UPSC Prelims 2019 Analysis

Explanation

Option A is correct. Both Hepatitis B virus and HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) can be transmitted through blood-to-blood contact, sexual contact, and from mother to child during childbirth.

Option B is incorrect. Unlike Hepatitis C, there is a vaccine available for Hepatitis B. The Hepatitis B vaccine is highly effective in preventing Hepatitis B virus infection.

Option C is correct. According to global health statistics, the number of people infected with Hepatitis B and C viruses combined is indeed several times more than those infected with HIV.

Option D is correct. Many individuals infected with Hepatitis B and C viruses may not show any symptoms for years or even decades. This is known as chronic hepatitis, and it can lead to severe liver damage if left untreated.

Explanation

Cas9 protein is a revolutionary tool in the field of genetic engineering.

Cas9 is an RNA-guided endonuclease, an enzyme. It acts like molecular scissors, capable of cutting DNA at specific locations within a cell's genome.

Cas9 plays a crucial role in the CRISPR-Cas9 (Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats) technique, a powerful gene editing tool.

Explanation

Statement 1 is incorrect. According to the Indian Patents Act (specifically Section 3(j)), biological processes for the production or propagation of plants and animals are not eligible for patents. This means creating a seed through a biological process cannot be patented.

Statement 2 is incorrect. The Intellectual Property Appellate Board (IPAB) was established in India in 2003. It deals with appeals against decisions of the patent office and trademark registry.

Statement 3 is correct. Plant varieties themselves are not patentable in India. However, the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers' Rights Act (PPVFR Act) provides a system for protecting the rights of plant breeders by granting them exclusive rights to sell propagating material of new varieties.

Note: the Tribunal Reforms Act, 2021 abolished various Tribunals including India's Intellectual Property Appellate Board (IPAB) and assigned their functions to the country's Commercial Courts and High Courts. However, UPSC asked this question in 2019 when an Appellate Board existed for intellectual property. Therefore correct answer is 3 only.

Explanation

Statement 1 is incorrect. AR enhances the real world, not shuts it out. Augmented reality (AR) overlays digital elements on top of the real world, allowing users to see both simultaneously.

Statement 2 is incorrect. Virtual Reality (VR) creates a completely immersive and simulated environment that replaces the real world. Users wear a headset that blocks out their surroundings and projects a computer-generated world they can interact with.

Statement 3 is correct. AR often utilises the camera on a smartphone or PC to overlay digital elements onto the real world you see through the camera. This can enhance experiences in gaming, education, and even product visualisation.

Statement 4 is correct. VR creates a closed world, shutting out the physical environment and transporting the user entirely into a simulated one. This provides a highly immersive experience, often used for gaming, entertainment, and even training simulations.

Explanation

LTE is actually marketed as 4G, not 3G. VoLTE is not marketed as advanced 3G, but rather as an advancement over 4G LTE, allowing for voice calls over the 4G network.

LTE does primarily focus on providing high-speed data services, but it's not a data-only technology. VoLTE, on the other hand, is not a voice-only technology. It allows for voice calls to be made over the 4G LTE network, but it doesn't exclude data services.

Therefore, both statements are incorrect.

Explanation

The merger of black holes is expected to generate powerful gravitational waves.

Gravitational waves are ripples in spacetime caused by accelerating massive objects. Detecting these waves with instruments like LIGO (Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory) allows us to study these events even when they are too far away or obscured to observe directly. This opens a new window for astronomical observations.

Explanation

Cirrus clouds do not reflect a lot of solar radiation into space. As they form at high altitudes and cold temperatures, they trap long-wave radiation and have a climate impact similar to greenhouse gases. Thus, thinning cirrus clouds would reduce the absorption of infrared radiation and are proposed as a form of climate engineering to reduce global warming.

Another proposed Geo-engineering technique involves injecting reflective sulphate aerosol particles into Earth's lower stratosphere to cast a small proportion of the inbound sunlight back into space and cool the planet off.

Thus, both are climate engineering/ Geo-engineering techniques to reduce global warming.

Explanation

Statement 1 is incorrect. While genetic factors can contribute to susceptibility to infections, they are not directly related to the occurrence of multi-drug resistance in microbial pathogens.

Statement 2 is correct. Incorrect use of antibiotics, including taking incorrect doses or not completing the full course of treatment, can contribute to the development of drug resistance in microbial pathogens.

Statement 3 is correct. The widespread use of antibiotics in livestock farming can lead to the development of drug-resistant pathogens that can affect both animals and humans.

Statement 4 is incorrect. While individuals with chronic diseases may be more susceptible to infections, this factor is not directly related to the occurrence of multi-drug resistance in microbial pathogens.

Explanation

RNA interference (RNAi) or Post-Transcriptional Gene Silencing (PTGS) is a conserved biological response to double-stranded RNA that mediates resistance to both endogenous parasitic and exogenous pathogenic nucleic acids, and regulates the expression of protein-coding genes.

Statement 1 is correct. RNAi is a powerful tool for developing gene-silencing therapies. It allows researchers to target specific genes and reduce their expression, which can be beneficial in treating various diseases.

Statement 2 is also correct. RNAi is being actively explored for cancer therapy. By targeting genes involved in cancer cell growth and proliferation, RNAi has the potential to be a novel approach for cancer treatment.

Statement 3 is incorrect. RNAi is not typically used in developing hormone replacement therapies. Hormone replacement therapies introduce hormones into the body, while RNAi focuses on silencing gene expression within cells.

Statement 4 is correct. RNAi can be used to develop crop plants resistant to viral pathogens. By introducing specific RNA molecules that target the virus, plants can be made more resistant to viral infections, improving agricultural yields.

Explanation

Remote sensing is the process of detecting and monitoring the physical characteristics of an area by measuring its reflected and emitted radiation at a distance from the targeted area.

Statement 1 is correct. Satellite images and remote sensing data can indeed be used to estimate the chlorophyll content in vegetation. This is done by measuring the reflectance of light from the vegetation. The chlorophyll in plants absorbs light for photosynthesis, and the amount of light reflected back can give an estimate of the chlorophyll content.

Statement 2 is correct. Satellite images and remote sensing data can also be used to estimate greenhouse gas emissions. This is done by detecting the radiations emitted by the substances in the rice paddies.

Statement 3 is correct. Satellite images and remote sensing data can be used to measure land surface temperatures as well. This is done by detecting the infrared radiation emitted by the land surface.

Therefore, all three parameters can be measured or estimated using satellite images or remote sensing data.

Explanation

Option A is incorrect. While it is possible to create artificial DNA sequences in a laboratory, creating a fully functional chromosome by joining DNA segments from different species is not currently feasible. Chromosomes are complex structures, and recreating a functional chromosome from scratch is an extremely challenging task. Thus,

Option B is correct. Advances in synthetic biology and genetic engineering have made it possible to create artificial DNA sequences with desired functions in a laboratory setting.

Option C is correct. Techniques like in vitro DNA replication and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) allow for the replication of DNA fragments outside of a living cell, in a controlled laboratory environment.

Option D is correct. Techniques like cell culture and tissue culture allow for the growth and division of cells taken from plants and animals in a controlled laboratory environment.

Explanation

The word 'Denisovan' is mentioned in the media about ancient humans (or an extinct human relative).

Denisovans were a mysterious group of archaic humans who lived in Asia tens of thousands of years ago. They are most known for being discovered through genetic analysis of fossils, rather than complete skeletal remains.

Explanation

Statement 1 is incorrect. A digital signature doesn't directly identify the certifying authority that issued it. It uses a complex cryptographic process involving a public-key infrastructure (PKI) where a trusted third party (Certificate Authority) verifies the signer's identity and issues a digital certificate used for creating the signature.

Statement 2 is incorrect. While digital signatures can be used for authentication purposes in certain scenarios, they are not the primary method for user identification when accessing information or servers on the internet. Usernames, passwords, and other credentials are more commonly used.

Statement 3 is correct. It ensures the integrity of an electronic document by creating a unique digital fingerprint that is linked to the content. Any alteration to the document would invalidate the signature.

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct. Wearable devices can perform several tasks, and out of given options, all three are achievable. Many smartwatches and wearables with GPS functionality can track a person's location. This can be helpful for navigation, fitness tracking, or safety purposes.

Statement 2 is correct. Wearable sleep trackers can monitor sleep patterns, including sleep duration, sleep stages (deep sleep, light sleep, REM sleep), and sleep quality.

Statement 3 is correct. Some wearables can function as hearing aids, amplifying sounds and improving hearing for people with hearing loss.

Therefore, the correct answer is 1, 2, and 3.

Explanation

Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) is set up under the NITI Aayog (National Institution for Transforming India), which is the premier policy 'Think Tank' of the Government of India.

The Atal Innovation Mission was launched by the Government of India in 2016 to promote innovation and entrepreneurship across the country.

The key objectives of the Atal Innovation Mission are :

1. To create and promote an ecosystem of innovation and entrepreneurship across the country.
2. To establish Atal Tinkering Laboratories (ATLs) in schools across India to foster a culture of innovation from a young age.
3. To set up Atal Incubation Centres (AICs) to support entrepreneurs and startups.
4. To provide mentorship and funding support to innovative startups and entrepreneurs.