UPSC Prelims Current Affairs for 14 January 2026

Menkes Disease Latest News

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently approved the Zycubo (copper histidinate) as the first treatment for Menkes disease in pediatric patients.

About Menkes Disease

• It is a genetic disorder that affects your body’s ability to process copper.  
• It is caused by a mutation of the ATP7A gene located on the X chromosome. This ATP7A gene affects how the body transports copper and maintains copper levels.
  • While the body only uses a small amount of copper, even this tiny amount is required for many functions. 
  • Copper helps with metabolism, brain functioning, blood vessel and blood cell formation, wound healing, and the immune system. 
  • Copper also helps to convert iron into a usable form in the body.
  • It is naturally available in many foods and dietary supplements.
• Menkes Disease usually causes low copper levels in blood plasma, the liver, and the brain. 
• The condition also reduces the activities of copper-dependent enzymes in the body.
• Copper may accumulate in other tissues, such as the kidney. 
• Because the condition prevents the body from using copper correctly, Menkes disease can lead to serious damage to the brain and nervous system and can harm a child’s development.
• It occurs mostly in male infants and is characterized by coarse, kinky hair (leading to its nickname of “kinky hair disease”), as well as failure to grow and thrive. 
• It is believed to occur in about 1 in 35,000 live male births.
• Symptoms: Symptoms include seizures, slow growth, floppy muscles, and kinky (crinkly) hair. 
• Treatment: 
  • There isn’t a cure for Menkes disease, but early treatment with copper can help reduce symptoms and prolong life.
  • Treatment includes copper replacement injections (also known as a copper histidine compound) to increase the development of copper in your child’s body.
  • Without treatment, most Menkes disease patients do not survive past age 3.

Source: TH

Drosophila Melanogaster Latest News

Researchers studied the ovaries of the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster to investigate the mechanisms that maintain the function of reproductive stem cells over time.

About Drosophila Melanogaster

• It is colloquially known as the fruit fly.
• Habitat: It lives in a wide range of habitats.
• Native habitats include those in the tropical regions of the Old World, but the common fruit fly has been introduced to almost all temperate regions of the world.
• Food Habit: The fruit flies lives primarily on plant material. The adults thrive on rotting plants
• Reproduction: Reproduction in Drosophila is rapid. A single pair of flies can produce hundreds of offspring within a couple of weeks, and the offspring become sexually mature within one week.

Physical Description of Drosophila Melanogaster

• Drosophila matures through complete metamorphosis.
• It is covered in a chitinous exoskeleton; has three main body segments; and has three pairs of segmented legs.
• They are easily drawn towards the smell of any food source
• Their eyes are sensitive to slight differences in light intensity.
• They are sexually dimorphic (males and females are different), making it is quite easy to differentiate the sexes.
• It remains one of the most commonly used model organisms for biomedical science. 

Source: PIB

Zanskar River Latest News

The much-awaited Chadar trek on the frozen Zanskar River in Ladakh has been deferred due to inadequate ice formation, disappointing trekkers eager to participate in the adventure sport.

About Zanskar River

• It is a major left-bank tributary of the Indus River, flowing entirely within the union territory of Ladakh in northern India.
• It drains the remote Zanskar Valley in the northwestern Himalayas.
• Course: 
  • The Zanskar River starts high in the Himalayas. 
  • The Zanskar River has two main branches; one is Doda, with main source near Pansi-La Pass, and the other branch is formed by the Kargyag River (source near Shingo La) and the Tsarap River (source near Baralacha La). 
  • The river meanders northwestwards and finally meets the Indus River near Nimmu of the Ladakh region at an elevation of about 3,100 meters.
• It is famous for its incredible Zanskar Gorge, which is a super deep canyon it has carved over many years. 
• The entire catchment area of the Zanskar River has been formed by the action of glaciers. 
• Its valley is U-shaped, and a number of hanging valleys open into it.
• The Zanskar River offers immense opportunities for expeditions to adventure lovers.
  • In the summer season, tourists can embark on river rafting trips, especially in the stretches between Chilling and Nimmu. 
  • Winter brings a unique and thrilling experience of walking along the frozen river of Zanskar, which is often called ‘Chadar Trek’.

Source: TRI