About LignoSat:

• LignoSat”, a fusion of “ligno” (the Latin word for wood) and “satellite”,.
• It is developed by collaborative research and development by a team comprising members from Kyoto University and Sumitomo Forestry Co.
• Objective: Their objective is to leverage the eco-friendliness and cost-effectiveness of wood in space exploration.
• It is constructed from magnolia wood, chosen for its durability and adaptability.
• Why wood is used?
  • Wooden satellites are viewed as more environmentally friendly upon reentering the Earth's atmosphere at the conclusion of their mission. Unlike metal satellites, which pose air pollution risks due to the generation of metal particles during reentry, wooden satellites mitigate these concerns.
• It will first be sent to the International Space Station (ISS) aboard a SpaceX rocket from the Kennedy Space Center.
• Once it reaches the ISS, it will be released from the Japanese experiment module to test its durability and strength.
• Researchers will receive data from the satellite to monitor its performance, including signs of strain and its ability to withstand extreme temperature changes.

About Recombinant Proteins:

• These are proteins encoded by recombinant DNA that have been cloned in an expression vector that supports the expression of the gene and translation of messenger RNA.
• Modification of the gene by recombinant DNA technology can lead to the expression of a mutant protein.
• It is a manipulated form of native protein, which is generated in various ways in order to increase the production of proteins, modify gene sequences and manufacture useful commercial products.
• It is created by fusing sequences that may not be normally present in an organism.
• Recombinant proteins, such as vaccine antigens, insulin and monoclonal antibodies, are mass-produced by growing modified bacterial, viral or mammalian cells in large bioreactors. The most widely used organism is the yeast Pichia pastoris (now called Komagataella phaffii).
• Application of Recombinant Proteins
  • It is used in biomedical research to understand health and disease.
  • It is used in Biotherapeutics.
  • It is used to produce protein-based polymers for drug delivery, antibodies and enzymes for disease treatment, protein scaffolds for tissue engineering etc.

What is protein?

• It is the workhorse in biological systems facilitating most of biological processes in a cell, including gene expression, cell growth, proliferation, nutrient uptake, intercellular communication and apoptosis.
• The blue print for protein synthesis is stored in DNA, which serves as a template for highly regulated transcriptional processes to produce messenger RNA (mRNA). 

About KAZA Summit:

• Objectives
  • To assess the progress made in establishing and developing the KAZA-TFCA since its inception.
  • To review and track the progress of the Memorandum of Understanding done in 2016 and the implementation of the KAZA Treaty done in 2011.
  • Seeks to get renewed commitment from the current leaders of the member countries.
• Theme of the summit: “Leveraging KAZA’s natural capital and cultural heritage resources as catalysts for inclusive socio-economic development of the eco-region.”

Key facts about KAZA Region

• The Kavango-Zambezi Trans-Frontier Conservation Area (KAZA-TFCA) is a 520,000-square kilometre wildlife sanctuary straddling five southern African nations that share common borders along the Okavango and Zambezi river basins.
  • These nations — Angola, Botswana, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe— together with South Africa, are home to more than two-thirds of the African elephant population.
  • It is home to a high concentration of wildlife species, including the largest elephant population.
  • About 70 per cent of KAZA land is under conversation made up of 103 wildlife management areas and 85 forest reserves.
  • Within it are also three World Heritage sites namely the Victoria Fallson the Zambezi river which makes the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe and the Okavango Delta and the Tsodilo Hills both in Botswana.
• The KAZA states signed a Memorandum of Understanding in 2006 resulting in the KAZA Treaty of 2011 followed by its immediate implementation.
• The KAZA-FTCA area is a partnership centred around “a common vision to conserve biodiversity at scale through promoting integrated transboundary management and to market the landscape biodiversity using nature-based tourism as the engine for rural economic growth and development.”