Comprehension
The following is an excerpt from a recent article by David Ewing Duncan. Read the passage and answer the questions within its context.
Eye surgeon Virendar Sangwan has perfected a procedure so cutting-edge that most who have tried it have failed. In an operating theatre in the central Indian city of Hyderabad, he surgically implants corneas grown in a petri dish from stem cells by his colleague Geeta Vemuganti in patients with damaged eyes. Together they perform about 80 corneal regeneration procedures a year, making the L.V. Prasad Eye Institute, where they work, one of the most prolific facilities in the world using stem cells to regenerate tissues of any kind. The Sangwan-Vemuganti team uses stem cells found in the tissues of living adults, not ones derived from embryos. Teams all over the world are working with adult stem cells, trying to coax them to regrow cells in hearts, brains, livers and other organs, but progress is slow. Besides corneas, scientists have had some success regrowing skin cells and bone tissues, but those procedures remain experimental. “A number of programs around the world have tried to perfect this treatment, but they have had bad outcomes,” says University of Cincinnati eye surgeon and stem cell specialist Edward Holland. “It is impressive what they are doing at Prasad.” In addition to the Hyderabad project, only Holland’s program and a half-dozen others in the world conduct operations using corneas grown from stem cells.The treatment uses stem cells harvested from the limbus, located where the cornea touches the white of the eye. For those with damaged corneas, these cells - called “limbic” and “conjunctiva” - are harvested from a patients good eye, if he has one, or from a close relative. They are placed in a petri dish and chemically tweaked to grow into the lower layer of a cornea, called epithelium. It is then transplanted into the eye of the patient where in most cases it takes hold and grows. In 56% of the cases at the Prasad Institute, patient could still see clearly after 40 months later.
Indians are well known for reverse engineering, meaning they can deduce how drugs are made in order to produce generic versions. But in this case, Sangwan and Vemuganti, a pathologist, developed the technique on their own from reading papers and running experiments in the lab. Sangwan says he had a number of patients with burned eyes who could not helped with standard corneal transplants from cadavers, so he persuaded Vemuganti to try growing corneas in her lab. “You know how to grow cells, and I know how to do the transplant surgery.” Vemuganti recalls him saying. “Why don’t we work together?” She smiles and shakes her head. “I had no clue if this was going to work.” Vemuganti’s major innovation was developing a platform on which to grow corneas. First she designed a circular glass tube about the size of a stack of coins. Then she overlaid the glass with tissue from a human placenta which is “a good surface to grow corneas on.” She says. After that she placed stem cells in four places around a circle, added a growth medium, and watched the corneas begin to grow. Commercial interests among stem cell companies for the procedure has been scant because of the perceived small volume of patients, says venture capitalist Antoun Nabhan of ay Capital, who sits on the board of Cellerant, a leading stem cell company in San Carlos. Calif. But corneal stem cell treatment may have wider applications, say ophthalmologist Ivan Schwab of University of California at Davis. “These stem cells are similar to others in the body that make mucous membrane,” he say. “These techniques of growing stem cells might one day be used to treat mucous-membrane tissue in the sinuses, bladder, and other organs.”
Eye surgeon Virendar Sangwan has perfected a procedure so cutting-edge that most who have tried it have failed. In an operating theatre in the central Indian city of Hyderabad, he surgically implants corneas grown in a petri dish from stem cells by his colleague Geeta Vemuganti in patients with damaged eyes. Together they perform about 80 corneal regeneration procedures a year, making the L.V. Prasad Eye Institute, where they work, one of the most prolific facilities in the world using stem cells to regenerate tissues of any kind. The Sangwan-Vemuganti team uses stem cells found in the tissues of living adults, not ones derived from embryos. Teams all over the world are working with adult stem cells, trying to coax them to regrow cells in hearts, brains, livers and other organs, but progress is slow. Besides corneas, scientists have had some success regrowing skin cells and bone tissues, but those procedures remain experimental. “A number of programs around the world have tried to perfect this treatment, but they have had bad outcomes,” says University of Cincinnati eye surgeon and stem cell specialist Edward Holland. “It is impressive what they are doing at Prasad.” In addition to the Hyderabad project, only Holland’s program and a half-dozen others in the world conduct operations using corneas grown from stem cells.The treatment uses stem cells harvested from the limbus, located where the cornea touches the white of the eye. For those with damaged corneas, these cells - called “limbic” and “conjunctiva” - are harvested from a patients good eye, if he has one, or from a close relative. They are placed in a petri dish and chemically tweaked to grow into the lower layer of a cornea, called epithelium. It is then transplanted into the eye of the patient where in most cases it takes hold and grows. In 56% of the cases at the Prasad Institute, patient could still see clearly after 40 months later.
Indians are well known for reverse engineering, meaning they can deduce how drugs are made in order to produce generic versions. But in this case, Sangwan and Vemuganti, a pathologist, developed the technique on their own from reading papers and running experiments in the lab. Sangwan says he had a number of patients with burned eyes who could not helped with standard corneal transplants from cadavers, so he persuaded Vemuganti to try growing corneas in her lab. “You know how to grow cells, and I know how to do the transplant surgery.” Vemuganti recalls him saying. “Why don’t we work together?” She smiles and shakes her head. “I had no clue if this was going to work.” Vemuganti’s major innovation was developing a platform on which to grow corneas. First she designed a circular glass tube about the size of a stack of coins. Then she overlaid the glass with tissue from a human placenta which is “a good surface to grow corneas on.” She says. After that she placed stem cells in four places around a circle, added a growth medium, and watched the corneas begin to grow. Commercial interests among stem cell companies for the procedure has been scant because of the perceived small volume of patients, says venture capitalist Antoun Nabhan of ay Capital, who sits on the board of Cellerant, a leading stem cell company in San Carlos. Calif. But corneal stem cell treatment may have wider applications, say ophthalmologist Ivan Schwab of University of California at Davis. “These stem cells are similar to others in the body that make mucous membrane,” he say. “These techniques of growing stem cells might one day be used to treat mucous-membrane tissue in the sinuses, bladder, and other organs.”
Question: 1
According to the article Sangwan-Vemuganti team’s cutting-edge procedure of implanting cornea grown from stem cells is considered a major advancement by the experts because
According to the article Sangwan-Vemuganti team’s cutting-edge procedure of implanting cornea grown from stem cells is considered a major advancement by the experts because
Updated On: Aug 23, 2025
- They derive stems cells from embryos.
- Their labs are customised to grow stem cells.
- They regrow cells in hearts, brains, livers with stems cells from tissues of living adults
- They derive stem cells from tissues of living adults and grow cells in labs.
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The Correct Option is D
Solution and Explanation
Step 1: Understand the question
We are asked why the Sangwan-Vemuganti team’s procedure of implanting corneas grown from stem cells is considered a major advancement by experts. To answer, we must focus on what makes their approach unique and different from earlier unsuccessful attempts.
Step 2: Recall the relevant parts of the passage
- The team uses stem cells derived from living adults rather than embryonic stem cells. - These stem cells are harvested from the limbus region of the patient’s good eye, or if that is not possible, from a close relative. - The harvested cells are placed in a lab petri dish, on a placental tissue platform designed by Vemuganti, where they grow into corneal tissue. - Many programs around the world tried but failed, yet this method achieved about 56 percent long-term success, with nearly 80 procedures performed annually. - Experts such as Edward Holland described this as impressive, which underlines its recognition globally.
Step 3: Interpret the significance
This procedure is considered cutting-edge because: 1. It relies on adult stem cells, avoiding ethical debates tied to embryonic stem cells. 2. It has been demonstrated in real patients with practical and reproducible success. 3. It introduced the novel use of placenta tissue as a growth platform. 4. Unlike India’s reputation for reverse engineering, this was developed independently through local research and innovation.
Step 4: Conclusion
Experts value this as a breakthrough because it uses stem cells taken from living adults and successfully grows them in labs into transplantable corneal tissue, something that most global attempts had failed to achieve.
Final Answer: The correct option is (D): They derive stem cells from tissues of living adults and grow cells in labs.
We are asked why the Sangwan-Vemuganti team’s procedure of implanting corneas grown from stem cells is considered a major advancement by experts. To answer, we must focus on what makes their approach unique and different from earlier unsuccessful attempts.
Step 2: Recall the relevant parts of the passage
- The team uses stem cells derived from living adults rather than embryonic stem cells. - These stem cells are harvested from the limbus region of the patient’s good eye, or if that is not possible, from a close relative. - The harvested cells are placed in a lab petri dish, on a placental tissue platform designed by Vemuganti, where they grow into corneal tissue. - Many programs around the world tried but failed, yet this method achieved about 56 percent long-term success, with nearly 80 procedures performed annually. - Experts such as Edward Holland described this as impressive, which underlines its recognition globally.
Step 3: Interpret the significance
This procedure is considered cutting-edge because: 1. It relies on adult stem cells, avoiding ethical debates tied to embryonic stem cells. 2. It has been demonstrated in real patients with practical and reproducible success. 3. It introduced the novel use of placenta tissue as a growth platform. 4. Unlike India’s reputation for reverse engineering, this was developed independently through local research and innovation.
Step 4: Conclusion
Experts value this as a breakthrough because it uses stem cells taken from living adults and successfully grows them in labs into transplantable corneal tissue, something that most global attempts had failed to achieve.
Final Answer: The correct option is (D): They derive stem cells from tissues of living adults and grow cells in labs.
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Question: 2
Sangwan-Vemuganti procedure is carried out on
Sangwan-Vemuganti procedure is carried out on
Updated On: Aug 23, 2025
- Patients requiring any corneal transplant
- Patients with damaged corneas
- Patients with damaged eyes of any kind
- None of the above
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The Correct Option is C
Solution and Explanation
Step 1: Understand the question
We are asked: On whom is the Sangwan-Vemuganti procedure carried out? To answer, we must look at the details of the treatment in the passage, particularly the condition of patients who undergo it.
Step 2: Recall relevant information from the passage
- The procedure is meant for patients with damaged corneas. - Sangwan noted that many of his patients had burned eyes and could not be helped with traditional corneal transplants from cadavers. - The new stem cell–based method allows such patients to regain vision by regenerating their corneal tissue in the lab and transplanting it back. - The technique does not target a narrow or single cause of eye damage, but broadly applies to patients with corneal damage of different kinds. - In fact, the passage emphasizes that about 80 such procedures are performed annually at the institute, covering a range of eye-damage cases.
Step 3: Interpret the meaning
The essential point is that this treatment is designed for patients suffering from damaged eyes in general, regardless of whether the damage is due to burns or other causes, provided that a suitable source of stem cells (either from their own good eye or a relative) is available.
Step 4: Conclusion
Thus, the Sangwan-Vemuganti procedure is carried out on patients with damaged eyes of any kind, making it a broad treatment rather than a narrowly targeted one.
Final Answer: The correct option is (C): Patients with damaged eyes of any kind
We are asked: On whom is the Sangwan-Vemuganti procedure carried out? To answer, we must look at the details of the treatment in the passage, particularly the condition of patients who undergo it.
Step 2: Recall relevant information from the passage
- The procedure is meant for patients with damaged corneas. - Sangwan noted that many of his patients had burned eyes and could not be helped with traditional corneal transplants from cadavers. - The new stem cell–based method allows such patients to regain vision by regenerating their corneal tissue in the lab and transplanting it back. - The technique does not target a narrow or single cause of eye damage, but broadly applies to patients with corneal damage of different kinds. - In fact, the passage emphasizes that about 80 such procedures are performed annually at the institute, covering a range of eye-damage cases.
Step 3: Interpret the meaning
The essential point is that this treatment is designed for patients suffering from damaged eyes in general, regardless of whether the damage is due to burns or other causes, provided that a suitable source of stem cells (either from their own good eye or a relative) is available.
Step 4: Conclusion
Thus, the Sangwan-Vemuganti procedure is carried out on patients with damaged eyes of any kind, making it a broad treatment rather than a narrowly targeted one.
Final Answer: The correct option is (C): Patients with damaged eyes of any kind
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Question: 3
The world recognises this Indian innovation because Indian scientists are normally known
The world recognises this Indian innovation because Indian scientists are normally known
Updated On: Aug 23, 2025
- To be good at analysing and finding out a method of how an existing drug is made.
- As they are good researchers of drugs.
- As they are good at carrying out experiments to create generic drugs.
- As they are able to carry out drug trials on large samples.
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The Correct Option is A
Solution and Explanation
Step 1: Understand the question
We are asked why the world recognises this particular Indian innovation. To answer, we must focus on how Indian scientists are generally perceived versus what happened in this case.
Step 2: Recall the relevant part of the passage
The passage states that Indians are well known for "reverse engineering," meaning they usually analyse existing drugs and deduce how they are made in order to produce generic versions. However, in this case, Sangwan and Vemuganti did not rely on reverse engineering. Instead, they developed their technique independently by reading research papers and running their own experiments in the lab.
Step 3: Interpret the significance
The innovation is noteworthy because it breaks away from the common global perception of Indian science as largely imitative. Instead of copying or replicating, Sangwan and Vemuganti created a new, original, and pioneering medical procedure. This contrast is exactly why their achievement is admired internationally.
Step 4: Conclusion
Therefore, the world recognises this innovation because, while Indians are usually known for analysing and replicating existing drugs (reverse engineering), in this case, the scientists came up with their own groundbreaking method.
Final Answer: The correct option is (A): To be good at analysing and finding out a method of how an existing drug is made.
We are asked why the world recognises this particular Indian innovation. To answer, we must focus on how Indian scientists are generally perceived versus what happened in this case.
Step 2: Recall the relevant part of the passage
The passage states that Indians are well known for "reverse engineering," meaning they usually analyse existing drugs and deduce how they are made in order to produce generic versions. However, in this case, Sangwan and Vemuganti did not rely on reverse engineering. Instead, they developed their technique independently by reading research papers and running their own experiments in the lab.
Step 3: Interpret the significance
The innovation is noteworthy because it breaks away from the common global perception of Indian science as largely imitative. Instead of copying or replicating, Sangwan and Vemuganti created a new, original, and pioneering medical procedure. This contrast is exactly why their achievement is admired internationally.
Step 4: Conclusion
Therefore, the world recognises this innovation because, while Indians are usually known for analysing and replicating existing drugs (reverse engineering), in this case, the scientists came up with their own groundbreaking method.
Final Answer: The correct option is (A): To be good at analysing and finding out a method of how an existing drug is made.
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Question: 4
The pathologist, Vemuganti, started growing cornea in a petri dish
The pathologist, Vemuganti, started growing cornea in a petri dish
Updated On: Aug 23, 2025
- By following procedures published in research papers
- By inventing a totally new procedure
- By experimenting with procedures published in journals
- By following the instruction of the transplant surgeon.
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The Correct Option is C
Solution and Explanation
Step 1: Understand the question
We are asked how Dr. Geeta Vemuganti, the pathologist, started growing cornea in a petri dish. The passage explains the background of her work and the source of her inspiration.
Step 2: Recall the relevant part of the passage
Sangwan persuaded Vemuganti by saying: "You know how to grow cells, and I know how to do the transplant surgery. Why don’t we work together?" Vemuganti admitted that at the beginning she had no idea whether the process would work. The article notes that instead of copying any existing treatment, she relied on reading scientific papers and running her own experiments in the laboratory.
Step 3: Interpret the meaning
This shows that her starting point was not reverse engineering or borrowing directly from existing clinical techniques, but rather **studying procedures published in scientific journals and then experimenting step by step in her lab**. Her main innovation was creating a platform to grow corneas using placental tissue over glass tubes.
Step 4: Conclusion
Therefore, Vemuganti began the process of growing corneas in a petri dish by experimenting with methods described in scientific papers, refining them with her own laboratory work.
Final Answer: The correct option is (C): By experimenting with procedures published in journals
We are asked how Dr. Geeta Vemuganti, the pathologist, started growing cornea in a petri dish. The passage explains the background of her work and the source of her inspiration.
Step 2: Recall the relevant part of the passage
Sangwan persuaded Vemuganti by saying: "You know how to grow cells, and I know how to do the transplant surgery. Why don’t we work together?" Vemuganti admitted that at the beginning she had no idea whether the process would work. The article notes that instead of copying any existing treatment, she relied on reading scientific papers and running her own experiments in the laboratory.
Step 3: Interpret the meaning
This shows that her starting point was not reverse engineering or borrowing directly from existing clinical techniques, but rather **studying procedures published in scientific journals and then experimenting step by step in her lab**. Her main innovation was creating a platform to grow corneas using placental tissue over glass tubes.
Step 4: Conclusion
Therefore, Vemuganti began the process of growing corneas in a petri dish by experimenting with methods described in scientific papers, refining them with her own laboratory work.
Final Answer: The correct option is (C): By experimenting with procedures published in journals
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Question: 5
In the context of the passage choose the correct set of meanings for the words: PLATFORM and GENERIC
In the context of the passage choose the correct set of meanings for the words: PLATFORM and GENERIC
Updated On: Aug 23, 2025
- Lab table; related to genes
- Method; related to genes
- Lab experiments; without a brand name
- Methodology; without a brand name
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The Correct Option is D
Solution and Explanation
Step 1: Understand the question
We are asked to find the correct meanings of the words "platform" and "generic" in the context of the passage. Since meanings depend on usage, we must carefully recall how these words were used in the article.
Step 2: Recall usage of "platform"
The passage describes Vemuganti’s major innovation as "developing a platform on which to grow corneas." Here, "platform" does not mean a stage or a political stance, but rather the **methodology or system** she created to allow corneas to grow successfully. She designed a circular glass tube and overlaid it with placental tissue, which became the growth surface. Thus, "platform" here = methodology or scientific method.
Step 3: Recall usage of "generic"
The passage also notes that Indians are well known for reverse engineering drugs to produce "generic versions." In pharmaceutical terms, "generic" means drugs that are chemically identical to branded versions but sold without a brand name. Therefore, "generic" here = without a brand name.
Step 4: Conclusion
In the context of the passage, "platform" refers to a methodology or system, and "generic" means without a brand name.
Final Answer: The correct option is (D): Methodology; without a brand name
We are asked to find the correct meanings of the words "platform" and "generic" in the context of the passage. Since meanings depend on usage, we must carefully recall how these words were used in the article.
Step 2: Recall usage of "platform"
The passage describes Vemuganti’s major innovation as "developing a platform on which to grow corneas." Here, "platform" does not mean a stage or a political stance, but rather the **methodology or system** she created to allow corneas to grow successfully. She designed a circular glass tube and overlaid it with placental tissue, which became the growth surface. Thus, "platform" here = methodology or scientific method.
Step 3: Recall usage of "generic"
The passage also notes that Indians are well known for reverse engineering drugs to produce "generic versions." In pharmaceutical terms, "generic" means drugs that are chemically identical to branded versions but sold without a brand name. Therefore, "generic" here = without a brand name.
Step 4: Conclusion
In the context of the passage, "platform" refers to a methodology or system, and "generic" means without a brand name.
Final Answer: The correct option is (D): Methodology; without a brand name
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