Science & Technology

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Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre empowered under PMLA

Context: Government has authorised Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre (I4C) to receive and share information from Enforcement Directorate and other law enforcement agencies to combat money laundering linked to cybercrime.

Relevance of the Topic:Prelims: Key facts about Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre. 

Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre

  • I4C is a nodal agency established by the Ministry of Home Affairs to address cybercrime in a coordinated and comprehensive manner.
  • I4C works towards improving coordination among the Law Enforcement Agencies and the stakeholders and enhancing the nation’s collective capability to tackle cybercrimes. 
  • I4C has partnered with Google and Facebook for sharing intelligence and signals for proactive identification and action on cyber criminals.
    • Cyber fraudsters have been using digital platforms (like Google services platforms) for initiating organised investment crimes and the I4C has partnered with the Internet search giant to flag such content. 
  • I4C has been added to the list of entities under the Section 66 of the Prevention of Money-Laundering Act (PMLA). The move is aimed at detecting money trails and combat money laundering linked to cybercrime.

Objectives of I4C

  • Facilitate easy filing cybercrime related complaints and identifying cybercrime trends and patterns.
  • Act as an early warning system for Law Enforcement Agencies for proactive cybercrime prevention and detection.
  • Strengthen the fight against cybercrime committed against women and children.
  • Awareness creation among the public about preventing cybercrime.
  • Assist States/UTs in capacity building of Police Officers, Public Prosecutors and Judicial Officers in the area of cyber forensic, investigation, cyber hygiene, cyber-criminology, etc.

Contributions of Dr Krishnaswamy Kasturirangan

Context: Dr. Krishnaswamy Kasturirangan, an eminent space scientist, educationist and the guiding force behind India’s space and education milestones passed away recently.  

Relevance of the Topic:Mains: Contributions of Dr. K Kasturirangan. 

Dr. K Kasturirangan: 

image 78
  • Dr. K Kasturirangan was born in 1940 in Ernakulam, Kerala.
  • He earned his physics degree from Bombay University and his PhD in experimental high-energy astronomy from the Physical Research Laboratory, Ahmedabad. 
  • He has published more than 200 papers, both in international and national journals in the areas of astronomy, space science and space applications.
  • He has won several awards including:
    • Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Award in Engineering. 
    • Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan and Padma Vibhushan. 

Notable Contributions of Dr. K Kasturirangan:  

1. Space Scientist: 

  • He was director at ISRO Satellite Centre and was responsible for overseeing development of next-generation satellites including INSAT-2 and IRS-1A & 1B. 
  • He was the project director for BHASKARA-I and II, India’s first experimental Earth observation satellites. He laid the groundwork for the nation’s remote sensing capabilities.
  • He was the chairman of ISRO from 1994-2003. He witnessed several major milestones including:
    • operationalisation of Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV)
    • successful flight-test of Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV). 
  • Under his stewardship, ISRO pursued technological self-reliance and began planning ambitious missions such as Chandrayaan, despite facing international sanctions following India’s 1998 nuclear tests.
  • His research interests included high-energy X-ray and gamma ray astronomy. He made significant contributions to studies on cosmic X-ray sources, celestial gamma rays, and their effects on Earth’s atmosphere. 
  • He played a key role in conceptualising India’s first space-based high-energy astronomy observatory.

2. Kasturirangan Committee on Western Ghats:

  • He was the Chairman of the high level working group on the protection of Western Ghats, popularly known as Kasturirangan committee. His report on the ecology of the Western Ghats, is the basis on which human activities in specific areas of the Western Ghats are sought to be regulated. 

3. Chief architect of National Education Policy 2020: 

  • He was the chief architect of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 that envisages a new education structure and 100% gross enrolment by 2030. Later, he spearheaded the development of the National Curriculum Framework.

Dr K Kasturirangan is a towering figure in India's scientific and educational journey. His visionary leadership and selfless contribution to the nation will continue to inspire the future generations.  

India may allow 49% foreign ownership in Nuclear Power Plants

 Context: India is considering allowing foreign firms to hold up to 49% ownership in its Nuclear Power Plants, aiming to boost its nuclear sector and reduce carbon emissions.

Relevance of the Topic: Prelims: Key facts about India’s Nuclear Energy Sector; Atomic Energy Act, 1962. 

India’s Nuclear Energy Sector

  • As of 2024, the total Indian nuclear generation is just over 8 GW, which is just 2% of the country’s installed electricity capacity. 
  • India aims to expand nuclear power capacity by 12 times to 100 gigawatts by 2047. 
  • The government is considering changing its nuclear foreign investment framework. It would increase India’s nuclear capacity and replace carbon-intensive coal with cleaner energy.
  • Necessary legal changes are required in the Atomic Energy Act, 1962. The amendments to the Act would allow the government to issue licences to private companies to build, own and operate a plant and mine and manufacture atomic fuel.

Atomic Energy Act, 1962

  • The Act provides for the development, control and use of atomic energy for the welfare of the people of India and for other peaceful purposes. 
  • The central government through NPCIL (Nuclear Power Corporation of India) holds the authority for activities related to nuclear energy, including its production, development, use, and disposal.
  • The Act restricts private companies from owning and operating nuclear power plants in India.
  • The 2015 amendment to the Atomic Energy Act, allows NPCIL to form joint ventures with other public sector units (PSUs) to secure funding for new projects. However, this does not extend to private or foreign companies. 
  • Currently, private companies can participate in specific areas like supplying components and reactors, but not owning or operating plants. Discussions are ongoing about allowing Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs). This would require amendment to the Act.

Also Read: Nuclear Energy Sector in Union Budget 2025-26 

However, the foreign nuclear investments would still require prior government approval rather than be allowed automatically. 

DRDO conducts Scramjet Engine Ground Test

Context: The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has successfully conducted a long-duration ground test of an Active Cooled Scramjet Subscale Combustor for over 1000 seconds. Earlier, DRDO had successfully conducted the ground test of the scramjet engine for 120 seconds. This marks a significant milestone in development of scramjet-powered hypersonic technology.

Relevance of the Topic: Prelims: Key facts about Hypersonic Missiles; Scramjet Engine. 

What are Hypersonic Missiles?

  • Hypersonic Missiles are a class of advanced weaponry that travel at speeds greater than Mach 5.
  • Key Features: 
    • Speed: Over Mach 5 (five times speed of sound or more than 5,400 km/hr)
    • Manoeuvrability: Hypersonic missiles can change course mid-air, making it very difficult for an interceptor to intercept it.
    • Altitude: Travels at relatively lower altitudes than a conventional missile, thereby, evading detection by radar.
    • Thus, they have the potential to bypass existing Air Defence Systems and deliver rapid and high-impact strikes.
  • Engine: The key to hypersonic vehicles is Scramjets engines which are capable of sustaining combustion at supersonic speeds.
  • Several nations including the USA, Russia, India and China are actively pursuing Hypersonic technology. 

What is a Scramjet Engine?

  • Scramjets are air-breathing engines capable of sustaining combustion at supersonic speeds without the need for any moving parts (functions without turbines or compressors).
  • The Scramjet engine designed by ISRO uses Hydrogen as fuel and the Oxygen from the atmospheric air as the oxidiser.
  • Working:
    • A scramjet engine collects oxygen from the atmosphere (rather than carrying an oxidiser) as it is travelling, and mixes the oxygen with its hydrogen fuel.
    • Combustion occurs at supersonic speed (exceeding Mach 1), needed for hypersonic travel of the missile. 
scramjet

Recent successful ground test by DRDO

The ground test of the scramjet combustor showcased several notable achievements like successful ignition and stable combustion.

  • Stable combustion:
    • Ignition in a scramjet engine is like ‘keeping a candle lit in a hurricane.’
    • Scramjet combustor incorporates an innovative flame stabilisation technique that holds continuous flame inside the combustor with airspeed of over 1.5 km per second.
  • Scramjet fuel: Endothermic scramjet fuel (central to this breakthrough) was developed for the first time in India jointly by Defence Research and Development Laboratory (DRDL), and industry.
    • The fuel offers dual benefits of significant cooling improvement and ease of ignition.
  • Advanced Computational Fluid Dynamics simulation tools were used for their evaluation and performance prediction.
  • Thermal Barrier Coating: Thermal Barrier Coating was designed to withstand extreme temperatures encountered during hypersonic flight. The coating is applied inside the Scramjet engine using special deposition methods that enhance their performance and longevity.

Significance:  The achievement is a crucial milestone in the development of next-generation hypersonic missions. 

What is Human papillomavirus (HPV)?

Context: The Department of Biotechnology (DBT) has announced the successful scientific review and validation of India’s first indigenously developed Human Papillomavirus (HPV) test kits for cervical cancer screening. 

Relevance of the Topic: Prelims: Key facts about Human papillomavirus (HPV); HPV Shot in India. 

Human papillomavirus (HPV)

  • Human papillomavirus is a small, double-stranded DNA virus from the papillomavirus family.
  • Threat:
    • The virus is capable of infecting both women and men.
    • HPV can cause genital warts and cancer in the cervix, vulva, vagina, penis, anus, and throat. 
    • HPV infection is responsible for about 5% of all cancers worldwide. 
  • Primary mode of transmission: 
    • Any intimate skin-to-skin contact and sexually transmitted via vaginal, anal, or oral sex. 
    • The immune system usually clears the virus, but high-risk strains can lead to cancer.  
  • Treatment:
    • There is no treatment for HPV, but in most cases it goes away without treatment. 
    • HPV vaccines do not cure cancer, they are highly effective in preventing certain associated cancers. HPV vaccine stimulates the immune system to recognise the virus and produce antibodies that neutralise the virus, before it can cause cancer.
Human papillomavirus (HPV)

HPV Shot in India

  • The Indian government plans to vaccinate girls aged 9-14 against HPV to reduce the risk of cervical cancer.
    • Cervical cancer develops in the cervix or the wall of the cervix. 
    • HPV is responsible for 99.7% of cervical cancers worldwide. 
    • Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer among Indian women. India has 20% of the global burden of cervical cancer. 
  • Cervavac is India's first Quadrivalent Human Papillomavirus Vaccine (qHPV) developed by the Serum Institute of India. It prevents the entry of four of the most common types of HPV 16, 18, 6 and 11.
  • Challenges: Uptake of HPV vaccine is low in India, due to:
    • High cost of HPV vaccine.
    • Lack of awareness and cultural perceptions around reproductive health.
  • Way Forward:
    • National Technical Advisory Group for Immunisation (NTAGI) has recommended the inclusion of the HPV vaccine in the national immunisation programme. 
    • Rolling out a nationwide human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination campaign.
    • Regular cervical cancer screening (Pap smear and HPV test) is recommended for women to detect precancerous changes in the cervix caused by HPV.

Mission Mausam: Utilising AI in Weather Forecasting

Context: As weather patterns grow more unpredictable due to the climate crisis, India has launched Mission Mausam to improve weather understanding and forecasting through expanded observation networks, better modelling and advanced tools like AI and machine learning.

Relevance of the topic:

Prelims: Key facts about Mission Mausam.

Mains: Applications of AI: Weather Forecasting. 

Mission Mausam

  • Launched in 2024 with a budget of Rs 2000 crores over two years.
  • Aim: To improve weather and climate services, and forecast information for multiple sectors, including agriculture, disaster management, and rural development. The long-term goal is to make India weather-ready and climate-smart.
  • Initiative by: Ministry of Earth Sciences 

Objectives of Mission Mausam: 

  • Strengthening observations (in-situ & remote sensing) networks with advanced radars, satellites, and automated weather stations.
  • Improve Model/ Data Assimilation/ HPC for giving accurate information to the Public and stakeholders (Numerical + Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning). 
  • Enhance India's capability in weather forecasting across various scales — short-term, medium-term, extended-range, and seasonal.
  • Provide actionable advisories for agriculture, water resources, energy, health, and disaster management sectors. 

Mission Mausam Implementation Strategy

Mission Mausam adopts a multi-pronged approach to achieve its objectives:

  • Infrastructure Development: Installation of Doppler Weather Radars, Automatic Weather Stations, and rain gauges across the country. 
  • Supercomputing Power: Leveraging high-performance computing systems like Pratyush and Mihir for advanced climate modelling. 
  • Collaborative Research: Partnerships with global organisations like the World Meteorological Organisation to enhance forecasting techniques. 
  • Public Outreach: Dissemination of user-friendly advisories through mobile apps (E.g., Mausam App), SMS services, and Media channels. 

Implementation Phases: 

  • The five-year mission would be implemented in two phases.
    • First phase (until March 2026): Focus on expanding the observation network. This includes adding around 70 Doppler radars, high-performance computers and setting up 10 wind profilers and 10 radiometers.
    • Second phase: Focus on adding satellites and aircraft to further enhance observational capabilities.

Cloud Chamber:

  • Under the mission, a cloud chamber will be established at the Indian Institute of Meteorology (IITM) in Pune, within the next one and a half years.
  • Aim: To study the processes occurring within clouds in the context of rising temperatures.

Working: 

  • Artificial clouds will be created inside a laboratory at the IITM and conduct experiments. This will help the scientists better understand:
    • which types of clouds can be seeded (a process where substances are added to clouds to make them produce rain)
    • what materials should be used for seeding
    • how much seeding is needed to either increase rain or even prevent rain.
  • Rising temperatures lead to clouds becoming taller and more electrically active, while their horizontal spread may shrink. This can result in stronger thunderstorms and more frequent lightning events and impact rainfall dynamics. The insights gained from the cloud chamber will help improve the parameterisation of weather models and help to artificially enhance or suppress rain and hail within the next five years.

Mission Mausam envisages augmenting the entire observational network (surface as well as upper-air), numerical modelling framework, incorporating AI/ML techniques, enhancing the computing power to mitigate the impact of climate change-induced extreme weather events. "Mausam GPT" is being designed to provide quick and reliable weather-related information in both text and audio forms.

Traditional vs AI-based Weather Forecasting

  • Traditional Weather Forecasting: These models simulate atmospheric processes using equations and data from weather stations and satellites (E.g., temperature, wind). These models are computationally intensive, time-consuming, and sometimes limited in capturing localised phenomena due to the chaotic and non-linear nature of weather systems.
  • AI-Based Forecasting: Unlike traditional models, AI/ML techniques adopt a data-first approach. They learn from historical and real-time data, identifying correlations between input variables (E.g., wind, humidity, ocean temperature) and outcomes (E.g., rainfall, cyclones). AI can uncover hidden patterns and non-linear relationships not captured by physics-based models. 

Challenges in AI-based Weather Forecasting: 

  • Data Quality and Availability: AI models need large, consistent, and high-quality datasets. Issues like sensor errors, inconsistent formats, and lack of real-time or historical data complicate training. While data availability has improved tenfold but gaps remain in sensor networks, especially in remote areas. 
  • Human Resource Gap: A critical shortage of experts skilled in both climate science and AI/ML. 
  • Interpretability and Trust: AI models are like black boxes - it is hard to explain why they make a certain prediction. This makes it difficult for non-experts to trust or verify the results.
  • Infrastructure and Computation: AI models, especially for high-resolution forecasting, require GPU-based computing and significant infrastructure investment.

To bridge the gaps, scientists are increasingly turning towards hybrid models that combine the interpretability of physics-based models and adaptability of AI/ML. 

Quantum Gravity Gradiometer

Context: NASA scientists have proposed that an advanced quantum gravity gradiometer (QGG) could be placed onboard a satellite and launched into low-earth orbit. The instrument could study small changes in the earth’s distribution of water, ice, and rocks to inform studies of climate change. 

Relevance of the Topic: Prelims: key facts about Quantum Gravity Gradiometer and its Application. 

Variation of Gravitational Force:

  • Gravitational force on the Earth’s surface is non-uniform. The amount of gravitational force one experiences on the earth’s surface depends on the amount of mass nearby. 
  • The force is directly proportional to the mass. Force equals to Mass multiplied by its Acceleration (F = m · a).
  • This difference in force between two places is too small and requires the most sensitive instruments for its detection. One such instrument is the gravity gradiometer.

Quantum Gravity Gradiometer

  • Quantum Gravity Gradiometer is a highly-sensitive instrument that can detect minute variations in Earth's gravitational field by harnessing the principles of quantum mechanics. 

Working of QGG

  • QGG uses ulta-cooled rubidium atoms (cooled to near absolute zero) in vacuum. These ultra-cooled atoms behave like waves, and are manipulated by lasers. 
  • The atoms experience a phase shift that is directly proportional to the strength of the gravitational force acting on them. The shift is extremely sensitive. 
  • By using a pair of such setups (say 1 meter apart), a QGG can detect a difference in acceleration as low as 10⁻¹⁵ m/s² across a distance of 1 m on the Earth’s surface. 

Potential Applications of Quantum Gravity Gradiometer

  • Oil and gas exploration: Locating Hydrocarbon deposits and accessing their distribution underground (gravity gradiometer can be used to understand the density of the ground at various depths).
  • Aquifer mapping: Detect seasonal changes in water levels in aquifers, track depletion of water tables. 
  • Climate studies: Detect small changes in the earth’s distribution of water, ice, and rocks to conduct informed studies of climate change, and enhance disaster resilience. 
  • National security: Detects underground construction of bunkers, tunnels etc. by detecting the density anomaly. 

Quantum sensors promise enhanced sensitivity 10 times more than classical sensors for measuring gravity.

Does the planet K2-18b show signs of life?

Context: Recently, an international research paper reported that the distant exoplanet K2-18b may be habitable. Potential biomarkers were identified based on the observations from James Webb Space Telescope, backed by computer-based spectral analysis. 

Relevance of the Topic:Prelims: Key facts about K2-18b.

What is K2-18b?

image 66
  • K2-18b is an exoplanet — a planet outside the solar system. It is located 124 light years away from the earth in the constellation Leo, orbiting the star K2-18. 
  • It is over 5 times wider and roughly 9 times more massive than the Earth. 
  • The amount of stellar radiation it receives from its star is comparable to what the Earth receives from the Sun. It likely possesses a hydrogen-rich atmosphere. 
  • It was discovered by the Kepler telescope in 2015.

Earlier estimations of planetary conditions in K2-18b: 

  • In 2019, the Hubble Space Telescope found that its atmosphere contains signs of water vapour. Later, the James Webb Space Telescope detected signs of carbon dioxide and methane.
  • Studies suggest, K2-18b might be a Hycean world: covered with an ocean overlaid by a hydrogen-rich atmosphere. 
  • Researchers suggest its surface conditions may be close to the runaway greenhouse threshold — when the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere prevents any heat from escaping the surface. 
  • Computer models suggest it may also have a stratosphere and some carbon oxides and cyanide in the middle atmosphere.

Recent findings that suggest K2-18b might be habitable:

  • The latest research reported the presence of at least one of two molecules that are associated with life: dimethyl sulphide (DMS) and dimethyl disulphide (DMDS) in K2-18b’s atmosphere. 
  • DMS could be a biomarker (a sign of life) on exoplanets. On Earth, these gases are produced by marine phytoplankton and bacteria.
    • Phytoplankton produce a molecule called dimethylsulphoniopropionate (DMSP). When they die, enzymatic breakdown of DMSP molecules releases DMS. 
    • DMS is also emitted when bacteria break up plant matter. In 2015, researchers reported that 76% of soil bacteria contain a gene that allows them to produce DMS. 
    • Volcanic eruptions also release trace amounts of DMS. 

However, attempts to look for conditions suitable for life and the presence of specific molecules from a distance can only be suggestive of habitable conditions, not confirmatory. The only way to find extraterrestrial life is to directly detect it. 

NASA has launched its Clipper Mission in 2024 to study Jupiter’s moon Europa, which among other objectives aims to track signs of life in its vapour plumes. 

India's first prototype Fast Breeder Reactor to be commissioned by 2026

Context: India's first prototype fast-breeder reactor (500 MW) in Tamil Nadu's Kalpakkam is expected to be commissioned in 2026. It will mark the second stage of India's three-stage nuclear programme that aims to recycle spent fuel to reduce the inventory of radioactive waste.

Relevance of the topic:

Prelims: Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor; India’s three-stage Nuclear programme.

Mains: Advantages and Challenges associated with Fast Breeder Reactors. 

Major Highlights:

  • On completion of the commissioning of PFBR, the project will generate 500 MW of electricity. 
  • On March 4, 2024, the core loading of India’s first indigenous PFBR was commenced at Kalpakkam, Tamil Nadu. 
    • Core loading is the process of placing nuclear fuel assemblies inside the core of a nuclear reactor.
    • Core loading operation is a precursor to the nuclear plant going “critical” (the beginning of a self-sustaining nuclear fission reaction that will eventually lead to the generation of power).
  • Core loading marks a historic milestone marking entry into the vital second stage of India’s three-stage nuclear programme.

Significance of Fast Breeder Reactors (FBR): 

  • Significant reduction in nuclear waste generated as FBR utilises/reprocesses the radioactive waste (Plutonium-239) as fuel from the first stage. 
  • Advanced reactor with inherent passive safety features ensuring a prompt and safe shut down of the plant in the event of an emergency. 
  • Both the capital cost and the per unit electricity cost is comparable to other nuclear and conventional power plants.
  • Stepping stone for the third stage of India’s Nuclear Programme. Can aid in conversion of fertile Thorium 232 to fissile Uranium 233, that will be used in the 3rd stage. Thus, FBRs can aid in the utilisation of India’s abundant Thorium reserves. 

Challenges associated with Fast Breeder Reactors:

  • Radioactive Nuclear Waste: 
    • Nuclear waste produced in the Thorium fuel cycle contains Caesium-137, Actinium-227, Radium-224, Radium-228 and Thorium-230. All these are radioactive and demand additional investment in nuclear waste handling.
  • Safety risks of Sodium Coolants: 
    • Liquid sodium used as coolant in the FBRs reacts violently with water and burns if exposed to air. Thus, any leaks in the systems can result in a major sodium-water fire. 
    • The necessity of keeping air away from sodium makes refuelling and repair of these reactors much more difficult. 
  • Economic Competition from Renewable Energy: 
    • Continuous decline in the prices of renewable energy sources (Solar & Wind energy). This has resulted in critics arguing for stopping further development of nuclear power. 
  • Emergence of Small Modular Reactors:
    • Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) are gaining popularity due to their advantages over traditional nuclear reactors- as SMRs can work with low-enriched uranium, have a maximum capacity of 300 MW, require less land and reduced cost. 
  • Increasing domestic and external availability of Nuclear resources:
    • The basic rationale behind going for the three-stage nuclear program was that India had limited uranium resources. 
    • However, with expanding discovery of domestic natural uranium in India (Tumulapalle etc.) and waiver from Nuclear Suppliers Group means that it is no longer difficult to source Uranium for conventional PHWRs in India for meeting its domestic needs.
    • These developments reduce the urgency of deploying thorium-based reactors and shift focus back to conventional nuclear technologies. 

Nevertheless, the three-stage nuclear power program is imperative to meet India's twin goals of energy security and sustainable development.

Gene Edited Crops to produce Coenzyme

Context: As modern diets fall short in vital micronutrients, scientists are turning to gene-edited crops to naturally boost essential compounds like Coenzyme Q10.

Relevance of the Topic: Prelims: Applications of Gene Editing.

What are Coenzymes?

  • Enzymes are proteins that catalyse reactions in a cell (like digestion, energy production etc.), making metabolism efficient. For efficient functioning, many enzymes require some molecules as cofactors. These helper molecules are called coenzymes. 
  • Coenzymes are naturally occurring organic molecules that bind with enzymes and support the activity of enzymes. 

Coenzyme Q

  • Coenzyme Q, also known as Ubiquinone, is a very special coenzyme found in every cell of our body, especially in the mitochondria (the cell’s energy factory).
  • It has several isoprene units helping Coenzyme Q to act as an antioxidant (protecting our cells from damage caused by stress and harmful molecules). There are 10 types of Coenzyme Q, named CoQ1 to CoQ10, based on how many isoprene units they have.

Bioengineered Rice for CoQ10: 

  • CoQ10 (Coenzyme Q10) is a very important molecule in our body. It helps in the mitochondrial electron transport chain, a process that makes energy inside our cells. Since organs like the heart, brain, and muscles need a lot of energy, they also have high levels of CoQ10. Daily foods (rice, wheat, and maize) mostly contain CoQ9, not enough CoQ10. So, scientists are trying to engineer plants to produce more CoQ10 to meet health needs. 
  • Producing CoQ10: Researchers in Japan genetically engineered rice plants to produce CoQ10. They engineered the gene called ‘DdsA’ in rice plants to produce CoQ10, using CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing technique. 
  • Significance: Bioengineered crops can improve global nutrition naturally. It can thus reduce dependence on synthetic supplements and can turn farms into natural factories by producing antioxidant supplements.  

Stem Cell Therapy for treatment of Parkinson Disease

Context: Recently, two independent clinical trials demonstrate the safety of stem cell therapies for Parkinson’s disease. Researchers are investigating the use of cells derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells and human embryonic stem cells to treat Parkinson's disease. 

Relevance of the Topic: Prelims: Key facts about Parkinson's Disease; Stem cells; Types of Stem Cells. 

Parkinson’s Disease

  • Parkinson’s disease is a neurodegenerative disease characterised by the progressive loss of neurons that produce dopamine, a neurotransmitter. 
  • Symptoms: It affects both the motor system and non-motor systems. The symptoms include:
    • Motor: Tremors, rigidity, bradykinesia, or slow movement, and postural instability.
    • Non-Motor: As the disease progresses, non-motor symptoms like cognitive decline, sleep disturbances, mood disorders often emerge. 
  • Treatment:
    • No cure is known and the treatment aims to mitigate symptoms. 
    • Cell therapy, specifically replenishing dopamine-producing neurons (dopaminergic) in the brain, could provide a potentially more effective treatment.
image 64

What are Stem cells?

  • Stem cells are undifferentiated cells with the potential to develop into specialised cell types in the body. They can self-renew which makes them valuable for therapeutic applications. 
  • Stem cell therapy utilises stem cells to promote the repair, regeneration, or replacement of damaged or diseased tissues within the body.

Types of Stem cells:

  • Totipotent: Most versatile, with potential to differentiate into all different cell types of an organism and extraembryonic cells (including placenta and umbilical cord). Only found in fertilised eggs (zygote).
  • Pluripotent: Derived from inner cell mass of a blastocyst (an early-stage embryo). Can give rise to all different cell types in the body (except extraembryonic cells). E.g., Embryonic stem cells and induced pluripotent stem cells (genetically reprogrammed to the pluripotent state from adult cells). 
  • Multipotent: More specialised than pluripotent stem cells and can differentiate into limited range of cell types within a specific tissue or organ. E.g., Hematopoietic stem cells (give rise to various blood cell types), mesenchymal stem cells (can differentiate into bone, cartilage, fat cell etc.) 
  • Unipotent: Most specialised type of stem cells, can only renew themselves and differentiate into one specific cell type. E.g., Stem cells in skin that can only differentiate into another skin cell.

Clinical trials utilising Stem Cell Therapy to treat Parkinson’s Disease

1. Using induced Pluripotent stem cells:

  • Patients received transplantation of dopaminergic progenitors (early-stage stem cells capable of differentiating into dopamine-producing neurons) derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells into both sides of the brain. 
  • The transplanted cells produced dopamine without overgrowth or forming tumours. No serious adverse events were reported. The researchers observed a decrease in motor symptoms associated with Parkinson’s disease. 

2. Using human embryonic stem cells: 

  • Patients received surgical transplantation of bemdaneprocel (dopaminergic neuron progenitor cell product derived from human embryonic stem cells) on both sides of the brain. 
  • No severe adverse effects and some improvement in motor function was observed in patients.

Challenges using Stem Cell Therapy

  • Difficulty in making stem cells fully function like natural insulin-producing cells.
  • Risk of the body rejecting the transplanted cells. Avoiding rejection will require long-term immuno-suppression that could cause infections and cancer. 
  • Ensuring long-term survival and effectiveness of the transplanted cells.
  • Potential ethical concerns with using embryonic stem cells. Regulatory approvals by the authorities needed before becoming available to the broader public.
  • High cost and complexity of the therapy for widespread use. 

Brahmos Missile

Context: India has dispatched a second batch of BrahMos supersonic cruise missile system to the Philippines, fulfilling its contractual obligation signed in 2022. India delivered the first batch of BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles to the Philippines in 2024. 

India has also trained the Philippines Navy personnel to handle the cruise missile system, which it has bought to scale up its defence capabilities owing to increasing threat from China in the South China Sea.

Relevance of the Topic: Prelims: Key facts about Brahmos Missile.

About Brahmos

Supersonic BrahMos missile:

  • BrahMos is the fastest cruise missile in the world with a top speed of Mach 2.8 or almost three times the speed of sound.
  • It has been jointly developed by India and Russia.
  • It is a two-stage missile (solid propellant engine in the first stage and liquid ramjet in the second stage) with a range of 290 km.
  • The multiplatform missile can be launched from land, air, and sea with pinpoint accuracy during day and night irrespective of weather conditions.

Special features of BrahMos:

  • Universal for multiple platforms
  • Stealth technology and guidance system
  • “Fire and Forget” principle of operation.
  • Pinpoint accuracy with high lethal power 
  • Quicker engagement time and non-interception by any known weapon system.
image 45

Significance

  • Enhance the multi-directional maritime strike capability of the Indian Armed Forces. 
  • Boost indigenous production of the critical weapon system and ammunition with the active participation of indigenous industries.
  • Generate employment of more than 90,000 man-days over a period of four years.

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