It is said, that diseases are spreading faster due to globalisation and increased movement of people. Justify the statement taking the example of $\mathrm{H}_5 \mathrm{~N}_1$ virus.
The avian flu (bird flu) is a current and significant issue involving the global environment as well as the health of millions of people around the world. The $\mathrm{H}_5 \mathrm{~N}_1$ virus (influenza-A) occurs mainly in birds, is highly contagious among them and can be deadly.
The major global environmental issue that plays a large role in the advancement of the $\mathrm{H}_5 \mathrm{~N}_1$ avian influenza virus is globalisaiton. i.e., increasing integration of countries.
Through globalisation, the progression of the $\mathrm{H}_5 \mathrm{~N}_1$ avian influenza virus occur through the world at a pace faster than scientists can anticipate, and also technology and research cannot possibly keep up. Globalisation will give the $\mathrm{H}_5 \mathrm{~N}_1$ avian influenza virus an opportunity to travel to various parts of the world without impediment.
Once, it has developed the ability to spread easily from human to human, the major concern becomes the travel of individuals around the world, particularly air travel. Through air travel, an infected individual could infect dozens of people during their movement, those newly infected individuals would in turn, infect dozens more, and so on and so forth.
Explain the concept of the blue revolution.
The term 'Blue Revolution' refers to the remarkable emergence of aquaculture as an important and highly productive agricultural activity.
Aquaculture refers to all forms of active culturing of aquatic animals (including fish) and plants, occuring in marine, brackish or freshwater.
A farmer was facing the problem of low yield from his farm. He was advised to keep a beehive in the vicinity. Why? How would the beehive help in enhancing yield?
Bee keeping or apiculture is an important enterprise of agriculture concerned with the maintenance of hives of honeybees for the commercial production of honey and wax. Bee keeping is a low investment, less problematic and highly profitable cottage industry.
The beehives when kept in the fields of sunflower, Brassica, apple and pear, increase the pollination efficiency of flowering plants and improve the yields.
Life style diseases are increasing alarmingly in India. We are also dealing with large scale malnutrition in the population. Is there any method by which we can address both of these problems together?
To address both these problems biofortification can be done. This area focuses at improving food quality with respect to protein, oil, vitamin, micronutrient and mineral content. The oils need to be rich in omega 3 fatty acids which are good for heart.
Similarly, proteins should have more of lysine and tryptophan (essential amino acids). Many varieties of maize, carrots and spinach have been released which fulfill the above criteria.
How can we improve the success rate of fertilisation during artificial insemination in animal husbandry programmes?
To improve chances of successful production of hybrids many means are used. One such programme is called MOET or Multiple Ovulation Embryo Transfer. During this procedure, a cow is given hormonal treatment so that more than one ovule (6-8 eggs) is produced per cycle.
After mating or artificial insemination, the embryos at 8-32 celled state are transferred to different surrogate mothers. The method has been successfully used for cattle, sheep, buffalo, etc.