Huntington’s disease (HD) is a fatal genetic disorder that causes the progressive breakdown of nerve cells in the brain.
It deteriorates a person’s physical and mental abilities during their prime working years and has no cure.
It is known as the quintessential family disease because every child of a parent with HD has a 50/50 chance of carrying the faulty gene.
Researchers have recently reported that treatment with a compound called “CTEP” improved memory and also prevents harmful protein build ups in the brain.
Tadoba Tiger Reserve
Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve is located in Chandrapur district of Maharashtra.
It is Maharashtra’s oldest and largest National Park.
It is one of India's 47 project tiger reserves existing in India.
The word 'Tadoba' is derived from the name of God "Tadoba" or "Taru," which is praised by local tribal people of this region.
"Andhari" is derived from the name of Andhari River that flows in this area.
It is often referred to as “The Jewel of Vidarbha”.
CRISPR
CRISPR stands for Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats.
Researchers has recently used genome editing tool “CRISPR – Cas9” to partially treat the genetic deafness in mice.
A single mistake in “Tmc1 gene” causes loss of inner ear hair cells leading to deafness.
Scientists believe that the world could one day help treat certain forms of genetic hearing loss in humans.
CRISPR - Cas9 is a most prominent genome editing technique by targeting specific stretches of genetic code to edit DNA at precise locations.
The technique allows researchers to permanently modify genes in living cells and organisms and to correct mutations at precise locations in the human genome to treat genetic causes of disease.
It can be used to target multiple genes simultaneously and can also activate gene expression instead of cutting the DNA.
Kaleswaram Project
Central government has recently granted environmental clearance to the Kaleswaram Project.
Pranahitha-Chevella Lift Irrigation Scheme was taken up in 2007 to utilise the water of Pranhita tributary of Godavari River.
After the formation of Telangana, the project was redesigned into two sections.
The original component serving the Adilabad area was called the Pranahitha project.
The second part is called Kaleswaram Project serving the Karimnagar, Warangal, Nizamabad and Medak districts.
Water from Godavari River after the confluence by the Pranahita tributary is lifted to provide lift irrigation facility.
Lift Irrigation project - Pumps are used to lift the water from canals or rivers at lower level to the area at higher level for irrigation purpose.
Ganga Gram
Ganga Gram is a project for sanitation based integrated development of all 4470 villages along the River Ganga.
Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation is the nodal agency for implementation of the Ganga Gram Project.
Pradhan Mantri Rojgar Protsahan Yojana (PMRPY)
PMRPY Scheme has been designed to incentivise employers for generation of new employment.
Government of India will be paying the 8.33% EPS contribution of the employer for the new employment.
This scheme has a dual benefit, where, on the one hand, the employer is incentivised for increasing the employment base of workers in the establishment.
On the other hand, a large number of workers will find jobs in such establishments.
A direct benefit is that these workers will have access to social security benefits of the organized sector.
