Art of asking right questions

The art of asking questions is a skill that makes reformation in society. In everyday life, we are asking questions like Who, Why, What, How etc. Once Albert Einstein said, “Any fool can ask questions, but a genius can ask right questions”.

Why is asking questions so important?

This is another good question. All philosophers, scientists, reformers are successful because they have good questions to solve. They asked questions, they tried to find good answers for their questions. All discoveries, innovations and reformations are made because of questions that usually may not be Why, Who How etc. But there are questions that really need answers.

How can we ask the right questions?

To ask the right question, we need to become good listeners, good readers and we have to analyze the current scenario thoroughly. Ultimately a good listener can make good questions. For any conversation, if we listen properly, we can find the right question to ask. In any kind of scenario, whether it is in the field of science, social, political or in conversation. We should listen, learn, read, analyze the subject well to arrive at the right questions.

Yes. It’s true the right question makes your life better, and it’s the primary need to achieve your goal. Geetha and Madhu, my trainers in science writing, taught me the need of asking why questions, which made a lot of changes in my approach to writing and the way of listening to a scientific problem.

I think, for asking the right question we have to keep reading, listening to a lot to dig up the questions. So, keep asking questions, the right question may lead to success in our life.

Sileesh Mullasseri

Why do plants become masters of epigenetic regulation?

Plants are the primary producers and they give food to all.  Before I talk about epigenetic regulation I have to explain what it is. Epigenetics is the study of heritable phenotype changes that do not involve changes in the nucleotide sequence. But epigenetic modifications change the physical structure of DNA. Epigenetic modifications are functionally relevant changes to the genome, but that does not change in the nucleotide sequence. Generally,  epigenetic modifications are produced by two mechanisms, that are methylation and histone modifications.

Identical twins are the best example of epigenetic regulation even though they share the same DNA. Their experience in their life may induce the expression of some genes and they behave differently,  look differently, because of their modification to the environment. If they are given with the same environment, the modification may occur, which is due to epigenetic regulation that basically does not come from the DNA sequence. And these changes are reversible because they do not change the DNA sequence. 

What are the uses of such modifications?

These modifications are part of the survival of the fittest theory of Darwin.  An organism may face many types of stresses or difficult situations in its environment. Usually, animals may migrate from stress or from its environmental conditions, especially in the case of fast migrating organisms that move away from cold or heat stress. This happens because they are moving organisms. It is the most suitable and very easy process for them. So animals generally do not require a high level of epigenetic modifications.

In plants,  these are the most difficult things that they cannot move or migrate. If any stress occurs what do they do? They have to modify themselves, they have to modify their physiology in order to cope up with the environment.  Yes,  this kind of activity is more common in plants than animals. Most of the epigenetic modifications yet identified in epigenetics are predominantly dealt with or identified in plants.

What are the applications of Epigenetics?

Epigenetics has wonderful applications in the field of medical science. Many diseases can be cured by epigenetic modification or induced epigenetic modification and many types of research are going on these aspects.

In agriculture, epigenetics is the most promising field of science that can be used for modifying the plant's property according to the environment. Climate-smart crops can be developed from the information on epigenetic modifications and more studies into the sector can improve future agriculture because now most crops are affected by climate change. It can be overcome by epigenetics. It's a science that has significant scope in the future.

Sileesh Mullasseri

The Diderot effect

Have you thought about it! If you bought a new car, a brand new one. You may be very happy, but soon you think I have an old car porch to keep my car or my house does not look good, it's not new and never matches with my car…

Then you may think about upgrading your home, your dress, phone and even your shoes to match with the dress. 

Yes, it happens, not only in the case of a car but in any new item you bought. You may feel the desire to upgrade the associated materials. This is a simple example of the materialist psychology of consumerism.

The Diderot effect is a social phenomenon related to consumerism. This concept is based on two fundamental ideas, the first one is material purchased by a consumer aligned with their sense of identity, they will complement one another and purchase will go on. The second one is the introduction of new items or possessions that deviates from their current complementary goods and may lead to spiralling consumption. 

In 1988,  Grant McCracken a Canadian anthropologist and author, coined the name “Diderot effect” he was one of the scholars of consumption patterns and known for his books about culture and commerce.

Where did the name“Diderot effect” come from?

In the 18th century, French philosopher Denis Diderot first described this effect in an essay. In this essay, he tells about the gift of a luxury scarlet dressing gown that eventually plunges him into debt. He was happy with the gift, but later he was dissatisfied with the rest of his old possessions. He replaced almost everything and brought new and luxurious ones. For example, he replaced his old chair with a new Morocco leather chair, his writing-table replaced with an expensive one, and his home was modified. All his money and took out loans to buy new articles for his home. 

This was an extreme case, but there is a tendency in society that people may align their identity with their newly brought materials. And this psychology is a good fuel for capitalism.

In his essay, he says “Regrets on Parting with My Old Dressing Gown”. Here is one more term in McCracken's usage “Diderot unities”, A Diderot unity is a group of objects that are considered to be culturally complementary, in relation to one another.

Image: jobsanger.blogspot.com

Sileesh Mullasseri

Why are Indians born at home ?

In 2005, about 60% of Indians were born at home without proper medical assistance. However, in developed countries, having a human delivery at home is quite strange.

Why is this happening?

Obviously, there's a social stigma attached to receiving welfare in rural poor populations. These kinds of social inhibitions are common phenomena in Indian society. Not only the social stigma but there is a huge gulf between cities and villages in India in terms of infrastructure. Health care infrastructure was poor and not accessible to our poor citizens. 

Later, the Indian government launched many programs, including awareness programs and cash incentives to hospital delivery and it has been reduced to about 20% in 2016-17.

Image: John Svigos, theconversation.com.

Is this only in India?

No, this is a global issue, but mostly seen in undeveloped south Asian countries. A 2017 report says, South Asian countries contribute about 20% of maternal death and about 40 % of global neonatal death. But there may be more than that counted.

According to a recent survey, poor women, uneducated and rural women generally prefer their homes for delivery. The government has to focus on these areas. There should be a targeted approach to hit the specific population to make it into zero non-medical assisted birth. Policymakers can think of making a law that states medical assisted birth is a fundamental right of citizens. Moreover, considering roads, bridges, airports and military establishments as development is an injustice to the poor citizens.

Sileesh Mullasseri

 

Human beings born undeveloped?

Have you ever thought about a human baby, he can’t do anything while other animal babies are born with the most similar efficiency as their adults have or they may take only a few weeks to become efficient? 

Now, you may think about the kitten, a puppy they run a few days after they are born. Most other animals are like this, they run, forage does everything within a few days after their birth. Human babies may take nearly18 months to stand on their legs, even if it is useless to feed on their own. And several years are required to match their abilities with an adult human being. 

Why does this happen, we are born undeveloped? 

Yes, this is a fact. Human development takes more time than other animals. It is more complex than any other living being on the earth. So, many years of gestation are required to produce an efficient human baby, but that may lead to population decrease and species extinction. Can we think of five or 10 years of pregnancy? Usually, that may lead to species extinction. To overcome this evolutionary problem human babies are born undeveloped (an early exit from the womb), further, development takes place after birth.

Why does a human fetus require more time to develop?

This is a more complicated question… If we consider lions, tigers, horses, elephants. These animals developed into their present stage, taking several millions of years of evolution. Over the past several million years, their fetal development has also become faster to cope up with their environment.

But human beings are developed into the present stage within 2.5 million years, this is a very short time considering the development. Moreover, human beings developed as super animals within a short evolutionary period. So, embryonic development is not as fast as human evolution. However, this is becoming faster and most of the human body organs are still under development.

 

What made this early exit from the womb?

According to Noah Harari, a historian at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel. A human being is born undeveloped and this undeveloped birth leads to long years of parental care and support to develop. A human baby needs several years of training, support and education to cope up with their adults. This made a highly developed social system and social abilities. Sapiens developed a high level of social skills due to their unique social problems. Pregnancy, birth and child care are more complex in human beings so social development is necessary for the sustainability of the species. However, human beings faced several inabilities to fight with their fellow animals in their early development and many humans, an ancient human species, are extinct due to their inability. Human beings were insignificant animals before the rise of Homo sapiens.

 

Sileesh Mullasseri 

We are “Human” or “Sapiens”

In 1758, Carolus Linnaeus applied the scientific name Homo sapiens (that means “wise man” in Latin), one of the several species in the genus Homo. The term “Human” refers to organisms under the genus homo.

So, we are not the only “Human”. But there is no claim from any other animals because no other “Humans” are alive now. We are the only species with entirely different uncivilized cousins. Chimpanzees, apes and orangutans are the closest living relatives of Homo sapiens.

For the last 10000 years, we have been the only species under the homo genus.

About 2.5 million years ago, humans (genus Homo) first evolved from an earlier genus of apes, Australopithecus (meaning Southern Ape). You may be remembering Lucy, the 3.2-million-year-old mother of Man.

In 1975, anthropologist Donald Johanson discovered Lucy from the desert of Hadar, Ethiopia. They gave the species name Australopithecus afarensis, and by examining the skeleton she did not come under the Homo genus, she was a member of an earlier genus of homo. So we can’t say she was a “Human”.

However, many human beings who are known to have existed 10000 years ago, are Homo Habilis, Homo Erectus, Homo Neanderthalensis, Homo Denisova, Homo Heidelbergensis, Homo rudolfensis, Homo Tsaichangensis, Homo georgicus, Homo naledi, Homo floresiensis (Homo floresiensis, was believed to be extinct just before10000 years).

Currently, available archaeological and genetic data is supportive of a recent single origin of modern humans in East Africa. However, scenarios are claiming that the interbreeding of Cro-Magnon and Neanderthals led to the Homo sapiens.

According to Yuval Noah Harari, humans refer to all extant members of the genus Homo. I will often use the term “Sapiens” to denote the members of the species Homo sapiens, he says.

Sileesh Mullasseri

Why did we need to read more?

Many people are bored with this activity “reading”. But this is the most important activity in our life. Why it is an important one?

Because everyone wants a good life, what do we need for a good life? All people agree that we need health, wealth and happiness for a good life. We need a mentor to achieve a good life. The mentors should be strong enough to train us, conveying ideas passionately. You know that Chandragupta Maurya had a mentor, Aristotle had a mentor, Bill Gates and Warren buffet also had mentors. So, a good mentor is necessary to build up a good life for you.

According to Thai Lopez, an American film producer from Hollywood, says, unfortunately, good mentors in the world are not living, he named Shakespeare, Mahatma Gandhi, Tolstoy etc.

So, what we can do? We can read books to get good mentors. If you read one book a day it's good enough for you to build up your good life as earliest. Thai Lopez says one book in a week is necessary for building your good life. Because it's not worthy to get a good life in your graveyard it should happen in your early life.

 

Sileesh Mullasseri

COVID 19 Vaccine - Can we mix brands

We are all eagerly looking for COVID 19 vaccination in India, getting vaccinated is a difficult task and all of us like fish out of water. If you get a shot of Covaxine first, you will be waiting for the same for the second dose. 

Are there any issues using Covishield in the second dose?

Vaccines are said to be different because their method of manufacturing is different. Some of them are heat-killing vaccines, protein vector vaseline or mRNA vaccines. However, the basic principle of vaccination is simple: our immune system recognizes the antigen part of the vaccine and builds antibodies, thus working when infected in future.

Moreover, no vaccine residues remain in our body at the time of the second dose, but only immune memory cells remember the antigen. So there will not be any difficulty in using a second dose or booster dose with different vaccines.

Recently good news has come out by Oxford University, they tried the usage and efficacy of mixing of covid vaccines of AstraZeneca and Pfizer with 850 volunteers. Their findings were amazing. No issues were reported while mixing vaccines and mixed dose schedules were also effective, said Matthew Snape of Oxford University.

Some countries are already using mixed doses such as Germany and Spain. Therefore, it's a piece of good news for India, importing or manufacturing different brands will help to curb the vaccine shortage.

Sileesh Mullasseri

Arabian Sea Became Hot - Causes heavy rain?

Solar heat is unequally distributed on the surface of the earth. Ocean transportation plays an important role in transmitting heat towards the higher latitudes from the equator, like atmospheric transportation.

Interestingly, the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea are at the same latitude, but the Bay of Bengal is warmer than the Arabian Sea. Why is the Arabian sea calm and cool?

Yes, the Arabian sea is cool because of the higher level of the ocean and atmospheric transport mediated by strong winds. Strong winds are formed because of the mountains in East Africa, they can transport ocean heat to higher latitudes. But the winds formed in the Bay of Bengal are sluggish, and the bay becomes warmer, thus navigators say the Bay of Bengal is an “Unpredictable lady” and the Arabian sea as “Gentleman”.

Image: qsstudy.com

In recent decades, the Arabian sea has been warmer. So, what happens?

The Arabian Sea has caused intense bursts of monsoons over India in the last two to three years. Last year the northern Arabian sea was up to 2-3 degrees warmer than usual, thus causing several monsoon sprouts over the northwest. Floods and landslides have occurred in recent years in Kerala, also connected with the Arabian sea.

Why does the Arabian sea become hot?

We can blame climate change as a famous bandwagon. Yes, the Arabian sea, failed to transport its heat to higher latitudes, which may be due to decreasing strength of winds that changes oceanic circulation. We can monitor this phenomenon, but what we can do is a question.

Sileesh Mullasseri

  Reply to emails?

An Indian frame of mind

Replying to an email is a matter of dignity, whether your reply is yes or no. Emails are modern tools for communication and collaboration. However, a large population of Indian's hang up to answer queries through emails, whether it is business or personal.

Why are most Indians not sending a reply to an email?

Being a researcher, I have to communicate with many people through emails, mostly related to research. In my experience, I received fast reply mails from other countries. Particularly, Europeans send quick replies, only delay due to time zones. Indians are usually delayed or even not replied to. This is not only in the case of personal mails but also with business emails. I have many experiences with Indian companies that have given info@xy.com but won't reply to emails within a day other than an auto-reply.

I searched the internet to know that the same happens with other people. Yes, it's true, this opinion has been raised by many. Some people opined that Indians are not assertive enough to say NO to anyone even through email. Some funny people say they are busy with Whatsapp and Facebook, not emails.

 The lost gods

Who was the first one?

Who is the first god…It’s a wonderful question. Yes, we are asking many questions such as who is the first president of India, who is the first UN secretary-general etc. I don’t know how many people ask this question. But asking questions is necessary for the development of human society.

About 5500 years back in Mesopotamia, there was a god named Enlil. He is the superior, powerful and creator of the universe at that time. Historical evidence says he was the first one. Later he also became the chief god of Sumerians and was known as Elil. But we don’t know why the people lost their trust in him and his influence was lost at the end of 1500 BC.

Later, about 3500 years back, Marduk became the most powerful god for nearly 1500 years. He was a Babylonian god. Yes, he was the god of the sixth Babylonian king, Hammurabi. However, there are contemporary gods in other regions of the world similar to Enlil and Marduk. Why am I talking about ancient gods? There are many contemporary gods. This is for reminding people that many gods ruled this world. They have lost their power, so the stories will change and new gods may come or even become all extinct. Because changes with space and time apply to gods.