UPSC Essentials | Daily subject-wise quiz : Science and Technology MCQs on black plastic, spinal muscular atrophy and more (Week 99)

QUESTION 1

With reference to the black plastic, consider the following statements:

1. These are made from recycled electronic waste.

2. These plastics contain substances such as flame retardant and heavy metal.

3. They are toxic to humans at high levels of exposure.

How many of the statements given above are correct?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) All three

(d) None

Explanation

— Black plastic is frequently created from recovered electronic waste, including computers, televisions, and appliances. The problem is that these gadgets frequently contain flame retardants such as bromine, antimony, and heavy metals including lead, cadmium, and mercury. These electronics contain flame retardants to help avoid fires. Hence, statements 1 and 2 are correct.

— The aforementioned chemicals and heavy metals are recognised to be hazardous to humans at high doses and are now prohibited in many countries. Hence, statement 3 is correct.

— The study, which was published in the journal Chemosphere in October of last year, examined 203 black plastic household objects sold in the United States, such as cooking utensils, takeaway containers and toys.

— It discovered that these products included a flame-retardant chemical known as decabromodiphenyl ether (BDE-209), which had been connected to potential human health hazards and was phased out in the United States over a decade ago.

— The study also discovered that “some kitchen utensils would result in a likely dose of 34,700 ng per day of BDE-209, which the scientists warned approaches the safe exposure limit advised by the US Environmental Health Protection Agency (EPA),” according to The Guardian.

Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 2

Which solar missions will closely observe the solar atmosphere and reconstruct the formation, trace origins, and map the evolution of solar winds and Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs)?

(a) Pioneer 5

(b) SOHO

(c) MESSENGER

(d) PUNCH

Explanation

— Nasa is preparing for a new and unprecedented solar mission that will closely examine the solar atmosphere, reconstruct the formation, track sources, and record the evolution of solar winds and Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs), both of which influence space weather.

— SpaceX will launch the Polarimetry to Unify Corona and Heliosphere (PUNCH) mission on February 28. PUNCH will be a constellation of four suitcase-sized satellites, each weighing around 64 kg, deployed into Low Earth Orbit (LEO). The estimated mission duration is two years.

— It is the first time that a solar mission has been specially built to employ light polarisation to detect the corona and solar wind in three dimensions.

— Space weather information and predictions are critical because any abnormality in space weather can have a direct negative impact on Earth’s satellite-based communication services, disrupt GPS-based navigation, impair power grid operations, and so on.

— “The measurements from PUNCH will provide scientists with new information, which could lead to more accurate predictions about the arrival of space weather events on Earth and their impact on humanity’s robotic explorers in space,” the National Aeronautics and Space Administration said in a statement.

Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 3

Consider the following statements about the new chemical safety guidelines released by the European Union:

Statement 1: The European Union (EU) has classified caffeine as “harmful to humans if swallowed” under new chemical safety guidelines.

Statement 2: The decision does not include banning caffeine as a pesticide.

Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

(a) Both Statement 1 and Statement 2 are correct and Statement 2 is the correct explanation for Statement 1.

(b) Both Statement 1 and Statement 2 are correct and Statement 2 is not the correct explanation for Statement 1.

(c) Statement 1 is correct but Statement 2 is incorrect.

(d) Statement 1 is incorrect but Statement 2 is correct.

Explanation

— A recent move by the European Union (EU) has raised eyebrows after officials classified caffeine as “harmful to humans if swallowed” under new chemical safety guidelines. Hence, statement 1 is correct.

— The decision, which also prohibits caffeine as a pesticide, was based on scientific assessments that identified potential hazards to the heart, hydration, and neurological system. While the legislation largely focuses on its usage in agriculture, the decision has raised concerns about how future policies would affect daily caffeine consumption. Hence, statement 2 is not correct.

— The European Commission prohibited its use in agriculture, citing scientific evidence from the European Food Safety Authority that “caffeine has adverse effects on the cardiovascular system, hydration, and body temperature in adults, as well as on the central nervous system (sleep, anxiety, behavioural changes) in adults and children, and an adverse birth weight-related outcome in pregnant women.”

Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 4

With reference to the spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), consider the following statements:

1. It is a genetic condition which affects motor neurons that control movement and leads to progressive muscle weakening.

2. The condition is caused by mutations in the survival motor neuron gene (SMN1), which causes a protein deficiency.

3. There is no treatment available for SMA.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 2 and 3 only

(c) 1 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

Explanation

— A two-and-a-half-year-old girl has shown no signs of a genetic disorder — known as spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) — becoming the first person in the world to be treated for the disease while in the womb.

— SMA is a devastating hereditary disorder that damages motor neurones, causing gradual muscle weakness. “About one in every 10,000 births have some form of the condition — making it a leading genetic cause of death in infants and children,” according to an article in Nature. Hence, statement 1 is correct.

— Mutations in the survival motor neurone gene (SMN1) produce a deficit of a protein required for the survival of motor neurones in the spinal cord. “This keeps muscles from getting messages from the brain, leading them to deteriorate. According to a New Atlas research, in its most severe form, SMA-1, motor abilities degrade rapidly and patients often live only two to three years. Hence, statement 2 is correct.

— Scientists utilised an oral medication called risdiplam, which is prescribed to patients to delay the course of SMA. Risdiplam is normally administered to a patient shortly after birth; the earlier the intervention, the better the outcomes appear to be, according to the New Atlas analysis. As a result, in the current trial, scientists chose to administer the medication before birth for the first time. Hence, statement 3 is not correct.

Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 5

The process of vitamin D in the human body depends on:

1. Gut health

2. Obesity

3. Problems associated with kidney

4. Health of liver

Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 2, 3 and 4

(c) 3 and 4 only

(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4

Explanation

— Adequate sun exposure is the most effective source of vitamin D. However, if you are unable to acquire enough sunlight or vitamin D through your food and everyday activities, supplements can assist.

— According to Dr. Manjusha Agarwal, senior consultant in internal medicine at Gleneagles Hospital Parel Mumbai, factors such as gut health, obesity, kidney difficulties, and liver illness can all have a substantial impact on how your body processes vitamin D.

— Vitamin D absorption is dependent on the gut’s ability to absorb dietary lipids. Conditions that impede fat absorption, such as liver illness, cystic fibrosis, coeliac disease, ulcerative colitis, or Crohn’s disease, can all interfere with vitamin D absorption,” said Dr. Nandini Sarwate, chief nutritional advisor at Utopian Drinks.

Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer.

Previous Daily Subject-Wise-Quiz

Daily Subject-wise quiz — History, Culture, and Social Issues (Week 99)

Daily subject-wise quiz — Polity and Governance (Week 99)

Daily subject-wise quiz —  Science and Technology (Week 96, 97 and 98)

Daily subject-wise quiz — Economy (Week 96, 97 and 98)

Daily subject-wise quiz — Environment and Geography (Week 96, 97 and 98)

Daily subject-wise quiz – International Relations (Week 96, 97 and 98)

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