- Why India urgently needs a legal framework for genomics
- There have been several advancements in the area of Genomics including the ability to sequence, analyse and interpret genomes at an unprecedented scale.
- India sequenced the first genome in 2009, 1000 genomes in 2019 and 10,000 genomes recently.
- A well thought through legal and policy framework and wider and integral participation of industry is essential to accelerate Genomic Framework in India.
- The US formulated the genetic information non-discrimination act in 2008 which prevents discrimination based on genetic information.
- India has the potential to be a leader by enabling genomics for the masses at an unprecedented scale opening up unprecedented opportunities and heralding a better and healthier future for its people.
- Genome sequencing is the process of determining the DNA sequence of an organism’s genome. Genome sequencing involves figuring out the order of bases in an organism’s entire genome. It is supported by automated DNA sequencing methods and computer software to assemble the massive sequence data.
2. Can resveratrol copper be used to prevent metastatis?
- Recently it has been found that using a combination of two nutraceuticals – resveratrol and copper, minimises the damaging effects of cell free chromatin fragments.
- The researchers had earlier reported that cell free chromatin particles released from dyeing cancer cells are potentially oncogenic.
- The researchers are trying to get the combination approved by FSSAI as a nutraceutical and not as a drug.
- Nutraceuticals are products derived from food sources that provide health benefits beyond basic nutrition. They are often considered to be a combination of “nutrition” and “pharmaceuticals.”
3. India signs free trade pact with Four European countries
- India signed a free trade agreement with 4 European countries Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland with a goal of reaching $100 billion in investments in India and one million jobs within 15 years.
- This marks the second such full-fledged free trade agreement signed after India’s agreement with the United Arab Emirates.
- For the first time the agreement also included a chapter on commitments to human rights and sustainable development.
- The agreement will come into force after ratification by the EFTA states.
- The EFTA is the intergovernmental organisation of Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. It was set up in 1960 (by the Stockholm Convention in 1960) by its then seven Member States for the promotion of free trade and economic integration between its members.
4. Introducing a new toll collection system
- Road transport and highways minister said in Parliament that the government plans to implement a new highway toll collection system based on the global navigation satellite system before the model code of conduct for the 2024 election kicks in.
- The global navigation satellite system is a term used to refer to any satellite based navigation system including the United States global positioning system.
- It uses a large constellation of satellites to provide more accurate location and navigation information to users globally as compared to the GPS alone.
- The coordinates of the entire length of the country’s national highways will have to be logged with the help of digital image processing and software will be used to assign the toll rate on a particular highway and calculate the toll amount for a vehicle as per the distance travelled by it and then deduct it from volatile linked to the onboard unit. Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) refers to a constellation of satellites providing signals from space that transmit positioning and timing data to GNSS receivers. The receivers then use this data to determine location. Examples of GNSS include Europe’s Galileo, the USA’s NAVSTAR Global Positioning System (GPS), Russia’s GLONASS) and China’s BeiDou Navigation Satellite System and India ‘s IRNSS – NAVIC.
5. Report turns spotlight on India’s zero food children
- A study published recently found the prevalence of zero food children in India at 19.3% drawing attention to extreme food deprivation among children.
- The study ranks India as having the third highest percentage of zero food children above only guinea and Mali.
- In terms of numbers India has the highest number of zero food children at more than 6 million
- The states of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh account for nearly two thirds of total zero food children in India.
- Nearly 19.3% of children in India experience zero-food days, meaning they have not eaten anything in the last 24-hour period.
