theIASHub | 31 May, 2025 | 187
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SHOX Gene : Recently, a study has provided fresh insights into the long-standing height difference between men and women, revealing that men are, on average, about 5 inches taller.
o While hormones and environmental factors have traditionally been considered contributors, researchers have now identified a specific genetic component—the SHOX gene—as playing a significant role in this disparity.
o Genetic Distribution: Females have two X chromosomes, each carrying the SHOX gene, while males have one X and one Y chromosome, both containing active copies of the gene.
o Chromosomal Influence on Height: Researchers studied over 1,225 individuals with atypical sex chromosome configurations (like extra or missing X/Y chromosomes), sourced from three major biobanks in the US and UK.
o Key Discovery: Individuals with an extra Y chromosome were generally taller than those with an extra X chromosome. This indicates that the SHOX gene on the Y chromosome has a stronger influence on height than the version on the X chromosome.
o Gene Activity Levels: In females, one X chromosome is mostly inactivated, but the SHOX gene largely escapes this silencing. However, males still have a higher active SHOX dosage from both X and Y chromosomes, contributing to their taller height.
o Impact on Average Height Difference: The heightened SHOX expression in males accounts for nearly 25% of the average height gap between men and women. The rest is attributed to male sex hormones and other genetic factors.
Study of Toxicity of Air Pollution: Recently, a pioneering long-term study by researchers at Kolkata’s Bose Institute revealed that simply measuring the concentration of air pollutants like PM2.5 is insufficient.
o The study emphasizes that the toxicity, or the potential harm these pollutants cause to the human body, must also be factored into air quality assessments.
o This is the first study in India to examine how the oxidative toxicity of PM2.5 varies with its concentration.
o The human body responds to air pollutants by producing Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS), which, in excess, can harm healthy cells.
o Antioxidants counter ROS, but their limited supply means high pollutant levels can overwhelm the body, causing oxidative stress and cell damage.
o Pollution below 70 µg/m³ affects health, but toxicity—and health risk—increases sharply beyond this threshold.
o Toxicity is influenced more by the chemical composition of pollutants, especially from biomass and solid waste burning, than by particle volume.
o Vehicular emissions also contribute to toxicity but are less harmful than emissions from waste combustion.
o Different cities have varied pollution sources, so toxicity thresholds are likely to differ by location.
o The study recommends city-specific, toxicity-based air quality warning systems tailored to local pollution sources.
GDP Growth in 2024-25: Recently, provisional estimates revealed that India’s economy grew by 6.5% in FY 2024–25, marking the slowest full-year GDP growth since the pandemic-affected year of 2020–21.
o Although the fourth quarter showed signs of recovery, it wasn’t sufficient to push the overall annual growth rate beyond 6.5%.
o Types of GDP: Nominal GDP: Current market prices without inflation adjustment; useful for same-year comparisons.
ü Real GDP: Inflation-adjusted, allowing comparison across years by reflecting actual output changes.
ü GDP Per Capita: Average economic output per person, indicating living standards and productivity.
ü GDP based on Purchasing Power Parity (PPP): Adjusted for price differences across countries, enabling international comparisons.
o GDP Growth Rate: Measures the rate of economic expansion or contraction, influencing monetary policy decisions.
o Calculation Methods: Income Method: Sum of incomes earned by labor and capital, adjusted for taxes and subsidies.
ü Expenditure Method: Total spending on Consumption, Investment, Government, and Net Exports (C + I + G + (X – IM)).
ü Production (Output) Method: Market value of all goods and services produced, adjusted for taxes and subsidies.
Mobile Forensic Science Lab Van : Recently, the Delhi Chief Minister inaugurated a state-of-the-art Mobile Forensic Science Lab Van at the Delhi Secretariat, marking a significant advancement for the city’s criminal justice system.
o Designed for rapid deployment to cases involving murder, theft, fraud, and cybercrime.
o Facilitates collection of critical scientific evidence such as DNA samples, blood traces, and digital data.
o Timely evidence collection is crucial to prevent tampering or destruction by perpetrators.
o The mobile lab will improve investigation efficiency and credibility, boosting public trust in law enforcement.
Ayush Suraksha Portal : Recently, the Ministry of Ayush launched the Ayush Suraksha Portal at Ayush Bhawan, New Delhi, as a landmark initiative to enhance consumer protection and regulatory oversight in India’s traditional medicine sector.
o Provides a user-friendly interface for citizens to directly report misleading advertisements and ADRs.
o Developed in response to a Supreme Court order from July 2024, mandating a robust system to monitor misleading ads and ADRs, with the Ministry of Ayush meeting the deadline ahead of schedule.
o Supported technically by the Central Council for Research in Siddha (CCRS), aligning the portal with national pharmacovigilance standards.
o Integrates multiple stakeholders including the Ayush division under CDSCO, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MoI&B), and others, enabling coordinated responses, inter-state referrals, and updates on complaint resolutions.
o Enhances governance and safety in the Ayush sector by promoting evidence-based practices and increasing transparency, boosting consumer trust in traditional medicine.
AI Progress in India: Recently, India’s compute capacity for Artificial Intelligence (AI) surpassed 34,000 GPUs, marking a significant milestone in its tech infrastructure.
o Additionally, three new startups have been selected under the IndiaAI Mission to develop India-specific Foundation Models, further boosting the country’s indigenous AI capabilities.
o Soket AI: Developing a 120-billion parameter open-source foundation model optimized for India's linguistic diversity, targeting sectors such as defense, healthcare, and education.
o Gan AI: Creating a 70-billion parameter multilingual foundation model aimed at achieving "superhuman" text-to-speech capabilities, surpassing current global leaders.
o Gnani AI: Building a 14-billion parameter Voice AI foundation model capable of real-time, multilingual speech processing with advanced reasoning abilities.
o Core Objectives: "Making AI in India" – Promote indigenous development of AI technologies.
ü "Making AI Work for India" – Leverage AI for societal and sectoral benefits across domains.
o Focus Areas: Strengthening India’s AI innovation ecosystem.
ü Providing high-end compute infrastructure to startups, researchers, and academia.
ü Supporting development of India-specific Foundation Models and responsible AI solutions.
Second Fully Literate State: Recently, Goa became the second state in India to achieve 100% functional literacy, surpassing the national benchmark of 95% and marking a major milestone in the country’s literacy mission.
o Achieved under the ULLAS - Nav Bharat Saaksharta Karyakram (New India Literacy Programme).
o Aims to achieve universal literacy in India by 2030, in line with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
o Focuses on inclusive learning for adults aged 15 years and above who missed out on formal education.
o Five Core Components of the Scheme: Foundational Literacy and Numeracy
ü Critical Life Skills
ü Basic Education
ü Vocational Skills
ü Continuing Education
o More than 1.77 crore learners have participated in the Foundational Literacy and Numeracy Assessment Test (FLNAT).
o Goa's achievement in full functional literacy is a model of progress, highlighting the power of public participation, effective governance, and community-driven efforts.
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