Daily Current Affairs – Dec 5, 2023
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Aarogya Maitri Aid Cube
GS- II >> Social Justice>> Health
Context: World’s first portable hospital ‘Aarogya Maitri Aid Cube’ was unveiled in Gurugram (Haryana).
About Aarogya Maitri Aid Cube:
- It is a modular trauma management and aid system designed for rapid deployment in Mass Casualty Incidents, whether in times of peace or war.
- It is made up of 72 detachable mini-cubes. Each being a specialized station for emergency response and humanitarian efforts.
- These cubes are light and portable, and can be rapidly deployed anywhere, from airdrops to ground transportation.
- It can treat 200 patients.
- It is designed indigenously under Project ‘BHISHM (Bharat Health Initiative for Sahyog, Hita and Maitri)’.
Link: newsonair.gov.in
Genome Sequencing
GS- III >> Science & Technology >> Biotechnology
Context: The UK Biobank has shared complete genome sequences from its 500,000 British volunteers which could be accessed by scientist for research.
About Genome Sequencing:
- The genome is the entire set of DNA instructions found in a cell.
- In humans, it comprises 23 pairs of chromosomes (thread-like structures of DNA) in cells’ nucleus and a small chromosome in cells’ mitochondria.
- Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) is the molecule that carries genetic information for the development and functioning of an organism.
- DNA contains unique chemical codes determined by the order of Adenine (A), Cytosine (C), Guanine (G) and Thymine (T) (the four nucleotide bases present in DNA)
- Genome sequencing refers to figuring out the order of DNA nucleotides in a genome (i.e., the order of As, Cs, Gs, and Ts).
Key initiatives for Human Genome sequencing:
- Human Genome Project, launched in 1990 (completed in 2003), covered about 92% of the total human genome sequence.
- In 2022, Telomere to Telomere (T2T) consortium sequenced the entire human genome (100%).
- Genome India Project (GIP) and IndiGen programme are launched by India.
Link: www.theguardian.com
Pilatus PC-7 Mk II
GS- III >> Science & Technology >> Defence
Context: Two Indian Air Force (IAF) pilots lost their lives in a crash involving a Pilatus PC-7 Mk II trainer aircraft during a routine training sortie. The incident occurred near Toopran in the Medak district, Telangana.
About Pilastus PC-7 Mk-II:
- Manufacturer: Pilatus Aircraft Ltd, Switzerland.
- Type: Low-wing, turbo-prop trainer aircraft.
- Seating: Tandem seating (cadet in front, instructor behind).
- Versions: Original since 1970s, Mk II introduced in the 1990s.
- Features: Newer airframe, advanced avionics, Pratt & Whitney turbo-prop engine.
- Performance: Max speed of 412 km/h, max altitude of 10,000 m, range of 1,200 km.
- Usage: Trainer for over 20 air forces, used in combat by countries like Chad, Iran, and Mexico.
Source: www.thehindu.com
Double Humped Camels
GS- III >> Environment >> Flora & Fauna
Context: The Army recently deployed double humped camels for logistical support to the troops in eastern Ladakh.
About Double Humped Camels:
- Double Humped Camels or Bactrian camels, have two humps on their backs where they store fat.
Distribution:
- They are native to the harsh and arid regions of Central Asia.
- They occupy habitats in Central Asia from Afghanistan to China, primarily up into the Mongolian steppes and the Gobi Desert.
- A small population of Bactrian camels exists in the Nubra Valley of Ladakh.
Features:
- They are up to 10 feet (3.0 m) long and weigh 590-1000 kg.
- They are smaller and slenderer than the one-humped dromedary camels found in Africa and the Middle East.
- Their fur colour varies from beige to dark brown.
- They have thick, woolly coats that provide warmth during the cold months and insulation from the desert heat, and they shed this for the summer months.
- Lifespan: 50 years
- They typically live in herds of 6-20 members, although they can occasionally be solitary or in groups of up to 30 individuals.
- Diet: They are omnivores but are primarily herbivores that constantly graze on grasses.
- Conservation Status: IUCN Red List: Critically Endangered.
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com
Accredited Compensatory Afforestation (ACA)
GS- III >> Environment >> Flora & Fauna
Context: Ministry of Coal has proposed 579 hectares of reclaimed land under ACA program.
About Accredited Compensatory Afforestation (ACA):
- ACA, introduced under Forest (Conservation) Rules, 2022, is a system of proactive afforestation to obtain approval for nonforestry use of forest land.
- Under ACA people and government entities can raise vegetation on fallow land and sell it to project developers who need to meet CA targets.
- Before this, Forest Department undertook compensatory afforestation (CA) only after approval of diversion of forest land for non-forestry use.
- CA is mandatory under Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980 for non- forestry use of forestland.
Source: pib.gov.in