Daily Current Affairs : 20-October-2023
In recent news, a groundbreaking study has shed light on the adaptive strategies of marine microalgae, the foundation of the oceanic food chain and crucial carbon dioxide absorbers, in coping with the challenges posed by global warming.
How Microalgae are Adapting: Harnessing Rhodopsin for Survival
- Rhodopsin: A Surprising Ally in Sunlight: As climate change diminishes nutrient availability in the oceans, microalgae employ a remarkable survival tactic. They activate a protein called rhodopsin, akin to the one responsible for human vision in low light. This light-responsive protein enables microalgae to thrive using sunlight instead of conventional chlorophyll.
Understanding Microbial Rhodopsins: Nature’s Light Capturers
- Rhodopsins in the Ocean: Nature’s Light Absorbers: Microbial rhodopsins emerge as significant light capturers in the ocean, potentially absorbing as much light as chlorophyll-based photosynthesis. This mechanism facilitates energy and food production for microalgae, even in nutrient-scarce environments.
The Need for Adaptation: Impacts of Global Warming on Ocean Nutrients
- Dearth of Nutrients: A Consequence of Warming Oceans: Global warming mirrors drought-like conditions in the ocean. Rising surface temperatures lead to reduced nutrient levels, primarily affecting surface-dwelling microalgae. Limited nutrients hinder their ability to produce food and sequester carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
Key Findings of the Study: Unveiling Rhodopsin’s Role in Microalgae Survival
- Rhodopsin’s Light-Capturing Abilities: Lab Confirmation: Researchers cloned rhodopsins in laboratories, confirming their light-capturing abilities crucial for energy generation. These proteins were found to be concentrated in low latitudes, where nutrient levels are sparse due to limited oceanic mixing, emphasizing their pivotal role in sustaining microalgae.
- Iron Scarcity and Sunlight Harnessing: Microalgae rely on sunlight, demanding substantial iron. However, 35% of the ocean’s surface lacks adequate iron, hindering algae growth. This revelation holds immense relevance for iron-deficient regions, notably the Southern Ocean, a vital ecosystem supporting diverse marine life.
Significance of the Study: Addressing Environmental Challenges and Beyond
- Mitigating Environmental Impact: A Ray of Hope: These findings present a potential solution to mitigate the adverse effects of climate change, offering insights into countering ocean warming and declining crop productivity. Moreover, this mechanism holds promise in biotechnology. Modifying non-light-sensitive microbes, like yeast, to utilize light for growth could revolutionize fields such as insulin production, antibiotics, enzymes, antivirals, and biofuel development.
Important Points:
- Microalgae’s Adaptation Strategy
- In response to global warming, microalgae activate a light-responsive protein called rhodopsin.
- Rhodopsin enables microalgae to thrive using sunlight, replacing traditional chlorophyll in nutrient-scarce oceans.
- Role of Microbial Rhodopsins
- Microbial rhodopsins act as significant light capturers in the ocean.
- They absorb light, potentially equaling chlorophyll-based photosynthesis, supporting microalgae’s energy and food production.
- Impact of Global Warming on Ocean Nutrients
- Global warming reduces nutrient availability in warm surface waters due to decreased oceanic mixing.
- Nutrient scarcity at the surface hampers microalgae’s ability to produce food and capture carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
- Key Study Findings
- Researchers confirmed rhodopsins’ light-capturing abilities in labs, crucial for microalgae’s energy generation.
- Rhodopsins are concentrated in low latitudes with limited nutrient levels, emphasizing their role in sustaining microalgae.
- Challenges Related to Iron Scarcity
- Microalgae need sunlight and substantial iron for growth.
- Approximately 35% of the ocean’s surface lacks sufficient iron, hindering algae growth and impacting ecosystems like the Southern Ocean.
- Significance of the Study
- Findings offer potential solutions to mitigate climate change effects, addressing challenges like ocean warming and declining crop productivity.
- Biotechnological applications involve modifying non-light-sensitive microbes to utilize light for growth, revolutionizing fields such as insulin production, antibiotics, enzymes, antivirals, and biofuel development.
Why In News
In the groundbreaking study, researchers have discovered that microalgae, the foundation of the oceanic food web and crucial carbon dioxide absorbers, employ a distinctive approach to adapt to the challenges of global warming, shedding light on innovative solutions for climate change mitigation.
MCQs about Microalgae’s Rhodopsin Strategy in a Warming World
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What is the primary function of rhodopsin in microalgae in response to global warming?
A. To enhance vision in low light
B. To absorb sunlight and replace chlorophyll
C. To store excess nutrients
D. To regulate water temperature
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Why does global warming impact the nutrient availability for microalgae in the ocean?
A. It increases nutrient levels in warm surface waters
B. It reduces oceanic mixing between surface and deeper waters
C. It decreases sunlight, affecting photosynthesis
D. It promotes the growth of microalgae
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Where are microbial rhodopsins most concentrated, according to the study?
A. High latitudes with abundant nutrients
B. Low latitudes with limited nutrient levels
C. Deep ocean layers with high pressure
D. Coastal regions with pollution
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What potential biotechnological application is mentioned in the essay regarding rhodopsins and other light-sensitive microbes?
A. Enhancing vision in humans
B. Modifying microbes to use light for growth
C. Increasing the shelf life of perishable goods
D. Creating artificial sunlight for indoor farming
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