The Harlem Renaissance:

The Harlem Renaissance was an intellectual movement from c. 1918-37 centered in Harlem, Manhattan. It brought the cultural revival of African American music, dance, art, fashion, literature, theater, and politics. Harlem Renaissance - Definition, Artists & How It Started - HISTORYThe movement heralded African-American cultural expressions alongside the struggle for civil rights, during a segregated America. Using art, music, and literature,  the African-Americans sought to break free from prevailing stereotypes and define a new identity for themselves.

They also sought to break from the Victorian moral code which had labeled several parts of their culture as shameful. This movement helped popularise African-American authors and their works. Francophone writers brought aspects of the movement to Paris and the Caribbean islands.

One of the phenomena which served as the foundation for this movement was the migration of African-Americans to Northern parts of the United States and from rural areas to urban areas. This led to a rise in literacy levels and the creation of organizations that fought for civil rights.

Magazines such as The Crisis by NAACP, Opportunity by the National Urban League, and The Messenger were crucial to the movement.

With the Great Migration, the Black Pride movement also began. This movement sought to ensure that the African-American community got the credit they deserved for cultural contributions.

This movement,in some ways, paved the way for the civil rights movement of the late 40s and 50s.

 

 

Plant tissue culture and related opportunities

Introduction

 

Plant tissue culture (PTC) is a bunch of procedures for the aseptic culture of cells, tissues, organs and their parts under characterized physical and chemical conditions in-vitro and controlled climate. It likewise investigates conditions that advance cell division and hereditary re-programming in-vitro conditions and it is viewed as a significant instrument in both fundamental and applied examinations, just as in business application. It is a territory of applied science that gives a wide stage to the aseptic culture of cells, tissues, organs, and their segments under characterized substance and physical in-vitro conditions. This science follows an essential idea where the plant body or organ or any tissue can be dismembered into more modest parts called “explants” and any explants can be additionally formed into an entire plant. Plant recovery shapes the premise of in-vitro engendering. There are different ideas and strategies that are as often as possible rehearsed in plant tissue culture science. In current biotechnology, the greater part of the ideas and procedures manage the hereditary investigation of plants. In present day plant biotechnology, the quality of interest is removed from the genome with the assistance of a limitation catalyst. The quantity of plants developing wild increasingly more decreases, as a result of the aimless assortment, in this manner numerous species are vanishing quick and those current are frequently unusable because of unequivocally dirtied regions. In such circumstance the presentation of types specifically compelling in development and training, can be entirely beneficial and the mechanical control on their spread can ensure a consistent biomass accessibility. These cycles incorporate different fundamental ideas and procedures that lead to the progressive improvement of callus lastly foundation of the ideal full cell line of the plant, which could be probed again for different exploration purposes.

 

General steps of plant tissue culture

 

1. Micropropagation

 

Micropropagation begins with the choice of plant tissues from a solid, vivacious mother plant. Any piece of the plant can be utilized as explant.

 

2. Preparation of donor plant

 

Any plant tissue can be presented in-vitro. To improve the likelihood of achievement, the mother plant should be ex-vitro developed under ideal conditions to limit defilement in the in vitro culture.

 

3. Initiation stage

 

In this stage an explant is surface sanitized and moved into supplement medium. For the most part, the joined utilization of bactericide and fungicide items is recommended. The determination of items relies upon the kind of explant to be presented. The surface cleansing of explant in synthetic arrangements is a significant advance to eliminate foreign substances with insignificant harm to plant cells. The most regularly utilized disinfectants are sodium hypochlorite, calcium hypochlorite, ethanol and mercuric chloride (HgCl2). The way of life is hatched in development chamber either under light or dim conditions as per the technique for spread.

 

4. Duplication stage

 

The point of this stage is to build the quantity of propagules. The quantity of propagules is duplicated by rehashed subcultures until the ideal number of plants is achieved.

 

5. Rooting stage

 

The establishing stage may happen at the same time in a similar culture media utilized for increase of the explants. Nonetheless, now and again it is important to change media, including dietary adjustment and development controller arrangement to incite establishing and the improvement of solid root development.

 

6. Acclimatization Stage

 

At this stage, the in-vitro plants are weaned and solidified. Solidifying is done step by step from high to low dampness and from low light power to high light force. The plants are then moved to a suitable substrate and continuously solidified under nursery. .

 

General requirements for plant tissue culture

 

Instruments.

Filter sterilization units.

Osmometer.

Transfer and Culture

Laminar flow cabinet, for all controls requiring sterility.

Culture room or incubator.

Orbital shaker, for cell suspension.

Low-speed bench centrifuge, for example, the Hettich Universal. 38-, 50-, and 280~pm mesh hardened steel strainers.

Media

Numerous media details have been concocted to help the development of refined plant cells. The most generally utilized media, MS, was created by Murashige and Skoog, other media incorporate B5

 

Ultrafiltration

Media containing heat labile parts e.g., indole acidic corrosive, gibberellic corrosive, zeatin, glutamine or complex combination of sugars e.g., KMSP should be channel cleaned by pull of the medium through a 0.2~pm breadth pore size channel. On the off chance that agar media are required, they can be channel sanitized at double the last fixation, and blended in with an equivalent volume of autoclaved twofold quality agar that has been permitted to cool to about 60°C.

 

Growth Regulators

Water-solvent: ABA (abscisic acid), GA, (gibberellic acid).

Dil. HCl-solvent: BAP (benzyl amino purine), kinetin, zeatin.

Ethanol solvent: 2,4-D (2,4-dichlorophenoxy acidic corrosive), IAA (indole3-yl-acetic acid), NAA (a-naphthalene acetic acid).

Types of technique for culturing plant tissue culture

 

Callus culture: Callus culture might be characterized as creation and upkeep of a chaotic mass of proliferative cell from disconnected plant cell, by developing them on counterfeit supplement medium in glass vials under controlled aseptic conditions.

Single cell culture: Single cell culture is a technique for developing disengaged single cell aseptically on supplement medium under controlled condition.

Suspension culture: Suspension culture is a kind of culture where single cell or little totals of cell duplicate while suspended in fomented fluid medium. Suspension culture are utilized in enlistment of shoots, creation of optional metabolites, in vitro mutagenesis, choice of freaks and hereditary change considers.

Embryo culture: Embryo culture might be characterized as aseptic detachment of undeveloped organism from the greater part of maternal tissue of develop seed and in vitro culture under aseptic and controlled state of being in glass vials containing supplement semisolid or fluid medium to develop straightforwardly into plantlet

Anther culture: Androgenesis is the in vitro advancement of haploid plants starting from strong dust grains through a progression of cell division and separation.

Pollen culture: Pollen culture is the in vitro method by which the dust grains are crushed from the unblemished anther and afterward refined on supplement medium where the microspores without delivering male gametes.

Somatic Embryogenesis: Somatic embryogenesis is the cycle of a solitary or gathering of cells starting the improvement pathway that prompts reproducible recovery of non-zygotic incipient organisms fit for developing to shape total plants.

Protoplast Culture: It is the way of life of disengaged protoplasts which are exposed plant cells encompassed by plasma layer which is possibly equipped for cell divider recovery, cell division, development and plant recovery on reasonable medium under aseptic condition

Shoot tip and Meristem culture: The tips of shoot can be refined in vitro creating bunches of shoots from either axillary or unusual buds. This strategy can, be utilized for clonal spread.

Explant Culture: There are assortment of types of seed plants viz., trees, spices, grasses, which show the essential morphological units i.e., root, stem and leaves. Parenchyma is the most adaptable of a wide range of tissues. They are equipped for division and development

Application

 

In a generally brief timeframe and space, countless plantlets can be delivered beginning from the single explants.

In the living plant the conduct of each piece of tissue is unequivocally impacted by correlative controls forced by the remainder of the plant by disengaging it in vitro, the idea of a portion of these correlative controls can be resolved.

The creation of precise of plants that produce especially great blossoms, organic products, or have other alluring attributes.

To rapidly deliver develop plants.

The creation of products of plants without seeds or fundamental pollinators to deliver seeds.

The recovery of entire plants from plant cells that have been hereditarily altered.

The creation of plants in sterile compartments that permits them to be moved with extraordinarily decreased odds of sending infections, irritations, and microorganisms.

The creation of plants from seeds that in any case have extremely low odds of developing and growing, i.e.: orchids and nepenthes.

Used to preserve uncommon or imperiled plant species.

A plant reproducer may utilize tissue culture to screen cells instead of plants for worthwhile characters, e.g., herbicide opposition/resistance.

Enormous scope development of plant cells in fluid culture inside bioreactors as a wellspring of auxiliary items, similar to recombinant proteins utilized as bio-drugs.

To cross indirectly related species by protoplast combination and recovery of the novel half and half.

To cross-fertilize indirectly related species and afterward tissue culture the subsequent undeveloped organism this would somehow typically pass on .

Opportunities.

 

Plant cell cultures have become a significant device to plant researchers, cell cultures have stayed a significant tool in the investigation of plant science, and today in vitro culture methods are standard methodology in the vast majority of the plant science’s labs. Cell cultures will stay as a significant device in the investigation of morphogenesis. Sub-atomic, physiological, and biochemical examinations on physical embryogenesis and plant recovery cycles will keep helping the manner in which cells pick any morphogenetic pathway. Notwithstanding Arabidopsis model, the disconnection of new mutants from PTC will help in this assignment. Cell cultures have remained, and will proceed, a critical tool in the investigation of primary metabolism, e.g., the utilization of protoplasts and vacuoles for the investigation of the components of poisonousness of hefty metals, just as the creation of safe plants situated in PTC innovation. The advancement of restorative plant cell culture procedures has prompted the ID of complete pathways of alkaloid biosynthesis. Comparative data emerging from the utilization of cell cultures for atomic and biochemical examinations is creating research action on metabolic designing of plant secondary metabolite production. The support of this information goes past essential examination. Huge spread of plants speaks to now a financially compensating undertaking and this will increment in the next years by consolidating new plants into the market, basically intriguing plants with new bloom tones and scents. On account of the improvement of genomics, proteomics, and metabolomics, plant. biotechnology is testing new and energizing advances. These “omics” approaches, with no uncertainty, will quicken the disclosure, disconnection and portrayal of qualities giving new agronomic characteristics to crops. Effective hereditary designing projects will be centered in the improvement of new plant assortments with attributes that expansion the nature of the harvests to battle undernourishment and in this manner the increment in the yields without the utilization of synthetic compounds in the field will stay a significant assignment. The new plant assortments should likewise give an expansion access the utilization of the land for horticultural point by beating issues, for example, saltiness, dry season and desertification. PTC strategy will likewise permit the creation of roots for food in bioreactors, under controlled conditions. Innovations for cell culture in enormous volumes for the creation of fine synthetic substances in hereditarily changed cells refined ought to be set up. This method presents points of interest over their creation in field developed plants that ordinarily possess significant expansions of land. The utilization of in vitro strategies in undeveloped organism salvage during plant reproducing, to spare hazardous annihilation plants, and the development of germplasm banks to safeguard plants with important attributes will help the consistent need of hereditary improvement programs

 

Conclusion

 

Plant tissue culture have caused critical commitments to the development of agrarian sciences as of late and today. They comprise a basic device in current horticulture. The admittance to innovation is not, at this point the selective of developed nations thus it is fundamental that we as a whole perceive the possibilities and that we use the innovation in the entirety of its measurements. The advantages as of now have moved from being viewed as simply part of the farming creation. The plants and the beneficial frameworks dependent on current horticulture are rapidly turning out to be significant income workers, and yet: ensuring food security worldwide and giving a superior way of life for every last one of the occupants of the planet. The innovation has exhibited its value and is accessible, presently it’s our chance to utilize it on a large however responsibly.

Disrupt, Divide, and Develop

The Effects of Covid-19 on Education

The pervasive nature of the Covid-19 pandemic has created one of the largest disruptions of education in human history, countervailing all efforts to provide education for all children. It caused unprecedented changes and continues to change numerous aspects of education that we took for granted. In March 2020, schools around India began closing to avoid the spread of Covid-19. These sudden closures led to confusion and uncertainty amongst students, especially those who were appearing for their board exams. For other students, these abrupt closures brought about a perplexing break from school. These ostensibly temporary closures were made permanent once the nationwide lockdown was effectuated and students were separated from their schools.

According to data by UNICEF and UNESCO, more than 1 billion children were at risk of falling behind due to school closures during the pandemic. Schools for more than 168 million children globally have been completely closed for almost an entire year. Around 214 million children globally, which is equivalent to 1 in 7 children, have missed more than three-quarters of their in-person learning. Furthermore, more than 888 million children worldwide continue to face disruptions to their education due to full and partial school closures.

In India, the closure of 1.5 million schools in 2020 impacted 247 million children enrolled in elementary and secondary schools. In early March 2021, only eight States and Union Territories had reopened classes 1 to 12; 11 had reopened classes 6-12 and 15 had reopened classes 9-12. However, the ongoing second wave has caused the complete closure of schools yet again, as well as either the cancellation or postponement of board exams, competitive exams, and entrance exams.

We began a new academic year like never before – from our homes. To continue the process of education, schools were compelled to adapt, adopt, and evolve. The biggest change has been the abandonment of traditional notions of schooling and the shift to online learning and teaching. Teachers have had to adapt to teaching online, a complete shift for those who’ve had many years of traditional classroom teaching experience. The fun and exciting trip to school has been diminished to clicking a link to join our classes. Interactive classes have become eerily similar to videos on our laptop or phone screen with a tincture of interaction arising when teachers ask us whether we’re present. The extreme sport of completing notes just before the teacher calls out our names has become the tedious process of scanning our notes and sending them as a pdf. Eating with our friends in the school canteen has been replaced with us eating alone during classes. Our classmates have become little rectangles on our screens. Outdoor sports have disappeared from the list of extracurriculars that we did in school. The end of school or college life is marked by video calls instead of grand graduation ceremonies. A lot has changed.

These changes have led to some pernicious problems. The blurring of lines between school and home has led to students feeling overworked. This holds true for teachers too as they answer questions, clear doubts, and create lesson plans at all hours of the day. Students often have to study and sleep in the same rooms now. According to scientific studies, this often leads to a decrease in productivity and concentration. Students, especially younger ones, are easily distracted during online classes, despite attempts to marshal concentration and focus, as a classroom atmosphere is non-existent. Teachers are unable to pick up cues such as body language and facial expressions, making it challenging to connect with and understand their students. Problems such as eye strain and headaches are more common now due to the drastic and unavoidable increase in screen time for students. Online classes are often disrupted by copious internet problems, power cuts, background noise, and vexing software problems. All forms of practical education have been eliminated. A lack of clarity on important events such as board exam and entrance exam dates has led to the upheaval of students’ plans that were formulated before the pandemic began, fueling a rise in students’ anxiety and uncertainty.

Covid-19 has also been a catalyst to the widening of socio-economic gaps in society on numerous fronts. While the virus cossets no one, the fact that it has disproportionately affected students belonging to less affluent households, especially those in rural India, is indubitable. Undoubtedly, access to the internet and an appropriate device are the lifelines of online education.

A UNICEF report from August 2020 highlighted that only 24% of Indian households have access to the internet. While television and radio were purported as an alternative, there is no substitute for an actual teacher. A more recent survey conducted by Learning Spiral in February 2021 revealed that more than 50% of Indian students in rural and urban areas don’t have access to the internet. Moreover, only 47% of the households that have access to the internet own a device that can access the internet. It also revealed that, while 27% of all Indian households have access to the internet, only 28% of those are in rural India, even though rural India comprises of nearly 71% of India’s households.

Families in rural India are plagued with other impediments to online education –  insufficient or no smartphones, having to borrow smartphones (and therefore may not get them at the time needed), not having enough money to buy an appropriate internet package, and patchy connectivity even if they have internet access. The severity of these problems is incalculable and more prevalent than in urban households.

Assuming that the problems stop here would be specious. The closure of schools has obstructed the “Mid Day Meal Scheme”. India has about 120 million children enrolled in the scheme in over 1.26 million schools across the country. However, due to the disruptions caused by Covid-19, many States and Union Territories have been forced to stop this initiative, depriving children of their basic nutritional needs. This scheme also serves as a huge incentive for children to attend school. Therefore, its removal may negatively impact both their health and their education. Furthermore, incidents of domestic abuse and child labour have drastically increased as students can no longer be protected by going to school.

The Covid-19 pandemic has been atrocious but there has been a silver lining. The pandemic has led to an “academic revolution” that, unfortunately worsened certain differences in our society, but has also alleviated certain differences.

Even before Covid-19, there was high growth in and adoption of education technology. Projections have shown that the overall market for online education may be valued at $350 Billion by 2025. There has been a significant surge in the usage of language apps, virtual tutoring, video conferencing tools, online learning software, etc. This is not only providing alternative paths for education but it is also future-proofing education. Through programs such as Coursera and edX, students can attend classes that they normally wouldn’t have had access to. India is considered the largest marketplace for Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) after the USA.

In certain aspects, online learning has made school more inclusive and obviated numerous hindrances to education. The use of videos in class greatly benefits visual learners. The use of tools such as online polling and chats have improved the class participation of those who otherwise may have hesitated to speak up. Notes, videos, and other study material that are sent to students can be reviewed anytime so the pressure on students to complete their work “before the bell” has been reduced. Furthermore, differently-abled students who found it difficult to attend school in-person can now attend classes with their friends from their homes.

As students are attending classes from their homes, commuting to school no longer blocks their schedules. This gives them more time for extracurriculars such as internships, online courses, and online competitions. It also allows them more time to do the things they enjoy such as singing, cooking, writing, and painting. Students are also honing their online collaborative skills and improving their digital literacy, this will immensely benefit them in the future as the entire world shifts online.

Hopefully, the move to online learning creates a new, permanent, and more effective method of educating students. While this “new normal” has had certain benefits, we must remember the value of education for all and prudentially strive to shrink the divide caused by this unavoidable transition to online learning.

Bioweapons

War have been a part of human history since the beginning of time. However, the agents used to carry out warfare have changed and evolved just like humans did over time. First people use to hurt each other with their bare hands and sharp nails or throw stones or sticks at each other. Then someone thought, lets join the stone and stick, which led to the development of spheres and other things specially designed to kill. With the discovery of fire came a new way to cause mass destruction over a large scale. As science evolved, so did the weapons used in wars. From swords, crossbows and canons to guns, bombs, and tanks. But then came the era of nuclear warfare, things so powerful that it could destroy the entire world as we know it. However, an agent of war many people don’t know about and whose use has increased with the advancements of biotechnology and microbiology are bioweapons. Bioterrorism technically is defined as the violent use (by a person or group of individuals) of biological substance or toxins to injure. For example, this covid-19 pandemic which could be a form of bioterrorism, killing millions. But lets start from the first advent of the use of bioweapons.

 

Throughout human history, bioterrorism has been an issue. The Assyrians poisoned their enemies’ wells with ergot, a toxin-producing fungus typically found in Rye. This is one of the first stories of the use of bioterrorism and goes back to the 600 BC. In a more recently published account, Pizarro delivered the native Indians clothing tainted with smallpox in the 1500s when he conquered South America. Another similar report claims that Britain may have utilised diseases to undermine its adversaries during North American colonisation. The country could intentionally have sent Native Americans blankets tainted with pox. Bioweapons spread fast and cause mass destruction. The Convention against biologic weapons, which forbids the manufacturing, development, stockpiling and use of biological weapons was signed by 103 states under the guidance of the United Nations in 1972. Its however, well established that even superpowers of this world are not ready for an attack or outbreak of a bioweapon like smallpox and ebola. The high fatality rate among infected people is attributed to the possibility of aerosol transmission and the relative simplicity of large-scale manufacturing. Anthrax and especially smallpox are regarded the most significant threats of bioterrorism.

 

During world war 2 extensive research was carried out and many bioweapons were stockpiled by various countries from both the allied and axis powers. In an attack performed by religious-cult Aum Shinrikyo in a Tokyo metro station in 1995 using sarin, a chemical affecting the nervous system, resulted in the revelation of the risk of bioterrorism. Pathogens can also be engineered in the lab to give antibiotic resistance and higher virulence factor for the use of bioweapons. But science can also be used to create defences against these pathogens. Vaccination therapies, genome sequencing of the organism and drug designing are just among the wide biodefense’s science has to offer.

 

Some of common bioweapons used are:

 

Anthrax: Highly infectious and deadly, caused by bacterium bacillus anthrax. Having an incubation period of 7 days it can affect animals, humans, and children. It can be clinical diagnosed as either cutaneous, gastrointestinal, or inhaled. Its however, difficult to diagnose as it mimics the symptoms of a common cold.

Smallpox: Highly contagious and deadly, smallpox has been eradicated from the world thanks to vaccines, however smallpox vials had been stored in US and Russia in the name of research and these vials have been reportedly stolen, leaving the entire world population which is mostly not vaccinated against smallpox due to its eradication, at a high risk. If there is a smallpox attack, there aren’t enough vaccines for most of the people.

Cholera: Bacterium caused disease which was endemic in many parts of the world a few decades ago, cholera is transmitted through water ways and can be used as a bioweapon.

Salmonella: It’s a species of bacterium which infects the food you eat. Mixed with any food, it could cause gastrointestinal problems. However, it’s not considered that dangerous as food can be removed from the market.

Botulism: Produced by clostridium botulism its one of the most fatal toxins in the world. It can be inhaled or be present in your food, mostly canned food. Causing paralysis, vision problems suffocation within days or hours depending on the amount consumed, this bioweapon is highly dangerous and just need a few micrograms to kill millions. Once a person inhales it, its most certain death because an antidote does not exist for the toxin.

Ebola: Causing death in 90% of the people infected, Ebola is a much-feared virus that can be used as a bioweapon.

Ricin: Another toxin which is famous for being the bioweapon in the “umbrella murder case” its found in castor beans.

Although diseases are genetically modifiable, there is no evidence of virulence increase and the ability to promote an epidemic. This is no guarantee, however, that this risk is gone from the world. Because bioterrorism is a problem of global security, intelligence agencies have the responsibility to verify their actual potential and expansion. Some military specialists think Iraq still has an active bio war programme. A few years ago, a rare disease triggered an epidemic in Iraqi wheat fields, suspected of escaping a pathogenic infection from bioterrorism investigative facilities. Intelligence, constant monitoring, early warning systems, information sharing between agencies and cooperation should be part of any preventive programme in bioterrorism. Legislation should be in place that allows the government to apply quarantines to suspected people or items infected with infection, confiscate property and use hospitals for the benefit of the public. Finally, nobody should presume that biology and biotechnology science are always used for good. Biotechnology could be used in states that sponsor terrorism in the development of mass destruction pathogens and pests. Recent events have made us conscious of the worldwide community, and local events often have an impact around the world. It is crucial that one must be aware that science with all its benefit can also cause bioterrorism.

Govt Asks Social Media

Intermediaries for Compliance

Details Over New Information

Technology Rules:-

Electronics and IT Ministry has asked social media intermediaries for compliance details over the new Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Ethics Code) Rules, 2021. The new rules were notified on 25th of February and came into effect yesterday.

 

The Ministry has also sought details of Chief Compliance Officer and Resident Grievance Officer appointed by digital platforms under the new IT rules. The Centre had given Significant Social Media Intermediaries, SSMI three months to comply with the request. Any social media platform with more than 50 lakh users will be designated as a Significant Social Media Intermediary.

 

 

Morning motivation

As your well-wisher!
I need you to know that it gets better!
I need you to know that the way you flay your heart open for the world is brave ,that the way in which you refuse to be anything but soft ,even when you feel like you may just break under the weight of feeling , is why you’re needed here. I need you to know that beautiful things are vanishing each day and I’m proud of you for fighting to ensure that your soul is not one of them, you need to keep fighting.
I need you to know that you’ll find the places that leave every tender part of you feeling calm and at peace with who you’re. You’ll find the places that inspire everything inside of you to surge and ache with the hope and the beauty of being alive. These places,they’re not where you were born,but they ll be where you’re reborn. You’ll know when you’ve found them.

I need you to know that there are others like you in this world, others who’re messy hearted, others who feel things intensely and without hesitation,others who cannot contain all that they hold within the words of their mind because they’ve only ever known how to pour,how to shatter and how to give. I need you to know that you’ll find these people and they’ll become your family-taking care of each other. You’ll grow together in the moments between breaths, in the stunning silence that blankets your souls when you connect with the fact that in a world of billions, in the middle of all the noise, you found each other.

But most of all, I need you to know that we’re all here together ,dealing with what is dark and light within us. I need you to know that you aren’t alone, that one day you’re going to be sitting in a place you love, surrounded by people who inspire you and you’re gonna think back to the storms and hurricanes that rattled through your bones and you gonna smile. The clarity will wash over you!
One day or the other,
You’ll be free!
Everything will be alright!!

CRISPR the genetic scissor: Alluring or repelling?

The marvels of human discovery has no bounds. From reaching the moon to creating vaccines, man has always been on the lookout for creating an impact, be it influential or destructive. CRISPR is one such discovery which can revolutionize treatment of diseases. When man landed on moon, people talked about how we may corrupt it. When he created vaccines, people talked about how it may kill instead of curing. Discoveries are followed by heavy criticism. Sometimes, these can be ignorant ramblings. Sometimes, a warning of the inevitable. So, when CRISPR was discovered, critics implied that it may lead to the extinction of an entire species! Is it a useless rambling or a warning?

What is CRISPR?

CRISPR is a gene editing technique which allows us to edit our very origin, the DNA. In simple words, just like using a CTRL C, CTRL V and DEL on our computers, CRISPR allows to us to delete defective gene, copy a good gene and allows us to paste it in place of the mutated gene. Instead of taking care of the aftermaths of a disease causing mutated gene, we now cut it altogether and thus eliminate the disease altogether. Indeed a genetic scissor.

The silver lining of all this is that, it is extremely efficient, fast and cost conservative. Yes, hearing about gene cutting and editing, you could’ve been convinced that it isn’t for the common man. But no, you are gravely mistaken. In fact the reason some people consider it a curse is because of its affordability and efficiency, which when misused, can cause some serious irrevocable damage to the chain of lives.

The science behind

If you do not want to get into the details, then you may very well skip this heading and move onto to the next. But let me tell you, devil’s in the details! Much like a coded computer program our genes are essentially coded patterns of chemicals: adenosine(A), cytosine(C), guanine(G) and thymine(T). Our DNA is a specific arrangement of 6 billion of these chemical building blocks. Just like how a single error in the computer program can disrupt its functionalities, a single error in arrangement of A,C,G,T results in genetic diseases. 1 error among 6 billion and everything breaks into chaos. Read more here.

For instance, lets consider sickle cell anemia where our body doesn’t have enough healthy red blood cells as some of the cells become ‘sickle’ shaped leading to shortage of blood flow. The sickle shape is occurs when A is replaced with T. Without CRISPR, a person suffering from sickle cell anemia has a 15% chance of curing it by bone marrow transplantation, a costly solution. With CRISPR, all we have to do is correct the error. Cut the additional T, prepare a healthy A, and insert it in the place of the second T. Voila, you are now free of sickle cell anemia with your pockets not emptied!

The ethical concerns

The major concern revolving around CRISPR is the aftermaths it may cause. While trying it rectify a genetic error, we may by mistake create a new one by cutting excessive DNA, or pasting a different one. An individual impaired with such unintended consequences of CRISPR, not only suffers himself, but can also pass it to his/her generations due to gene-drive. Gene drive is preferentially inherited by all offspring which in turn can pass it on to their offspring.

CRISPR is actively being used to modify genes of animals and insects. We can now design plants with higher yields and with higher nutritional content, animals which are susceptible to diseases, and even mosquitoes which are rendered sterile. This can lead to the extinction of the entire mosquito species. This can disrupt the entire food chain as a species whose food source was the extinct species, will now be endangered too, setting off a chain reaction.

Designer Babies?

With CRISPR science fiction can come to reality. CRISPR allows us to modify our genes. Genes are who we are. So it literally allows us to modify who we are! Genetically editing human embryo instead of kids or adults, can result in creating the ‘ideal’ baby. Genes which promote increased muscle strength, brain activity can be pasted which allows babies born to be more healthy and intelligent.

You know where this can lead to and the increased concern this can provide. With CRISPR additionally being cost effective, who is to say no to a healthier intelligent baby? This leads to unnatural selection, defying Darwin’s evolutionary natural selection model, producing a race of superhumans. Even though the CRISPR on human embryos is highly disallowed, some may try to misuse it, causing devastating effects.

Concluding remarks

The world is moving at an alarming pace. Who knew 20 years ago that you can communicate across seas with just one click on the phone. While as alarming as it maybe, it has also lifted people up, proving that advancements do more good than bad, forcing us to go with the flow. It is up to the ethics of humankind to keep the good-bad balance and make sure that advancements not only improve the lifestyles of humans, but also the compassion in our hearts, for we are nothing but borrowed fragments of compassion, left by our ancestors.

 

Compassion isn’t about giving solutions, it is about giving all the love you’ve got.

-Cheryl Strayed

Anne with an E | a masterful retelling

Anne with an E': The best moments between Anne and Gilbert – Film DailyBased on Lucy Maud Montgomery’s popular series Anne of Green Gables, Netflix’s Anne with an E was incredibly well-received. The show follows the story of the adoption of orphan Ann(e). She is wide-eyed, optimistic, dramatic, and we’re here for it. She is the harbinger of joy and color in the otherwise unexciting lives of Marilla and Matthew Cuthbert. The books follow her misadventures, her friendships, and her purple prose. More lighthearted than the show, the books generally focus on Anne’s development as a character and the change in the mindset of the people of Avonlea towards orphans. Anne of Green Gables (Anne Shirley Series #1) eBook: Montgomery, Lucy Maud:  Amazon.in: Kindle Store

The show, on the other hand, tackles several social issues such as racial prejudice, sexism, slavery, something the books shy away from. It also vividly portrays the trauma that Anne previously experienced while working as a “nanny”, as well as how that affected her as a young girl.

While the show takes generous liberties with the narrative, it does so in an extremely refined manner. Text-to-screen adaptations tend to fail spectacularly on this front, with the adaptations being borderline unwatchable. The creators remain true to the characters with everyone having their own arcs.

Even when adding new plot points and characters, it makes sure that they are well-developed and not hasty additions made to fill a quota or made to call the show “original”.

Both the book series and the show have left an everlasting impact on me. They are both perfect coming-of-age stories, with the show adapting the narrative to fit the modern context.

Second home!

Do u know which is your second home? Of course we all do,our school life,our priceless moments! Everyone is longing to get back to their childhood,even when you’re reading this at the moment ,you got an instant click in your mind,a slideshow of your wonderful memories feels the same…..am I right?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

School days are the best where there is no work pressure,no worrying of earning money but full time of learning happily through playing & enjoying life according to our wish. It’s a boon.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

School days are the happiestttt,countless memories are tangled with those days,can never ever be replaced by anything! We can see the purest form of us,the real us during our childhood, sometimes we need to think and get cherished ourselves to keep the innocence in the experienced ,dark society!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Friends-one of the best relations,they were the one who made our school life unforgettable,without them…nothing would have happened! Though we fight,have gossips,angry for a while,we still love each other, still feel like we are the one -united always. We can’t find true friends like school friends and they remain the same forever,that was the place where we’re all connected and bonded with true love & care !

Listed out some of those amazing moments,

Sleeping with books

Act like being silent when principal passes by

Grabbing & sharing lunch boxes

Bunking class by making excuses for pee and drinking water

Crazy talks, kiddings,sightings,being enough naughty

Excitement of entering into a new class year

Borrowing bits, asking for answers during exams

Hiding behind friends while teacher asks a question

Getting kicked out from maths class for forgetting homework at home(lies)

Making cute excuses to the teacher

Used to fight for silly things with our friends like window seat/pen/food etc

Wanting to become the in charge of class

That moment of feeling proud when gets an appreciation from teacher

Plans to do a group study but ends up having fun and food

Playing xo,pen fight passionately as if it’s an Olympic event and many more……etc

We learned,we played,

We cried,we laughed,

We won,we lost,

We fought,we thought…..

 

Years went over, when I returned back to school

Found our names were still scribbled on walls,benches,canteen tables….

Wishing to become a child again,

Still missing and longing for those unforgettable moments!

With love,

Neharika!

The yellow fungus: 2021 has one more fatal disease to offer

Looks like the torments are going to take up new dimensions this 2021. While 2020 introduced us to the new normal, 2021 superseded its predecessor and comes bearing a variety of diseases to offer. We faced the mutated Covid-19, the wave of black fungus originating from Rajasthan, a few days ago we came across white fungus and its implications. As a ‘cherry’ on top of it all, today, India reported the first case of yellow fungus in Uttar Pradesh.

What is yellow fungus?

Yellow fungus otherwise known as mucor septicus, is a fungal infection just like black fungus and white fungus. It is said to often occur in lizards rather than human beings and has been classified deadly when compared to black and white fungus. The reason for its fatality is that it is harder to detect it, thus reducing the time to treat it at its earlier stages. In the worst case, it can also lead to organ failure and thus is not to be taken carelessly. The cause of fungal infections, be it black white or yellow, is said to arise due to poor hygiene. Fungal infections grow rapidly in atmospheres with higher humidity(30-40%).

Symptoms

Initial symptoms of yellow fungus are lack of appetite, lethargy and weight loss. The generality of early stage symptoms is the reason for its difficult detection. As the infection spreads, it can lead to sunken eyes, more time to heal wounds, development of pus and ultimately, it can induce necrosis(death of body cells and tissues), affecting organs leading to organ failure and in the worst case, death.

Out of the blue, why are fungal infections surfacing now?

Fungal infections are more likely to attack people with reduced immunity much than people with enriched immunity. Due the backlash faced by people due to Covid-19, the immunity system of people affected remained vulnerable. This vulnerability along with poor hygiene was taken advantage of, leading to rising cases of fungal infections. The director of the New Delhi’s All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Randeep Guleria, stated that another reason for the spread is due to the irrational use of steroids for the treatment of Covid-19 contributing to compromised immunity. Find what Randeep Guleria said regarding this here.

Preventive methods

What can be done on our part to fight fungal infections? The obvious answer to it is clean environment. Some methods to follow:

  • Keep your residing place dry and clean as humidity is a growth factor for fungus.
  • Avoid using damp towels, shoes etc as they can become breeding grounds.
  • Do not wear tight clothing which can lead to absorption of sweat causing humid patches
  • Dispose stale food as soon as possible
  • Covid-19 patients should be careful and should report to hospital immediately on encountering symptoms

Be on the look out during these crazy times. Stay indoors and come out only if it is absolutely necessary. Be safe and take care.

Conflict Theory | the fight of our lives

In the 19th century, renowned political thinker Karl Marx purported the Conflict Theory. The Conflict Theory is a sociological theory that suggests that society is constituted by the perpetual conflict between social groups. These groups generally compete for resources, i.e money, power, status, etc.

24 Sociology Images ideas | sociology, inequality, political cartoons

Conflict Theory stands in opposition to Functionalism, which states that society is based on consensus where social institutions work in harmony to maintain social order. Conflict theory states that social order is maintained by domination and the struggle for power between the haves and have-nots. The dominant group will hold on to their resources for as long as they can, even suppressing the other group in the process to stay at the top.

Further, the dominant group will use the resources in their position to try and maximize their wealth, thereby strengthening their position.

Conflict theory can be observed not only in society but also in phenomena such as poverty, war, discrimination, revolution, etc. Wherever there are resources to be had, there will emerge a dominant group. This is where Conflict theory comes into play.

Marx further stated that conflict is what drives social change and what makes power change hands.

In the modern scenario, we see examples of the Conflict Theory between the bourgeoisie and the proletariat. Interestingly, the dominant group might not necessarily be numerically larger, just wealthier.

 

Black fungus – all you need to know!

It is caused by a group of fungi, found in air or dust, mucormycosis is a deadly infection, affecting those with low immunity. It starts in the nose and spread to the eyes and then the brain. It is arare fungal infection affecting 1 in 10,00,000 people but with a mortality rate of 50 percent. It can cause blindness, organ dysfunction, loss 9f body tissue, and even death if not treated on time. There are chances of infection increase in patients who are diabetic, covid positive and are taking steroids. Uncontrolled diabetes is the biggest cause for its raising number, especially post covid.

 

 

 

The early symptoms are sinusitis, local pain on the cheekbone, one sided facial pain, numbness or swelling. Blackish discoloration over the bridge of nose or palate. Loosening of teeth, jaw involvement, blurred or double vision with pain, thrombosis, chest pain, pleural effusion and worsening of respiratory symptoms.

 

 

 

 

How it is treated?
While the infection may just begin with a skin infection, it can spread to other parts of the body. Treatment involves surgically removing all dead and infected tissue. In some patients, this may result in loss of upper jaw or sometimes even the eye. Cure may also involve a 4 to 6 weeks course of intravenous anti fungal therapy. Since it affects various parts of the body, treatment requires a team of microbiologists, internal medicine specialists, intensivist neurologists, ENT specialists, opthalmologists, dentists, surgeons and others. Controlling diabetes is one of the foremost prevention methods suggested by ICMR. Hence, covid 19 patients who are diabetic need to take utmost care.

Mental Health

“Mental health is not a destination, but a process. It’s about how you drive, not where you’re going.”
Mental health refers to cognitive, behavioral, and emotional well-being. It is all about how people think, feel, and behave. Mental health is an integral and essential component of health. The WHO constitution states: “Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.” An important implication of this definition is that mental health is more than just the absence of mental disorders or disabilities. It is an integral part of health; indeed, there is no health without mental health. Mental health can affect daily living, relationships, and physical health. The COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting economic recession have negatively affected many people’s mental health and created new barriers for people already suffering from mental illness and substance use disorders. It is common for everyone to experience increased levels of distress and anxiety, particularly as a result of social isolation. Physicians and other frontline health care professionals are particularly vulnerable to negative mental health effects as they strive to balance the duty of caring for patients with concerns about their own well-being and that of their family and friends. It is normal to feel fearful and anxious during tough times like this. We must Treat ourselves with kindness and respect, and avoid self-criticism. This is the best time for making time for our hobbies and favorite projects. We can do many things like daily crossword puzzle, plant a garden, take dance lessons, learn to play an instrument or become fluent in another language. Taking care of ourselves physically can improve our mental health. We must eat nutritious meals, avoid smoking and vaping, drink plenty of water, exercise, which helps decrease depression and anxiety and improve moods, get enough sleep. Researchers believe that lack of sleep contributes to a high rate of depression in college students. Some other ways by which people can overcome stress and anxiety are, volunteer your time and energy to help someone else. You’ll feel good about doing something tangible to help someone in need — and it’s a great way to meet new people. Try meditating, Mindfulness and/or prayer. Relaxation exercises and prayer can improve your state of mind and outlook on life. In fact, research shows that meditation may help you feel calm and enhance the effects of therapy. Decide what you want to achieve academically, professionally and personally, and write down the steps you need to realize your goals. Aim high, but be realistic and don’t over-schedule. You’ll enjoy a tremendous sense of accomplishment and self-worth as you progress toward your goal. As rightly said by Michelle Obama –
“Sadly, too often, the stigma around mental health prevents people who need help from seeking it. But that simply doesn’t make any sense. Whether an illness affects your heart, your arm or your brain, it’s still an illness, and there shouldn’t be any distinction…we should make it clear that getting help isn’t a sign of weakness — it’s a sign of strength — and we should ensure that people can get the treatment they need.” In short we can say that mental health is as important as physical health and we must take good care of both.


Sagrada de Familia: The controversial church

We humans always have an impeccable liking for controversies. They give us something to put the gray cells of our brain to work. Let’s exercise them today by taking a look into the world’s tallest church(basilica), Sagrada de Familia, constructed by the famous architect Antoni Gaudi(1852-1926). The God’s architect, started the construction of Sagrada de Familia in the year 1882. Be prepared for this statement. The basilica is still under construction and will not be completed until 2026! That’s a whooping 135 years of construction! If it is a famous church, which can be funded abundantly, why is it still under construction after over a century?

Sagrada de Familia and its private funding

The construction of the basilica has been carried out with the help of private funding and donations and is not funded by any government or church. Now you may ask why a church has shortage of funds. The answer to this is the beginning of the controversy. Before divulging into it, it is important to note that it isn’t a church, but rather a basilica. It was originally designated as a cathedral but then in 2010, Pope Benedict XVI declared it a basilica. What’s the difference between a basilica and a church?

Antoni Gaudi drew inspiration from nature

Before answering the question of why it is considered controversial, let me give you a brief tour of the basilica. The basilica is to have eighteen spires out of which only eight has been constructed as of now. These spires symbolize the Twelve Apostles, Virgin Mary, Four Evangelists, and Jesus Christ. They also differ in their heights accordingly to denote the hierarchy, with Jesus Christ’s spire the tallest of all at an astounding 560 feet.

Antoni Gaudi was an admirer of nature. He often finds inspiration for his works from mother nature herself.

The great book, always open and which we should make an effort to read, is that of Nature.

-Antoni Gaudi

This can be reflected in his basilica too. To showcase it to you, let me show you a staircase inside the Sagrada Familia. You will notice that the staircase spirals, not ordinarily, but rather ‘scientifically’. The spirals represent the famous Fibonacci spiral. The Fibonacci spiral is a logarithmic spiral whose growth factor is φ, the golden ratio 1.69, which is the ratio which is found almost everywhere. In flowers, sea shells and even the human body. You may now understand Gaudi’s love for nature.

Spiral Staircase
Spiral staircase(Left), a sea shell on the right.

Also, the basilica incorporates curved lines rather than straight ones. This can be observed in the pillars of the basilica, curved and giving the illusion of many trees huddled together to form a forest. According to Gaudi, nature did not give us straight lines. So it is to do justice to nature by incorporating curved lines in his temple.

The straight line belongs to men. The curved one to God.

-Antoni Gaudi

Not only in this basilica, Gaudi’s work reflects nature in many of his other art works and buildings.

Ceiling of Sagrada Familia
Ceiling of Sagrada Familia, resembling trees in a forest

Freemasonist?

magic square
The magic square in the passion façade.

His fascination for nature is co-walked by his fascination for something strange too. Interesting right? Next to the passion façade, near his tomb(yes, Gaudi is buried inside the basilica)there lies a 4×4 magic square with 15 numbers inscribed on it. Even bizarre. These numbers are positioned in such a way that when you add the numbers horizontally, vertically or diagonally, they add up to the number 33!

Now, 33 is not any number. There is symbology in play here. 33 is said to be the highest rank that a freemasonist can go. There exists a controversy that Gaudi was a masonist and that he achieved the 33rd rank. But 33 maybe a coincidence, you may think. But note that his other work Parque Guëll, has staircase whose steps sum to 33 too. Now this is far too real to be ignored as a mere coincidence. One more thing, Gaudi’s friend Eduard was a freemasonist and his patron Guëll was also a freemasonist. These facts make it difficult to ignore ’33’.

Addressing the elephant of the room

So what does all this have to do with the controversy. Gaudi’s nature inspired works were frowned upon during his days. The basilica had undergone many attacks, also a reason for its delayed construction. George Owens, in his novel Homage to Catalonia, wrote:

I went to have a look at the cathedral—a modern cathedral and one of the most hideous buildings in the world. Unlike most of the churches in Barcelona it was not damaged during the revolution—it was spared because of its ‘artistic value,’ people said. I think the Anarchists showed bad taste in not blowing it up when they had the chance.

Alongside this, there was the freemasonist theory. Christianism and freemasonry were not exactly the friendly combo. In 1983, the Church issued a new code of canon law, which stated: ‘A person who joins an association which plots against the Church is to be punished with a just penalty; one who promotes or takes office in such an association is to be punished with an interdict‘.

Such was the heat between these two groups. And having said that Gaudi may have been a masonist, poses no doubt in churches denying funding to Sagrada de Familia. Even though it is addressed a basilica, by now you can be sure that it isn’t seen as one by many Catholics. This can be contradicting and confusing. Like an oxymoron, propagating absolutely different ideas: Science and Religion. These two have always been like oil and water. No matter how hard you try to mix, they will stand separated.

Thus, I leave you all with questions lingering in your minds. May your quest begin!

Note: More information regarding the intertwining of science and religion symbolism can be read in the book ‘Origin’ by Dan Brown. Meanwhile, you can check another article which revolves around the ideas of the book here.

 

 

 

 

Tribal community of Andaman and Nicobar(Sentinelese)

The sentinelese tribe of India most commonly found in Andaman islands are considered as the most vulnerable tribes among all the tribes of India . they mostly resides in north sen ital island of bay of Bengal . as compared to the other tribes they prefer no interactions with the outsiders or non – tribes because they think if somebody from outside or they themselves connect with outside world then there are chances of getting their aura and identity contaminated or they might feel danger for their lives from outside people.

talking about their physical appearance they are generally of short height maximum ranges to 5 foot 3 inch , because of geographical conditions they are dark in color with well aligned teeth. there are no signs of obese because their work labor. the government tries to protect their cultural heritage as it understands the importance of them in Indian culture. the reason behind their being hostile is that they had been vulnerable for a long period of time even from colonial times because of the less commercial attraction to the place as it does not have any pre- developed kingdoms or any other infrastructure so as to attract the outside world and the also reason behind tnheir less attraction is due to geographical location. then it arises a moral question to all the human civilization that if a community does not provide commercial attraction should it be forgotten or left alone?

The Govt. of India issued the Andaman and Nicobar Islands (Protection of Aboriginal Tribes) Regulation, 1956 to declare the traditional areas occupied by the tribes as reserves, and prohibited entry of all persons except those with authorization. Photographing or filming the tribe members is also an offence. The rules were amended later to enhance penalties. But restricted area permits were relaxed for some islands recently. now here  also arises a big question that if they are being isolated by these regulations in the name of protection and conservation then how would they socialise with the society and will they achieve social, economic and political growth in the society as trhe developing civilization India should look up to the upliftment of these tribes and shall make some necessary amendments so that people and tribes both would communicate and socialize with each other. due to social isolation they are forced to get food and living from hunting, fishing, and wild plants  and according to anthropological survey of India there is a decline in the population of this tribe.

but at the same time there exist the co-existence theory which signifies on the co-existence from both the sides beyond all the efforts made by the governments the tribe have made it clear that they do not want any contact to prove this there are many instances that have been recorded for example In 2006, two Indian fishermen, who had moored their boat near North Sentinel to sleep after poaching in the waters around the island,were killed when their boat broke loose and drifted onto the shore. Poachers are known to fish illegally in the waters around the island, catching turtles and diving for lobsters and sea cucumbers.

Conclusion

tn the conclusion we can say that after developing so much becoming a global family still there are parts where tribal groups like senitelese living in patches. now as humans it is our duty that if we have let them alone for such a longer period of time and now they had developed their own habitat of living we should not disturb them for any any kind of resource or any other purpose.