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Researchers have described a new bacterial species, Microbacterium pollutisoli, from soil at a hexachlorocyclohexane dumpsite in Uttar Pradesh.
The name combines the Latin words 'pollutus' (contaminated) and 'solum' (soil), meaning the Microbacterium of polluted soil.
It forms shiny, yellow circular colonies, is short rod-shaped, and grows between 12°C and 46°C in highly alkaline conditions.
Its genome carries biosynthetic gene clusters capable of producing carotenoids, ectoine and beta-lactones.
Hexachlorocyclohexane is a banned organochlorine pesticide whose dumpsites remain a long-term soil contamination problem.
A biosynthetic gene cluster is a group of genes sitting together on an organism's genome that jointly encode the machinery to make a particular compound. In Microbacterium pollutisoli, the clusters identified point to three product classes: carotenoids, the natural pigments used in vitamins and supplements; ectoine, a protective compound that shields cells from environmental stress such as high salt or temperature; and beta-lactones, a chemical class studied for antibacterial and anti-cancer activity. Finding such clusters in an organism that survives in toxic, alkaline soil is significant because extreme habitats tend to select for unusual protective chemistry.
Simple Analogy: A biosynthetic gene cluster works like a recipe card filed in the genome — all the instructions for one dish kept together in one place rather than scattered through the book.
GS Paper 3 > Science and Technology — biotechnology; Environment — pollution and remediation
General Awareness > Science and environment in news
General Awareness > Science and technology
With reference to Neem tree, consider the following statements: 1. Neem oil can be used as a pesticide to control the proliferation of some species of insects and mites. 2. Neem seeds are used in the manufacture of biofuels and hospital detergents. 3. Neem oil has applications in pharmaceutical industry. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Answer: 1, 2 and 3
In the context of solving pollution problems, what is/are the advantage/advantages of bioremediation technique? 1. It is a technique for cleaning up pollution by enhancing the same biodegradation process that occurs in nature. 2. Any contaminant with heavy metals such as cadmium and lead can be readily and completely treated by bioremediation using microorganisms. 3. Genetic engineering can be used to create microorganisms specifically designed for bioremediation. Select the correct answer using the code given below:
Answer: 1 and 3 only
The use of living organisms, usually microbes or plants, to degrade or remove pollutants from soil, water or air.
A persistent organochlorine pesticide, now banned or restricted, whose manufacturing waste contaminates dumpsites for decades.
A protective compound produced by some microbes that shields cells from environmental stress such as high salinity or temperature.
Natural pigments, often yellow to red, used commercially in vitamins and food colouring; they give the species its yellow colonies.