Unhealthy Indian society and it's implications

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 Health of Society is equally important as that of an individual. But outdated cultures and negative mindsets of people can affect the society's health and cause it to deteriorate. Take for instance, the love and worship of a male child in Indian society worldwide. This has not changed over the years despite laws being laid for gender equality under British colonial rule as well as self-rule.  Love and worship of male children In the regressive Indian culture, male child is valued while female children and women are just taken as a symbol of sex and reproduction. Despite women of today pursuing higher education and taking up important roles in the society and workforce, nothing substantial has changed for them at the home front.  Read here: How human milk banks in India are exploiting women in the name of nobility? Besides, such independent women in India are a minimum and cannot put forth their points assertively. And at home, they still continue to follow culture laid g...
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Galapagos islands giant tortoises and the bacterial resistance in them!!!

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 Worldwide antibiotic resistance has shown a tremendous surge. The covid pandemic has led to more of this due to irrational use of antibiotics for this new and unknown viral disease. At the same time, scientists have found that it is spreading also to wildlife. The Galapagos tortoises who are in close contact with human settlements on the islands have also demonstrated a rise in antibiotics resistant bacteria in their body. 

The study on Galapagos tortoises

Researchers attached to Charles Darwin Foundation (CDF), the Saint Louis Zoo Institute for Conservation Medicine (ICM), the Animal Health Research Center (INIA-CISA), the Complutense University, and the European University of Madrid, with the staff from the Galapagos National Park Directorate (GNPD) conducted a study on the giant tortoises of the Galapagos islands. It was part of the Galapagos Tortoise Movement Ecology Program (GTMEP). 

They analyzed fecal samples of 270 tortoises from the famous islands. They were basically looking for 21 genes that are commonly associated with bacterial resistance in humans and animals (including farm animals on growth promoting antibiotics) to 8 commonly used antibiotics. 

The findings of the study

It revealed that tortoises who are close to human settlements and activities harbor more number of resistant bacteria in comparison to those that are in remote places like Alcedo Volcano on Isabela Island. 

The tortoises on Galapagos islands are a vital part of the ecosystem. They are gardeners and engineers of the ecosystem since they help disperse seeds and also has a role to play in its modification. They are also affected due to human population around them, indiscriminate use of antibiotics in farm animals and in veterinary medicine and also due to climate change. 

Giant tortoises of the Galapagos islands (Source: YouTube) 

It is not all bad news!!! 

All is not lost. The study tells that though the tortoises near humans and animals have larger number of bacteria with antibiotic resistance on them, but the amount is still in quantities lesser than those found elsewhere such as in intensive medical setups. Things could be brought under control there by awareness and education of people involved. It is all still in a reversible state. 

Immune age determination and its usefulness 

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