RAS question
PathGennie, a computational software for drug discovery, was developed by researchers at which institution?
Correct answer: (C) S.N. Bose National Centre for Basic Sciences, Kolkata.
PathGennie was developed by researchers at S. N. Bose National Centre for Basic Sciences, Kolkata.
Explanation
PathGennie is linked to S. N. Bose National Centre for Basic Sciences, Kolkata, because the PIB release states that researchers there created the algorithm. The software is described as an open-source computational framework for computer-aided drug discovery. Its value lies in simulating rare molecular events, especially how potential drugs unbind from protein targets, without the artificial distortions caused by standard forced methods. Instead of pushing the molecule with external bias forces or elevated temperatures, PathGennie extends only those unbiased molecular-dynamics trajectories that move towards the desired outcome. The institution is therefore central to the attribution: S. N. Bose is tied directly to both the creation of PathGennie and its drug-discovery use case.
Why the other options are wrong
- (A) IISc Bengaluru is not supported by the PIB release, which attributes PathGennie to researchers at S. N. Bose National Centre for Basic Sciences, Kolkata.
- (B) IIT Delhi is not the named developer; the PIB release specifically identifies S. N. Bose National Centre for Basic Sciences, Kolkata.
- (D) CSIR-NCL, Pune is a mismatch because the PathGennie algorithm was created by researchers at S. N. Bose National Centre for Basic Sciences, Kolkata.
Concept
This tests Science & Technology current affairs: matching an Indian research institution with a computational tool and its applied use. Such items recur in RAS-style MCQs because the key is often the institution-innovation link, not only the technology's broad field.