Science and Technology
Context: Scientists from Agharkar Research Institute (ARI), Pune, an autonomous institute of the Department of Science and Technology, have discovered a Ruthenium−Ferrocene Bimetallic agent that shows a highly potent antitumor effect in platinum-resistant cancers.
About Platinum drugs:
- Platinum drugs are chemotherapeutic agents used for treatment of many types of cancers.
- Platinum-based anticancer drugs are- including cisplatin, carboplatin, oxaliplatin, nedaplatin, and lobaplatin.
- Patient can experience any combination of around 40 specific side effects by using it.
About Agharkar Research Institute (ARI):
- The Institute, founded in 1946 as the Maharashtra Association for the Cultivation of Science Research Institute.
- It was renamed in 1992 as the Agharkar Research Institute (ARI) in honour and memory of the Founder Director, the late Professor Dr. Shankar Purushottam Agharkar.
- The ARI is an autonomous research institution fully funded by the Department of science and Technology (DST) government of India, since 1966.
- It operates under the overall umbrella of the Maharashtra Association for the Cultivation of Science (MACS).
- The institute is committed to the promotion of science and technology with emphasis on high standards of research and development activities for the benefit of human kind and the nation.
- The current research activities encompass biological sciences and focus on three broad areas.
- Animal Sciences
- Microbial Sciences
- Plant Sciences
- The ARI is also a main research centre under three All India co-ordinated research projects of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR):Wheat breeding, Soybean breeding and grape breeding.
- An agricultural farm located at Hol, near Baramati, about 80 km from Pune, conducts experiments on crop plants and for multiplication of seed of improved varieties.
Source: The Times of India
Previous Year Question
Q.1) With reference to the carbon nanotubes, consider the following statement :
- They can be used as the carriers of drugs and antigens in the human body.
- They can be made into artificial blood capillaries for an injured part of the human body.
- They can be used in biochemical sensors.
- Carbon nanotubes are biodegradable.
Which of the statements given above are correct ?
- 1 and 2 only
- 2, 3 and 4 only
- 1, 3 and 4 only
- 1, 2, 3 and 4
