December 20 2024 Current Affairs MCQs

Explanation

All Statements are incorrect

• Xenotransplantation, also known as heterologous transplant, is the process of transplanting living cells, tissues, or organs from one species to another.
• Pigs are often the preferred donor species because of their anatomical and physiological similarities to humans. However, humans naturally produce antibodies against pig cells due to a carbohydrate moiety (carbohydrate chain covalently linked to a protein, forming a glycoprotein) in pig cells.
• Xenotransplantation shows promise for treating conditions like neurodegenerative diseases and diabetes, where human cells and tissues are often unavailable.
• Autotransplantation is a surgical procedure that involves transplanting a tissue or organ from one part of the body to another in the same person. The term “auto” means “self”, like Skin graft.
• Allotransplantation involves transplantation between two people who are not genetically identical.
• Isograft is a transplant between identical twins.

Answer: (d) None; Difficulty Level: Medium

Explanation

Both Statements are correct

• Red Junglefowl (Gallus gallus):
  • It is a tropical pheasant species native to India, Indo-China, Malaysia, and neighbouring areas.
  • Habitat: Primaeval forests, dry scrublands, and secondary-growth woodlands.
  • Threats: The interbreeding between wild Red Junglefowl and feral domestic chickens threatens the genetic purity of the species.
  • IUCN Status: Least Concern | WPA,1972: Schedule II.

Answer: (c) Both 1 and 2; Difficulty Level: Medium

Explanation

Option (b) is the correct answer

• Milkweed fibres are brittle and difficult to spin, which has limited their use in textiles.
• milkweed fibre is a natural, renewable, and biodegradable material, making it an environmentally friendly alternative to synthetic fibres.
• It is found as a wild plant in India’s states of Rajasthan, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu.
• The milkweed seed pods produce a silky, lightweight fuzz called silk or floss. The soft, lustrous fibres are yellowish-white in colour. Milkweed fluff has been used to make life jackets since World War II.
• It is the primary food source for Monarch butterfly larvae, making it a critical plant for their survival.
• Application of Milkweed Fibre:
  • Water-Safety Equipment: It can float in water 30 times more than its own weight.
  • Medicinal Uses: Milkweed plant is potentially poisonous. But it is also used for medicinal purposes.
  • Mosquito Repellent Fabric: Experimental fabrics made from milkweed fibre have been developed for their potential to repel mosquitoes.
  • Sportswear Insulation: It is utilised in sportswear for its superior insulation, six times warmer than wool.
  • Oil Absorption: The fibre’s absorbent properties are useful for oil spill clean-ups.

Answer: (b) It is easy to spin and thus can be widely used in textiles; Difficulty Level: Hard

Explanation

Statement 1 is incorrect

• Project Dolphin is a wildlife conservation movement initiated in India to protect the riverine and oceanic dolphins.
• It is initiated by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.

Statements 2 and 3 is correct

• This project includes strengthening patrolling and surveillance, improving habitat through restoration of coastal ecosystems, removing ghost nets, and encouraging local involvement with incentives.
• It also involves aquatic habitats through modern technology, especially in anti-poaching activities and enumeration. It will engage fishermen and other river—and ocean-dependent populations to improve the livelihoods of the local communities.
• Funding: Union government will contribute 60% of the amount, & State will bear the remaining cost.
• The Ganges river dolphin was tagged for the first time in India.
• The tagging under Project Dolphin is expected to help understand the dolphin’s seasonal and migratory patterns, range, distribution, and habitat utilisation, particularly in fragmented or disturbed river systems. These lightweight tags emit signals compatible with Argos satellite systems even with limited surfacing time and are designed to minimise interference with dolphin movement.

Answer: (b) 2 and 3 only; Difficulty Level: Easy

Explanation

Both statements are incorrect

• Scientists affiliated with the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) have developed an ‘anti-pesticide’ suit called Kisan Kavach.
• It is made of oxime fabric, which can chemically break down common pesticides sprayed onto cloth or body during spraying operations. This prevents chemicals from leaching into the skin.
• Effective in a wide temperature range under UV light exposure and even after 150 washes.
• Developed by Biotechnology Research and Innovation Council (BRIC-inStem), Bangalore, with Sepio

Answer: (d) Neither 1 nor 2; Difficulty Level: Medium

Explanation

Option (c) is correct

• The ISA is the brainchild of India and France “to mobilise efforts against climate change through the deployment of solar energy solutions”.
• It was launched at the 21st Conference of Parties (COP21) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) held in Paris, in 2015.
• Russia is not part of the ISA.
• Recently, Moldova joined the International Solar Alliance (ISA).
• It is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe, bordered by Romania and Ukraine.

Answer: (c) 3 only; Difficulty Level: Medium

Explanation

Statement 2 is correct and statement 1 is incorrect

• Hydrothermal vents are underwater springs located primarily near tectonic plates. These vents occur where cold water, about 2 degrees Celsius, meets magma in a tectonically active region.
• The cold water trickles through cracks and fissures in the ocean crust and mixes with magma, getting heated up. This heated water can reach temperatures up to 370 degrees Celsius.
• The super hot water emerges as plumes, rich in minerals and gases, through chimneys and vents.
• Significance:
  • Rich Mineral Deposit: Deposits from hydrothermal venting are rich in copper, zinc, gold, silver, plat-inum, iron, cobalt, nickel, and other economically beneficial minerals and metals.
  • Ecosystem Insights: The unique chemosynthetic organisms (produce their own food through chemosynthesis, i.e., using chemical energy) in these areas help us better understand life in harsh environments.
  • Economic Potential: The long-lasting activity spans, spanning hundreds to thousands of years, make them highly valuable for ongoing exploration.

Answer: (a) 1 only; Difficulty Level: Easy

Explanation

Option (b) is correct

Answer: (b) Only two; Difficulty Level: Hard