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B I G L E A R N I N G S M A D E E ASY

An initiative of Group

SCIENCE &
TECHNOLOGY

Civil Services Examination


MADE EASY Publications
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Science & Technology


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Contents
Science & Technology

Chapter - 1 Chapter - 2
India: Science & Technology......................................... 1 Genetics, Molecular Biology and Biotechnology...... 18
1.1 History............................................................................ 1 2.1 Terminologies............................................................... 18
1.2 Development in Modern India......................................... 1 Biotechnology............................................................... 18
1.3 Science & Technology in Five Year Plans....................... 2 Genetic Engineering..................................................... 18
Recombinant DNA Technology..................................... 18
1.4 Ministry of Science and Technology............................... 4
Bioinformatics............................................................... 19
Department of Science and Technology (DST).............. 4
Stem Cells..................................................................... 19
Department of Scientific and Industrial
Research (DSIR)............................................................. 4 DNA Replication........................................................... 20
Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)...... 4 Transcription................................................................. 20
Department of Biotechnology......................................... 4 Translation.................................................................... 20
Department of Atomic Energy......................................... 4 Genome........................................................................ 20
Department of Space...................................................... 5 Transcriptome............................................................... 20
Department of Defence.................................................. 5 Transgenic Organisms/Genetically Modified
Organisms.................................................................... 21
1.5 Policy Document............................................................. 5
DNA Fingerprinting/Mapping/Profiling.......................... 21
Scientific Policy Resolution (1958).................................. 5
Origin of Replication..................................................... 21
Technology Policy Statement (1983).............................. 6
Plasmids....................................................................... 21
Science & Technology Policy (2003).............................. 6
Bacteriophages............................................................ 21
Science Technology and Innovation Policy (2013)......... 6
Terminator Seeds.......................................................... 21
Decade of Innovation in India (2010-2020)..................... 7
Mutation........................................................................ 22
1.6 Indian Gems in Science and Technology....................... 7
2.2 Biotechnology............................................................... 22
Aryabhatta...................................................................... 7
2.3 Biotechnology Regulatory Agencies in India................ 23
Varahamihira................................................................... 8
Department of Biotechnology....................................... 23
Bhaskaracharya.............................................................. 8
Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC)...... 24
Jagadish Chandra Bose................................................. 8
Biotechnology Regulatory Authority Bill, 2013.............. 24
C.V. Raman..................................................................... 9
Homi Bhabha.................................................................. 9 2.4 Tools used in Biotechnology......................................... 25
S.N Bose....................................................................... 10 Enzymes....................................................................... 25
S. Chandrashekhar....................................................... 10 Vectors......................................................................... 26
A.P.J Abdul Kalam........................................................ 10 Competent Host............................................................ 26
Har Gobind Khorana..................................................... 11 2.5 Applications of Biotechnology in Agriculture................ 28
Srinivasa Ramanujan.................................................... 11 Purpose........................................................................ 28
Dr. Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar....................................... 11 Bt. Cotton...................................................................... 28
Vikram Sarabhai........................................................... 12 Bt. Brinjal...................................................................... 29
C.N.R Rao..................................................................... 12 Golden Rice.................................................................. 30
Dr. M.S Swaminathan................................................... 12 Flavr Savr Tomato......................................................... 31
1.7 Indigenization of Technology ....................................... 13 GM Mustard/Hybrid Mustard/ DMH-11......................... 31
Indigenous Knowledge and Innovations....................... 13 Super Rice.................................................................... 32
Importance and Prospects .......................................... 13 Electricity Free Light..................................................... 32
National Innovation Foundation.................................... 14 Transgenic Potato......................................................... 32
TIFAC............................................................................ 15 2.6 Applications of Biotechnology in Health and Medicine.... 34
India Technology Vision 2020....................................... 15 Genetically Engineered Insulin..................................... 34
1.8 Expanding R&D in India............................................... 16 Gene Therapy............................................................... 35

(iii)
Molecular Diagnosis..................................................... 36 Space Vision 2025........................................................ 59
Genetically Engineered Steroids.................................. 38 India’s Early Satellites................................................... 59
Forensic Medicine and Genetic Engineering................ 38 Other Important Satellites............................................. 59
Monoclonal Antibiotics.................................................. 39 Gagan........................................................................... 60
Interferons.................................................................... 40 IRNSS........................................................................... 61
In-vitro Fertilization........................................................ 40 Communication Satellite Programme............................ 61
Stem Cell Therapy........................................................ 42 Earth Observation Satellites.......................................... 62
Three Parent Baby........................................................ 43 3.5 Indian Space missions.................................................. 62
CRISPR-Cas9............................................................... 44 AstroSat........................................................................ 62
Hybridoma Technology................................................. 45 Hyper-Spectral Imaging Satellite (HysIS)..................... 62
2.7 Human Genome Project................................................ 45 GSAT-7A....................................................................... 63
HGP-Read.................................................................... 46 GSAT-11....................................................................... 63
HGP-Write..................................................................... 46 GSAT-31....................................................................... 64
2.8 ENCODE....................................................................... 46 GSLV-F11..................................................................... 64
2.9 Biotechnology and Cloning........................................... 46 Other Satellite for Military Purpose by ISRO................. 64
Meaning........................................................................ 46 GSLV Mk III-D2 / GSAT-29 Mission............................... 64
Advantages.................................................................. 47 The GROWTH-India Telescope..................................... 64
Disadvantages.............................................................. 47 UNNATI—Unispace Nanosatellite Assembly Training.. 65
Types of Cloning........................................................... 47 Microsat-R and Kalamsat-V2........................................ 65
2.10 Bioremediation and Phytoremediation.......................... 49 NovaSAR and S1-4....................................................... 65
Bioremediation.............................................................. 49 EMISAT......................................................................... 65
Phytoremediation.......................................................... 49 Mission Shakti............................................................... 66
Oil Zapper..................................................................... 49 Launch Vehicle Programme.......................................... 66
Bioleaching................................................................... 50 Role of ISRO in Development....................................... 70
Bioaugmentation........................................................... 50 Agriculture.................................................................... 70
Biosparging.................................................................. 50 Defence........................................................................ 70
2.11 Biosensors and Biomarkers.......................................... 50 Rural Development....................................................... 71
Biosensors.................................................................... 50 Economy....................................................................... 71
Biomarkers.................................................................... 51 Disaster Management and Sustainable Development.. 72
2.12 Biosignature.................................................................. 51 Urban Planning............................................................. 73
Applications.................................................................. 51 Mission on Mars............................................................ 74
2.13 Monsanto...................................................................... 51 ADITYA-1 Mission......................................................... 76
Genetically Modified Food: Debate.............................. 52 Chandrayaan-I Mission................................................. 76
Safety of GMO Foods................................................... 52 Chandrayaan-2 Mission................................................ 79
Operation Satellites...................................................... 80
Chapter - 3 Sonar Dome.................................................................. 80
Jugnu............................................................................ 80
Space Research and Technology................................ 53
Achievements of India’s Space Program...................... 80
3.1 Orbits............................................................................ 53 ISRO’S Future Missions and Challenges...................... 81
Low Earth Orbit............................................................. 53 ISRO Plans Venus Mission for 2023.............................. 81
Medium Earth Orbit....................................................... 53 Gaganyaan – Human Spaceflight Programme.............. 82
Geostationary Orbit....................................................... 53 Gold and Icon Mission.................................................. 82
Transfer Orbit................................................................ 53 Positioning Satellite....................................................... 83
Geosynchronous Orbit.................................................. 54 Black Hole and Higgs Boson........................................ 83
Semi-Synchronous Orbits............................................. 54 Spacewalk.................................................................... 84
Polar Orbit..................................................................... 54 ADITYA-1...................................................................... 84
Sun-Synchronous Orbit................................................. 54 Nasa’s Parker Solar Probe ........................................... 85
3.2 Size of Satellites............................................................ 54 Square Kilometre Array................................................. 85
3.3 Lagrange Points........................................................... 55 LIGO and Gravitational Waves..................................... 86
3.4 Space Research in India.............................................. 55 Cosmic Microwave Background................................... 89
Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO)............... 55
Physical Research Laboratory...................................... 57 Chapter - 4
Semi-Conductor Lab..................................................... 58
Defence Research and Technology............................ 90
National Atmospheric Research Laboratory................. 58
North Eastern Space Applications Centre.................... 58 4.1 Organisations............................................................... 90
India’s Space Mission................................................... 59 Ministry of Defence....................................................... 90

(iv)
Defence Research and Development Chapter - 5
Organisation (DRDO).................................................... 90
Defence Production Policy........................................... 91 Nuclear Research and Technology...........................118
Defence Procurement Procedure (DPP) ...................... 91 5.1 Nuclear Terminologies................................................ 118
Defence Acquisition Council......................................... 92 Nuclear Fission........................................................... 118
Defence Procurement Policy........................................ 93 Nuclear Fusion............................................................ 118
Defence Acquisition Organization (DAO)..................... 93 Radioactivity............................................................... 118
Chief of Defence Staff .................................................. 93 Moderator................................................................... 118
4.2 Missile Programme of India.......................................... 94 Controlling Rods......................................................... 118
Missiles......................................................................... 94 Coolant....................................................................... 118
Cruise Missile............................................................... 94 Isotopes...................................................................... 118
Ballistic Missile............................................................. 94 Radiocarbon Dating.................................................... 119
Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme... 95 Radiocarbon Dating Uses Carbon Isotopes............... 119
Indian Ballistic Missile Defence Programme................. 99 Neutrinos.................................................................... 119
Cruise Missiles............................................................ 100 5.2 Institutional Set-Up..................................................... 120
Other Missiles............................................................. 102 Department of Atomic Energy..................................... 120
4.3 Submarines................................................................. 102 Atomic Energy Regulatory Board............................... 120
Diesel Electric and Nuclear Submarine...................... 103 Bhabha Atomic Research Centre............................... 120
Scorpene Submarines................................................ 103 Global Centre for Nuclear Energy Partnership
K-Family Missiles........................................................ 104 (GCNEP)..................................................................... 120
4.4 Unmanned Aerial Vehicles.......................................... 104 International Atomic Energy Agency........................... 121
Ulka............................................................................ 105 Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research................. 121
Nishant....................................................................... 105 5.3 India’s Nuclear Research Programme........................ 121
Lakshya...................................................................... 105 Stages of Indian Nuclear Power Generation............... 121
Rustom....................................................................... 105 Nuclear Power in India and Operational Nuclear
4.5 Aircraft Carriers.......................................................... 106 Power Plants in India.................................................. 124
INS Vikrant.................................................................. 106 Dae’s Nuclear Vision 2020.......................................... 126
INS Vikramaditya........................................................ 106 Uranium and Thorium Presence in India..................... 127
INS Viraat.................................................................... 106 Strategic Uranium Reserves....................................... 128
INS Vishal................................................................... 107 5.4 Nuclear Energy Parks................................................. 128
4.6 Advanced Defence Technology................................. 107 Kudankulam................................................................ 128
Fire and Forget Technology........................................ 107 Gorakhpur Haryana Anu Vidyut Pariyojana................. 129
Arjun and Arjun MK-2 Tanks....................................... 107 Kovvada, Andhra Pradesh.......................................... 129
Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas.............................. 108 Jaitapur, Maharashtra................................................. 129
Chhaya-Mithi Virdi, Gujarat......................................... 129
Kaveri Engine............................................................. 109
SARAS........................................................................ 110 5.5 Nuclear Doctrine of India............................................ 130
Dhruv Advanced Light Helicopter ............................. 110 NPT and INDIA........................................................... 130
Destroyers and Frigates............................................. 110 India and CTBT........................................................... 131
Offshore Patrol Vessels............................................... 111 5.6 Applications of Nuclear Technology........................... 131
Pinaka......................................................................... 112 Food and Agriculture.................................................. 131
Awacs......................................................................... 113 Nuclear Medicine and Healthcare.............................. 131
Torpedoes.................................................................. 113 Industry....................................................................... 133
Varunastra.................................................................. 113 5.7 Nuclear Waste, its Disposal and Management........... 133
Muntra: First Unmanned Tank..................................... 114 Nuclear Waste............................................................ 133
Samyukta: Electronic Warfare Programme for Army... 114 Managing Used Fuel.................................................. 133
Advanced Numerical Research & Analysis Disposal...................................................................... 134
Group (ANURAG)....................................................... 114 5.8 CERN, Higgs Boson and Large Hadron Collider........ 134
Center for Artificial Intelligence & Robotics (CAIR)..... 114 CERN.......................................................................... 134
Defence Electronics Application Laboratory (DEAL).. 114 Large Hadron Collider................................................ 134
Laser Science & Technology Centre (LASTEC).......... 115 Higgs Boson............................................................... 134
DHVANI (Detection and Hit Visualization using 5.9 India Based Neutrino Observatory............................. 134
Acoustic N-wave Identification).................................. 115
5.10 Nuclear Accidents...................................................... 135
4.7 Concept of Stealth Technology................................... 115 Three Mile................................................................... 135
4.8 Indian Coast Guard.................................................... 116 Chernobyl................................................................... 136
4.9 Artificial Intelligence in Defence................................. 116 Fukushima.................................................................. 137
4.10 ISRO and Indian Defence........................................... 117 Kudankulam Controversy............................................ 138

(v)
11.4 Autonomous Vehicle .................................................. 223 11.22 Copernicus Programme.............................................. 228
11.5 Encephalophone ........................................................ 223 Services Provided....................................................... 228
11.6 Klotho Protein............................................................. 223 India and Copernicus................................................. 228

11.7 Construction of Ten Indigenous PHWR’s.................... 223 11.23 Space Based Internet................................................. 228
Pressurized Heavy Water Reactors (PHWRs)............. 223 Starlink Constellation.................................................. 228

11.8 VoLTE......................................................................... 224 11.24 Saposhi....................................................................... 228


Issues......................................................................... 224 11.25 New Generation of Plant Breeding............................. 229
Working...................................................................... 224 11.26 Ultra-Diffuse Galaxy (UDG)......................................... 229
Benefits....................................................................... 224 11.27 Lithium-Ion Battery...................................................... 229
Indian Scenario........................................................... 224 Application.................................................................. 229
11.9 Car T-Cell Immunotherapy (Kymriah)......................... 224 Safety Hazards........................................................... 229
Different from Traditional Therapies............................ 224 11.28 Public Data Office Providers....................................... 229
Significance of its Approval........................................ 224 Importance of Public Wi-Fi.......................................... 229
11.10 Pt. Deen Dayal Upadhayay Vigyan Gram Sankul TRAI Recommendations (March 2017)....................... 229
Pariyojana................................................................... 224 Pilot Project................................................................. 229
11.11 Leucism...................................................................... 225 11.29 KFI.............................................................................. 230
11.12 New Graphene Battery............................................... 225 Violation of Net Neutrality............................................ 230
11.13 Light Emitting Plants................................................... 225 11.30 3-D Print Drug Delivery............................................... 230
Components............................................................... 225 11.31 Atomic Clock.............................................................. 230
Process....................................................................... 225 About.......................................................................... 230
Significance................................................................ 225 Benefits....................................................................... 230
Present Status............................................................. 225 11.32 InSight........................................................................ 230
11.14 UEFI............................................................................ 226 11.33 RADA.......................................................................... 230
BIOS........................................................................... 226 11.34 Nanozyme................................................................... 230
Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI)............. 226
11.35 eDNA.......................................................................... 231
11.15 IPRISM........................................................................ 226
11.36 Asteroid Mitigation Plan.............................................. 231
Objective.................................................................... 226
Potentially Hazardous Asteroids................................. 231
11.16 Tacotron-2.................................................................. 226 Strategy...................................................................... 231
11.17 Wadhwani Institute of Artificial Intelligence................. 227 Near-Earth Objects (NEOs)........................................ 231
11.18 Bharatnet.................................................................... 227 11.37 Globular Clusters........................................................ 231
Background................................................................ 227 Significance................................................................ 231
Significance................................................................ 227 11.38 Nano-Bubbles............................................................. 232
11.19 MIHIR.......................................................................... 227 11.39 High Intensity Focussed Ultrasound (HIFU)............... 232
Significance................................................................ 227
11.40 E-Aksharayan............................................................. 232
Background................................................................ 227
11.41 Punganur Cow............................................................ 232
11.20 Space Commission..................................................... 227
11.42 West Nile Virus............................................................ 232
11.21 Cold Fusion................................................................. 228
About WNV................................................................. 232
Indian Scenario........................................................... 228
Arguments Against..................................................... 228 Civil Services Examination (CSE)
Arguments in Favour................................................... 228 Prelims : Previous Year Questions............................234

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India: Science &
1
Technology
1.1 History Indian civilization has a long recorded history of scientific
culture that goes back to more than 5000 years. Indian
Being one of the oldest in the world, the Indian civilization heritage has been known for its various developments like
has a strong tradition of science and technology. Our gemstone therapy, ayurvedic medicine, physics, farming,
contribution to astronomy, mathematics, medicine and literature and many more.
practical arts are not adequately acknowledged. The
impression that science started only in Europe was deeply
1.2 Development in Modern India
embedded in the minds of educated people all over the
world. The alchemists of Arab countries were occasionally The modern age is the age of science, technology,
mentioned, but there was very little reference to India knowledge and information. All these are interrelated and
and China. different aspects of the same thing, fundamentally altering
the way people live, connect, communicate and transact,
Thanks to the work of the Indian National Science Academy
with profound effects on economic development.
and other learned bodies, the development of sciences
in India during the ancient period has drawn attentions India has much to be proud of its scientific and technological
of scholars in 20th century. It is becoming clearer from developments in modern India. India became the first
these studies that India has consistently been a scientific country to reach Mars on its initial attempt. It boasts a
country, right from Vedic to modern times with the usual thriving pharmaceutical industry that produces low-cost
fluctuations that can be expected of any country. In fact, medications desperately needed by the developing world.
we do not find an example of a civilization, except perhaps Then, there is Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO)
that of ancient Greece, which accorded the same exalted making headlines in space sciences. Recently, government
place to knowledge and science as did that of India. Many of India launched an ambitious plan to make India a leader
famous mathematicians from India contributed a lot to the in solar power in the form of international solar alliance at
development of theories that we still use and applied in Paris climate summit. Science and technology have been
majority of fields. an integral part of Indian civilization and culture over the
past several millennia.
2 India: Science & Technology
B I G L E A R N I N G S M A D E E ASY

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Today, India is among the topmost countries in the world in chemicals instruments etc. The cooperation of outside
the field of scientific research, positioned as one of the top agencies other than the CSIR also sought in the plan. The
five nations in the field of space exploration. The country plan also aimed at avoiding duplication of research work
has regularly undertaken space missions, including of different laboratories and stressed on the utilization of
missions to the moon and the famed Polar Satellite Launch indigenous expertise and materials in the nuclear power
Vehicle (PSLV). India has taken a leading role in launching projects. Space department also got proper attention.
satellites for the SAARC nations, and thus generating The Fifth Five Year Plan (1974-78), attempted to
revenue by offering its space facilities for use to other restructure the research programme into projects
countries. with predetermined time spans, cost and benefits. In
There has been considerable emphasis on encouraging agriculture, special emphasis was made on programmes
scientific temperament among India’s youth through to control crop diseases, dry farming and agricultural
numerous technical universities and institutes, both in the implements, surveying and research of natural resources.
private and government sectors. At present, the country The Sixth Five Year Plan (1980-85), included the task
has a total of 17 Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), 31 of creating a scientific temper for growth of science
National Institutes of Technology (NITs), 677 universities and its utilization in developmental process. A close
awarding about 29,000 doctorate degrees, and about 40 nexus between science, and technology and space was
research laboratories run by the CSIR. envisaged. The plan also aimed to creating new research
institution in the field of plasma physics, immunology and
India is among the world’s top 10 nations in terms of
applied microbiology.
the number of scientific publications. India is gradually
becoming self-reliant in nuclear technology. Recently, The Seventh Five Year Plan (1985-90), emphasised
the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project Unit-1 (KKNPP on policies and programmes to accelerate the growth
1) with 1,000 MW capacity was commissioned, while the in food production and to raise its productivity. It
Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project Unit-2 (KKNPP-2) with recognised emerging technologies on world scene, such
1,000 MW capacity is under commissioning. as micro- electronics, informatics, telemetric, robotics,
biotechnology, material science, instrumentation etc.

1.3 Science & Technology in Five The Eighth Five Year Plan (1992-97), sought to integrate
science and technology with socio-economic sectors and
Year Plans more particularly rural areas to meet the basic needs of
The First Five Year Plan of India (1951-56), aimed at water, nutrition, health and sanitation, shelter, energy,
setting up of new national laboratories and research education and employment. The plan also emphasized
institutes, training the personnel for manning the research to set up sophisticated infrastructure, instrumentation and
institutes and running industries. Translating the results trained man power.
of scientific research into commercial production and the The Ninth Five Year Plan (1997-2002), recognized the
exploration and survey of resources were also emphasized. need for mounting efforts to control population and improve
the levels of food security, economic growth, literacy, health
During the Second Five Year Plan (1956-61), efforts
and so on, apart from realising the technological strengths
were made to strengthen research facilities, coordinating
in the emerging global industrial/economic environment by
research programmes in various national laboratories
optimal utilisation of the S and T Systems in India.
and institutions with the need of national plan, linking up
research work at the national level with the regional and The Tenth Five Year Plan (2002-2007), has given out
state level. This plan also focused to train and generate New Science and Technology Policy 2003, in order to
scientific manpower in sufficient numbers and ensuring build a blue print for future programmes of science and
its proper utilization. The linking of research and industrial technology. The policy outlines the approach to S &
need has also been emphasized. T governance, optional utilization of existing physical
and knowledge sources, development of innovative
The Third Five Year Plan (1961-66), emphasized to technologies, system and technologies for mitigation
strengthen the existing research institutes and expand and management of natural hazards, generation and
facilities for research in engineering and technology management of intellectual property and creation of
with a view to developing industrial and manufacturing awareness among general masses about the use and
instruments. benefits of science and technology.
The Fourth Five Year Plan (1969-74), emphasized on Realising the need to invest heavily to bring development
purposeful research and development programmes and in science and technology and to meet the goals set under
the priority areas identified under the plan were steel, Vision 2025, the Eleventh Five Year Plan (2007-2012)
Science & Technology 3
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tripled the proposed allocation for scientific research and Rs. 10 lacs. This would imply an expenditure of about
development. The plan also envisaged the formulation 200 crores. NIF aimed at filing at least 250 patents per
of a National Innovation Policy to encourage competition year, some as defensive patents, costing around 7.5
among enterprises, greater diffusion of knowledge. crores per annum.
It proposed new legislative framework for providing
Mining the Minds of Masses
incentives to investors. It proposed for the establishment
of Centers of Relevance and Excellence (CORE) in Massive engagement with masses for sourcing and sinking
academic and Research and Development institutions in ideas:
selected areas that are relevant to industries and thirty • About 15 to 20 million people travel by train every day
Central Universities, eight new IITs, seven IIMs, ten new and yet we have not harnessed their imagination for
National Institute of Technology and three Indian Institute generating ideas to solve problems of everyday life.
of Science Education and Research. Apart from this a Nor have we shared with them the ideas that they
National Biotechnology Regulatory Authority was set up for can use without much transaction costs and expert
single window clearance for all biotechnological products. knowledge. It is proposed that a partnership should
be forged with Indian Railways to source and spread
12th Five Year Plan (2012-17) ideas for larger social good.
The purpose during the 12th Five Year Plan is to make • Children in the schools have not been mobilized
significant dent on the problem of poverty, environmental in a massive manner to imagine and innovate. The
vulnerability and social equity. IGNITE competitions organized by NIF for last four
years have revealed outstanding examples of ideas
Inclusive Health and innovations by school children, many of which
• Due to intensive agriculture, the soil nutrients have have become products and some are likely to go to
been mined heavily leading to deficiency of the market soon. INSPIRE Programme can be one channel
micronutrients in the food chain causing several through which in every workshop, we can organize
widespread health problems. Need to mount an All half a day session on generation of new ideas and NIF
India Coordinated Research Project on soil, plant, can process these ideas.
and human health so that science of sustainable, CHUNAUTI: Challenges for unfolding and augmenting
affordable preventive health can be established and technological innovation for society
disseminated.
CHUNAUTI will be a new programme jointly initiated
• Validation of folkloric traditional health claims, which
by SEED and NIF involving a jury of outstanding public
are not codified or included in the classical literature, to
spirited scientists and technologists [some could be
be taken up in a time bound manner so that affordable
from other countries as well] which will judge entries
medicines and therapies can be developed. A network
mobilized through global competition offering at least
of postgraduate institutions of Botany, Pharmacy and
Rs. 50 lacs to 1 crore or more prizes of 25 lacs each,
Chemistry will have to be linked with similar network of
for the winners and recognition and reward for runners-
ICMR institutions to create inter-sectoral synergy in the
ups. India may decide these designs to be put in public
country.
domain or Technology Commons so that people to
Biodiversity Based Knowledge Systems and people learning is facilitated without letting firms extract
undue rent from the same.
Grassroots Innovations:
• In-situ value addition: One of the major reasons for Engagement with Youth
persistent poverty, social strife and despondency
• Unfolding Dynamism of Youth for Innovation
among local tribal and other communities living in
Based Enterprise Management (UDYIEM): This
and around forest regions is almost lack of in-situ
initiative will tap the potential of youth through tech-
value addition in various biodiversity based materials.
pedia.in, a SRISTI initiative for engaging youth with
Several steps have been taken in the past by DST to
solving technological problems and starting social or
develop technologies for vegetative dyes, oil of non-
economic enterprises where possible.
edible and edible tree based oil seeds, etc. However,
• National network of S&T departments: All the
complete value chain remains to be established. NIF
postgraduate and under graduate life science
should aim at validation and value addition in at least
departments can be networked to map, track and
2000 distinctive claims of local communities per year
where possible experimentally validate or value add in
at the rate of minimum investment of approximately
the knowledge around biological resources.
Genetics, Molecular
2
Biology and Biotechnology
2.1 Terminologies Recombinant DNA Technology
All organisms on the Earth evolved from a common
Biotechnology ancestor, so all organisms use DNA as their molecule of
The European Federation of Biotechnology defines heredity. At the chemical level, DNA is the same whether
Biotechnology as “The integration of natural science and it is taken from a microscopic bacterium or a blue whale.
organisms, cells, parts thereof, and molecular analogues As a result, DNA from different organisms can be “cut and
for products and services”. Biotechnology deals with pasted” together, resulting in “recombinant DNA”. The
techniques of using live organisms or enzymes from first recombinant DNA molecule was produced in 1972 by
organisms to produce products and processes useful to Stanford researcher Paul Berg. The ability to cut, paste,
humans. Some of the techniques that can be included under and copy molecules of DNA was not only a watershed
Biotechnology include, in vitro fertilisation leading to a ‘test- moment for scientific research but spawned an entire
tube’ baby, synthesising a gene and using it, developing a industry built on genetic engineering.
DNA vaccine or correcting a defective gene etc. Recombinant DNA technology incorporates various steps
in the same sequence as illustrated below:
Enzymes
Biological molecules, usually proteins that are responsible • Isolation of the host DNA
for thousands of metabolic processes essential to life. • Fragmentation of the DNA by restriction endonucleases
• Isolation of desired the DNA fragment
Genetic Engineering • Ligation of the DNA fragment into a vector
Genetic Engineering is one of the core techniques of • Transferring the recombinant DNA into the host
Biotechnology. It involves alteration of chemistry of genetic • Culturing the host cells in a medium at large scale and
material (DNA and RNA) to introduce these into host extraction of the desired product
organisms and thus change the phenotype of the host
organism. Ligation is the joining of two nucleic acid fragments of
DNA through the action of an enzyme.
Deoxyribonucleic acid, or DNA is the hereditary material
in humans and almost all other organisms. Nearly every
cell in a person’s body has the same DNA. Most DNA
is located in the cell nucleus (where it is called nuclear
DNA), but a small amount of DNA can also be found in
the mitochondria (where it is called mitochondrial DNA
or mtDNA).
Ribonucleic acid, or RNA is one of the three major
biological macromolecules that are essential for all
known forms of life (along with DNA and proteins). RNA
plays an important role in regulating cellular processes–
One example of DNA Recombinant is the generation of
from cell division, differentiation and growth to cell aging
genetically engineered plants to produce an insect toxin
and death.
called Bt. toxin. The Bt. gene is derived from a bacterium
Phenotype refers to all the observable characteristics called Bacillus thuringiensis and produces a toxin that
of an organism that result from the interaction of disrupts gut function in the larvae (caterpillars) of certain
its genotype (total genetic inheritance) with the insects that are crop pests. The gene that produces Bt.
environment. Examples of observable characteristics toxin is introduced into such plants by recombinant DNA
include behaviour, biochemical properties, colour, technology and results in the selective killing of crop-
shape, and size. feeding insects. This development has had a major
Science & Technology 19
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economic impact and reduced the expenses of pesticides The main tools of a bioinformatician are computer software
used per year and has increased the longevity and programs and the internet. A fundamental activity is
success of several crops. sequence analysis of DNA and proteins using various
programs and databases available on the world wide web.
Bioinformatics Anyone, from clinicians to molecular biologists, with access
Bioinformatics is an interdisciplinary field mainly involving to the internet and relevant websites can now freely discover
the composition of biological molecules such as nucleic
molecular biology and genetics, computer science,
acids and proteins by using basic bioinformatic tools.
mathematics, and statistics. Data intensive, large-scale
biological problems are addressed from a computational
point of view.
Stem Cells
Stem cells have the remarkable potential to develop into
many different cell types in the body during early life and
growth. In addition, in many tissues they serve as a sort
of internal repair system, dividing essentially without limit
to replenish other cells as long as the person or animal is
still alive. When a stem cell divides, each new cell has the
potential either to remain a stem cell or become another
type of cell with a more specialized function, such as a
muscle cell, a red blood cell, or a brain cell as shown in
the diagram below.
Stem cells are distinguished from other cell types by two
important characteristics. First, they are unspecialized
cells capable of renewing themselves through cell division,
sometimes after long periods of inactivity. Second, under
certain physiologic or experimental conditions, they can
be induced to become tissue- or organ-specific cells with
special functions.
Space Research
3
and Technology
3.1 Orbits the same latitude, however, this does not mean that the
satellite and the Earth are traveling at the same speed, but
Low Earth Orbit rather that the satellite is traveling fast enough so that its
orbit matches the Earth’s rotation.
The orbit is at a height of 900 km and Remote Sensing
When a satellite is in geostationary orbit, its instruments are
satellites like IRS series satellites are put in this orbit.
looking at a certain part of the Earth. That part of the Earth is
Medium Earth Orbit called a footprint for ex. India. Suitable for communication
satellites, or meteorological (weather) satellites.
A Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) satellite is one with an
orbit within the range from a few hundred miles to a few Key Features
thousand miles above the earth’s surface. Satellites of this
type orbit higher than Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites, but • Circular orbit + in equatorial plane i.e. directly above
lower than geostationary satellites. the equator and thus inclination is zero.
• Geostationary orbit, therefore, is really just a special
type of equatorial orbit.
• Angular velocity of the satellite is equal to angular
velocity of earth.
• Period of revolution is equal to period of rotation of
earth.
• Nearly at an altitude of 36000 Km from earth surface.
• A subset of geosynchronous orbit.
• There is only one geostationary orbit.

The orbital periods of MEO satellites range from about Transfer Orbit
two to 12 hours. Some MEO satellites orbit in near perfect
circles, and therefore have constant altitude and travel at a A Hohmann Transfer is an orbital maneuver that transfers
constant speed. Other MEO satellites revolve in elongated a satellite or spacecraft from one circular orbit to another.
orbits. The perigee (lowest altitude) of an elliptical-orbit It was invented by a German scientist in 1925 and is the
satellite is much less than its apogee (greatest altitude). most fuel efficient way to get from one circular orbit to
The orbital speed is much greater near perigee than near another circular orbit. It is a two-impulse elliptical transfer
apogee. As seen from a point on the surface, a satellite in between two co-planar circular orbits. The transfer itself
an elongated orbit crosses the sky in just a few minutes consists of an elliptical orbit with a perigee at the inner
when it is near perigee, as compared to several hours orbit and an apogee at the outer orbit. The fundamental
when it is near apogee. Elliptical-orbit satellites are easiest assumption behind the Hohmann transfer, is that there is
to access near apogee, because the earth-based antenna only one body which exerts a gravitational force on the
orientation does not have to be changed often, and the body of interest, such as a satellite. This is a good model
satellite is above the horizon for a fairly long time. for transferring an earth-based satellite from a low orbit to
say a geosynchronous orbit. Inherent in the model is that
Geostationary Orbit there is no additional body sharing the orbit which could
A circular orbit above the Earth’s equator, following the induce a gravitational attraction on the body of interest.
direction of the Earth’s rotation; has an orbital period Thus, as we shall discuss, the Hohmann transfer is a good
equal to the Earth’s rotational period (one sidereal day), model for the ”outer” trajectory of an earth-Mars transfer.
and thus appears motionless, at a fixed position in the sky, Geostationary Transfer Orbit is a type of Hoffman transfer
to ground observers. Speed at which a satellite orbits the orbit. The Geostationary Transfer Orbit (GTO) is a highly
Earth coincides with the speed that the Earth turns and at
54 Space Research and Technology
B I G L E A R N I N G S M A D E E ASY

An initiative of Group

elliptical orbit with a perigee of 180-200 km above the


Earth’s surface and an apogee of around 35,900 km.

Geosynchronous Orbit
• About 35,786 kilometers above the Earth’s surface,
satellites are in geostationary orbit. This distance puts
it in the high Earth orbit category.
• A geosynchronous orbit synchronizes with the rotation
of the Earth.
 More specifically, the time it takes for the Earth to
Sun-Synchronous Orbit
rotate on its axis is 23 hours, 56 minutes and 4.09 • When a satellite has a sun-synchronous orbit, it
seconds, which is the same as a satellite takes to means that it has a constant sun illumination through
complete one geosynchronous orbit. inclination and altitude.
• This makes geosynchronous satellites particularly • For sun-synchronous orbits, it passes over any given
useful for telecommunications and other remote point on Earth’s surface at the same local solar time.
sensing applications. • Because of the consistent lighting in sun-synchronous
orbits, scientists leverage this in various remote
Semi-Synchronous Orbits sensing applications.
• Global Positioning System (GPS) satellites are in
another sweet spot known as semi-synchronous 3.2 Size of Satellites
orbits. While geosynchronous orbits match the rotation
Satellite mass classification
of Earth (24 hours), semi-synchronous orbits take 12
hours to complete an orbit. Large satellites: >1000 kg
Medium satellites: 500 to 1000 kg
• Instead of 35,786 kilometers above the Earth’s surface,
semi-synchronous orbits are approximately 20,200 Small satellites: < 500 kg
kilometers above the surface. • Minisatellites: 100 to 500 kg
• This puts them in the medium Earth orbit range out of • Microsatellites: 10 to 100 kg
the three classes of orbits. • Nanosatellites: 1 to 10 kg
• These orbits are close to zero in eccentricity, meaning • Picosatellites: 100 g – 1 kg
they are near-circular. • Femtosatellites: 10 g – 100 g
• Eccentric orbits define how stretched orbits are. The • Attosatellites: 1 g – 10 g
closer eccentricity is to zero, the more the orbit closer • Zeptosatellites: 0.1 g – 1 g
to a circle. The closer to one, the orbit becomes longer CubeSat sizes:
and skinnier.
• From ~0.2 kg to ~40 kg
Polar Orbit • From 0.25U to 27U (1U CubeSat is 10×10×10 cm)
• A polar orbit travels north-south over the poles and In mass-classification, a nanosatellite (nanosat, nano
takes approximately an hour and a half for a full satellite) is any satellite with mass from 1 kg to 10 kg.
rotation. In this database, “nanosatellite” covers all CubeSats,
Pocket Qubes, TubeSats, SunCubes and non-standard
• As the satellite is in orbit, the Earth is rotating beneath
picosatellites, unless otherwise stated.
it. As a result, a satellite can observe the entire Earth’s
They are all part of the same CubeSat revolution and
surface in the time span of 24 hours.
modern electronics technology leap. Limiting to 1-10 kg
• Polar orbits have an inclination of about 90 degrees to
would be confusing and difficult. For example, 1U CubeSat
the equator
can be 0.8 kg but also 1.3 kg. 6U can be less or more than
• Almost all the satellites that are in a polar orbit are at 10 kg and most masses are not public.
lower altitudes or in Lower Earth Orbit. Upper limit in this database is 10 kg for non-standard
• They are often used for applications such as remote types of nanosats or 27U CubeSat (30-40 kg). Lower limit
sensing, monitoring crops, forests and even global is 1p Pocket Qubes or custom picosatellites over 100 g or
security. SunCubes that can be less than 100 g.
B I G L E A R N I N G S M A D E E ASY
Science & Technology 55
An initiative of Group

ISRO Nano Satellites Structure of Lagrange Points


ISRO Nano Satellites (INS) is a versatile and modular There are five Lagrange points around major bodies
Nano satellite bus system envisioned for future science such as a planet or a star. Three of them lie along the line
and experimental payloads. With a capability to carry connecting the two large bodies. In the Earth-sun system,
up to 3 kg of payload and a total satellite mass of for example, the first point, L1, lies between Earth and
11 kg, it offers immense opportunities for future use. The the sun at about 1 million miles from Earth. L1 gets an
INS system is developed as a co-passenger satellite to uninterrupted view of the sun, and is currently occupied by
accompany bigger satellites on PSLV launch vehicle. Its the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) and the
primary objectives include providing a standard satellite Deep Space Climate Observatory.
bus for launch on demand services and providing
L2 also lies a million miles from Earth, but in the opposite
opportunity to carry innovative payloads.
direction of the sun. At this point, with the Earth, moon and
The primary objectives of INS system are to:
sun behind it, a spacecraft can get a clear view of deep
• Design and develop a low cost modular Nano satellite space. NASA’s Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe
• Provide an opportunity for ISRO technology (WMAP) is currently at this spot measuring the cosmic
demonstration payloads background radiation left over from the Big Bang. The
• Provide a standard bus for launch on demand James Webb Space Telescope will move into this region
services in 2018.
• Provide an opportunity to carry innovative payloads
The third Lagrange point, L3, lies behind the sun, opposite
for Universities/R&D laboratories
Earth’s orbit. For now, science has not found a use for this
PSLV-C37 carried two ISRO Nano Satellites – INS-1A and
spot, although science fiction has.
INS-1B as co-passenger satellites, which was launched
on Feb 15, 2017. INS-1C was launched by PSLV-C40 on L1, L2 and L3 are all unstable points with precarious
Jan 12, 2018, as a co-passenger satellite. equilibrium. If a spacecraft at L3 drifted toward or away
from Earth, it would fall irreversibly towards the sun or Earth,
3.3 Lagrange Points “like a barely balanced cart atop a steep hill,” according to
astronomer Neil DeGrasse Tyson. Spacecraft must make
A Lagrange point is a location in space where the combined slight adjustments to maintain their orbits.
gravitational forces of two large bodies, such as Earth and
Points L4 and L5, however, are stable, “like a ball in a
the sun or Earth and the moon, equal the centrifugal force
large bowl,” according to the European Space Agency.
felt by a much smaller third body. The interaction of the
These points lie along Earth’s orbit at 60 degrees ahead
forces creates a point of equilibrium where a spacecraft
of and behind Earth, forming the apex of two equilateral
may be “parked” to make observations.
triangles that have the large masses (Earth and the sun,
These points are named after Joseph-Louis Lagrange, for example) as their vertices.
an 18th century mathematician who wrote about them in
a 1772 paper concerning what he called the “three-body 3.4 Space Research in India
problem.” They are also called Lagrangian points and
libration points. Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO)

History
The space research activities were initiated in our country
during the early 1960’s, when applications using satellites
were in experimental stages even in the United States.
With the live transmission of Tokyo Olympic Games
across the Pacific by the American Satellite ‘Syncom-3’
demonstrating the power of communication satellites,
Dr. Vikram Sarabhai, the founding father of Indian space
programme, quickly recognized the benefits of space
technologies for India.
Dr. Sarabhai was convinced and envisioned that the
resources in space have the potential to address the
real problems of man and society. As Director, Physical
Research Laboratory (PRL) located in Ahmedabad, Dr.
Lagrange points between Earth and Sun Sarabhai convened an army of able and brilliant scientists,

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