[Solutions] Friday Science Quiz #18

Ans: a) Explanation:

Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has established the world’s Highest Terrestrial Research Centre near Pengong Lake at Changla in Ladakh.

1. Defence Institute of High Altitude Research (DIHAR) was nodal DRDO establishment to established this.
2. Will serve as a natural cold storage for preserving endangered and rare medical plants for future generations. Number of Life Sciences activities will be undertaken too.
3. It will be very important centre of research work in frontal areas of food and agriculture and bio-medical sciences for well-being of the soldiers deployed in high altitude cold desert.
4. It will serve as testing ground of various materials for high altitude applications in naturally occurring extreme cold conditions at Changla.

 

DRDO was established in 1958 with an objective to administer the Indian Army and Indian Air Force. It has been carrying out RnD work for these forces and has produced good number of weapons and related utilities. It mainly functions in establishing the defence technology systems and some critical technologies  like small arms, missile systems,  tanks, armoured vehicles etc.

a) The GM mosquitoes will predate on mosquitoes that carry the disease

Genetically modified mosquitoes work with the single goal of reducing the total number of mosquitoes , who act as carriers of the disease. GM Mosquitoes procreate with the existing mosquito population such that the progeny is incapable of maturing or further reproduction.

In India one company Gangabishan Bhikulal Investment and Trading Ltd. (GBIT), a sister company of the Maharashtra Hybrid Company (Mahyco) that first brought Bt cotton to India, has been breeding genetically modified male mosquitoes(Aedes aegypti) to combat Zika virus.

Genetical modification is modification of the genome of the organism using Genetic engineering techniques. This has long been the practice to breed select individuals of a species in order to produce offspring that have desirable traits.

 

Malaria is one of the most deadly diseases in the world, killing 500,000 people annually and sickening hundreds of millions. It is caused by Anopheles mosquito.

Dengue caused by Aedes aegypti gives a fever which is so excruciating that it is often called the “bone breaker,” causing severe pain in the joints and abdomen along with vomiting, and circulatory system failure.

Q.3 Consider the following statements about Vector- Borne Diseases (VBDs)?

1. Japanese  encephalitis,  kala-azar,  filariasis and  chikungunya  are  the  only  four  VBDs found  in  India.

2. People suffering from diabetes are more susceptible to VBDs.

Select the incorrect statement using the codes given below.

a )1 only

b) 2 only

c) Both 1 and 2

Ans: a) In India,  VBDs  affecting  people  include malaria,  dengue,  Japanese  encephalitis, kala-azar,  lymphatic  filariasis  and chikungunya.  People  suffering  from diabetes  are  more  susceptible to  VBDs because  of  the  fact  that  high  blood  sugar in  their  bodies  (resulting  in  high susceptibility),  and  lower  levels  of immunity,  makes  them  more  prone  to VBDs.

Ans: a) 

1. Protozoa

Protozoa are microscopic, one-celled organisms that can either be free-living or parasitic. They’re able to multiply in humans, causing serious infections to develop from just one single organism. Protozoa can be transferred to humans through a fecal-oral route from contaminated food or water, or from the bite of an insect such as a mosquito.

2. Helminths

Helminths are multicellular organisms that are actually quite large. They’re generally visible to the naked eye in their adult stages. They can be either free-living or parasitic, and they do not have the ability to multiply in humans, but they can still cause damage. Helminths include flatworms, tapeworms, thorny-headed worms and roundworms.

3. Ectoparasites

This term is more generally used to refer to organisms such as ticks, fleas, lice and mites that attach or burrow into the skin and stay there for weeks to months at a time. These organisms can easily transfer diseases to humans.

Q.5 EIROforum is:

a) European intergovernmental scientific research organisations devoted to fostering mutual activities

b) European non-governmental scientific research organisations devoted to fostering mutual activities

c) European and Russian intergovernmental scientific research organisations devoted to fostering mutual activities

Ans: a) European intergovernmental scientific research organisations devoted to fostering mutual activities

Ans: b)European intergovernmental scientific research organisations devoted to fostering mutual activities