Daily Prelims 21st November 2023

1) Project Collaboration Agreement: The Ministry of Ayush and the World Health Organization (WHO) have signed the Traditional and Complementary Medicine ‘Project Collaboration Agreement’.  

• This is the third ‘ Project Collaboration Agreement’ signed by the Ministry of Ayush with WHO.  
• Objective:  
• To standardize Traditional and Complementary Medical Systems.  
• Integrate their quality and safety aspects into the National Health System.  
• Disseminate them at the international level.  
• During the G20 Summit in India, WHO conducted the first Traditional Medicine Global Summit in 2023. 

2) Sea buckthorn: Sea buckthorn fruit from Ladakh has been awarded a Geographical Indication(GI) tag.  

• It is the fourth GI tag In Ladakh, after Apricot (Raktsey Karpo), Pashmina, and Ladakhi Wood Carving.  
• Sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides) is a plant found throughout Europe and Asia.  
• In India, it is found above the tree line in the Himalayan region, generally in dry areas such as the cold deserts of Ladakh and Spiti.  
• The GI tag is regulated by the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act of 1999. 

3) Paramutations: In a new study, researchers have explored how paramutations work.  

• Paramutations are unusual mutations that can protect humans against viruses.  
• Mutation is any change in the sequence of bases in the DNA of a chromosome.  
• A paramutation is a small chemical modification of a chromosomal protein that flips a nearby gene into a silenced state.  
• Active and silenced versions of a paramutated gene share the same DNA sequence but their associated proteins have different modifications 

4) Glyphosate: European Union allows the use of glyphosate for 10 more years.  

• It is a phosphonic acid and odourless white powder.  
• It is the active ingredient in weed-killer (herbicide).  
• Concern: Non-selective nature i.e kill crop and weeds both, Involves health hazards and risk to human beings and animals.  
• India has allowed its restricted use.  
• There are many glyphosate-based formulations registered for use under the Insecticides Act, 1968. 

Places in News: 
1) Dominica (Capital: Roseau): 

• Dominica has announced to create world’s first sperm whale reserve.  
• Political Features:  
• It is an Island country of Lesser Antilles in eastern Caribbean Sea.  
• Lesser Antilles is a long arc of small islands.  
• It lies between the Guadeloupe and Marie-Galante (north) and Martinique (south).  
• Geographical Features:  
• Island is of volcanic formation.  
• It has a number of active volcanoes including fumaroles (volcanic vents).  
• It has Boiling Lake which is the second-largest hot spring lake in world.  
• Highest Point: Mount Morne Diablotins  
• River: Layou