[MISSION 2024] RTM(Revision through MCQs)- 11 December 2023

Ans: (c )

Explanation:

• Context: The World Meteorological Organization’s recent report, The Global Climate 2011-2020, reveals a concerning trend of glacier thinning, with an average reduction of about one meter per year from 2011 to 2020.
• Climate change, particularly global warming, is a significant factor contributing to glacier thinning. Rising temperatures lead to increased melting, which, when not balanced by sufficient snow accumulation, causes glaciers to lose mass and thin.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2023/12/11/glacier-melting-and-its-impacts/

Ans: (c )

Explanation:

• Context: The Health Ministry is investigating Indraprastha Apollo Hospital over allegations of a ‘cash-for-kidney’ scam, following reports that the hospital is involved in a racket enticing impoverished individuals from Myanmar to sell their organs.
• What is Organ transplantation?
  • It is a medical procedure in which an organ or tissue is removed from one person (the donor) and transplanted into another person (the recipient) to replace a damaged or failing organ. Common organ transplants include kidneys, heart, liver, lungs, and pancreas.
• Veracity, or truthfulness, is a crucial ethical principle in organ transplantation. Open and honest communication is essential to respect the autonomy of patients, ensure informed consent, and build trust in the organ donation and transplantation process.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2023/12/11/medical-ethics-cash-for-kidney-scam/

Ans: (b)

Explanation:

• The ethical concern here is related to justice. Using organs from vulnerable populations may raise issues of exploitation and injustice. Fair allocation and avoiding the undue burden on specific groups are crucial considerations to uphold the principle of justice in organ transplantation.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2023/12/11/medical-ethics-cash-for-kidney-scam/

Ans: (c)

Explanation:

• Statement 1: Biofortified seeds are indeed genetically engineered seeds. However, the process involves conventional breeding techniques and targeted insertion of genes that naturally exist in other plants. It does not involve the introduction of foreign genes from unrelated organisms.
• Statement 2: Biofortification is considered a cost-effective and sustainable solution because it targets the food sources directly, rather than relying on supplementation programs which may be expensive and inaccessible to many populations.
• Statement 3: Biofortified crops have the potential to significantly improve the health and well-being of individuals by providing them with essential micronutrients that may be lacking in their diet. This can lead to improved cognitive function, reduced risk of diseases, and overall better health outcomes.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2023/12/11/biofortified-seeds/

Ans: (c )

Explanation:

• S1: This statement is incorrect. While biofortification involves genetic modification, the focus is on enhancing the nutritional content of crops rather than resistance to pests.
• S2: This statement is incorrect. Although increased crop yield might be a secondary benefit, the primary goal of biofortified seeds is to address malnutrition by improving the nutritional quality of the crops.
• S3: This statement is correct. Biofortified seeds are developed through conventional breeding or genetic modification to increase the levels of specific nutrients in crops. This helps combat malnutrition and nutrient deficiencies, especially in regions where certain essential nutrients are lacking in the diet.
• S4: This statement is incorrect. Biofortified seeds can be used in various agricultural practices, including organic farming. The use of biofortified seeds does not necessarily conflict with organic farming principles, as it depends on the specific traits introduced and the methods used in their development.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2023/12/11/biofortified-seeds/

Ans: (d)

Explanation:

• Context: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted approval for two gene therapies for sickle cell disease.
• S1: This statement is incorrect. Sickle cell disease is not caused by a bacterial infection. It is a genetic disorder resulting from a mutation in the hemoglobin gene.
• S2: This statement is incorrect. Sickle cell disease is an autosomal recessive genetic disorder (not dominant genetic disorder). This means that an individual needs to inherit a copy of the mutated gene from both parents to develop the disease.
• S3: This statement is incorrect. While there is some evidence that individuals with sickle cell trait (carrying one copy of the mutated gene) may have some protection against malaria, individuals with sickle cell disease (who have two copies of the mutated gene) do not benefit from this protection. In fact, sickle cell disease can make individuals more susceptible to certain infections.
• S4: This statement is correct. Sickle cell disease is characterized by the presence of abnormal hemoglobin molecules, specifically hemoglobin S. Normal hemoglobin, which carries oxygen in the blood, is replaced by the abnormal hemoglobin S, causing red blood cells to become rigid and assume a characteristic sickle shape. This can lead to various complications, including pain, anemia, and organ damage.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2023/12/11/sickle-cell-disease/

Ans: (d)

Explanation:

• Context: The Eastern Ghats Nature Interpretation Centre in Visakhapatnam, a first-of-its-kind project by the Andhra Pradesh Forest Department (in the Kambalakonda Wildlife Sanctuary), offers an immersive experience highlighting the diverse ecosystems of the Eastern Ghats, stretching from Odisha to Tamil Nadu.
• About Kambalakonda Wildlife Sanctuary:
  • Kambalakonda Wildlife Sanctuary
  • Location Near Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh
  • Name Refers to the local hill, Kambalakonda
  • Terrain Hilly with steep slopes
  • Forest Type Dry evergreen forest mixed with scrub and meadows
  • Flora Notable flowers include the Indian screw tree, flowers of the Bush plum tree, Jungle berry bunches
  • Fauna Rare animals: Indian leopard, Indian pangolin, Madras treeshrew, Barking Deer, Jackal; Rare snake: Russel’s viper or Daboia russelii; Uncommon birds: Indian Golden oriole, Indian peafowl, Banded Bay Cuckoo

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2023/12/11/kambalakonda-wildlife-sanctuary-andhra-pradesh/

Ans: (b)

Explanation:

• The Dodo (Raphus cucullatus) was a flightless bird that was endemic to the island of Mauritius, not Madagasca It was a large bird, about 3 feet tall, with a distinctive appearance.
• The extinction of the Dodo is largely attributed to human activities. Sailors and settlers, upon reaching Mauritius in the 17th century, brought animals such as pigs, monkeys, and rats, which led to habitat destruction and predation on Dodo eggs. Additionally, hunting for food further contributed to the bird’s decline.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2023/12/11/de-extinction-of-dodo/

Ans: (c )

Explanation:

• A Fractional Orbital Bombardment System (FOBS) is a warhead delivery system that uses a low Earth orbit towards its target destination.
• The idea behind FOBS is, a warhead is put into a stable orbit and it deorbits over the target.
• If the target and the launch position is lined up and the warhead keeps going round, it will complete a circle.Obviously, with the earth moving during this, it is more of a spiral than a ring, but the horizontal movement is countered in such a way that the warhead still goes over the target.

Refer: UPSC CSE 2022

Ans: (b)

Explanation:

• In quantum computing, a qubit or quantum bit is a basic unit of quantum information—the quantum version of the classic binary bit physically realized with a two-state device. A qubit is a two-state quantum-mechanical system, one of the simplest quantum systems displaying the peculiarity of quantum mechanics.

Refer: UPSC CSE 2022