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National Health Programs & Campaigns

Awareness & Prevention Campaigns

• Red Ribbon Express: A train used as a mobile medium for creating awareness about AIDS.
• Avahan: An initiative of The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation in India, engaged in the prevention of HIV/AIDS.
• SANRAKSHA: This is not a project related to Malaria, AIDS, or T.B. based in Bengaluru or New Delhi.

Immunization Drives

• Mission Indradhanush: A government mission aimed at the immunization of children against seven vaccine-preventable diseases.

Historical Launch Years of Health Programs

• Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS): 1975
• National Programme for Control of Blindness: 1976
• National Leprosy Eradication Programme: 1983
• National Rural Health Mission (NRHM): 2005

Health Surveys & Organizations

• NACO (National AIDS Control Organization): A government organization dealing with AIDS.
• National Family Health Survey (NFHS)-5: This survey does not include data on the registration of death.

Biochemistry & Human Health

Cholesterol

• Cholesterol is a fatty alcohol found in animal fats.
• Biochemically, cholesterol is classified as a steroid.
• An abnormal level of cholesterol is primarily related to the blockage of arteries.
• Trans fat is considered bad for health because it lowers the level of HDL (the “good” cholesterol).

Fats & Oils

• Doctors recommend cooking with oil over vanaspati ghee because oil contains unsaturated fats, which are healthier.
• Sunflower oil is considered suitable for heart patients.
• A common adulterant mixed with mustard oil seeds is argemone (prickly poppy) seeds.

Minerals & Elements in the Body

• Iodine:
  • Abundantly available in the sea and administered to prevent deficiency diseases like goiter.
  • Obtained from seaweeds like Laminaria.
• Chlorophyll, the green pigment in plants, contains Magnesium.
• Haemoglobin, the oxygen-carrying pigment in blood, contains Iron.
• Table salt (Sodium Chloride) contains Sodium.
• Washing soda (Sodium Carbonate) contains Sodium, not Potassium.

Common Acids & Compounds

• Vinegar contains Acetic Acid.
• The souring of milk results in the production of Lactic Acid.
• Bones contain a compound called Calcium Phosphate.
• Gastric juices in the stomach contain Hydrochloric Acid.
• The ripening of fruits is associated with the gas ethylene.

Environmental Science

Pollution and Health Hazards

• Skin cancer is linked to Ultraviolet (UV) Rays.
• Noise pollution is measured in units called Decibels.
• Global warming is primarily caused by an increase in Carbon dioxide.
• The Ozone hole is linked to chemicals called Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs).

Environmental Concepts

• Biomagnification: The increasing concentration of pesticides (or toxins) in the organisms of successive trophic levels in a food chain.
• An estuary is an area where a freshwater river meets the ocean. Excessive growth of pigmented dinoflagellates in estuaries is called a red tide.

Geology & Dating Techniques

• The ‘erosional cycle’ (geomorphic cycle) was propounded by Davis.
• The age of the most ancient mountain groups is assessed by the Uranium-Lead dating process.
• Carbon dating (C14) is primarily used to determine the age of organic materials like fossils and plants, not rocks.

Microbiology and Industrial Applications

Microorganisms and Their Uses

• Lactobacillus: Used in the preparation of curd.
• Rhizobium: A bacterium known for nitrogen fixation in plants.
• Yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae):
  • Used for alcohol (ethanol) production.
  • Used in the fermentation of toddy and wine.
• Aspergillus: A fungus used in the formation of citric acid.
• A group of archaebacteria is used in the production of methane (biogas).
• Bacteria were discovered by Leeuwenhoek.
• The difference between Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria is due to their cell wall structure.

Industrial Microbiology

• The most widely used microorganisms in industries are Bacteria and Fungi.
• Saccharomyces cerevisiae is the specific yeast used for the commercial production of ethanol.

Agriculture and Botany

Weeds and Herbicides

• Orobanche is a parasitic weed commonly found in tobacco fields.
• Herbicides can destroy weeds without harming useful crops because they are absorbed at different rates by different plant species.

Botanical Resources & Growth

• Information about local flora (plants) can be obtained from a Herbarium.
• An Auxanometer is used to measure the rate of growth in plants.
• The age of a tree can be determined by counting the number of annular rings in its trunk.

Controlled Environment Agriculture

• Phytotron: A facility to grow plants under controlled conditions (temperature, light, humidity).
• Polyhouse: A structure for growing plants in a protected environment.

The Green Revolution

• Associated with high production of Food grains.
• Relied on high-yielding advanced seeds that require more fertilizer and more water.
• The principal plant used in India’s Green Revolution was Mexican Wheat.
• Dwarf varieties of crops were key; the first dwarf rice variety developed in India was Ratna.
• The ‘Dapog’ method of rice nursery cultivation was developed in the Philippines.

Plant Physiology

• In plants, the leaves receive the stimulus for flowering.
• A growth hormone called TIVA can reduce flower droppings in pulses to enhance production.
• Mycorrhiza is a symbiotic association between fungi and plant roots that helps plants:
  • Resist drought and increase nutrient absorption.
  • Tolerate extreme soil pH.
  • Resist disease infestation.
• Spirogyra and Ulothrix are primarily freshwater algae (the statement that they are found in oceans is false).

Botanical Analogies

• Fruit develops from the Ovary.
• Seed develops from the Ovule.
• Wood comes from the Stem.
• Starch is stored in various parts, including Leaves.
• The largest flower in the world is the Rafflesia.

Important Days and Observances

Health-Related Days

• World AIDS Day: December 1
• World T.B. (Tuberculosis) Day: March 24
• Anti-Leprosy Day: January 30
• International Ozone Day: September 16
• World Cancer Day: February 4
• Diabetes Day: November 14
• World Alzheimer’s Day: September 21

Other Observances

• World Environment Day: June 5
• Teachers’ Day (India): September 5
• World Food Day: October 16
• International Women’s Day: March 8
• World Water Day: March 22
• World Minority Rights Day: December 18
• World Animal Day: October 4

Events

• The world’s largest session on HIV/AIDS in July 2004 was organized in Bangkok.

Animals and Wildlife

Animal Facts

• The Cuckoo is a bird known for not making its own nest.
• A Lizard is an animal that can shake off its tail.
• The Blue Whale is the largest living creature.
• The Chimpanzee is considered the most intelligent animal.
• In camels, the hump is used for the storage of fat, not water.
• Unlike cows and goats, pigs cannot digest fibers properly.
• A chameleon can look ahead with one eye and behind with the other simultaneously.
• The Liver Fluke, a parasitic flatworm, lives in the bile duct of sheep.

Endangered and Extinct Species

• Endangered species in India: Both the Crocodile and the Elephant.
• Extinct species in India: The Cheetah is India’s large wild cat that has recently become extinct in the country.

Sixth Mass Extinction

• Refers to the current era of biodiversity loss caused primarily by human activities.
• Causes include over-exploitation of resources, habitat loss, ecosystem destruction, pollution, and global climate change.

Animal Products & Biological Control

• Angora wool is obtained from a rabbit.
• Gambusia fish is an insectivorous fish used for mosquito control.

Medical Diagnostic Tools and Techniques

Diagnostic Instruments

• Endoscope: Used to diagnose diseases of the inner parts of the human body; a narrow telescope for visual examination.
• Barium Meal: Barium is administered before an X-ray of the stomach because it is a good absorber of X-rays, creating a clear contrast.

Diagnostic Tests and Their Recordings

• EEG (Electroencephalogram): Records the electrical activity of the Brain.
• ECG (Electrocardiogram): Records the activity of the Heart.
• EMG (Electromyogram): Records the activity of Muscles.
• EOG (Electrooculogram): Records the activity of the Eyes.
• Audiogram: A test related to the Ear (hearing).
• Mammogram: An X-ray image of the Breast.

Advanced Imaging

• CT Scan (Computed Tomography): Uses X-rays to visualize the internal structure.
• MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging):
  • Full form: Magnetic Resonance Imaging.
  • Based on the phenomenon of Nuclear Magnetic Resonance.
  • It uses a magnetic field and radio waves, but does not use X-rays or Gamma rays.

Other Diagnostic Tests

• BMD Test (Bone Mineral Density Test): Used for the diagnosis of Osteoporosis.

Medical Science & Treatments

Transplants & Cardiac Procedures

• Eye Donation: Only the Cornea of the donor’s eye is utilized.
• The world’s first human heart transplant was performed by Dr. Christian Bernard in South Africa.
• Jarvik-7 is the name of an artificial heart.
• A pacemaker is a medical device that regulates the heartbeat.
• The natural ‘Pace Maker’ in the human heart is the S.A. Node (Sinoatrial Node).

Physiology and Body Functions

• Muscle fatigue is caused by the accumulation of Lactic acid.
• During dehydration, the body loses Sodium chloride (salt). A dehydrated person should not drink seawater or alcohol.
• A blood alcohol concentration of approximately 0.5% can cause death.
• Sweat evaporation is an endothermic process that cools the body; high humidity feels unpleasant because it hinders this evaporation.
• Normally, the pitch of a female’s voice is higher than that of a male.

Medical Specialists

• Cardiologist: Heart
• Nephrologist: Kidneys
• Urologist: Urinary tract
• Oculist: Eye
• Neurologist: Nervous System

Drugs & Treatments

• Anesthesia: Nitrous oxide is used as a mild anesthetic.
• Performance-Enhancing Substances (banned): Human Growth Hormone, Testosterone, and Erythropoietin. Colostrum is not banned.
• Contraception: Saheli is a nonsteroidal contraceptive pill developed by the Central Drug Research Institute (CDRI), Lucknow.
• Fetal Monitoring: Ultrasonics is the technique used.
• Lithotripsy: A medical procedure for the breaking of kidney stones through shock waves.
• Electron Beam Therapy: A kind of radiation therapy used to treat certain types of cancer.
• Biojector: A painless, needleless injector.

Medical Conditions

• Tetraplegia: Paralysis of both hands and both legs.
• Carcinoma: A term related to cancer.
• Bulimia: An eating disorder.
• Thalassemia: A disease caused by a defective gene.

Scientific Terminology & Discoveries

Genetic & Medical Terms

• Genetic Engineering: Involves gene splicing and recombinant DNA technology.
• Amniocentesis: A diagnostic test to detect genetic disorders in an unborn child.
• Biodegradation: A process where living organisms break down complex matter into simpler constituents.
• Biomass: The term “An inbuilt timekeeping system in all organisms” is not a correct definition for biomass (this is the definition for the biological clock).
• Transgenics: The science of altering genomes.
• Surrogacy: Referred to as “womb-renting.”
• Anthrax is a toxin used in biowarfare.

Scientists and Their Discoveries

• Temin and Baltimore: Discovered reverse transcriptase.
• Arber and Smith: Discovered restriction endonucleases.
• Kary Mullis: Discovered the polymerase chain reaction (PCR).
• Francis Collins: Led the project for mapping the human genome.
• Jonas Salk: Discovered the polio vaccine.
• Robert Webster: Known for work on the influenza virus.
• Jagadish Chandra Bose: Discovered that plants have life.
• Ivan Pavlov: Famous in Experimental Psychology.
• Karl von Frisch (K.V. Frisch): Nobel Prize for deciphering the language of bees.
• Linus Carl Pauling: Renowned scientist known for his molecular view of the world and for advocating the benefits of Vitamin C.
• Sergey Brin: Co-founded the Google Search Engine.
• Jimmy Wales: Co-founded Wikipedia.

Biology & Chemistry Terms

• Bioluminescence: The phenomenon where marine animals and insects emit light.
• Active acquired immunity: The result of the production of antibodies by the body’s own immune system.
• Caoutchouc: The source substance for rubber.
• Eugenol: The aromatic oil found in clove.
• Antifreeze compound: Ethylene glycol.
• Antiknock agent: Tetraethyl lead.
• Antioxidant: B-Carotene.
• Quinine is an antimalarial drug, not an antibiotic.

Biochemistry & Body Functions

Proteins & Biomolecules

• Keratin: A protein that makes up silk fiber, hairs, nails, and claws.
• Myoglobin: A protein found in muscle cells, involved in oxygen storage.
• Haemoglobin: A protein responsible for oxygen transport in the blood.
• Insulin: A hormone secreted by the pancreas.
• Atropine: An alkaloid used as a tranquilizer.
• Cholesterol: A substance present in egg yolk.
• Cotton is a plant fiber and is not a protein.

Classification of Compounds

• Saccharin: An artificial sweetener (not a carbohydrate).
• Adrenaline: A hormone.
• Thiamine: A vitamin (Vitamin B1).
• Testosterone: A hormone.
• Codeine: A sedative drug.

Metabolism & Cell Biology

• The three major aspects of metabolism in living beings are nutrition, respiration, and synthesis.
• Cellular Processes and Organelles:
  • Photosynthesis: Chloroplast
  • Mineral uptake: Plasma Membrane
  • Respiration: Mitochondria
  • Protein synthesis: Ribosomes
  • Control center of the cell: Nucleus

Materials & Fibers

Synthetic & Artificial Materials

• Rayon is another name for artificial silk (it is a synthetic fiber, not modified starch).
• Neoprene is a specialized rubber.
• Aspartame is a synthetic sweetener.
• Rubber is a natural polymer.
• Fullerene is an allotrope of carbon.
• Natural Rubber is Poly-isoprene.

Plant Fibers

• Sunn hemp is a plant fiber obtained from the stem.

Other Substances

• Cryolite is an ore of Aluminium.
• Phenolphthalein is not an antiseptic; it is an acid-base indicator.
• Silica gel pouches absorb moisture.
• A stimulant (e.g., nicotine in cigarettes) increases activity in the body.

Indian Research Institutes & Locations

Biotechnology & Medical Research

• Centre for DNA Fingerprinting and Diagnostics (CDFD): Hyderabad
• National Institute of Immunology (NII): New Delhi
• National Institute of Virology: Pune
• Institute of Microbial Technology (IMTECH): Chandigarh
• First Dental College in India: Calcutta (Kolkata)
• Central Drug Research Institute (CDRI): Lucknow
• National Institute for the Mentally Handicapped: Hyderabad
• Central Leprosy Institute: Agara
• High-Security Animal Disease Laboratory (HSADL): Bhopal

Plant & Agricultural Research

• Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (CIMAP): Lucknow
• National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources (NBPGR): New Delhi
• NBRI (National Botanical Research Institute): Lucknow
• Central Agmark Laboratory: Nagpur
• Indian Veterinary Research Institute (IVRI): Bareilly
• ICAR’s Central Institute for Research on Goats: Makhdoom, Mathura

General Science & Technology

• NPL (National Physical Laboratory): New Delhi
• IISc (Indian Institute of Science): Bangalore
• Central Electrochemical Research Institute (CECRI): Karaikudi, Tamil Nadu
• Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB): Hyderabad
• Central Salt Research Institute: Bhavnagar
• Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany (BSIP): Lucknow (non-CSIR institute)
• Survey of India: Under the Ministry of Science and Technology; Headquarters in Dehradun.
• Motilal Nehru National Institute of Technology: Allahabad (Prayagraj)
• Indian Institute of Sugar Technology: Kanpur

Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Science

Cattle Breeds & Management

• High-Yielding Cow Breed: Holstein is a high milk-yielding variety.
• Bull Semen Storage: For artificial insemination, stored in Liquid Nitrogen.
• Rashtriya Gokul Mission: Aimed at protecting the indigenous breeds of cows.

Poultry

• Kadaknath is a breed of fowl (poultry).

Entomology (Study of Insects) – Honey Bees

• Bees are potentially useful in the detection of landmines.
• The average speed of a bee is about 16 km/h.
• Members of a honey-bee hive recognize each other by smell.
• The Nobel Prize for deciphering the language of bees was awarded to Karl von Frisch.

Awards, Personalities & General Knowledge

Awards

• Shanti Swaroop Bhatnagar Prize: Given for outstanding contributions to Science.

Personalities

• Dr. Promod Kaur Sethi: Known for the Jaipur Foot (a prosthetic foot).

Hobbies & Terms

• A philatelist is a person who collects stamps.
• In Latin America, a person of mixed European and Indian blood is called a Mestizo.

Science & Technology Policy & Global Facts

Policy Objectives

• The objectives of India’s New Science and Technology Policy (2003) include:
  • Optimal utilization of existing resources.
  • Development of innovative technologies.
  • Management of intellectual property.
  • Developing systems for natural hazard mitigation.

International Organizations & Headquarters

• FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization): Rome
• WHO (World Health Organization): Geneva

Unique Establishments

• The world’s first camel hospital is located in Dubai.
• India’s first dinosaurium was opened in Hyderabad.

Astrobiology & Systems Theory

• Mars is considered a planet that may be suitable for the existence of life.
• The development of natural systems is described as a self-sustained process.

Public Health Policy

• Bhutan was the first country to impose a ban on the sale of tobacco and its products.

Cognitive Science

• Semantic Memory: Knowledge gained from school, such as facts and general knowledge.
• Thinking: The mental activity that goes on in the brain when a person is processing information.

Food Science

• In cold storage, the decomposition of fruits and vegetables gets retarded (slows down); it does not stop permanently.

Know More About Biology – Miscellaneous Topics:

• Biology – Miscellaneous Topics – Old Year Questions
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