Branches of biology Current Affairs, GK & News

Micronutrient formulation from KAU

The Kerala Agriculture University has developed a micronutrient formulation to deal with micronutrient deficiencies among the crops. The Sampoorna KAU Multimix was developed in light of the recent reduction in top soil quality as a consequence of heavy rain and floods over the past two years. the formulation is crop specific and can be used ..

Topics: Agriculture in India • Branches of biology • Edaphology • Krishi Vigyan Kendra • Micronutrient • Natural sciences • Nutrient • Nutrition • Plant nutrition

Kolkata becomes first city to install RT-PCR machines in India

The Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) has installed first of its kind high-end reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) machines in India for quick detection of diseases such as  dengue, tuberculosis and swine flu. The machines will serve as a “third umpire” in situations when medical reports and blood tests reveal contradictory results. Its objective is ..

Topics: Biochemistry • Biotechnology • Branches of biology • Dengue fever • Flu pandemic • Laboratory techniques • Molecular biology • Natural sciences • Polymerase chain reaction • Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction • Swine influenza • Transcription

Arctic Ocean may be invaded by microbes: Study

On 14 Nov, two studies published in the journal Cell found that the diversity of microscopic organisms habiting the Earth’s oceans are the least at the higher latitudes nearer to the poles and increase in a gradient towards the equator. The two studies analysed the diversity of these organisms in samples collected from ocean water ..

Topics: Aquatic ecology • Biodiversity • Biogeography • Biological oceanography • Branches of biology • Marine life • Microorganism • Nature • Oceanography • Population genetics • Sea • Species

2019 edition of World Iodine Deficiency Day (WIDD)

The World Iodine Deficiency Day (WIDD) is observed every year on 21st of October  to raise awareness of iodine deficiency and its devastating effects on brain development. Iodine is an essential micronutrient required for normal thyroid function, growth, and development. Its deficiency is a major cause of preventable mental retardation. In its most severe forms, ..

Topics: Branches of biology • Chemistry • Congenital iodine deficiency syndrome • Intellectual disability • Iodine • Iodine deficiency • Iodine in biology • Iodised salt • Micronutrient • Physical sciences • Thyroid • Thyroid disease

2019 Nobel prize in Physiology or Medicine awarded to William G. Kaelin Jr, Sir Peter J. Ratcliffe and Gregg L. Semenza

The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 2019 was awarded jointly to William G. Kaelin Jr, Sir Peter J. Ratcliffe and Gregg L. Semenza “for their discoveries of how cells sense and adapt to oxygen availability”. The discoveries made by these scientists have fundamental importance for physiology and have paved the way for promising new ..

Topics: Anemia • Biology • Branches of biology • Gregg L. Semenza • Karolinska Institute • Lasker Award • Massry Prize • Medicine • Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine • Physiology