11. 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?
[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.
12. Which of the following is the name given to the population of cells derived from a single parent cell? (UPSC Prelims 1989)
[A] Haploid
[B] Diploid
[C] Symmetrical cell
[D] Clone
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Clone]
Notes:
Under suitable conditions, a single cell grows into a colony of cells on agar medium. The resulting population of genetically identical cells derived from a single parent cell is called a clone.
13. Which of the following is the commonest constituent of human kidney stones? (UPSC Prelims 2000)
[A] calcium oxalate
[B] sodium acetate
[C] magnesium sulphate
[D] calcium
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [calcium oxalate]
Notes:
Calcium oxalate is the commonest kidney-stone material. Other stones contain calcium phosphate, uric acid, struvite or cystine; not all kidney stones have identical composition.
14. In the eye donation, which part of the eye is transplanted from the donor? (UPSC Prelims 2001)
[A] Cornea
[B] Lens
[C] Retina
[D] The whole eye
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Cornea]
Notes:
The cornea, the transparent front surface of the eye, is commonly transplanted from an eye donor. It can restore sight when corneal disease is responsible; replacing a cornea does not remedy every cause of blindness.
15. Which of the following branch of biology deals with the cultivation, management, and study of individual trees, shrubs, vines, and other perennial woody plants?
[A] Agriforestry
[B] Horticulture
[C] Arboriculture
[D] Forestry
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Arboriculture]
Notes:
Arboriculture is the cultivation, management, and study of individual trees, shrubs, vines, and other perennial woody plants.
16. Who discovered cell differentiation?
[A] Walther Flemming
[B] Edwin John Butler
[C] Karl Ernst von Baer
[D] Parthasarthy Iyengar
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Walther Flemming]
Notes:
Cell differentiation is the process by which dividing cells change their functional or phenotypic type. All cells probably derive from stem cells and acquire their functions when they mature. Walther Flemming discovered cell differentiation.
17. Which of the following vitamins was discovered by Sir Edward Mellanby?
[A] Vitamin C
[B] Vitamin D
[C] Vitamin K
[D] Vitamin E
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Vitamin D]
Notes:
Vitamin D was discovered by Sir Edward Mellanby.
18. Germplasm theory was given by which of the following biologists?
[A] August Weismann
[B] Georges Cuvier
[C] Arthur Tansley
[D] None of these
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [August Weismann]
Notes:
Germ-plasm theory, the concept of the physical basis of heredity, articulated by the 19th century biologist August Weismann.
19. Who is known as father of soil science?
[A] Norman Ernest Borlaug
[B] V.V. Dokuchaev
[C] Liberty Hyde Bailey
[D] Eratosthenes
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [V.V. Dokuchaev]
Notes:
Vasily Vasil’evich Dokuchaev is the father of soil science.
20. Agar is obtained commercially__?
[A] Blue-green algae
[B] Red algae
[C] Brown algae
[D] Green algae
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Red algae]
Notes:
Agar is a jelly-like material obtained from red algae. The jelly content in algae is due to the presence of non-branched polysaccharides derived from the cell wall of red algae.
