Daily Quiz

Solution (d)
Explanation:
• The G20, or Group of 20, is an international forum for governments and central bank governors from 19 countries and the European Union. It addresses issues related to global financial stability, climate change mitigation, and sustainable development. The G20 Rome Leaders’ Declaration from the 2021 summit focused on the global response to the COVID-19 pandemic, climate action, and economic recovery.
• The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) promotes policies that improve economic and social well-being worldwide. Its declarations focus on economic policy, trade, and development issues. The OECD Declaration on Green Growth commits member countries to promote environmentally sustainable growth.
• The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is a regional intergovernmental organization comprising ten Southeast Asian countries. It promotes political, economic, and security cooperation. The ASEAN Declaration on Cultural Heritage focuses on preserving cultural diversity and heritage in the region.
• The Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (QUAD) is an informal strategic forum comprising the United States, India, Japan, and Australia. The Wilmington Declaration refers to initiatives and discussions within the QUAD on areas such as security, technology cooperation, and Indo-Pacific strategy. (Option (d) is correct)
• The Tokyo Declaration by QUAD focuses on ensuring a free, open, and inclusive Indo-Pacific region.

Source: https://www.mea.gov.in/bilateral-documents.htm?dtl/38320/

Solution (b)

Explanation:

• The CRISPR-Cas9 gene-editing technique is used to make precise modifications to DNA. CRISPR has been used in genetic research and therapeutic applications, such as in curing genetic disorders like sickle cell anemia. (Option (a) is incorrect)
• AlphaFold, developed by DeepMind (a subsidiary of Alphabet), is an artificial intelligence system that has revolutionized the field of structural biology by predicting the 3D structure of proteins from their amino acid sequences. This breakthrough was a major scientific accomplishment, solving a problem that has eluded scientists for decades. (Option (b) is correct)
• There is a potential for application of quantum computing to accelerate drug discovery by simulating complex molecular structures. Companies like IBM are exploring the use of quantum computers to model molecular interactions for drug discovery. (Option (c) is incorrect)
• While machine learning models are increasingly being used for weather prediction, AlphaFold is not related to this concept. IBM’s Watson and other AI systems are being used for advanced weather predictions. (Option (d) is incorrect)

Source: https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/editorial/biology-transformed-the-hindu-editorial-on-the-nobel-prize-in-chemistry/article68749180.ece

Solution (d)

Explanation:

• Refraction is a phenomenon where the path of light changes when it passes from one medium to another due to a change in its speed.
• Dispersion is the splitting of light into its constituent colors when it passes through a prism due to the variation in the refractive index for different wavelengths of light.
• Total internal reflection occurs when light traveling through a denser medium hit a boundary at an angle larger than the critical angle and gets completely reflected back into the medium.
• The Doppler effect is observed when there is a change in the frequency of sound, light, or other waves as the source and observer move toward or away from each other. The sound of an approaching vehicle seems higher in pitch and then lower as it passes by due to the Doppler effect. (Option (d) is correct)

Source: https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/energy-and-environment/what-is-wayanads-new-x-band-radar-explained/article68750044.ece#:~:text=In%20Wayanad%2C%20the%20new%20radar,in%20shorter%20spans%20of%20time.

Solution (b)

Explanation:

• Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs) are significant releases of plasma and accompanying magnetic field from the Sun’s corona into space. These large eruptions of solar material can travel through space and impact planetary environments, especially Earth’s magnetosphere. CMEs can cause geomagnetic storms when they interact with Earth’s magnetic field, leading to phenomena like auroras. (Statement 1 is correct)
• CMEs do not decrease in size as they move away from the Sun; in fact, they tend to expand as they travel through space due to the lower pressure of the surrounding medium. This expansion allows CMEs to affect a larger area as they propagate through the solar system. As the CME moves further from the Sun, the density of the particles decreases, but its overall size increases. (Statement 2 is incorrect)
• Magnetic reconnection is a key mechanism responsible for the formation of CMEs. It occurs when magnetic field lines from different regions come together and rearrange, releasing energy in the form of CMEs. This process is fundamental to many explosive solar phenomena, including solar flares and CMEs. (Statement 3 is correct)

Source: https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/science/ladakh-aurorae-validate-space-weather-tracking-efforts-scientists-say/article68748761.ece#:~:text=Ladakh's%20recent%20sightings%20of%20aurora,48%2D72%20hours%20prior%20said. & https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/phenomena/coronal-mass-ejections

Solution (a)

Explanation:

• A biobank is a repository that stores biological samples (such as tissues, blood, or cancer cell lines) and associated data, including genetic and clinical information. Biobanks are crucial for medical research, particularly in areas like genomics and precision medicine, as they provide researchers with valuable biological material for studying diseases, genetic variations, and potential therapies. (Statement 1 is correct)
• There are 19 registered biobanks in India. These biobanks store various biological specimens, including cancer cell lines and tissues, supporting research initiatives like the Genome India programme and the Phenome India project. (Statement 2 is correct)
• While biobanks have great potential to boost precision medicine, biobank regulations in India are seen as a hurdle rather than a boost to precision medicine. Challenges in regulations, including data privacy concerns and ethical issues surrounding sample collection and usage, need to be addressed for India to fully harness the power of biobanks in advancing precision medicine. (Statement 3 is incorrect)

Source: https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/science/precision-medicine-india-barriers-biobank-diversity-data-protection/article68748285.ece