1. Who among the following established that genetic code of all organisms is spelled out in three-letter words, each set of three nucleotides codes for a specific amino acid?
[A] Hargobind Khorana
[B] Barbara McClintock
[C] Theodor O. Diener
[D] Joseph L. Goldstein
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Hargobind Khorana]
Notes:
Hargobind Khurana’s work on the interpretation of the genetic code and its function in protein synthesis, showing how the order of nucleotides in nucleic acids, which carry the genetic code of the cell, encode the proteins synthesized by the cell . They established the biological language or genetic code common to all living organisms, is spelled out in three-letter words: each set of three nucleotides codes for a specific amino acid.
2. Which of the following organ in human body produces albumin, one of the major components of blood serum?
[A] Bone Marrow
[B] Liver
[C] Pancreas
[D] Spleen
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Liver]
Notes:
Liver produces albumin which is one of the major components of blood serum. Albumin is the most abundant protein in human blood plasma and constitutes about half of serum protein.
3. Which among the following disease has the minimum incubation period, comparing to other ones?
[A] Small Pox
[B] Influenza
[C] Measles
[D] Mumps
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Influenza]
Notes:
Influenza (1-2 days) , rest are 6-15 days
4. Memory loss would most likely be due to a malfunction of which part of the brain?
[A] Medulla
[B] Cerebellum
[C] Cerebrum
[D] Pons
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [ Cerebrum]
Notes:
Memory loss would most likely be due to a malfunction of the cerebrum. The cerebrum controls all voluntary activities and receives and interprets sensory information. The medulla controls involuntary actions such as breathing. The cerebellum coordinates muscle activity and controls balance. The pons is a mass of nerve fibers running across the surface of the mammalian brain.
5. What is an another name for blood cancer?
[A] Leukemia
[B] Carcinoma
[C] Sarcoma
[D] Melanoma
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Leukemia]
Notes:
Leukemia, a type of cancer found in your blood and bone marrow. It is caused by the rapid production of abnormal white blood cells. The high number of abnormal white blood cells are not able to fight infection, and they impair the ability of the bone marrow to produce red blood cells and platelets.
6. Retina in the eyes acts as which of the following parts of the camera? (UPSC Prelims 1982)
[A] Lens of the camera
[B] Shutter of the camera
[C] Film of the camera
[D] None of these
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Film of the camera]
Notes:
The retina is a thin membrane which covers the inside back of the eye. Like film in a camera, the retina is the light-sensitive surface where images from the outside world come to a focus.
7. A person walking barefooted in a field feels a sharp sting and on examination two puncture marks are found on his leg. He is most probably bitten by which of the following ages? (UPSC Prelims 1986)
[A] Poisonous snake
[B] Non-poisonous snake
[C] Scorpion
[D] Rat
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Poisonous snake]
Notes:
Snakebite is an injury caused by the bite of a snake, especially a venomous snake. A common sign of a bite from a venomous snake is the presence of two puncture wounds from the animal’s fangs. Those bitten may also describe a “sharp”, “rubbery”, “minty”, or “metallic” taste if bitten.
8. ‘Lathyrism’ is a crippling disease caused by eating which of the following? (UPSC Prelims 1989)
[A] Tinned fish
[B] Chick pea and pulses
[C] Meat
[D] Adulterated oil
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Chick pea and pulses]
Notes:
The lathyrism resulting from the ingestion of Lathyrus odoratus seeds (Chick pea and pulses) is often referred to as odoratism or osteolathyrism, which is caused by a different toxin (beta-aminopropionitrile) that affects the linking of collagen, a protein of connective tissues.
9. Who among the following carries the Haemophilia, a hereditary disease? (UPSC Prelims 1993)
[A] females and expressed by females
[B] females and expressed by males
[C] males and expressed by females
[D] males and expressed by males
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [females and expressed by males]
Notes:
If he inherits his mother’s other X chromosome, he will have normal blood clotting. So a carrier’s son has a 50% chance of having hemophilia. A baby girl will inherit an X chromosome with a dominant gene for normal blood clotting from her father. So the daughter will not have hemophilia.
10. Which one of the following genetic diseases is sex-linked? (UPSC Prelims 1999)
[A] Royal haemophilia
[B] Tay-Sachs disease
[C] Cystic fibrosis
[D] Hypertension
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Royal haemophilia]
Notes:
Royal haemophilia is sex- linked disease. Clotting of blood is abnormally delayed even small cut will result in non stop bleeding in the affected individual. Queen Victoria was a carrier of this disease and produce haemophilic descendents, so haemophilia is a royal disease.
