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In a Boost to pathology services in the hill districts, a genome sequencing lab was opened at Srinagar Medical College in Pauri Garhwal district of Uttarakhand.

About Genome Sequencing:

• Genome sequencing is the process of determining the complete DNA sequence of an organism’s genome. 
• The DNA consists of a double-stranded molecule built up by four bases – Adenine (A), Cytosine (C), Guanine (G) and Thymine (T). 
• The process of deciphering the order of base pairs, to decode the genetic fingerprint of a human is called genome sequencing.

Genome Sequencing Methods:

• Clone-by-clone: This method requires the genome to have smaller sections copied and inserted into bacteria. The bacteria then can be grown to produce identical copies, or “clones,” containing approximately 150,000 base pairs of the genome that is desired to be sequenced.
• Whole-Genome Shotgun: As the name implies, “shotgun” sequencing is a method that breaks DNA into small random pieces for sequencing and reassembly. The pieces of DNA are also cloned into bacteria for growth, isolation and subsequent sequencing.

How does whole Genome Sequencing Work?

Scientists conduct whole genome sequencing by following these four main steps:

• DNA Shearing: Scientists begin by using molecular scissors to cut the DNA, which is composed of millions of bases (A’s, C’s, T’s and G’s), into pieces that are small enough for the sequencing machine to read.
• DNA Barcoding: Scientists add small pieces of DNA tags, or bar codes, to identify which piece of sheared DNA belongs to which bacteria. 
• DNA Sequencing: The bar-coded DNA from multiple bacteria is combined and put in a DNA sequencer. The sequencer identifies the A’s, C’s, T’s, and G’s, or bases, that make up each bacterial sequence. The sequencer uses the bar code to keep track of which bases belong to which bacteria.
• Data Analysis: Scientists use computer analysis tools to compare sequences from multiple bacteria and identify differences. The number of differences can tell the scientists how closely related the bacteria are, and how likely it is that they are part of the same outbreak.

Applications of Genome Sequencing:

• Medical research and Diagnosis: Genome sequencing can be used for genetic testing and diagnosis of hereditary diseases. For Example: The study of SARS-CoV-2 whole genome sequencing (WGS) data has led to many important findings about this pathogen.
• Drug Development: Genome sequencing can be used to identify new drug targets, optimise drug efficacy, and develop personalised medicine.
• Agriculture: Genome sequencing can help breed crops and livestock with desirable traits such as higher yield, disease resistance, and nutritional content. For Example: Bt Cotton
• Forensics: Genome sequencing can be used for forensic analysis, such as identifying victims of crimes and natural disasters.
  • For Example: Forensic scientists can compare DNA found at a crime scene (from blood or hair, for example) to DNA samples taken from suspects.
• Bioengineering: Genome sequencing can aid in the design and development of synthetic biological systems and biomolecules for various applications.
• Provides an insight in evolution: Scientists studying the genome sequences of early and modern humans have shown that our ancestors interbred with other hominins like Neanderthals and Denisovans.

Ethical Issues Associated with Genome Sequencing:

• Privacy: Genome sequencing involves the analysis of an individual’s DNA, which contains sensitive personal information that can reveal information about their ancestry, and other characteristics. 
• Informed consent: There are challenges in obtaining informed consent from individuals, particularly in cases where the sequencing is done as part of a larger research study.
• Genetic Discrimination: Genetic information obtained through genome sequencing could be used to discriminate against individuals in various contexts, such as employment, insurance, and education.
• Data Sharing and Access: Genome sequencing generates vast amounts of data which can be used for research purposes. However, striking a balance between sharing genomic data for research purposes and protecting individuals’ privacy poses a serious challenge.
• Psychological Impact: Genome sequencing can reveal information about an individual’s susceptibility to certain diseases which may cause psychological distress.
• Stigmatisation: Genetic information can be misused to discriminate against individuals based on their genetic predispositions or susceptibilities to certain diseases.

Efforts towards Genome Sequencing at:

• International Level:
  • The BabySeq project funded by the U.S. the National Institutes of Health is one of the most comprehensive studies to evaluate sequencing of newborns for routine newborn care.
  • Recently, the U.K. National Health Services recently launched a nationwide programme to sequence 100,000 sick newborns.
  • Human Genome Project: It is a publicly funded international collaborative research project aimed at determining the sequence of chemical base pairs which make up human DNA, & identifying & mapping all of the genes of the human genome.
• India Level:
  • IndiGen Program
    • Council of Scientific & Industrial Research(CSIR) initiated the IndiGen Program in 2019. 
    • Under this program, the whole genome sequencing of 1029 self-declared healthy Indians drawn from across the country has been completed. 
    • This has enabled benchmarking the scalability of genome sequencing at population scale in a defined timeline.
  • Genome India Project:
    • Aim: To collect 10,000 genetic samples across India, to build a reference genome.
    • This project is led by the Centre for Brain Research at Bengaluru-based Indian Institute of Science.
    • Utility: It will help to understand fully the type and nature of diseases and traits that comprise the diverse Indian population.

Challenges associated with Genome India Project:

• Medical Ethics: In a project that aims to create a database of genetic information, it may be misused for gene modification.
• Data Storage: After collection of the sample, anonymity of the data and questions of its possible use and misuse would need to be addressed.
• Social Issue: Studying genes and heredity can reinforce harmful stereotypes and lead to a racial interpretation of politics and history. 
• Technical and logistical issues: Collecting and analysing large amounts of genetic data can be technically challenging and requires advanced laboratory facilities and expertise.
• Cost: Genome sequencing is an expensive process, and the project requires significant funding to collect and analyse genetic data from a large number of individuals. 

Way Forward:

• Trained Manpower: Increasing the number of clinicians skilled in gene data interpretation and expanding the availability of labs for genome sequencing are crucial steps in the direction to boost research.
• Security of Data: To ensure the security and integrity of genomic data, it is crucial to minimise the risk of data breaches and maintain public confidence in organisations responsible for collecting, storing, and utilising such data.
• Policy Formulation: To ensure the responsible use of genomic information, it is imperative to have a comprehensive and effective policy in place that prioritises the privacy protection of research subjects. 
• Stakeholder Involvement: It is essential to establish a transparent framework involving stakeholders that clearly defines the purpose of collecting genomic data and specifies the duration for which it will be stored in the database. 

News Source: The Hindu

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Recently, the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) successfully organised the National Workshop on Industrial Park Rating System.

About Industrial Park Rating System:

• Launched by:  DPIIT 
• Aim: To rate industrial parks across four pillars:
  • internal infrastructure and utilities
  • external infrastructure and facilities
  • business support services
  • environmental and safety management
• It is a GIS-enabled database to facilitate investors to identify their preferred location for investment. 
• It is an extension of the India Industrial Land Bank (IILB) platform which features more than 4,500 industrial parks.
• IILB is currently integrated with the industry-based GIS system of 34 states and union territories.

News Source: pib

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Recently,  the International Monetary Fund (IMF) issued a statement on the use of cryptocurrency in the Latin American and Caribbean market, and about the rising interest in blockchain based central bank digital currencies (CBDCs). 

More on the News:

• The IMF noted that a ban on crypto may not be effective in the long run in the region.
• This is a reversal of its earlier stand which was against El Salvador’s move to adopt Bitcoin as its legal tender. 
• Earlier, IMF’s executive directors, citing fiscal risks and consumer protection issues,  urged the authorities to narrow the scope of the Bitcoin law by removing Bitcoin’s legal tender status.
• El Salvador is the first country in the world to adopt Bitcoin — the largest cryptocurrency by market capitalisation — as its legal tender.

Why is Latin America’s Crypto economy so significant? 

• Countries like Argentina, Chile, and Columbia have experienced devaluation of their currency against the U.S. dollar. 
• To preserve the value of their savings, some residents have explored converting their funds to U.S. dollars. and into stablecoins i.e. the cryptocurrencies designed to reflect the value of fiat currencies such as the U.S dollar. 
• Brazil, Argentina, Colombia, and Ecuador are among the top 20 in Chainalysis’ 2022 Global Crypto Adoption Index. 
• Separately, a number of central banks in the Latin American market are considering CBDCs, meaning that more people could soon be exposed to blockchain based infrastructure.

What is a Cryptocurrency?

• Definition: A cryptocurrency is a medium of exchange, such as the rupee or the US dollar, but is digital in format and uses encryption techniques to both control the creation of monetary units and to verify the exchange of money. For Example: Bitcoin,  Ethereum.
• Cryptocurrency works upon the principle of  ‘blockchain’ technology.

Central Bank Digital Currencies:

• A central bank digital currency (CBDC) is the digital form of a country’s fiat currency.
• A nation’s monetary authority, or central bank, issues a CBDC, which promotes financial inclusion and simplifies implementing monetary and fiscal policy.
• CBDC, being a sovereign currency, holds unique advantages of central bank money viz. trust, safety, liquidity, settlement finality and integrity. 
• Motivations for exploring the issuance of CBDC in India:
  • reduction in operational costs involved in physical cash management
  • fostering financial inclusion
  • bringing resilience, efficiency, and innovation in the payments system
  • adding efficiency to the settlement system
  • boosting innovation in cross-border payments space
  • providing the public with uses that any private virtual currencies can provide, without the associated risks. 

Difference between Cryptocurrency and CBDCs:

News Source: Indian Express

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China is rushing to complete a bridge across the Pangong Tso, connecting the north and south banks.

About Pangong Tso Lake:

• Location: Pangong Tso is an endorheic lake (landlocked) that is partly in India’s Ladakh region and partly in Tibet. 
• Its total area is over 600 sq km.
• Cultural Feature: The name of the lake reflects the mixed heritage of the lake: Pangong in Ladakhi means extensive concavity, the word Tso is Tibetan for lake.
• It is formed from Tethys geosyncline.
• Geographical Features: 
  • The Karakoram Mountain range, which crosses Tajikistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan, China and India, with heights of over 6,000 metres including K2, the world’s second highest peak, ends at the north bank of Pangong Tso. 
  • Its southern bank too has high broken mountains sloping towards Spangur Lake in the south.
  • The lake’s water, while crystal clear, is brackish, making it undrinkable. The lake freezes during the winter, allowing some vehicular movement on it as well.

Who controls Pangong Tso?

• Nearly two-thirds of the lake is controlled by China, with just about 45 km under Indian control. 
• The LAC, running north-south, cuts the western part of the lake, aligned east-west.
• India and China have unsettled borders, and the perception of the LAC differs in multiple sectors, including in Pangong Tso.

News Source:  Indian Express

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An MoU was signed during the meeting with the Ministry of Defence (Indian Navy & Coast Guard) towards development of a Naval gallery: “The Journey of Indian Navy & Coast Guard” inside NMHC complex.

About National Maritime Heritage Complex (NHMC):

• NMHC is located in the historic Indus Valley civilization region of Lothal (Gujarat).
• Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways.
• Purpose: 
  • To highlight the robust maritime history and vibrant coastal tradition of our country.
  • To uplift the image of India’s Maritime Heritage in the international forum.
  • To develop a centre for learning and understanding India’s diverse maritime history.
• Estimated Cost: Rs. 4500 crore
• Funding Source: Public and Private institutes, organisations and CSR. The Major Ports of India are contributing a fund of Rs. 209 crore.
• Features: 
  • It will consist of a maritime museum, lighthouse museum, maritime theme parks, amusement park centres.
  • Lothal mini recreation to recreate Harappan architecture and lifestyle.
  • Memorial theme park, Maritime and Navy theme park, Climate theme park, and Adventure and Amusement theme park.
  • Coastal states pavilion displaying the diverse maritime heritage of states and UTs

News Source: pib

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 Jharkhand celebrates June 30 as ‘Hul Diwas’, commemorating the sacrifice of Adivasis in their fight against British colonial authorities.

About Hul Diwas:

• The literal meaning of ‘Hul’ – is revolution  which began in 1855.
• Leaders: It was led by two brothers Sidhu and Kanhu
• Region of rebellion: The rebellion took place in the Damin-i-Koh region.
  • ‘Damin-i-Koh’ means the ‘skirts of the hills’; it  falls in present-day Jharkhand around the Rajmahal Hills.
• Reasons for Rebellion: It was an organised war against colonialism led by the Santals, standing against the oppression by the British and their collaborators such as Zamindars, the police.

Significance:

• ‘Hul Diwas’, marks the beginning of the Santal rebellion.

Who were the Santals?

• The Santal people – or Santalis – were not the original inhabitants of modern day Santhal Pargana.
• They had migrated from the Birbhum and Manbhum regions (present-day Bengal), starting around the late 18th century.
• The 1770 famine in Bengal caused the Santals to begin moving and soon, the British turned to them for help. 
• With the enactment of the Permanent Settlement Act of 1790, the East India Company was desperate to bring an ever-increasing area in its control under settled agriculture. 
• They, thus, chose the area of Damin-i-Koh, at the time heavily forested, to be settled by the Santals, in order to collect a steady stream of revenue.

News Source: Indian Express

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