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Prelim Bits 24-12-2017

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December 24, 2017

Huntington’s disease

  • Huntington’s disease (HD) is a fatal genetic disorder that causes the progressive breakdown of nerve cells in the brain.
  • It deteriorates a person’s physical and mental abilities during their prime working years and has no cure.
  • It is known as the quintessential family disease because every child of a parent with HD has a 50/50 chance of carrying the faulty gene.
  • Researchers have recently reported that treatment with a compound called “CTEP” improved memory and also prevents harmful protein build ups in the brain.

Tadoba Tiger Reserve

  • Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve is located in Chandrapur district of Maharashtra.
  • It is Maharashtra’s oldest and largest National Park.
  • It is one of India's 47 project tiger reserves existing in India.
  • The word 'Tadoba' is derived from the name of God "Tadoba" or "Taru," which is praised by local tribal people of this region.
  • "Andhari" is derived from the name of Andhari River that flows in this area.
  • It is often referred to as “The Jewel of Vidarbha”.

CRISPR

  • CRISPR stands for Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats.
  • Researchers has recently used genome editing tool “CRISPR – Cas9” to partially treat the genetic deafness in mice.
  • A single mistake in “Tmc1 gene” causes loss of inner ear hair cells leading to deafness.
  • Scientists believe that the world could one day help treat certain forms of genetic hearing loss in humans.
  • CRISPR - Cas9 is a most prominent genome editing technique by targeting specific stretches of genetic code to edit DNA at precise locations.
  • The technique allows researchers to permanently modify genes in living cells and organisms and to correct mutations at precise locations in the human genome to treat genetic causes of disease.
  • It can be used to target multiple genes simultaneously and can also activate gene expression instead of cutting the DNA.

Kaleswaram Project

  • Central government has recently granted environmental clearance to the Kaleswaram Project.
  • Pranahitha-Chevella Lift Irrigation Scheme was taken up in 2007 to utilise the water of Pranhita tributary of Godavari River.
  • After the formation of Telangana, the project was redesigned into two sections.
  • The original component serving the Adilabad area was called the Pranahitha project.
  • The second part is called Kaleswaram Project serving the Karimnagar, Warangal, Nizamabad and Medak districts.
  • Water from Godavari River after the confluence by the Pranahita tributary is lifted to provide lift irrigation facility.
  • Lift Irrigation project - Pumps are used to lift the water from canals or rivers at lower level to the area at higher level for irrigation purpose.

Ganga Gram

  • Ganga Gram is a project for sanitation based integrated development of all 4470 villages along the River Ganga.
  • Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation is the nodal agency for implementation of the Ganga Gram Project.

Pradhan Mantri Rojgar Protsahan Yojana (PMRPY)

  • PMRPY Scheme has been designed to incentivise employers for generation of new employment.
  • Government of India will be paying the 8.33% EPS contribution of the employer for the new employment.
  • This scheme has a dual benefit, where, on the one hand, the employer is incentivised for increasing the employment base of workers in the establishment.
  • On the other hand, a large number of workers will find jobs in such establishments.
  • A direct benefit is that these workers will have access to social security benefits of the organized sector.

 

Source: The Hindu, PIB

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