-Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology (IGIB), Delhi and CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB), Hyderabad. Significance, outcomes and benefits of the project: The outcomes of the IndiGen will have applications in a number of areas including predictive and preventive medicine with faster and efficient diagnosis of rare genetic diseases. The […]
LRRK2
Leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2) is a kinase enzyme that protects the body against viral and bacterial infections by triggering inflammation like swelling, redness, heat and pain. According to a recent study, this enhanced inflammation can lead to collateral damage to the body. Inflammation caused by mutation in a gene can raise the risk of […]
DANGERS OF ARTIFICIAL RIPENING OF FRUITS AND VEGETABLES
Fruits are a good source of vitamins and minerals and play an important role in preventing Vitamin C and A deficiencies. WHO recommends 5 servings of fruits and vegetables every day for a healthy living. However, the health benefits of fruits depend on how they are ripened. The best course will be to allow them to […]