TOPIC : GS 2 Science and technology
End-to-end genome sequencing
What is the news?
- Scientists from the Telomere-to-Telomere (T2T) Consortium, an international collaboration of around 30 institutions, reported the most complete sequencing of the human genome until now.
- They have, in the process, discovered over a hundred new genes that code for proteins.
- The total size of the genome they have sequenced is close to 3.05 billion base pairs.
What is signifcant about this announcement?
- The Human Genome Project that began in 1990 gave the first results of the complete human genome sequence in 2003.
- For the first time, were able to read the blueprint of human life.
- Though it was announced as the complete human genome, about 15% of it was incomplete.
- Due to limitations of technology, scientists were not able to piece together some repetitive parts of the human genome.
- The researchers have nearly completed the job, adding 200 million base pairs and 115 new protein-coding genes to the list.
What is special about protein-coding genes?
- The human genome is the entire set of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) belonging to a human.
- This resides in the nucleus of every cell of the human being.
- DNA consists of a double-stranded molecule, each of which is built up by four bases – adenine (A), cytosine (C), guanine (G) and thymine (T).
- Every base on one strand pairs with a complementary base on the other strand (A pairs only with T, and C only with G).
- Protein-coding sequences or protein-coding genes are DNA sequences that get transcribed on ribonucleic acid (RNA) as an intermediate step.
- These in turn make the proteins responsible for various functions such as keeping the body healthy or determining the colour of the eye — proteins carry out the instructions encoded in the genes.
What are the gaps in the study?
- Sex cells such as sperm and egg cells contain only one of each pair of chromosomes (haploid cells).
- While egg cells always carry a copy of the X chromosome, sperms can carry either an X chromosome or a Y chromosome.
- The cell line that the researchers studied had an X chromosome only and no Y chromosome.
- Therefore, information about the Y chromosome is missing in this release.
What will this genome draft be useful for?
- One of the most important uses of this release will be that it forms a standard for comparison in future sequencing attempts.
- This sequence of the human genome will be a gold standard of reference for future attempts.
- The level of accuracy is unprecedented and while earlier, people were trying to piece together strands of DNA that were a few hundred base pairs long
- The technology used by the Telomere-to-Telomere Consortium used sequencing technology that could scan 20,000 base pairs at one go. This is a signifcant technological feat.
Mains Question
Do the new findings on genome sequencing provide a better understanding of the human body?
PRELIMS PUNCHERS
- Coal
It is a combustible black or brownish-black sedimentary rock, formed as rock strata called coal seams. Coal is mostly carbon with variable amounts of other elements, chiefly hydrogen, sulfur, oxygen, and nitrogen. Coal is formed when dead plant matter decays into peat and is converted into coal by the heat and pressure of deep burial over millions of years. Vast deposits of coal originate in former wetlands—called coal forests that covered much of the Earth’s tropical land areas during the late Carboniferous (Pennsylvanian) and Permian times. However, many significant coal deposits are younger than this and originate from the Mesozoic and Cenozoic eras.
As part of the worldwide energy transition many countries have reduced or eliminated their use of coal power, and the UN Secretary General has asked governments to stop building new coal plants by 2020. Coal use peaked in 2013 but to meet the Paris Agreement target of keeping global warming to well below 2 °C coal use needs to halve from 2020 to 2030.The largest consumer and importer of coal is China. China mines almost half the world’s coal, followed by India with about a tenth. Australia accounts for about a third of world coal exports, followed by Indonesia and Russia
The United Nations Security Council
It is one of the six principal organs of the United Nations (UN), charged with ensuring international peace and security, recommending the admission of new UN members to the General Assembly, and approving any changes to the UN Charter. Its powers include establishing peacekeeping operations, enacting international sanctions, and authorizing military action. The UNSC is the only UN body with the authority to issue binding resolutions on member states.
It consists of fifteen members, of which five are permanent the People’s Republic of China, the French Republic, the Russian Federation, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and the United States of America. These were the great powers, or their successor states, that were the victors of World War II. Permanent members can veto any substantive resolution, including those on the admission of new member states to the United Nations or nominees for the office of Secretary-General. The remaining ten members are elected on a regional basis to serve a term of two years. The body’s presidency rotates monthly among its members
- The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)
It is an intergovernmental body of the United Nations mandated to provide objective scientific information relevant to understanding human-induced climate change, its natural, political, and economic impacts and risks, and possible response options.The IPCC was established in 1988 by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), and was later endorsed by the United Nations General Assembly. Membership is open to all members of the WMO and UN
The IPCC does not carry out original research, nor does it monitor climate or related phenomena itself; rather, it conducts a systematic review of published literature, including peer-reviewed and non-peer-reviewed sources, from which it produces comprehensive “Assessment Reports”. Thousands of scientists and other experts contribute on a voluntary basis to writing and reviewing reports, which are then reviewed by governments. IPCC reports contain a “Summary for Policymakers,” which is subject to line-by-line approval by delegates from all participating governments typically, this involves representatives of more than 120 countries.
- The National Food Security Act 2013
It is also ‘Right to Food Act’ is an Indian Act of Parliament which aims to provide subsidized food grains to approximately two thirds of the country’s 1.2 billion people. The National Food Security Act, 2013 (NFSA 2013) converts into legal entitlements for existing food security programmes of the Government of India.
It includes the Midday Meal Scheme, Integrated Child Development Services scheme and the Public Distribution System. Further, the NFSA 2013 recognizes maternity entitlements. The Midday Meal Scheme and the Integrated Child Development Services Scheme are universal in nature whereas the PDS will reach about two-thirds of the population ,75% in rural areas and 50% in urban areas. Under the provisions of the bill, beneficiaries of he Public Distribution System (or, PDS) are entitled to 5 kilograms per person per month of cereals. Pregnant women, lactating mothers, and certain categories of children are eligible for daily free cereals.
PRELIMS QUESTIONS
Qn 1.Consider the following statement with regard to Coal
- It is a combustible black or brownish-black sedimentary rock
- It is chiefly variable of chiefly hydrogen, sulfur, oxygen, and Mercury
Select the correct statement using code given below.
(a). 1only      (b) 2 only
(c).Both      (d). None of above
Answer : A
It is a combustible black or brownish-black sedimentary rock, formed as rock strata called coal seams. Coal is mostly carbon with variable amounts of other elements, chiefly hydrogen, sulfur, oxygen, and nitrogen. Coal is formed when dead plant matter decays into peat and is converted into coal by the heat and pressure of deep burial over millions of years. Vast deposits of coal originate in former wetlands—called coal forests that covered much of the Earth’s tropical land areas during the late Carboniferous (Pennsylvanian) and Permian times. However, many significant coal deposits are younger than this and originate from the Mesozoic and Cenozoic eras.
As part of the worldwide energy transition many countries have reduced or eliminated their use of coal power, and the UN Secretary General has asked governments to stop building new coal plants by 2020. Coal use peaked in 2013 but to meet the Paris Agreement target of keeping global warming to well below 2 °C coal use needs to halve from 2020 to 2030.The largest consumer and importer of coal is China. China mines almost half the world’s coal, followed by India with about a tenth. Australia accounts for about a third of world coal exports, followed by Indonesia and Russia
Qn 2.Consider the following statement with regard to The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)
1.It is an autonomous body of the United Nations mandated to provide objective scientific information
- Â The IPCC carry out original research and it monitor climate or related phenomena itself
Select the correct statement using code given below.
(a). 1only      (b) 2 only
(c).Both      (d). None of above
Answer 😀
It is an intergovernmental body of the United Nations mandated to provide objective scientific information relevant to understanding human-induced climate change, its natural, political, and economic impacts and risks, and possible response options. The IPCC was established in 1988 by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), and was later endorsed by the United Nations General Assembly. Membership is open to all members of the WMO and UN
The IPCC does not carry out original research, nor does it monitor climate or related phenomena itself; rather, it conducts a systematic review of published literature, including peer-reviewed and non-peer-reviewed sources, from which it produces comprehensive “Assessment Reports”. Thousands of scientists and other experts contribute on a voluntary basis to writing and reviewing reports, which are then reviewed by governments. IPCC reports contain a “Summary for Policymakers,” which is subject to line-by-line approval by delegates from all participating governments; typically, this involves representatives of more than 120 countries.