My Science School

A corona virus is a virus that is found in animals. Sometimes these viruses can be transmitted from animals to humans, although it is rare. Officials do not know what animal caused the Wuhan corona virus, although the market it is linked to also sold wild animals, like snakes and crocodiles.

In addition to the Wuhan corona virus, other human corona viruses have included:

• The MERS virus, or Middle East respiratory syndrome.


• The SARS virus, or severe acute respiratory syndrome, which first occurred in the Guangdong province in southern China.

It is believed that both MERS and SARS are more serious than the Wuhan corona virus.

Symptoms

Unlike MERS and SARS, the Wuhan corona virus is usually fairly mild. It can take longer for symptoms to develop. Symptoms may include:

• A mild cough.


• Shortness of breath.


• A runny nose.


• A sore throat.


• A headache.


• A fever.

So far, only 15 to 20% of cases have become severe. Those with weakened immune systems may develop more serious symptoms, like pneumonia or bronchitis. So far, only people 40 years old and older have developed the Wuhan corona virus infection.

Causes

Humans first get a corona virus from contact with animals. Then, it can spread from human to human. Health officials do not know what animal caused the Wuhan corona virus.

The Wuhan corona virus can be spread when one human comes into contact with an infected person’s bodily fluids, such as droplets in a cough. It might also be caused by touching something an infected person has touched and then touching your hand to your mouth, nose, or eyes.

Officials do not know who transmits the Wuhan corona virus most or where most infections occur.

How is a corona virus diagnosed?

If you believe you may have a corona virus, you should see your doctor immediately. Before just showing up to your doctor’s office, alert your doctor that you’re coming and why. This will allow the office to prepare and perhaps isolate patients to prevent the spread of infection. To diagnose you, your doctor will run tests to rule out other common infections.

Can a corona virus be prevented or avoided?

There are currently no vaccines for corona virus. Try to avoid people who are sick. Wash your hands often, and avoid touching your mouth, nose, or eyes.

If you are travelling to an area where the Wuhan corona virus is present, speak with your doctor first.

Corona virus treatment

• Symptoms of a corona virus usually go away on their own. If symptoms feel worse than a common cold, see your doctor. He or she may prescribe pain or fever medication.


• As with a cold, drink plenty of fluids and get plenty of rest.


• Living with a corona virus


• If you have the Wuhan corona virus, your doctor will advise you to stay home, rest, and drink plenty of fluids. Symptoms will usually go away on their own.


• When possible, avoid contact with others when you can to avoid getting them sick.

Is the virus being transmitted from one person to another?

China’s national health commission has confirmed human-to-human transmission, and there have been such transmissions elsewhere.

How many people have been affected?

As of 25 February, the outbreak has affected 80,000 people globally. In mainland China there have been 2,663 deaths among 77,658 cases, mostly in the central province of Hubei. More than 12,000 people affected in China have already recovered.

The corona virus has spread to at least other 30 other countries. The most badly affected include Japan, with 850 cases, including 691 from a cruise ship docked in Yokohama, and four deaths. Italy has recorded 229 cases and seven deaths, while South Korea has recorded 893 cases and eight deaths. There have also been deaths in Hong Kong, Taiwan, France, Iran and the Philippines.

 

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A nation-wide anti-corruption movement was launched by activist Anna Hazare in 2011. Following this, the Lok Pal Bill was introduced in Parliament. The enactment of the law came about in 2013. In 2016, the government appointed the first Lokpal, Justice Pinaki Chandra Ghose. The Lokpal is the anti-corruption ombudsman that probes complaints of graft against public servants defined under the Lokpal and Lokayukta Act of 2013. The institutions of Lokpal and Lokayukta were first proposed in 1966 by a Commission headed by Moraji Desai, former Prime Minister. A Bill was put forth eight times between 1968 and 2011, and it went through multiple changes. The Lokpal covers all categories of public servants, including the Prime Minister. Citizens can make complaints of corruption directly to the Lokpal against any government official and elected representatives.

 

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The Aadhaar card was issued to the first recipient in September 2010. Aadhaar is a 12-didgit unique identification number issued by the Unique Identification Authority of India, which was established by the UPA government in 2009, to residents of the country after due verification process. It serves as a proof of identity and address, anywhere in India. Any Indian citizen, irrespective of age and gender, can enroll for Aadhaar free of cost. With the Aadhaar, residents can avail themselves of various services provided by banking, mobile phone and cooking gas connections and other government and non-government services. The original intent of the programme is to plug leakages in subsidy schemes and to have better targeting of welfare benefits. As on Nov. 30, 2018, nearly 123 crore Aadhaar cards have been issued.

 

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Often, during conversations pertaining to heredity, be it with respect to certain mannerisms or behaviour, you might have heard people allude to their DNA. This is because we now know that deoxyribonucleic acid, or DNA, holds the key to heredity to all forms of life and carries genetic instructions for the development, functioning, growth and reproduction of all known organisms and many viruses.

First isolated by Swiss physician Friedrich Miescher in 1869, DNA’s role as the carrier of life’s hereditary data wasn’t known for nearly a century. For, it was only in 1952 that it was firmly established that DNA was the substance that transmits genetic information. That was done through the Hershey-Chase experiment, also often referred to as the blender experiment.

Born in Michigan, the U.S. in 1908, Alfred Day Hershey attended public schools before going on to study B.S. in Bacteriology and doing a Ph.D. in Chemistry. He was drawn towards bacteriology and the biochemistry of life as a graduate student and even his doctoral thesis was on the chemistry of a bacteria. After receiving his Ph.D., Hershey moved into a career of research and teaching.

DNA or protein?

The foundation for the field of molecular biology was laid in the 1940s and the 1950s through research on bacteriophages. Bacteriophages, or simply phages, were known to be viruses – consisting only of DNA surrounded by a protein shell – that infect bacteria.

One of the key questions that was haunting the field was to find out which was the genetic material. The prevalent notion at the time was that it must be a protein, as its structure was complex enough to hold such data. Even though there was some research that pointed at DNA as the possible genetic material, most chemists, physicists and geneticists still held on to the then popular assumption.

Hershey, whose research on phages had provided him with a number of discoveries, set out to conclusively prove that the genetic material in phages was DNA. Along with his assistant Martha Chase, who had recently graduated, Hershey found a way to figure out the role played in replication by each of the phage components.

In experiments conducted in 1951-52, Hershey and Chase used radioactive phosphorus to tag the phage DNA and radioactive sulphur to tag the protein. These tagged phages were then allowed to infect a bacterial culture and begin the process of replication.

Role of blender

This process was interrupted at a crucial moment when the scientists whirled the culture in a blender. This was because Hershey and Chase had been able to determine that a blender produced the right shearing force to tear the phage particles from the bacterial walls, without damaging the bacteria.

Upon examination, it was clear that while the phage DNA had entered the bacterium and forced it to replicate phage particles, the phage protein was still outside, attached to the cell wall. In short, they were able to show that it was DNA, and not protein, that was responsible for communicating genetic information necessary for producing the next generation of phages.

Stimulates research

Hershey and Chase published their results on September 20, 1952. The Hershey-Chase experiment came to be popularly referred to as the blender experiment because of the fact that a simple blender had been used to achieve their test results. These results stimulated research into DNA, and within months, molecular biologists James Watson and Francis Crick published their work establishing the double helix structure of the DNA molecule. In fact, Watson wrote in a 1997 memoriam that the Hershey-Chase experiment “made me ever more certain that finding the three-dimensional structure of DNA was biology’s next important objective”. It certainly turned out to be right.

Small in size, big prize

Alfred Hershey shared the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1969 with Max Delbruck, a physicist who did research in the U.S. after fleeing Nazi Germany in 1937, and Salvador Edward Luria, a biologist and physician from Italy who fled to France in 1938 and immigrated to the U.S. in 1940. They received the Noble Prize for their contributions to molecular biology and their work on bacteriophages, which are viruses that infect bacteria.

Working independently, Hershey and Luria showed the occurrence of spontaneous mutation in bacteriophages and the host in 1945.

In the next year, Hershey and Delbruck separately discovered the occurrence of genetic recombination in phages. This showed that when different strains of phages infect the same bacterial cell, they can exchange or combine genetic material.

The three men turned out to be collaborators, despite the fact that they never worked together in the same laboratory.

They encouraged each other in their phage research by sharing results through correspondence and conversations.

 

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• Former Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said that the prices could not be compared as the tender for 126 aircraft and the agreement for 36 aircraft had different requirements.


• The Central government also claimed that it did not have any role in the selection of the Indian offset partner. (However, Francois Hollande, who was the President of France when the Rafale deal was signed, stated in an interview that it was the Indian government that suggested Reliance Defence Ltd. as the offset partner for the deal. And Dassault Aviation’s chief executive officer, Eric Trappier, in November 2018, said that it was his company that chose Reliance Defence).


• Nirmala Sitharaman also said that approval from the Cabinet Committee on Security had been obtained before the signing of IGA.

Supreme Court order

In October 2018, the Supreme Court, while hearing a public interest litigation, directed the Central government to provide the pricing details of the Rafale fighter jets in a sealed cover. In December 2018, the court dismissed all the petitions seeking a probe into the alleged irregularities in the deal, and gave a clean chit to the Union government on all three aspects – the decision making, pricing and selection of Indian offset partner. However, petitioners have sought a review of the December 2018 order following which the Union government wants all review petitions dismissed by the apex court.

 

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Price escalation

The Congress Party alleged that the BJP-led government procured each aircraft at a much higher price than what was finalised by the UPA government.

Lack of transparency & favouritism

The party accused the Central government of promoting crony capitalism by ‘influencing’ Dassault to pick Reliance Defence as its local partner. The party demanded answers from the government on why state-run aerospace major HAL was not involved in the deal. It also alleged that Reliance Defence was formed just 12 days before the announcement of the Refale deal and that Reliance was chosen in a process that lacked transparency.

Absence of Cabinet approval

It alleged that the Modi government announced the deal without the approval from Cabinet Committee on Security. The Congress demanded a probe into the issue.

Parallel parleys

Based on documents from the Ministry of Defence, it was alleged that the Prime Minister’s Office was conducting ‘parallel negotiation’ with French officials on the fighter plane deal.

 

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The proposal for procurement of fighter jets was made in 2007 under the Congress-led UPA government. The French aircraft manufacturer, Dassault Aviation, won the contract among other bidders in 2012. The original plan was to purchase 126 planes, including 18 to be manufactured in France and delivered in flyaway condition and the rest (108) to be built in India in collaboration with the Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd under transfer of technology.

There were lengthy negotiations between the then UPA government and Dassault on issues of pricing and transfer of technology. The negotitations continued till early 2014, but the deal was not finalised. Meanwhile, India and France faced national elections. A change in government in India delayed the process further.

During his visit to France in 2015, Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a surprise announcement that India would purchase 36 Rafale jets (as against the earlier tender for 126) from the French aircraft manufacturer Dassault Aviation. And the deal was sealed in September 2016.

The cost of each Rafale aircraft was later revealed to be Rs. 670 crore. But the Central government did not provide the break-up of the deal, citing security concerns.

 

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Rafale is a twin-engine Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) designed and built by Dassault Aviation, a French firm. The fighter jets are capable of performing a wide range of combat roles.

In September 2016, India and France signed a 7.87 billion (at Rs. 59,000 crore) Inter-governmental Agreement (IGA) for 36 Refale multi-role fighter jets in “flyaway condition” (prepared for immediate flight). The deal also included a 50% offset clause to be executed by Dassault Aviation in partnership with Indian companies. That is, in exchange for landing the contract for the 36 fighter jets, Dassault has to invest half the value of the deal – about Rs.30,000 crores – in Indian firms. The Reliance Defence Limited has been chosen as the offset partner.

As per the IGA, deliveries were to begin 36 months from signing of the contract and Dassault has almost met the deadline.

 

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Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is set to receive the first of the 3 Rafale fighter jets at a ceremony in Paris on October 8. However, the remaining of the first batch of jets will arrive in India only by April-May 2020. Meanwhile, three batches of eight IAF pilots, along with engineers and technicians, will undergo advanced training on the fighter jets in France.

In September 2016, India inked an inter-governmental agreement (IGA) with France for procurement of 36 Rafale fighter jets at a cost of 7.87-billion (approximately Rs 59,000 crore).

Ever since, questions have been raised about the cost agreed on for the aircraft and the choice of Anil Ambani’s firm, the Reliance Defence Ltd (RDL), as the offset partner, over the experienced Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL).

While the Congress and other opposition parties alleged massive irregularities in the deal, the BJP-led government, which signed the agreement with France in 2016, denied the allegations. And the Supreme Court gave a clean chit to the Union government in December 2018, saying it did not find any wrongdoing in the defence deal.

 

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 Harbhajan Singh became the first Indian to take a Test match hat-trick on March 11, 2001. In what would become a historic victory against Australia at the Eden Gardens, Kolkata, Harbhajan achieved the feat on the first day of the game. Ricky Pointing, Adam Gilchrist and Shane Warne were the victims of Harbhajan’s hat-trick.

Nearly five years after Harbhajan’s hat-trick, Irfan Pathan became the second Indian to take a Test hat-trick. He dismissed Salman Butt, Younis Khan and Mohammad Yousuf in the very first over of the Test match against Pakistan at Karachi, Pakistan starting on January 29, 2006. India, however, lost this game as Pakistan won by 341 runs.

Bumrah became the third Indian and the latest entrant into the hat-trick club in Test cricket when he achieved the feat in the second Test against West Indies at Kingston, Jamaica. On August 31, 2019 – the second day of the Test match – Bumrah accounted for Darren Bravo, Sharmarh Brooks and Roston Chase off consecutive deliveries. India went on to win the match by 257 runs.

Darren Bravo was the first wicket in Bumrah’s hat-trick. Bumrah’s length ball that was swinging away from the left-hander, kissed the high part of the outside edge of the bat. K L Rahul did the rest, completing an easy catch at second slip.

Sharmarh Brooks was the second to be dismissed, given lbw to a length ball that thudded into his pads, swinging in from outside the off stump. It looked plumb, but Brooks chose to use the Decision Review System. It only meant that the Windies lost a review as the umpire’s decision stood.

A full inswinger that got Roston Chase on the toes completed Bumrah’s hat-trick. Even though the umpire was unmoved this time and Bumrah’s wasn’t even keen on reviewing, Virat Kohli immediately signalled for it. As the three reds for pitching, impact and hitting the wickets came on, Chase had no choice but to walk off, lbw.

 

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I study in Class X. I have problems with the setting of my targets. I am not sure what to pursue after Class XII. When my friends talk about what they want to pursue, they all sound confident. But when it comes to me, I can’t tell them quite definitely what my plans are. I’m interested in both English and Biology, and I sometimes think I must pursue my career in something related to English but my parents have asked me to try NEET. What should I do?

It is very natural to have confusions when you have mixed interests. It is good to fix your target and aim to achieve it. You are in Class X and you must first decide the subjects for Class XI. After that, start focusing on whether you want a career in English or to pursue NEET. Before you decide on your career, it is very important to understand your ability, skills, personality and interests. If your confusion is between choosing English or NEET, analyse the pros and cons of a career in both. Talk to your parents with an open mind. You can also go in for a career assessment test to help you in a scientific manner, by meeting a career counsellor with your parents. Now focus on your studies and do well in your Board examinations.

 

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I am a student of Class XI. I have four best friends. Recently, I fought with one of them, and now the other three are not talking to me. More than their silence what’s hurting me is the fact that they’re behaving as if I’ve committed a huge mistake. What should I do?

It is very sad when friends are not able to understand the cause of the fight. Friends form an important part of your life and when something goes wrong in those relationships, it will definitely disturb you. It is good that you want to take steps to resolve the issue. Before you get into it, reflect on what happened and how you feel about it. Ask yourself questions such as “What role did you play in this fight?”, “What do you want to your friend to do?” and “What could you have done differently?” Think rationally. Once you do this, you will be more prepared to resolve. And when you are ready.

• Reach out: Tell your friend you want to talk and work things out.


• Choose the right time: Pick a moment when both of you are ready to talk.


• Be open: Have an open discussion. Share your feelings. Use a mild tone and avoid harsh words.


• Apologise: Each of you can accept your mistakes and let go of what happened.


• Work together: See what you can do to mend the situation.


• Give it time: Be patient and give the situation and the other person time for change, and hope for the best.

 

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I am in Class VIII. My parents are very happy with my ability to grasp any topic. I also seem to be able to learn much more than my classmates do. They all say I am different. But when it comes to examinations, I get irritated at having to answer so many questions that I leave out many questions for which I know the answers. And later, I feel so depressed when I realise that after working so hard, I have achieved nothing. Help me.

It must be very upsetting for you when you know the answers but do not write them during the examinations. From what you’ve said, it’s possible that you’re gifted. Many gifted people have specific issues in academics. Consult a clinical psychologist to help you and assess your IQ. You have to learn to handle your emotions and cope with the situation. If you get the right tips and methods to study, based on your IQ, you will be able to flourish in your endeavours. You have to be smart to achieve your goals. Focus on your strengths and do your best.

 

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I am in Class X. I have a crush on a girl. My friends are aware of this and tease me. Due to this, I hardly talk to her personally, and I’m afraid I’ll leave her. But I don’t want to. Please tell me how I should handle this situation.

Having a crush on someone is very natural at this age. Such attractions could even be temporary. Your friends are probably teasing you for fun. Take it sportively if that girl too is okay with it. Talk to her to understand how she feels about this. Sometimes, when we overreact or are sensitive, the issue becomes larger. Stay cool. Be open with your friends about her. Try to reduce the interactions if you are not able to manage the teasing. Remember, you can always ignore the teasing. Reach out to trusted elders to talk about this. Also understand that you have other priorities in life. Don’t lose your focus on studies and regret it later.

 

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It is said elections are fought on emotions and that they are an art. But running an election campaign is no longer just an art. With stakes getting higher in every election, campaigning has now become a science. From using social media and data mining to behavioural analysis and psychometric profiling, political parties today are leaving no stone unturned to win elections. And it’s the political strategists and consultants, working behind the scenes, who help political parties come up with winning campaigns. Political strategy and consulting firms have mushroomed across the country over the last decade and are in great demand. So if you are interested in politics and have good communication skills, you can consider the field of political strategy.

How it works

Political parties no longer lead campaigns, with strategies formulated by their loyal workers sweating it out in dusty lanes to win over voters. Today, political campaign strategists and managers have a different approach. The strategists offer end-to-end to a politician or a political party, and start work five to six months ahead of the election. They offer data services, which include poll-booth data of each constituency, historical data on how the seat has witnessed a shift in voting patterns as well as on-ground surveys to understand the concerns of the voters (from electricity or minimum support price for grains and jobs to savings, increase in food prices and at best, survival), and then create a campaign and advice the politician and ground workers to implement the same.

Required skills

• Political acumen


• Knowledge of how social media can be best used to boost political campaigns


• Ability to gauge the efficacy of the campaign


• Strong communication skills


• Ability to come up with fresh ideas


• Public relation skills


• Ability to think on one’s feet

Scope

Political strategies and managers work with political strategy firms or as independent consultants. They specialise in different aspects such as press and public relations, polling, opposition research, fundraising, and a wide range of other skills to deal with the crises of a campaign.

Among these, social media has become extremely important. Political social media strategists advice and train politicians on how to interact on social media platforms. The strategists also maintain, the public relations aspect of a political campaign. Responsibilities of a political social media strategist include planning and conceptualising, designing, execution and the promotions of digital campaigns.

What to study?

A Bachelors and Masters degree in Political Science is a requisite. While Indian universities offer these degrees, universities abroad offer specialisations in campaign management.

Where: India

• Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi: Masters of Arts (MA) and Master of Philosophy (M. Phil) in Political Science


• Delhi University: BA (Hons), MA, MPhil and PhD in Political Science.


• Jamia Millia Islamia, Delhi: BA (Hons), MA and PhD in Political Science


• St. Xavier’s College, Mumbai: MA in Public Policy


• University of Hyderabad and Pondicherry university: Five-year integrated MA programmes in Political Science, with an option to exit with a Bachelor’s degree after three years by completing mandated number of credits

Abroad

• London School of Economics and Political Science BSc and MSc Political Science


• Fordham University, the U.S.: MA in Elections and Campaign Management


• University of Bournemouth, the U.K.: MA International Political Communication and MA in Political Psychology


• University of Glasgow, the U.K.: MA (Hons) in Political Science

 

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