UPSC Essentials | Mains answer practice — GS 3 : Questions on Rhisotope Project and applications of mRNA technology (Week 115)

QUESTION 1

How does the Rhisotope Project exemplify the use of science and technology in wildlife conservation efforts?

QUESTION 2

Discuss the potential applications of mRNA technology beyond COVID-19, with reference to its role in tackling emerging infectious diseases.

General points on the structure of the answers

Introduction

— The introduction of the answer is essential and should be restricted to 3-5 lines. Remember, a one-liner is not a standard introduction.

— It may consist of basic information by giving some definitions from the trusted source and authentic facts.

Body

— It is the central part of the answer and one should understand the demand of the question to provide rich content.

— The answer must be preferably written as a mix of points and short paragraphs rather than using long paragraphs or just points.

— Using facts from authentic government sources makes your answer more comprehensive. Analysis is important based on the demand of the question, but do not over analyse.

QUESTION 1: How does the Rhisotope Project exemplify the use of science and technology in wildlife conservation efforts?

Note: This is not a model answer. It only provides you with thought process which you may incorporate into the answers.

Introduction:

— Recently, a South African university launched an anti-poaching campaign with a unique approach – injecting radioactive isotopes into rhino horns. It claimed that the method is harmless for the rhinos and allows customs agents to detect trafficked horns.

— The Rhisotope Project is supported by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

Body:

You may incorporate some of the following points in your answer:

— According to the IAEA, radioactive isotopes, or radioisotopes, are unstable forms of an element that emit radiation in order to transition into a more stable state. The radiation can be identified and usually produces changes in the substance it strikes.

— Rhino horns are tagged with tiny amounts of radioactive isotopes via a non-invasive method, allowing them to be detected by radiation portal monitors (RPMs), which are already deployed at borders, ports, and airports across the world to identify unauthorised nuclear items.

— To test this method, the researchers employed 3D-printed rhino horns that had the same shielding capabilities as actual keratin, the component that makes up rhino horn. According to the university, the examinations proved the presence of individual horns inside whole 40-foot shipping containers. According to the researchers, the process has proven to be harmless to rhinos while rendering the horn “useless” and “poisonous” for people.

— The technique is absolutely safe for the animal and effectively detects the horn using international customs nuclear security systems.

Conclusion:

— The International Union for Conservation of Nature estimated that the global rhino population was at 500,000 at the beginning of the twentieth century. It has since dropped to 27,000 due to the growing demand for rhino horns. These horns are smuggled to Asian markets, where they are utilised both in traditional medicine and as a prestige symbol. South Africa, home to the world’s largest rhino population, has lost almost 10,000 rhinos to poaching in the last decade.

— The project itself is not a cure-all or silver bullet to curb poaching, the researchers hope it will prove to be a great deterrent. It would certainly prove to be less disruptive to rhino behaviour compared to dehorning, in which rhinos’ horns are removed to deter poaching.

(Source: How a new project plans to curb rhino poaching through radioactive isotope injections)

Points to Ponder

Read about Indian One-horned Rhino

Read more about radioisotopes

Related Previous Year Question

What role do environmental NGOs and activists play in influencing Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) outcomes for major projects in India? Cite four examples with all important details. (2024)

QUESTION 2: Discuss the potential applications of mRNA technology beyond COVID-19, with reference to its role in tackling emerging infectious diseases.

Note: This is not a model answer. It only provides you with thought process which you may incorporate into the answers.

Introduction:

— Vaccines train our immune system to respond to pathogens. For instance, traditional vaccines use inactive or weakened versions of a virus to get the immune system to recognise the virus, and create tools to fight it. mRNA vaccines, on the other hand, give instructions to the body to produce a fragment of a virus, which then kickstarts the immune response.

— The biggest benefit of mRNA vaccines is that they can be developed within months and quickly altered as the virus changes, unlike traditional vaccines that can take years to develop and test.

Body:

You may incorporate some of the following points in your answer:

Potential applications of mRNA technology

— mRNA therapies have emerged as a promising platform for treating a variety of diseases, including cancer, infections, genetic disorders, and autoimmune diseases.

— The significance of mRNA vaccine technology extends beyond treating infectious diseases. For example, US researchers are attempting to employ the technique to treat skin and colon malignancies.

— Researchers are now investigating mRNA vaccines for other diseases such as Lyme disease, dengue fever, and HIV.

— Recent developments in delivery technologies and RNA stabilisation have increased the efficacy of mRNA vaccines against viral infections.

Conclusion:

— mRNA therapies use the host’s cellular machinery to create target proteins, allowing for extremely targeted and customisable treatments. In the case of cancer, mRNA vaccines that stimulate immune responses against tumor-specific antigens are being developed on a personalised basis.

(Source: Why US funding cuts on mRNA vaccine research are significant)

Points to Ponder

Read more about mRNA vaccines

Related Previous Year Question

What is the basic principle behind vaccine development? How do vaccines work? What approaches were adopted by the Indian vaccine manufacturers to produce COVID-19 vaccines? (2022)

Previous Mains Answer Practice

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 3 (Week 114)

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 3 (Week 113)

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 2 (Week 114)

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 2 (Week 113)

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 1 (Week 114)

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 1 (Week 113)

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