Latest developments in science and technology - II

Science and technology is an important part of Prelims syllabus. It covers not only the static portion but dynamic as well. In recent years, UPSC is emphasising on dynamic-cum analytical aspect of science and technology

GM Mustard
Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC) deferred the decision to allow the commercial production of another GM crop viz. Mustard DMH-11. The new variety was developed by Centre for Genetic Manipulation of Crop Plants at Delhi University.

Hybrid variety of a crop is obtained by crossing of two genetically diverse plants of same species and it can give higher yields than their parents. But mustard cannot be naturally hybridised because it is a self-pollinating plant having both male and female reproductive parts in a single flower.

But researchers have created hybridised mustard using GM technology. The GM hybridised mustard, as it is claimed, gives up to 30 per cent more yield than the present best varieties. Researchers have used “barnase / barstar” technology for genetic modification.

A barnase gene is isolated from a soil bacterium called Bacillus amyloliquefaciens. The gene can code for a protein that impairs the pollen production in a plant making it male-sterile. This male-sterile variety is crossed with a parent variety having a gene called ‘barstar’ to block the action of barnase gene. The resulting variety, having both foreign genes, is a fertile plant and it can increase yield of the crop.

Researchers and promoters of GM Mustard argue that India imports Rs.60,000crore worth of edible oils every year. There is an urgent need to reduce dependence on imports and raise domestic crop yields of mustard, which in turn raises production of edible oils domestically. To improve yields, hybridisation is a potential technique as it is successfully demonstrated with many other crops.

The main reason for its objection is in use of GM technology for hybridisation involving use of alien genes. Though GM technology is already commercialised in India through Bt cotton, it is argued that cotton is not a food crop whereas mustard is largest edible oil yielding crop of India.

Its introduction may adversely affect human and animal health. They also argue that the reason for increased imports of edible oils is because of reduction in import duties and that in turn discouraged domestic production by companies. It resulted in reduction of cultivation of the crop by farmers. There was similar opposition to introduction of Btbrinjal, another GM crop approved by the GEAC in 2009.

The use of GM technology through Bt cotton has increased the country’s cotton production by more than 2½ times since it was first planted in 2002. There are no evidences to show the adverse impact on human and animal health. Cotton-seed yields not just fibre but also oil and oilcake that are fed to animals. That makes it no less than a food crop. And also India imports soyabean oil and rapeseed oil that are mainly GM varieties.

BIRAC
BIRAC (Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council) - a Section 25 ‘Not-for-Profit Company’ of Government of India, registered under Indian Companies Act 1956, set up as Department of Biotechnology’s interface agency, which serves as a single window for the emerging biotech industries – has completed 2 years of incorporation today 20th March, 2014.

On this occasion a booklet “BIRAC i3” with sub-caption “BIRAC Enabling Transformation “brought out by the Department of Biotechnology, Government of India was also released jointly by Dr. Sam Pitroda, Chairman, National Innovation Council, Dr. K.Vijayraghavan, Secretary in the Department of Bio-Technology.

The Theme for the Foundation Day is “Promoting Partnerships - Innovation Research to Product Development”. The Foundation Day brought together nearly 250 Scientists from industry and academia, public and private sector, policy makers and national and international organizations

GM Mosquito
Scientists have genetically modified malaria-causing mosquito Anopheles gambiae species to fight the deadly disease of malaria. The research was successfully carried by team of researchers led by London based Imperial College and was published in the journal Nature Biotechnology.

Scientists have genetically modified Anopheles gambiae mosquito species so that they carry a modified gene disrupting egg production in female mosquitoes. For this they had used a technology called gene drive which uses the technique of recessive genes, so that many mosquitoes will inherit only one copy of the gene.

Usually two copies in female Anopheles gambiae mosquitoes are needed for fertility. But the one copy of the gene makes female infertile by disrupting egg production. The genes were modified with the help of CRISPR/Cas9 endonuclease which is a type of DNA cutting tool that modify the very specific parts of the genetic code.

The trait of modified gene can be passed through a population of mosquitoes over time and can help to drastically reduce or eliminate the malaria-carrying mosquito species. The findings represent an important scientific step in the ability to develop novel methods of vector control.

It should be noted that mosquito species Anopheles gambiae are the major carrier of dangerous malaria parasites in sub-Saharan Africa region where 90 per cent of annual malaria deaths occur. Every year, malaria infects more than 200 million people and causes more than 430,000 deaths across the globe.

Air breathing propulsion system
Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is planning to test an air-breathing propulsion system, which aims to capitalise on the oxygen in the atmosphere instead of liquefied oxygen while in flight.Generally, vehicles that are used to launch satellites use combustion of propellants with oxidiser and fuel.

Air breathing propulsion systems use atmospheric oxygen, which is available up to about 50 km of earth’s surface to burn the fuel stored on-board thereby making the system much lighter, more efficient and cost effective. Air breathing propulsion is a solution for a powered long return cruise flight necessary for reusable launch vehicles.

The collection and use of air involves challenges as the launch vehicle speeds through atmosphere at supersonic speeds. This calls for the development of ramjet or scramjet (supersonic combustion ramjet) technologies.The new propulsion system, once mastered, would complement ISRO’s aim to develop a reusable launch vehicle that would have longer flight duration. The system, involving the scramjet engine, would become crucial while sending up the spacecraft.

The Dual Mode Ramjet (DMRJ), the ramjet-scramjet combination, is currently under development, which will operate during the crucial Mach 3 to Mach 9 ascend flight of the launch vehicle. An Advanced Technology Vehicle (ATV) based on sounding rocket was developed for DMRJ Flight Technology demonstration and one developmental flight, ATV-D01, was conducted. Further developmental flights are planned in the near future.

MoboMoney
Tech Mahindra has announced the launch of ‘MoboMoney’, a first of its kind ‘Tap N Pay’ contactless digital payment solution for the Indian masses. MoboMoney is a prepaid wallet issued in the form of a NFC (Near Field Communication) contactless tag that could be used to ‘Tap N Pay’ for goods and services.This ‘Tap N Pay’ facility would be available on a network of NFC enabled merchant point of sale machines.

Customers without an NFC-enabled phone too could enjoy the ‘Tap n Pay’ experience to purchase goods. Tech Mahindra's MoboMoney is a issued in the form of an NFC (Near-Field Communication) tag that
frees the user from the hassle of carrying cash.

The NFC technology allows radio communication between two NFC enabled devices and the tag is a small sticker type chip that works on the NFC technology.This tag is linked to the MoboMoney account.

By: Balalatha Mallavarapu