CIRB became India's second center to produce a cloned buffalo

On 10 January 2016, scientists at Central Institute for Research on Buffaloes (CIRB) in Hisar claimed to have successfully produces a cloned buffalo offspring Cirb Gaurav. CIRB Director Dr. Inderjeet Singh stated that the scientists achieved the success on 11 December 2015. The scientists achieved the feat under the project titled, Cloning for conservation and multiplication of superior buffalo germplasm. With this achievement, CIRB became world’s third and India’s second institute to produce cloned buffalo.

About cloned buffalo calf Cirb Gaurav:

Ø  This cloned buffalo calf is distinct from the earlier clones produced in India.

Ø  The clone is produced from cells of ventral side of tail of superior bull buffalo. The cebtral side of tail is least exposed to sunlight and may have less mutation rate and can be good choice for isolation of donor cells to produce healthy clones.

Ø  The newborn cloned calf is maintaining good health and showing normal activities.

National Dairy Research Institute in Karnal was the first institute to produce a cloned calf in India.

PSLV-C31 successfully launched IRNSS-1E satellite

On 20 January 2016, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully launched the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS) 1-E satellite. The satellite will provide navigation, tracking and mapping services to the Indian sub continents. The satellite is the fifth of the IRNSS constellation. It was launched from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SHAR), Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh on-board the PSLV-C31. The Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle PSLV-C31 was the 32^nd consecutively successful mission of the PSLV. The ‘XL’ configuration of PSLV was used for this mission.

Features of IRNSS-1E:

Ø  IRNSS-1E, weighing 1425kg, is the fifth of the seven satellites constituting the IRNSS.

Ø  IRNSS-1A, 1B, 1C and 1D, the first four satellites of the constellation, were successfully launched by PSLV in July 2013, April 2014, October 2014 and March 2015 respectively.

Ø  IRNSS-1E carries two types of payloads – navigation payload and ranging payload.

Ø  The navigation payload of IRNSS-1E will transmit navigation service signal to the users. This payload will be operating in L5-band and S-band.

Ø  A highly accurate Rubidium atomic clock is part of the navigation payload of the satellite.

Ø  The ranging payload of IRNSS-1E consist of a C-band transponder which facilitates accurate determination of the range of the satellite.