New CRISPR/Cas9 gene-editing Platform | Current Affairs | Vision IAS
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Posted 27 Jul 2024

21 min read

New CRISPR/Cas9 gene-editing Platform

SafeEXO-Cas, exosome-based platform has been developed by Scientists at Columbia University.

  • Exosomes are naturally occurring vesicles (small cellular containers) that have the potential to be manipulated to become promising drug delivery vehicles for on-demand in vitro and in vivo gene editing.
  • It significantly enhances the delivery of CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing components to specific cells.
  • It will also facilitate development of the precision medicine and will improve cancer treatment. 
    • Precision medicine (aka personalized medicine) involves disease prevention and treatment that takes into account differences in people’s genes, environments, and lifestyles.

About CRISPR/Cas9 Technology

  • Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats Associated protein 9 (CRISPR-Cas9) is a type of genome editing technology.
    • It is ecogniz to change genetic code or edit Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) at particular locations.

Working

  • Works as cut and paste mechanism on DNA Strands. Genetic codes that need to be changed are identified. 
  • Cas9 protein is used as a pair of molecular scissors to cut off a part from strand, allowing modifications to the genome.

Applications of CRISPR: 

  • Edit genes in human embryo; Change genetic codes of crops to improve crop resilience; treating diseases like sickle cell disease etc.
  • Tags :
  • CRISPR/Cas9
  • Exosomes

DeepTech startups in India

India’s Deeptech Dawn: Forging Ahead’ Report released by NASSCOM.

  • Report highlights the different attributes of DeepTech startups.

Key findings

  • Despite having the 3rd largest pool of DeepTech startups, India ranked 6th among the top 9 DeepTech ecosystems in the world.
  • India currently has 3600+ DeepTech startups.
  • Indian DeepTech startups have raised a cumulative $10 Bn in the last 5 years (2023-2019).
    • In 2023, witnessed 77% decline in funding (in comparison to 2022).
An infographic titled "Initiatives taken for DeepTech Startups" lists four initiatives: Draft National Deep Tech Startup Policy (2023), Technology Incubation and Development of Entrepreneurs (TIDE 2.0), Startup India Seed Fund, and India AI Mission.

About DeepTech Startups

  • DeepTech startups leverage advanced technologies like AI, IoT, Blockchain, and Augmented Reality (AR)/Virtual Reality (VR) to create novel solutions for complex problems, often combining multiple technologies to redefine or create new markets. Ex: Agnikul, GalaxyEye, Sarvam AI
  • Characterized by extended development timelines, high capital intensity, etc. 
  • Key Potential Areas: Promotes utilisation of Deep Technologies to reshape sectors like healthcare (AI-powered Diagnostics & Precision Medicine), Agriculture (Agribots & Automation), etc.

Key Challenges

  • During the pre-commercialization phase, lacks access to the necessary infrastructure.
  • Limited understanding of business operations and market dynamics
  • Competition from large enterprises for adequately skilled talent.

Steps needs to be taken by Government 

  • Establish co-investment programs with venture capitalist for DeepTech startups.
  • Introduce government backed instruments.
  • Facilitate platforms that connect enterprise with DeepTech startups
  • Launch DeepTech focused skill development programs.
  • Provide grants/access to regulatory sandboxes to prototype and test.
  • Provide logistical support for commercialization.
  • Tags :
  • IndiaAI Mission
  • DeepTech startups

AlphaFold-3

Google DeepMind and Isomorphic Labs have developed a new AI model, AlphaFold-3, that can predict structure of proteins, DNA, RNA, ligands, etc., and how they interact.

About Alphafold-3

  • It can computationally predict the structure and interactions of all life’s molecules with unprecedented accuracy and speed.
  • Given an input list of molecules (proteins, DNA, etc.), it generates their joint 3D structure, revealing how they all fit together.
  • It can model chemical modifications to the molecules which control the healthy functioning of cells, that when disrupted can lead to disease.
  • Tags :
  • AlphaFold-3
  • AI Model

Nuclear Technologies For Food Safety

According to the FAO, nuclear technologies are important tools for food safety. 

  • Role of Nuclear technologies has been highlighted at the International Symposium on Food Safety and Control, held in Vienna, Austria.
  • Event was organized by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

Nuclear technologies offer solutions to combat hunger, reduce malnutrition, enhance environmental sustainability etc. 

  • Also, technologies are complimentary to the One Health approach.
    • One Health is an integrated, unifying approach that aims to sustainably balance and optimize the health of people, animals and ecosystems.

Role of Nuclear Technologies in Food system 

  • Animal health: Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) tests, a molecular nuclear technique, will rapidly detect diseases. 
  • Soil and water management: Radioactive nuclides left behind after nuclear events can help scientists determine the health of soil and rate of erosion.
  • Insect pest management: Nuclear based Sterile Insect Technique (SIT) to manage pest.
    • Technique involves mass-rearing the insects then sterilizing them through ionizing radiation before releasing them.
  • Food safety and control: Food irradiation (the application of ionizing radiation to food) improves the safety and extends the shelf life of foods by reducing or eliminating microorganisms and insects.
  • Plant Breeding and Genetics: Desired Genetic changes can be done by irradiation. 
Image depicting Key Initiatives taken at Indian and Global level for food safety
  • Tags :
  • IAEA
  • Food Safety
  • One Health

Daksha Project

IIT Bombay is leading the Daksha project.

  • It is leading in close collaboration with the Physical Research Laboratory (PRL), Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR), Raman Research Institute (RRI), etc.

About the Daksha project

  • It is an ambitious proposal to build two high-energy space telescopes for the study of explosive astrophysical sources.
    • Each telescope will be equipped with sensors to cover Low energy to high-range energy bands
  • Objectives
    • Detect, localize and characterize high-energy counterparts to gravitational wave sources.
    • High sensitivity detection and studies of Gamma Ray Bursts (GRB)
      • GRB are short-lived bursts of gamma-ray light, the most energetic form of light.
  • Significance of the project
    • The two satellites will orbit on opposite sides of earth to give better coverage than existing missions.
    • Will localize the source of emission of intense gravitational waves due to neutron star mergers or other reasons.
      • Neutron stars are formed when a massive star runs out of fuel and collapses.
    • Primordial Black Holes (PBH) mass window could be probed for the first time.
      • PBH are a type of black hole formed in the first second after the birth of the universe.
Image showing Other Gamma Ray Mission including Astrosat, Fermi Telescope and Swift Observatory.
  • Tags :
  • Daksha Project
  • Gamma Rays
  • Space Telescope
  • Gamma Ray Bursts

TRISHNA: Indo-French Thermal Imaging Mission

TRISHNA (Thermal Infra-Red Imaging Satellite for High-resolution Natural Resource Assessment) mission is a collaborative endeavor between ISRO and CNES (French Space Agency) to monitor surface temperature and water management at regional to global scale.

About TRISHNA Mission

  • Objective: Detailed monitoring of energy and water budgets of continental biosphere for quantifying terrestrial water stress and water use and high-resolution observation of water quality and dynamics.
    • It will also help in a comprehensive assessment of urban heat islands, detection of thermal anomalies linked to volcanic activity and geothermal resources, etc.
  • 2 Primary payloads
    • Thermal Infra-Red (TIR) payload: Provided by CNES, features a four-channel long-wave infrared imaging sensor.
    • Visible – Near Infra-Red – Short Wave Infra-Red (VNIR-SWIR) payload: Developed by ISRO, includes seven spectral bands designed for detailed mapping of surface reflectance.
  • It will operate in a Sun-synchronous (SSO) orbit and is designed for a 5-year operational life.
    • SSO is a particular kind of polar orbit in which satellites are synchronized to always be in the same position relative to the Sun.
  • Significance: Climate monitoring such as droughts, permafrost changes, and evapotranspiration rates; better urban planning with detailed urban heat island maps and heat alerts; etc.

India’s international Space Cooperation

  • India-France: Strategic Space Dialogues, signed Letter of Intent on Defense Space Cooperation, space exchanges and defense space industrial cooperation, etc.
  • India-US: Bilateral space situational awareness arrangement (2022), NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) Mission, etc.
  • Others: Lunar Polar Exploration (LUPEX) Mission between India and Japan, South Asia Satellite (SAS) to boost communication and improve disaster links among India’s 6 neighbors, etc.
  • Tags :
  • TRISHNA
  • ISRO-CNES
  • Surface Temperature Monitoring
  • Water Management

Earthcare Mission

Recently launched Earth Cloud Aerosol And Radiation Explorer (EarthCARE Mission) is a joint venture between the European Space Agency (ESA) and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA).

  • Objective: Provide a holistic view of complex interplay between clouds, aerosols and radiation, yielding new insight into Earth’s radiation balance against the backdrop of the climate crisis.
  • Orbit Type: Sun-synchronous.
  • On-board Instruments: Atmospheric Lidar, cloud profiling radar, multispectral imager (MSI), and broad-band radiometer.

Relationship between Clouds, Aerosol and Earth’s Radiation Balance

  • Clouds:  Along with aerosols, clouds play key role in Earth’s Heat Budget. 
    • They can either cool or warm the Earth’s surface by reflecting incoming sunlight or trapping outgoing infrared radiation.
    • The extent of clouds’ warming or cooling effect on Earth depends on their shape, location, altitude, water content, and particle size.
  • Aerosols: These are tiny particles such as dust and pollutants suspended in atmosphere.
    • Directly they reflect and absorb solar radiation and trap outgoing radiation. 
    • And, indirectly they act as nuclei for cloud formation, which has a more substantial impact on the climate.
    • Human activities like industrialization, agriculture, etc. significantly alter atmospheric aerosol concentrations, impacting regional climate patterns.
  • Tags :
  • Aerosols
  • Clouds
  • Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency
  • European Space Agency (ESA)
  • Radiation

Symbiotic System

NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope observed the symbiotic system HM Sagittae (HM Sge) in Milky Way Galaxy.

About Symbiotic System:

  • It is a type of binary star system that consists of a white dwarf and a red giant.
    • White dwarf is what stars become after they have exhausted their nuclear fuel. 
    • Red giant is a dying star in the final stages of stellar evolution.  
  • Here, the cooler red giant loses material which flows onto the hotter compact white dwarf star
    • The stolen material forms an accretion disk swirling around the white dwarf.
  • Tags :
  • Symbiotic System
  • White Dwarf
  • Red Giant
  • Binary Star System
  • Hubble Space Telescope

Amendments to International Health Regulations (IHR)

The 77th annual World Health Assembly (WHA) meeting recently concluded with an agreement on a crucial set of amendments to the IHR, 2005. 

  • Also, decided to extend the mandate of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Body (established in 2021) to finish its work to negotiate a Pandemic Agreement within a year. 

About IHR 

  • Successor of the International Sanitary Regulations (1951).
  • Aim: An overarching legally binding framework that defines countries’ rights and obligations in handling public health events and emergencies that have the potential to cross borders.
  • Members: Comprises all 194 WHO Member States plus Liechtenstein and the Holy See.
  • Need of Amendments: Experience of epidemics and pandemics, from Ebola to COVID-19, highlighted the need of better public health surveillance, response and preparedness mechanisms around the world

Key Amendments 

  • Defining the Pandemic emergency as a communicable disease that has a “wide geographical spread” or a high risk of one, and has exceeded or can exceed the ability of national health systems to respond.
  • Establishing a Coordinating Financial Mechanism to address the needs and priorities of developing countries. 
  • Establish a States Parties Committee for effective IHR implementation. 
  • Create National IHR Authorities to improve coordination among countries.
  • Tags :
  • World Health Organization (WHO)
  • IHR
  • World Health Assembly

WHO Launches Its First Investment Round

Investment Round has been launched at the 77th World Health Assembly (WHA). 

  • WHA is a decision-making body of World Health Organisation (WHO).  The theme of the Assembly is All for Health, Health for All.
  • Health for all as a concept was evolved in the Alma-Ata Declaration (1978) of WHO to promote Primary Health Care.

The Investment Round aims to mobilize resources for WHO’s core work for the next 4 years (2025-2028) (refer image). 

  • Under it, $ 7 Bn will be mobilized to support the countries so that they can respond to health challenges. 

Funding of WHO

  • WHO receives funding from two main sources-
    • Assessed contributions:  Due that countries pay to be a member of the Organization. 
      • These are a percentage of a country’s GDP as agreed by the UN General Assembly and approved every two years.
    • Voluntary contributions: Comes from Members or from other partners. Major source of total funding. 
      • It is further categorized into Core voluntary contributions, Specified voluntary contributions etc. 

Challenges in funding of WHO:  

Assessed contributions cover less than 20% of the total budget, Withdrawal of funding (E.g. Temporary suspension of funding by US) etc. 

Infographic depicting Ways to improve Health and Well-Being for Everyone, Everywhere
  • Tags :
  • WHO
  • WHA
  • Alma-Ata Declaration

Biopharmaceutical Alliance

India, South Korea, the US, Japan, and European Union launched Biopharmaceutical Alliance in response to the drug supply shortages experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic.

  • The announcement was made at the inaugural meeting of the Biopharmaceutical Alliance during the Bio International Convention 2024.

Significance

  • Build a reliable, sustainable, and resilient supply chain in pharmaceuticals as production of essential raw materials and ingredients is concentrated in a few countries.
  • Coordinate bio policies, regulations, and R&D support measures with the member countries.
  • Tags :
  • Biopharmaceutical Alliance
  • Bio International Convention
  • Drug Supply

Recombinant Proteins

Researchers at Indian Institute of Science (IISc) have developed a new process for production of recombinant proteins.

What are Recombinant Proteins (RPs)?

  • These are modified or manipulated proteins encoded by recombinant DNA (rDNA) for increasing production of proteins, modifying gene sequences, and manufacturing useful commercial products. 
    • rDNA is artificially made DNA strand that is formed by combination of two or more DNA molecules. 
    • rDNA technology can be used to combine (or splice) or transfer DNA from different species or to create genes with new functions.  

Production of Recombinant Proteins

  • RPs such as vaccine antigens, insulin and monoclonal antibodies, are mass-produced by growing modified bacterial, viral or mammalian cells in large bioreactors.
    • Most widely used organism is yeast Pichia pastoris (now called Komagataella phaffii) and it utilizes methanol for production of RP.
    • However, methanol is highly flammable and hazardous, requiring stringent safety precautions. 
  • Researchers have now developed an alternative safer process that relies on a common food additive called mono-sodium glutamate (MSG).
  • Escherichia coli (E.Coli) is also one of the organisms of choice for RP production due to its well-characterized genetics, rapid growth, and high yield production.
Infographic titled 'Applications of Recombinant Proteins' highlighting its biotherapeutics, vector vaccines, agricultural and environmental applications
  • Tags :
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • rDNA
  • E.Coli

Jumping Genes

New plant species (Stellaria mcclintockiae) from Kerala has been named after Barbara McClintock who won the Nobel Prize for her discovery of Jumping Genes.

About Jumping genes

  • Jumping genes, aka transposable elements, are DNA sequences that can move or “jump” from one location to another within the genome, causing nearby genes to become active or inactive.
  • They can replicate themselves and insert copies at new locations.
  • Their movement can cause genetic mutations and contribute to genome evolution.
  • Tags :
  • Jumping Genes
  • DNA
  • Barbara McClintock
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