ENGLISH - B. TECH - HARAGOVINDA KHORANA

 

Hargobind Khorana

SUMMARY

Hargobind Khorana was born on January 9^th 1922 in a Hindu family in a little village called Raipur in Punjab in British India. His father was determined to educate his children. Hargobind studied at the Punjab University in Lahore and obtained a M.Sc. degree.

Khorana lived in India until 1945. Government India awarded Fellowship which had thrown an opportunity for him to go to England. He studied for a Ph.D. degree at the University of Liverpool. He stayed in Cambridge from 1950 till 1952. He began research on nucleic acids at the University of Cambridge. His interest in both proteins and nucleic acids got strengthened at that time.

Hargobind held fellowships and professorships in Switzerland at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology and the Universities of British Columbia and Wisconsin. In the 1960s Khorana corroborated that the way the four different types of nucleotides are arranged on the spiral “staircase” of the DNA molecule determines the chemical composition and function of a new cell.

Khorana shared the Nobel Prize in Physiology and Medicine in 1968 with Marshall W. Nierenberg and Robert W. Holley for research that helped to show how the genetic components of the cell nucleus control the synthesis of proteins. Nirenberg and Khorana cracked the genetic code and Holley sequenced and deduced the structure of the first RNA molecule. Khorana made a contribution to genetics in 1970. In 1976 Khorana lead the team that first synthesized a biologically active gene.

Dr. Khorana’s invention of oligonucleotides has become indispensable tools in biotechnology. Khorana is a person with an extraordinary sense of perseverance and uncommon vision.

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS

1. What kind of a job did Khorana’s father hold ?

Khorana’s father was a parwari, a village agricultural taxation clerk in the British Indian system of government.

2. What was his attitude to his children’s education ?

Although the family was poor, Khorana’s afther was determined to educate his children and they were actually the only literate family in their village inhabited by about 100 people.

3. How did the government of India help Hargobind in his studies ?

Government of India awarded a Fellowship and threw an opportunity to go to England.

4. Where and what did Hargobind study after he obtained a fellowship ?

Hargobind studied Ph.D. Degree at the University of Liverpool in England.

5. What was the role of Dr.Gordon M.Shrum of British Columbia in Khorana’s career ?

Dr.Godrdan M.Shrum of British Columbia offered Khorana a job. There was a great amount of freedom to do whatever the particular researcher liked to do.

6. Who are the other two significant people Khorana met in Vancouver ?

The other two significant people Khorana met in Vancouver were Dr. Jack Campbell and Dr.Gordon M. Tener.

7. What did Khorana achieve in the early 1960’s ?

In the 1960s Khorana corroborated that the way the four different types of nucleotides are arranged on the spiral “staircase” of the DNA molecule determines the chemical composition and function of a new cell.

8. Who did Khorana share the 1968 Nobel prize in Physiology/Medicine with and with what was their work concerned ?

Khorana shared the Nobel Prize in Physiology and Medicine in 1968 with Marshall W. Nierenberg and Robert W. Holley for their interpretation of the genetic code and its function in protein synthesis.

9. What were Khorana’s achievements during the 1970’s ?

Khorana made a contribution to genetics in 1970, when he and his research team were able to synthesize the first artificial copy of yeast gene.

10. What kind of a role did Khorana’s wife Esther Elizabeth Sibler play in his career ?

Khorana’s wife Esther Elizabeth Sibler greatly strengthened his sense of purpose. This is especially true in his life during the time when, after six years’ absence from the country of his birth, Khorana felt out of place everywhere and at home nowhere.

Bits :

1. Hargobind Khorana was borin on January 9^th,1922 in a little village called Raipur in Punjab in British India
2. Khorana’s father was a Patwari – a village agricultural taxation clerk
3. Hargogind Khorana studied at D.A.V High School in Multan (now in Pakistan)
4. Khorana studied at Punjab University in Lahore and obtained M.Sc. degree
5. Hargobind was influenced by Ratan Lal and Mr. Mahan Singh at School and University respectively.
6. Government of Indian Fellowship threw Khorana an opportunity to go to England
7. Khorana Studied Ph.D at the University of Liverpool
8. Khorana spent a year (1948-1949) at the Eidgenossische Technische Hoschschule in Zurich with Professor Vladimit Prelog
9. Khorana obtained a fellowship in England to work with Dr.G. W. Kenner and Professor A.R.Todd
10. At the University of Cambridge, Khorana began research on nucleic acids under Sir Alexander Todd
11. Hargobind was offered a job in 1952 by Dr. Gordon M. Shrum of British Columbia at Vancouver
12. Hargobind held fellowships and professorships in Switzerland at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology and Universities of British Columbia and Wisconsin
13. In 1960 Khorana joined the Institute for Enzyme Research at the University of Wisconsin
14. Khorana shared the Nobel Prize in Physiology and Medicine in 1968 with Marshall W.Nirenberg and Robert W. Holley
15. The research which brought the Nobel Prize was their interpretation of the genetic code and its function in protein synthesis.
16. Khorana’s role was to design the methods that led to the synthesis of well-defined acids, ultimately leading to the solution of the genetic code
17. Nirenberg and Khorana cracked the genetic code and Holley sequenced and deduced the structure of the first RNA molecule
18. Marshall Nirenberg 1927 was born in New York City.
19. Nirenberg passed out from the University of Florida with Bachelor of Science degree
20. Nirenberg acquired a Master’s degree in Zoology from University of Florida
21. Nirenberg completed his Ph.D at University of Michigan in 1957 on sugar transport in tumor cells
22. Khorana made his contribution to genetics in 1970, when he and his team were able to synthesize the first artificial copy of a yeast gene
23. Khorana joined the faculty of the Massachusetts Institutes of Technology as Alfred P. Solan Professor of Biology and Chemistry in 1971
24. Khorana subsequently became a naturalized citizen of the United States
25. Hargobind Khorana married in 1952 to Esthre Elizabeth Sibler of Swiss origin
26. Julia Elizabeth (May 4^th 1953) Emily Anne (October 18^th 1954) and Dave Roy (July 26^th 1958) were the children of Khorana
27. Dr. Khorana was also the pioneering scientist to synthesize oligonucleotides, that is, strings of nucleotides
28. Dr. Khorana’s invention of oligonucleotides has become indispensable tools in biotechnology

29 . Khorana currently lives in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United states serving as MIT’s Alfred P. Solan Professor of Biology and Chemistry, Emeritus

Page No. 96

Write as many synonyms as you can for the following words

Emaciated       = thin, wasted, withered, shrunken, gaunt, pinched

Astonishment =  surprise, amazement, wonder, shock, bewilderment,

Howl               = wail, cry, yowl, scream, whine, shriek, moan, holler

Grope              = fumble, feel, finger, flounder

Intelligent        = clever, bright, gifted, brainy, smart, scholarly

Facilities          = amenities, arrangements

Devoted          = dedicated, committed

Loyal               = faithful, trustworthy

Finding                        = trace out, invent, discover,

Determine       = take decision,

Specific                       = particular, selected, variety

Transmitted     = passed, sent, broadcast,

Start                = begin, commence, initiate

Components    = constituents, parts, contents

Synthesis         = compounding, joining, uniting, integration, amalgamating, building a whole

Design                         = form, give shape, carve

Ultimately       = in the end, at last, finally,

Provide            = facilitate, give, offer, empower

Pioneer                        = forerunner, 

Corroborated   = proved, established, validate, support, authenticate

Spiral               = coiled, helical, scrolled, screw-shaped

Feasible           = possible, attainable, practicable, workable

Diversity         = variety, plurality

Therapy           =cure, remedy, solution, treatment,

Indispensable  = vital, essential, most necessary

Write as many antonyms as you can for the following words

Moral               x wicked, corrupt, depraved, decadant, dishonest, sinful

Sad                  x happy, contented, glad, joyful, pleased

Immense          x tiny, small little

Loyal               x disloyal, arrogant, culprit, cheat

Determine       x undetermined, undecided, fickle,

Moral               x immoral, wicked, corrupt, depraved, decadant, dishonest, sinful

Sad                  x happy, contented, glad, joyful, pleased,

Immense          x tiny, small, little, microscopic,

Grace               x awkwardness, awfulness

Admire                        x disapprove, criticize, condemn

Write one word substitutes for the following description[textual words]

1. act of quiet walking = tip toe
2. am adventurous episode = venture
3. any construction to commemorate great events or persons = commemoration
4. amount deducted from the declared price = rebate/discount
5. a man who accompanies another in a crime = accomplice
6. DNA= deoxyribonucleic acid
7. RNA ribonucleic acid
8. Organic compounds corresponding to inorganic salts = esters
9. A person who is inclined to do new things or old things in new way = experimentalist
10. A village agricultural taxation clerk in the British Indian system = Patwari
11. A graduate student of a university who is granted a scholarship = fellowship
12. A biological catalyst allowing chemical reactions to take place rapidly at body temperature = protein
13. Fill with or stimulate feeling and interest = inspiration
14. A nitrogen based, pentose sugar and a phosphate group = nucleotide
15. An amino group having –NH₂  which is fundamental to life = amino acid
16. Large molecules consisting of chains of nucleotide = nucleic acid
17. A large group of proteins produced by living cells which act as catalysts in the chemical reactions upon which life depends = enzymes
18. A chromosome builder which controls inherited characters of an organism and is capable of mutation = gene
19. Thread like bodies that occur in the nuclei of living cells which carry the genetic code = chromosomes
20. Study of functioning of various organs of our body = physiology
21. Bring out the significance of something = interpret
22. The branch of science that studies the living things = biology
23. A living thing = organism
24. The scientific study of birds = ornithology
25. A person who looks after the maintenance of a museum = curator
26. The science of classification of things = taxonomy
27. The study of the relation of animals to their environment = ecology

Page No. 97, 98

-: IDIOMS :-

Apple of one’s eye = attractive thing

Bag and baggage = complete belongings

An axe to grind = a reason

Climb onto a badwagon = get into troubles

Have a bee in one’s bonnet = trouble

1.             A bed of roses = a situation of ease and comfort
2.             Beat about the bush = saying things in a round about manner
3.             Achilles’ heel = the weak point of an individual, an organization or a country
4.             Put all one’s eggs in one basket = risk everything in one venture
5.             Ask for it = behave in a way one ought to know will cause trouble
6.             turn  a deaf ear  =  neglect
7.             by hook or by crook  =  by doing anything
8.             flesh and blood   =   human
9.             once in a blue moon    =  rarely
10.             bring to light   =   disclose
11.             eleventh hour   =  very  late
12.             up to date   =   latest
13.             wash hands   =   refuse
14.             tooth and nail   =   very hard
15.             take to heels   =   run away
16.             in cold blood   =   without any mercy
17.             nip in the bud   =   remove early
18.             in full swing   =   active
19.             go to dogs   =   ruin
20.             go out of way   =   take risk
21.             storm in tea cup   =   a small fight
22.             fish in troubled waters   =   act miserly
23.             like a fish out of water   =   strange situation
24.             by fits and starts   =   without preparation
25.             not a bed of roses   =   not easy
26.             burn candle at both ends   =   over work
27.             birds of same feathers   =   like minded
28.             red handed   =   with proof
29.             bag and baggage   =   belongings
30.             take last breath   =   die
31.             move heaven and earth   =   try all ways
32.             wild goose chase   =   foolish effort
33.             cats and dogs   =    heavy rain
34.             black and blue   =   very severely
35.             bolt from the blue   =   unexpected
36.             by leaps and bounds   =   fast
37.             beat around the bush   =   not straight
38.             cock and bull stories   =   wrong information
39.             live from hand to mouth   =   very poor
40.             make head and tail of   =  clear
41.             white elephant   =   very difficult to maintain
42.             at fingers’ tips   =   perfect
43.             black and white   =   in writing
44.             red tapism   =   delay
45.             hard and fast   = strict
46.             lion’s share   =   major share
47.             cement jungle   =   city
48.             out of one’s mind   =   mad
49.              be in the red   =   waste
50.             the yellow press   =   sensational

Page No. 98

Correct the following sentences wherever necessary

The management admires for our watchman’s bravery.

The gatekeeper admitted him.

We hope you would answer to our request soon.

He approached me for help.

The manager asked to the typist why she was late.

Page No. 99

Précis writing

Page No. 102 to 106

Paragraph writing

A]        Kiran Bedi      [p.no.105]

B]        Madame curie [p.no.106]

Page No. 106

Evaluate

1.             Sweet are the uses of adversity
2.             A bad workman blames his tools
3.             Resting is rusting
4.             Learning is earning
5.             Help ever, hurt never