Relevance: GS III (Science and Technology); Source: The Hindu / Nature Journal

Context: Why in the News?

Recently, in a massive scientific breakthrough, researchers from the University of Oxford and UChicago successfully turned biological proteins into high-tech quantum sensors that work directly inside living cells. 

By genetically engineering a special glowing protein (like the newly discovered MagLOV), scientists can now track microscopic changes inside the human body in real-time.

1. The Basic Concept: Cells as Sensors

• The Old Way: Traditional quantum sensors (devices used to measure incredibly tiny things) are made from hard, artificial materials like diamonds.
• The Problem: It is very difficult to put a hard piece of diamond inside a delicate, living human cell without damaging or killing it.
• The Breakthrough: Scientists have now used genetic programming to instruct living cells to produce their own quantum sensors! These special “glowing proteins” act exactly like high-tech sensors but are entirely natural.

2. How Do These ‘Protein Spies’ Work?

• Reading the Signals: These special proteins sit safely inside the cell and detect extremely tiny changes in magnetic fields or radio waves.
• The Glowing Alert: When they detect a change—for example, how the cell reacts to a virus or a new medicine—they change their light signal or “glow” to alert the scientists.
• A Natural Fit: Because they are natural proteins made by the cell itself, they “belong” there. They do not harm the biological environment at all.

3. Why is this a Game-Changer?

• The Extreme Zoom: Scientists can now observe biological processes at a nanoscale (one-billionth of a meter) in real-time.
• Beating the Mess: Living cells are very messy and noisy environments. These new protein sensors are tough enough to work perfectly even despite this biological “noise.”
• Faster Medicines: Pharmaceutical companies can now physically “watch” how a new drug fights a disease inside a single cell. This will make testing new, life-saving medicines much faster and highly accurate.

4. Why it Matters for India

• National Push: India recently launched the National Quantum Mission to become a global leader in this futuristic technology.
• Solving Local Problems: Using these biological sensors will help Indian scientists invent original, high-value medicines for local health challenges (like specific cancers or genetic diseases), instead of just copying foreign generic drugs.

UPSC Value Box

Important Term	Meaning
Nanoscale	Extremely tiny measurements (one-billionth of a meter). This is the exact scale where our DNA and cell proteins operate.
MagLOV Protein	A newly engineered, glowing protein that acts as a highly sensitive biological quantum sensor.
Precision Medicine	Customizing medical treatment for an individual patient based on their exact cellular and genetic data, rather than a “one-size-fits-all” approach.

Q. With reference to recent advancements in quantum-biological technologies, consider the following statements:

1. Traditional quantum sensors made from synthetic materials like diamond can be easily placed inside living cells without causing any biological damage.
2. The National Quantum Mission is an initiative by the Government of India to foster research and development in quantum technologies.
3. Engineered fluorescent proteins, such as MagLOV, can be used as quantum sensors to detect microscopic magnetic fields from within a living cell.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 2 and 3 only

(c) 1 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

Correct Answer: (b)