Mirror Microbes

Context: Recently, some scientists have started creating ‘mirror microbes’. These are synthetic bacteria whose building blocks are mirror-images of their natural counterparts.

• Valuable applications of mirror microbes: 
  • Industrial facilities that use bacteria for decomposition or fermentation could substitute them with mirror bacteria, which are more resilient. 

About Mirror life and chiral molecules

• In a mirror, left and right become swapped. Anything that has a handedness — left or right — is said to be chiral.
• Chirality in Biology
  • Biological molecules have a specific orientation, much like left and right hands.
  • Chirality affects how molecules interact, such as enzymes binding to substrates or proteins folding into functional shapes.
• Chiral molecules that are mirror images of each other are called enantiomers. 
  • Example: compound thalidomide.  The right-handed enantiomer worked as a sedative but the left-handed one caused severe birth defects.
• Why are scientists opposing Mirror microbes?
  • Mirror bacteria would likely evade many immune mechanisms mediated by chiral molecules, causing lethal infection in humans, animals, and plants.
  • Countermeasures such as mirror antibiotics are unlikely to be sufficient to stop or reverse the spread of mirror bacteria throughout global ecosystems.
  • Inability to prevent or counter dissemination and evolutionary diversification of mirror bacteria in the wild. 

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Thus the researchers say the cons outweigh the pros in their analysis of mirror life, thereby opposing it.

India-China Special Representatives’ Talks

Context: National Security Advisor Ajit Doval will hold the 23rd round of the Special Representatives (SR) talks with his Chinese counterpart and Foreign Minister Wang Yi

• Objective: To rebuild the bilateral ties following the October 21 agreement of disengagement and patrolling in eastern Ladakh (friction points of Demchok and Depsang) between the two countries.

About The Special Representative Mechanism on the India-China Boundary Question

• Constituted In: The Mechanism was first constituted in 2003 through a joint declaration by the two countries to address the India-China border dispute spanning 3,488 km
  • The SRs mechanism was held after a gap of five years since the last meeting held on 21 December 2019 and has been conducted over the years for 22 times.
• Suggested By: The SR Mechanism was the brainchild of the Late. former Prime Minister Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee during his visit to China in 1979 as Minister of External Affairs of India
• Process: SR mechanism follow a 3 step formula for the settlement of the India-China boundary question
  • Establish the political parameters and guiding principles
  • Establish the framework for a final package settlement
  • Delineate and demarcate the boundary

Henderson Doctrine

Context: The Supreme Court in a recent Case Titled, CELIR LLP VERSUS MR. SUMATI PRASAD BAFNA & ORS. explained the Henderson doctrine.

• The Henderson Doctrine is a natural corollary of the Indian doctrine of constructive Res-judicata codified in Explanation IV of Section 11 of the Code of Civil Procedure (CPC).

About the Henderson Doctrine

• Propounded in: The Doctrine was first propounded in the English case of Henderson versus Henderson, 1843
• As per the doctrine, all the issues that arise in a litigation out of the same subject matter must be addressed in a single suit. The doctrine bars re-litigating issues that could or should have been raised in prior proceedings.
• Henderson Principle’ is a core component of the broader doctrine of Abuse of Process
  • The Abuse of Process Rule: Litigation must be conducted in good faith, and parties should not engage in procedural tactics that fragment disputes, prolong litigation, or undermine the outcomes of such litigation.

Exercise SLINEX

Context: Exercise SLINEX 2024 (Sri Lanka–India Exercise) is being conducted from December 17 to 20, 2024, at Visakhapatnam under the Eastern Naval Command.

About SLINEX 2024

• Bilateral Naval Exercise: SLINEX is a joint naval exercise conducted between India and Sri Lanka.
• Initiation: The exercise was first conducted in 2005.
• 2024 Edition Aims:
  • To further strengthen the maritime ties between India and Sri Lanka.
  • To promote a safe, secure, and rules-based maritime environment in the region.
• Participating Units: 
  • From India: Indian Naval Ship (INS) Sumitra, a Naval Offshore Patrol Vessel (NOPV) from the Eastern Fleet and  Special Forces team from the Indian Navy.
  • From Sri Lanka: Sri Lankan Naval Ship (SLNS) Sayura, an Offshore Patrol Vessel and Special Forces team from the Sri Lankan Navy.
• Other Bilateral Exercises with Sri Lanka: Mitra Shakti, which is a joint military exercise conducted between the two nations.

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Location Based: Morocco

Context: Morocco is emerging as a springboard for India’s ambitions to expand its footprint in Africa for defence exports.

About Morocco

• Located in: Maghreb region in the Northern and Western Hemisphere regions of the Earth.
  • The Maghreb region comprises essentially the Atlas Mountains and the coastal plain of Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, and Libya.
• Bordered by the two countries: Western Sahara to the south and Algeria to the east.
• Coastline: Only African country with coastlines on both the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea.
  • It is one of only three nations (along with Spain and France) to have both Atlantic and Mediterranean coastlines.
• Largest city and major Atlantic Ocean port: Casablanca: An industrial and commercial centre.
• Climate: Most of Morocco north of Western Sahara, particularly along the coasts, experiences a typical Mediterranean climate, with mild wet winters and hot dry summers. 
• River: Mououya River: The source is located in the Atlas Mountains and flows into the Mediterranean Sea.

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