11. In human body, the regulation of RBC production is accomplished by a harmone which is secreted by __:
[A] Liver
[B] Bone marrow
[C] Kidney
[D] Pancreas
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [ Kidney]
Notes:
The regulation of RBC production is accomplished by the Erythropoietin hormone secreted by the kidneys.
12. Why does the peepal tree continuously produce oxygen?
[A] C3 Photosynthesis
[B] C4 Photosynthesis
[C] Crassulacean Acid Metabolism
[D] Carbon Cycle Rebalancing
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Crassulacean Acid Metabolism]
Notes:
Peepal tree has the capability to absorb CO² at night due to Crassulacean Acid Metabolism (CAM). It’s a photosynthesis pathway primarily found in desert plants and epiphytes (those that live on larger trees). During the day, CAM plants break down the malate created at night and use the released CO² to create sugars, similar to C3 plants. But, CAM, being energy inefficient, is used only under certain conditions. It seems that peepal trees use CAM when they are epiphytic and switch to C3 photosynthesis when they settle in the soil.
13. ‘Ophiology’ is the study of which of the following animals?
[A] Moths and Butterflies
[B] Snakes
[C] Whales
[D] Ants
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Snakes]
Notes:
Ophiology is the branch of Biology that study Snakes. Thus Option [B] is correct. While the study of Moths and Butterflies is called as Lepidoteriology, The study of whale is called as Cetology and the study of Ants is called as Myrmecology.
14. Who among the following is the Father of Mutation theory of evolution?
[A] Alec Jeffery
[B] T.H. Morgan
[C] Bateson
[D] Hugo de Vries
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Hugo de Vries]
Notes:
Alec Jeffery is known as the father of Finger Printing Technique. H. Morgan is known as the Father of Experimental Genetics. Bateson is known as the Father of modern Genetics. Hugo de Vries Father of Mutation theory of evolution.
15. Which of the following is a fibrous protein?
[A] Enzymes
[B] Keratin
[C] Haemoglobin
[D] Albumin
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Keratin]
Notes:
Keratin is a group of fibrous proteins occurring in hair, feathers, hooves, and horns. Keratins have coiled polypeptide chains that combine to form supercoils of several polypeptides linked by disulphide bonds between adjacent cysteine amino acids.
16. For developing in bred lines in farm animals, following factors are taken into consideration:
- The crossbreds should be of outstanding type.
- They should not carry any detrimental genes.
- Progeney tested animals.
- Herd size should be large.
Of the statements given above, which one of the following combinations of factors is most essential? (UPSC Prelims 1990)
[A] 1 and 3
[B] 2 and 3
[C] 1 and 4
[D] 2 and 4
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [2 and 4]
Notes:
Inbreeding results in homozygosity, which can increase the chances of offspring being affected by deleterious or recessive traits. This usually leads to at least temporarily decreased biological fitness of a population which is its ability to survive and reproduce. So for inbreeding they should not carry any detrimental genes and it is effective only if the herd is large.
17. It has been observed that after-effects of low temperature treatment are helpful in promoting the flowering in certain plants. Through this the vegetative period of plant becomes short and early flowering takes place. Which of the following is the name given to the phenomenon? (UPSC Prelims 1992)
[A] Photoperiodism
[B] Floreignation
[C] Vernalisation
[D] Heliotropism
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Vernalisation]
Notes:
Vernalization is the induction of a plant’s flowering process by exposure to the prolonged cold of winter, or by an artificial equivalent. After vernalization, plants have acquired the ability to flower, but they may require additional seasonal cues or weeks of growth before they will actually flower.
18. Which vitamin is also called as “Folic acid”?
[A] Vitamin B3
[B] Vitamin B6
[C] Vitamin B9
[D] Vitamin B12
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Vitamin B9]
Notes:
Vitamin B9 is also called as the folic acid. Folic acid is converted into folate in the human body. Folate is essential for making DNA and RNA.
Extra info: Folic acid /B9 is recommended to the pregnants to reduce the risk of Neural Tube Defects in the foetus.
19. What field in which “Luc Montagnier” is famous for?
[A] Discovery of Ebola Virus
[B] Discovery of Influenza Virus
[C] Discovery of Human Immunodeficiency Virus
[D] Discovery of Polio Virus
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Discovery of Human Immunodeficiency Virus]
Notes:
Luc Antoine Montagnier (born 18 August 1932) is a French virologist and joint recipient, with Françoise Barre-Sinoussi and Harald Zur Hausen, of the 2008 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for his discovery of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). He has worked as a researcher at the Pasteur Institute in Paris and as a full-time professor at Shanghai Jiao Tong University in China.
20. What is Georgios Papanikolaou famous for?
[A] As an inventor of Odometer
[B] As an inventor of Pointed arch bridge
[C] As an inventor of Counterweight Trebuchet
[D] As an inventor of Pap smear test
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [As an inventor of Pap smear test]
Notes:
Georgios Nikolaou Papanikolaou or George Papanicolaou was a Greek physician who was a pioneer in cytopathology and early cancer detection, and inventor of the “Pap smear test”.
