The 2019 Codex
Questions 91 to 100 (Set A)
In the context of digital technologies for entertainment, consider the following statements:
1. In Augmented Reality (AR), a simulated environment is created and the physical world is completely shut out.
2. In Virtual Reality (VR), images generated from a computer are projected onto real-life objects or surroundings.
3. AR allows individuals to be present in the world and improves the experience using the camera of smart-phone or PC.
4. VR closes the world, and transposes an individual, providing complete immersion experience.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
The Secret Whisper
Official Key: (b) 3 and 4
UPSC played a classic definitional swap trap here. Statements 1 and 2 define the exact opposite of their respective technologies.
Virtual Reality (VR) completely shuts out the physical world and transposes the user into a 100% simulated, fully immersive environment (e.g., Oculus Rift). Therefore, Statement 1 is false (describes VR) and Statement 4 is true.
Augmented Reality (AR) allows the user to still see the real physical world, but "augments" it by overlaying computer-generated digital images on top of it (e.g., Pokémon GO via a smartphone camera). Therefore, Statement 2 is false (describes AR) and Statement 3 is true.
Route: [REALM 484: IT-Enabled Services & Apps]The Dual Lenses
The Missing Link
The word 'Denisovan' is sometimes mentioned in media in reference to
The Secret Whisper
Official Key: (b) an early human species
In 2010, scientists sequencing DNA from a finger bone fragment discovered in the Denisova Cave in Siberia realized they had stumbled upon a previously unknown extinct species of archaic humans. The Denisovans were distinct from both modern humans (Homo sapiens) and Neanderthals, although genetic evidence shows our ancestors coexisted and interbred with them.
Route: [REALM 141: Human & Hominin Evolution]With reference to the recent developments in science, which one of the following statements is not correct?
The Secret Whisper
Official Key: (a)
This question tests the extreme boundaries of current genetic engineering.
- B is True: Scientists have successfully created artificial synthetic DNA (like in the synthetic bacteria 'Synthia').
- C is True: This describes the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), a routine lab technique to replicate/amplify DNA segments in a test tube outside a living cell.
- D is True: This is the basis of plant tissue culture and animal cell culture.
A is False: While we can insert isolated genes from one species into another (Recombinant DNA / Transgenics), creating an entire, stable, massively complex functional chromosome (which contains millions of base pairs, centromeres, and telomeres) simply by blindly joining random DNA segments from entirely different species is scientifically impossible with current technology. The complexity of chromosomal packaging and regulatory mechanisms would cause it to instantly fail.
Route: [REALM 233: Recombinant DNA Process]The Limits of the Code
The Cryptographic Seal
Consider the following statements: A digital signature is
1. an electronic record that identifies the certifying authority issuing it
2. used to serve as a proof of identity of an individual to access information or server on Internet
3. an electronic method of signing an electronic document and ensuring that the original content is unchanged
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
The Secret Whisper
Official Key: (c) 3 only
UPSC is testing the precise legal and technical distinction between a "Digital Signature" and a "Digital Certificate".
Statements 1 and 2 define a Digital Certificate. A digital certificate is like an electronic passport (ID proof) issued by a Certifying Authority (CA). It identifies who you are when accessing a server.
Statement 3 defines a Digital Signature. A digital signature is a cryptographic mathematical technique attached to a specific document. It provides authentication (who signed it) and data integrity (guaranteeing the document has not been altered or tampered with in transit). It is the electronic equivalent of a physical signature and seal on a letter.
Route: [REALM 503: Data Protection & Cyber Infra]In the context of wearable technology, which of the following tasks is/are accomplished by wearable devices?
1. Location identification of a person
2. Sleep monitoring of a person
3. Assisting the hearing impaired person
The Secret Whisper
Official Key: (d) 1, 2 and 3
Wearable technology has rapidly expanded beyond simple pedometers.
1: Smartwatches and fitness trackers are equipped with GPS, allowing real-time location identification.
2: Through accelerometers and heart-rate sensors, wearables meticulously monitor sleep cycles (REM, deep sleep).
3: Modern "hearables" (smart hearing aids) are a rapidly growing segment of wearable tech. They connect via Bluetooth to smartphones, amplify sound, and cancel background noise, profoundly assisting the hearing impaired.
Route: [REALM 496: IoT, Big Data] & [REALM 51: Chemicals in Everyday Life (Tech)]The Bionic Extensions
The Molecular Silencer
'RNA interference (RNAi)' technology has gained popularity in the last few years. Why?
1. It is used in developing gene silencing therapies.
2. It can be used in developing therapies for the treatment of cancer.
3. It can be used to develop hormone replacement therapies.
4. It can be used to produce crop plants that are resistant to viral pathogens.
The Secret Whisper
Official Key: (a) 1, 2 and 4
RNA interference (RNAi) is a biological process where RNA molecules inhibit gene expression or translation, by neutralizing targeted mRNA molecules. Essentially, it acts as a molecular "silencer" that prevents a specific gene from producing a bad protein.
1: True. It is the literal definition of gene silencing therapies.
2: True. By silencing the specific genes that cause tumor cells to proliferate, it is a massive frontier in targeted cancer therapy.
4: True. In agriculture, RNAi is used to engineer crop plants that silence the essential genes of invading viruses or pests (like nematode-resistant tobacco plants mentioned in NCERT).
3: False. Hormone replacement therapy involves *adding* hormones to the body (like insulin for diabetes). RNAi does the exact opposite—it *shuts down* production. It cannot replace missing hormones.
Route: [REALM 241: CRISPR & Gene Therapy]Recently, scientists observed the merger of giant 'blackholes' billions of light-years away from the Earth. What is the significance of this observation?
The Secret Whisper
Official Key: (b) 'Gravitational waves' were detected.
In 2015, the LIGO observatories made history by detecting a "chirp" in the fabric of spacetime. This ripple was caused by the cataclysmic collision and merger of two massive black holes 1.3 billion light-years away. This historic discovery proved Albert Einstein's 1916 general theory of relativity, which predicted the existence of Gravitational Waves (ripples in spacetime caused by some of the most violent and energetic processes in the Universe).
Route: [REALM 119: Gravitational Waves]The Spacetime Ripple
The Unbreakable Shield
Which of the following are the reasons for the occurrence of multi-drug resistance in microbial pathogens in India?
1. Genetic predisposition of some people
2. Taking incorrect doses of antibiotics to cure diseases
3. Using antibiotics in livestock farming
4. Multiple chronic diseases in some people
The Secret Whisper
Official Key: (b) 2 and 3 only
Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) occurs when bacteria/viruses evolve to survive the drugs designed to kill them.
Statements 2 and 3 are True: The primary drivers of AMR globally and in India are the horrific misuse and overuse of antibiotics in human medicine (taking incorrect doses/not finishing the course) and the rampant, unregulated use of antibiotics as growth promoters in the poultry and livestock industries.
Statements 1 and 4 are False: A human being's genetic predisposition or having multiple chronic diseases (like diabetes or heart disease) affects their personal immune system, but it does NOT cause the bacteria itself to evolve and mutate into a superbug.
Route: [REALM 326: Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR)]What is Cas9 protein that is often mentioned in news?
The Secret Whisper
Official Key: (a) A molecular scissors used in targeted gene editing
CRISPR-Cas9 is the most revolutionary genetic engineering tool of the 21st century (winning the 2020 Nobel Prize in Chemistry). CRISPR is a guiding RNA molecule that locates a specific sequence of DNA inside a cell. Once found, it deploys the Cas9 enzyme (protein), which acts as a pair of "molecular scissors" to precisely snip and cut that specific section of the DNA string, allowing scientists to delete, add, or alter genetic material with unprecedented accuracy.
Route: [REALM 241: CRISPR & Gene Therapy]The Molecular Scissor
The Hidden Virus
Which one of the following statements is not correct?
The Secret Whisper
Official Key: (b)
This is a pure factual inversion trap designed to catch you reading too fast.
Statement (b) is NOT correct because it claims Hepatitis B does not have a vaccine. In reality, a highly effective vaccine does exist for Hepatitis B (it is part of India's Universal Immunization Programme). Conversely, there is currently no vaccine for Hepatitis C.
A, C, and D are true facts. Both are blood-borne pathogens transmitted similarly to HIV. Global Hep B/C infections drastically outnumber HIV infections. They are also known as "silent killers" because they can slowly destroy the liver without showing outward symptoms for decades.
Route: [REALM 302: Water, Air & Zoonotic Diseases] & [REALM 320: Immunisation in India]