Question 1

History of the field: Who first coined the term Biotechnology in the modern scientific context (early 20th century), giving a name to the industrial use of biological processes?

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: The question tests recognition of a foundational historical milestone in biotechnology: identifying the individual who introduced the term that now encompasses industrial microbiology, genetic engineering, bioprocessing, and bioinformatics. Knowing the origin helps students connect modern applications to their early conceptual framing. Given Data / Assumptions: The term Biotechnology appeared in the early 1900s. It referred to the application of biological systems in industry and agriculture. We are selecting the person credited with coining the term, not merely contributing to the field. Concept / Approach: Biotechnology as a word and concept was popularized by an agricultural engineer and economist who described the systematic use of biological processes for production. The approach is to recall historical attribution rather than derive a calculation. This is a pure recall item grounded in scientific history. Step-by-Step Solution: Identify the time period: early 20th century, shortly after large scale fermentation and industrial microbiology advances.Recall the name associated with formalizing the term in print: Karl Ereky, 1919.Match the recalled name to the options: Karl Ereky corresponds to option A. Verification / Alternative check: Standard biotechnology history texts and course syllabi list Karl Ereky as the person who coined the term in 1919, in a context of animal husbandry and industrial use of living organisms for production. Why Other Options Are Wrong: James Clarke: not credited with coining the term biotechnology. Paul Terasaky: known for other contributions, not this term. Clarke and Sommer: not associated with the coining event. Louis Pasteur: key pioneer of microbiology and fermentation, but he did not coin the term biotechnology. Common Pitfalls: Students sometimes assume that major pioneers like Pasteur introduced all fundamental terms. Another pitfall is confusing the coining of a term with later advances like recombinant DNA, which came decades after Ereky. Final Answer: Karl Ereky

Question 2

Photosynthesis in C4 plants: In the bundle sheath chloroplasts, which photosystem is present at a much lower level than in mesophyll chloroplasts?

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: C4 photosynthesis separates initial CO2 fixation and the Calvin cycle into mesophyll and bundle sheath cells. The distribution of photosystems between these tissues is specialized to minimize photorespiration and maximize efficiency. Recognizing which photosystem is reduced in bundle sheath chloroplasts reveals how C4 plants tailor light reactions for carbon concentration mechanisms. Given Data / Assumptions: C4 anatomy includes mesophyll and bundle sheath cells. Bundle sheath chloroplasts typically exhibit reduced grana. C4 pathway aims to concentrate CO2 around Rubisco in bundle sheath cells. Concept / Approach: Grana stacking is associated with PSII-rich thylakoids and linear electron flow. Bundle sheath chloroplasts in many C4 species are agranal or have reduced grana, indicating reduced PSII activity. This shift favors cyclic electron flow around PSI to generate ATP needed for C4 metabolism without excessive oxygen evolution in the bundle sheath compartment. Step-by-Step Solution: Recall that mesophyll cells perform initial CO2 fixation via PEP carboxylase.Recognize that bundle sheath cells carry out the Calvin cycle with concentrated CO2.Understand that PSII activity is reduced in bundle sheath chloroplasts to limit oxygen evolution and favor ATP production via PSI cyclic flow.Therefore, PSII is present at lower levels in bundle sheath compared to mesophyll. Verification / Alternative check: Anatomical and biochemical studies in NADP-ME type C4 plants document agranal chloroplasts and diminished PSII complexes in the bundle sheath relative to mesophyll, aligning with the carbon concentrating strategy. Why Other Options Are Wrong: PSI: generally maintained for cyclic flow; not the one specifically reduced. PSI or PSII depending on species: while variations exist, the classic and tested concept is reduced PSII. Both equal: contradicts observed differentiation. Neither: bundle sheath chloroplasts clearly retain photosynthetic capacity. Common Pitfalls: Confusing C3 and C4 chloroplast structure or assuming uniform photosystem distribution across all leaf tissues. Final Answer: PSII (Photosystem II)

Question 3

Plant diversity and life cycles: Which group of land plants is most restricted to moist or damp environments due to their lack of vascular tissue and reliance on water for reproduction?

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: This question assesses knowledge of plant groups and the ecological constraints that shape their distribution. Bryophytes are nonvascular and depend on water films for gamete transfer, making them strongly tied to moist habitats compared to vascular plants. Given Data / Assumptions: Bryophytes lack true vascular tissue and roots. Fertilization in bryophytes requires free water for sperm motility. Vascular plants have adaptations for water transport and reduced reliance on surface water for fertilization. Concept / Approach: Ecological restriction follows from structure and reproduction. Without xylem and phloem, bryophytes depend on diffusion and capillary action. Their life cycles feature motile sperm that need a water film, restricting them to damp environments for successful reproduction. Step-by-Step Solution: Identify which groups lack vascular tissue: bryophytes.Relate lack of vascular tissue to habitat restriction.Link motile sperm to the need for water for fertilization.Select bryophytes as the most moisture-restricted group. Verification / Alternative check: Introductory botany texts consistently describe bryophytes as poikilohydric and dependent on external water for sexual reproduction. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Lycophyta and Sphenophyta are vascular and less restricted. Angiosperms and gymnosperms use pollen to deliver sperm, greatly reducing water dependence. Common Pitfalls: Confusing bryophytes with seedless vascular plants, which still have vascular tissues and broader habitat tolerance. Final Answer: Bryophyta (mosses, liverworts, hornworts)

Question 4

Plant diversity today: Which group of plants has by far the greatest species diversity among living plants worldwide?

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: Understanding global plant diversity is fundamental to ecology, evolution, and conservation. Angiosperms dominate in species numbers and ecological roles across terrestrial ecosystems, a fact that informs everything from pollination biology to crop domestication studies. Given Data / Assumptions: Species counts compare major plant clades. Modern floras are overwhelmingly angiosperm rich. Gymnosperms and non-seed plant groups are far less speciose. Concept / Approach: Two key innovations underlie angiosperm diversity: flowers and fruits. These structures drive coevolution with pollinators and dispersers, diversify reproductive strategies, and accelerate speciation, which explains their numerical dominance relative to other groups. Step-by-Step Solution: List the major clades: bryophytes, lycophytes, gymnosperms, angiosperms.Recall approximate relative species richness: angiosperms greatly exceed others.Select angiosperms as the most diverse group. Verification / Alternative check: Biodiversity databases and botany texts agree that angiosperms number in the hundreds of thousands of species, dwarfing gymnosperms and other clades. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Bryophyta, Lycophyta, and Gymnosperms have far fewer described species. Ferns are diverse but still much less so than angiosperms. Common Pitfalls: Equating ecological dominance in specific habitats with total global species richness. Final Answer: Angiosperms (flowering plants)

Question 5

Model organisms in biology: Neurospora (a filamentous fungus) is classically used as an experimental tool in which branch of biology?

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: Model organisms illuminate fundamental principles. Neurospora crassa became a cornerstone of experimental genetics, especially after foundational work demonstrated that genes encode enzymes, shaping the gene to phenotype framework used in modern molecular biology. Given Data / Assumptions: Neurospora grows rapidly and is easy to culture. It possesses a convenient haploid life cycle stage. Historic experiments mapped genes to biosynthetic pathways. Concept / Approach: Beadle and Tatum used Neurospora to establish the one gene one enzyme hypothesis by isolating nutritional mutants and linking genetic lesions to blocks in metabolic pathways. This places Neurospora squarely in the genetics canon as a model for gene function analysis. Step-by-Step Solution: Recall the classical experiments with mutagenesis and nutritional assays.Connect phenotype (growth on supplemented media) to underlying gene defects.Identify the field advanced by these insights: genetics. Verification / Alternative check: Textbooks routinely present the Neurospora studies in chapters on Mendelian genetics and gene function. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Ecology, cytology, physiology, and biochemistry all use fungi, but Neurospora achieved seminal status in genetics specifically. Common Pitfalls: Confusing yeast genetics with filamentous fungal genetics; both are valuable, but the classic gene enzyme work used Neurospora. Final Answer: Genetics

Question 6

Symbiosis basics: Lichens are composite organisms formed by the association of which two partners?

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: Lichens exemplify symbiosis, combining photosynthetic partners with fungal hosts to occupy habitats ranging from tree bark to bare rock. Understanding their composition is a basic competency in botany and ecology. Given Data / Assumptions: Lichens consist of a mycobiont (fungus) and a photobiont (alga or cyanobacterium). The association enables photosynthesis plus structural and moisture retention benefits. Concept / Approach: The photobiont provides fixed carbon through photosynthesis; the fungus supplies structure, protection, and microhabitat stability. This division of labor allows lichens to colonize extreme environments where neither partner would thrive alone. Step-by-Step Solution: Identify the photobiont: green alga or cyanobacterium.Identify the mycobiont: a fungus, often an ascomycete.Select the option that pairs algae (or cyanobacteria) with fungi. Verification / Alternative check: Standard taxonomy of lichens documents algal or cyanobacterial photobionts embedded in fungal tissues. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Virus and bacteria: not the lichen partnership. Algae and bacteria: missing the fungal component. Fungi and mosses: mosses are plants, not the photobiont partner in lichens. Archaea and fungi: not the canonical lichen symbiosis. Common Pitfalls: Assuming all green surface growths are plant based; lichens are distinct from bryophyte mats. Final Answer: Algae (or cyanobacteria) and fungi

Question 7

Cell biology: The protein subunits that assemble to form microtubule walls in eukaryotic cells are known as what?

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: Microtubules are cytoskeletal polymers that drive chromosome segregation, intracellular transport, and cell shape. Knowing their molecular building blocks is essential for understanding mitosis, vesicle trafficking, and cilia or flagella function. Given Data / Assumptions: Microtubules are hollow cylinders composed of protofilaments. Each protofilament is a linear polymer of tubulin heterodimers. Concept / Approach: Microtubules polymerize from alpha tubulin and beta tubulin dimers. These assemble head to tail into protofilaments, which associate laterally to form the microtubule wall. Dynamic instability arises from GTP binding and hydrolysis on beta tubulin. Step-by-Step Solution: Recall the three major cytoskeletal systems: microfilaments (actin), microtubules (tubulin), intermediate filaments (varied proteins).Match microtubules specifically to tubulin heterodimers.Select tubulin from the options. Verification / Alternative check: Cell biology references consistently identify alpha beta tubulin as the microtubule subunit, distinct from actin based microfilaments and keratin based intermediate filaments. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Actin: microfilaments, not microtubules. Pectin and hydroxyproline proteins: components of plant cell walls, not cytoskeletal tubules. Keratin: intermediate filaments in animals. Common Pitfalls: Mixing up the three filament systems or assuming all filamentous proteins are interchangeable. Final Answer: Tubulin

Question 8

Double fertilization outcome in flowering plants: What is the usual ploidy of the endosperm in angiosperms after fertilization?

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: Angiosperms exhibit double fertilization, a hallmark of the group that yields both a zygote and nutritive tissue called endosperm. Recognizing endosperm ploidy is central to understanding seed development and the unique reproductive biology of flowering plants. Given Data / Assumptions: One sperm fertilizes the egg cell. A second sperm fuses with the central cell containing two polar nuclei. Standard angiosperm condition is two maternal plus one paternal genome in endosperm. Concept / Approach: Endosperm typically forms when one sperm nucleus fuses with two polar nuclei, creating a primary endosperm nucleus with 3n ploidy. Although exceptions exist in a few species, the textbook norm is triploid endosperm. Step-by-Step Solution: Egg (n) + sperm (n) gives embryo (2n).Polar nuclei (n + n) + second sperm (n) gives endosperm (3n).Select triploid as the standard answer. Verification / Alternative check: Botany texts and seed biology references present 3n endosperm as the usual result of double fertilization in angiosperms. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Haploid or diploid: do not match the canonical fusion event of two polar nuclei with one sperm. Tetraploid: not the standard outcome. Variable in all cases: exceptions exist but the typical case is triploid. Common Pitfalls: Confusing gymnosperm nutritive tissue (haploid from female gametophyte) with angiosperm endosperm (usually triploid). Final Answer: Triploid (3n)

Question 9

Plant growth measurement: An auxanometer is an instrument used for the quantitative measurement of which plant process?

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: Plant physiologists use various instruments to measure physiological processes. Auxanometers are classic devices designed to measure growth as changes in length or size over time, providing quantitative records for developmental and environmental studies. Given Data / Assumptions: Auxanometer setups can record minute changes in stem or root length. Growth is defined as irreversible increase in size. Indirect mechanisms (pulleys, levers, or sensors) translate growth into measurable displacement. Concept / Approach: An auxanometer couples plant elongation to a recording pointer or sensor. By tracking displacement against time, it quantifies growth rate, enabling comparisons under different light, nutrient, or hormone conditions. It does not directly assess gas exchange or osmotic variables, though those can influence growth. Step-by-Step Solution: Define the variable of interest: increase in length or size.Identify the instrument specifically designed for that variable: auxanometer.Select the option indicating growth measurement. Verification / Alternative check: Standard plant physiology manuals describe the auxanometer as a growth measuring device, distinct from respirometers and photosynthesis measurement systems. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Respiration and photosynthesis require gas exchange or chlorophyll fluorescence methods, not an auxanometer. Osmotic pressure is measured by osmometry, not by growth levers. Transpiration rate is measured with potometers or porometers. Common Pitfalls: Assuming any plant physiology instrument interchangeable; each is specialized for a distinct variable. Final Answer: Growth activity (increase in length or size)

Question 10

Plant breeding and crop improvement: Triticale is a man made cereal derived by crossing which two parental crops to combine yield and hardiness traits?

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: Triticale is a human created hybrid cereal that integrates the high yield and grain quality of wheat with the hardiness and disease tolerance of rye. It demonstrates how classical breeding and chromosome manipulation can generate new crops tailored to specific agronomic needs. Given Data / Assumptions: Goal: create a cereal combining desirable traits of two species. Rye contributes stress tolerance and robust rooting. Wheat contributes grain quality and yield potential. Concept / Approach: Triticale arises from intergeneric hybridization between wheat (Triticum) and rye (Secale), often followed by chromosome doubling to restore fertility (amphiploidy). The resulting crop can be tailored for marginal soils and specific feed or food uses. Step-by-Step Solution: Identify parental genera: Triticum (wheat) and Secale (rye).Recall the portmanteau name: tri from Triticum and cale from Secale.Select the option matching wheat and rye. Verification / Alternative check: Crop breeding references describe triticale as a wheat rye hybrid with documented chromosome sets derived from both parents. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Wheat with rice or tapioca: these crosses are not the basis of triticale. Rye and rice: unrelated to the triticale lineage. Barley and oat: different cereals, not triticale parents. Common Pitfalls: Confusing triticale with other cereal hybrids or assuming it involves rice due to global importance of rice. Final Answer: Rye (Secale) and wheat

Question 11

Fungal genetics — mating in budding yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae)  In haploid yeast cells used in genetics and biotechnology, what are the names of the two mating types (often informally called “genders”)?

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: Yeast genetics relies on controlled mating between haploid cells. Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the classic budding yeast of baking and biotechnology, has two haploid mating types that fuse to form diploids. Knowing their correct names is fundamental for strain construction, mapping, and laboratory crosses. Given Data / Assumptions: The organism of interest is budding yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae). Haploid “genders” are technically called mating types. We are asked to choose the correct names used in genetics protocols and literature. Concept / Approach: S. cerevisiae has two haploid mating types designated a and alpha (often written as α). Cells of opposite mating type secrete and respond to complementary pheromones (a-factor and α-factor), allowing shmoo formation and cell fusion. Diploid cells (a/α) subsequently undergo mitosis or, under starvation, meiosis and sporulation to generate haploid spores of both mating types. The lower-case letters are conventional and important for clarity in protocols and genotype notation. Step-by-Step Solution: Identify the species: standard laboratory budding yeast.Recall: haploid mating types are named a and alpha (α).Note: capitalization matters in convention; the correct usage is lower-case.Select the option that exactly states a and alpha (α). Verification / Alternative check: Genetics texts and yeast handbooks consistently denote mating types as a and α. Lab strains are labeled MATa or MATα, and diploids are MATa/MATα, reinforcing the accepted nomenclature. Why Other Options Are Wrong: “M and F” suggests animal sexes, not yeast. “Y(a) and Y(b)” is nonstandard and misleading. “A and Alpha (capital A)” is incorrect formatting; the field uses lower-case a and α. Common Pitfalls: Mixing case or substituting human-like sex labels for microbial mating types. Also, confusing the greek letter alpha with the Latin letter “a”. Final Answer: a and alpha (α)

Question 12

Plant evolution — key innovation behind angiosperm dominance  Considering major plant groups, which single feature is most often credited with the evolutionary success and ecological dominance of angiosperms (flowering plants)?

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: Angiosperms (flowering plants) dominate most terrestrial ecosystems. While they possess multiple adaptive traits, biologists frequently highlight one innovation as pivotal for their diversification and reproductive success: flowers. This question asks you to identify that single most influential feature. Given Data / Assumptions: Group in focus: angiosperms. Objective: identify the primary innovation linked to their success. Constraints: select one best answer among several attractive plant traits. Concept / Approach: Flowers are complex reproductive structures that enable precise pollen transfer (often animal-mediated), specialized reproductive timing, and high-efficiency fertilization. Coevolution with pollinators (insects, birds, bats) increased outcrossing and speciation rates. While seeds and fruits also matter, gymnosperms also have seeds; thus seeds alone cannot explain angiosperm dominance. Fruits aid seed dispersal, but they function downstream of successful pollination and fertilization, which flowers facilitate. Step-by-Step Solution: Recognize that many plant clades bear seeds (e.g., gymnosperms) but lack flowers.Identify the unique angiosperm hallmark: floral organs organizing reproduction and pollinator interactions.Weigh alternatives: fruits assist dispersal, broad leaves aid photosynthesis, but neither uniquely defines angiosperms.Select the singular innovation most responsible for diversification: flowers. Verification / Alternative check: Comparative botany and macroevolution studies consistently connect the radiation of angiosperms with the emergence of flowers and associated pollination syndromes. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Seeds: also present in gymnosperms; not unique. Fruit: important but derivative of successful flowering. Broad leaves: many plants have them; not decisive. Vascular tissue only: predates angiosperms (ferns and gymnosperms). Common Pitfalls: Equating “seeds” with angiosperm success and forgetting gymnosperms. Ignoring coevolution with pollinators as the main driver. Final Answer: Flowers

Question 13

Plant–fungus symbiosis — naming the association with roots  A very common mutualistic, symbiotic relationship between a fungus and the roots of a plant is called what?

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: Plants and fungi often form mutualisms that improve nutrient and water acquisition. The best-known root–fungus partnership has a specific name that appears across ecology, botany, and agriculture curricula. Given Data / Assumptions: Symbiosis is between plant roots and a fungus. Mutual benefits include enhanced nutrient uptake and carbon supply to the fungus. We must identify the standard term for this association. Concept / Approach: Mycorrhizae are associations in which fungal hyphae colonize root cortex tissues or soil around roots (ectomycorrhizae and endomycorrhizae). The plant gains improved uptake of phosphorus, nitrogen, and micronutrients; the fungus receives photosynthate. This boosts plant fitness, particularly in nutrient-poor soils. Step-by-Step Solution: Identify the partners: plant roots + fungi.Recall the technical term for this mutualism: mycorrhiza.Verify that lichen is algae/cyanobacteria + fungi, not roots.Choose “Mycorrhiza (mycorrhizal association)”. Verification / Alternative check: Ecology and plant physiology texts define mycorrhizae as the primary plant–fungus mutualism at roots, distinct from lichen. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Lichen involves a photosynthetic partner and fungi, not plant roots. “Ascomycete” and “Basidiomycete” are fungal phyla, not relationships. “Rhizobium” is a nitrogen-fixing bacterium associated with legumes, not a fungus. Common Pitfalls: Confusing mycorrhiza with lichen or with bacterial nodulation. Always match the partners in the definition. Final Answer: Mycorrhiza (mycorrhizal association)

Question 14

Global carbohydrate crops — principal source of table sugar  Considering worldwide agricultural production, which crop is the major source of sucrose (table sugar) supplied to the world market?

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: Sucrose for the global market is primarily derived from two crops, but one of them supplies the majority share by tonnage, especially in tropical and subtropical regions. Understanding this helps connect plant physiology with agricultural economics. Given Data / Assumptions: We are focused on global production, not regional exceptions. Table sugar refers to crystallized sucrose. Common candidate crops include sugarcane and sugar beet. Concept / Approach: Globally, sugarcane is the dominant source of sucrose, cultivated extensively in tropical climates with high biomass yields. Sugar beet is important in temperate regions, yet contributes a smaller share globally compared with sugarcane. Fruits such as watermelon and dates contain sugars but are not primary industrial sucrose sources. Step-by-Step Solution: Identify principal industrial sources: sugarcane and sugar beet.Consider worldwide tonnage and acreage: sugarcane leads globally.Exclude fruits used mainly for direct consumption or specialty syrups.Select “Sugarcane” as the major global source. Verification / Alternative check: FAO and industry reports consistently show sugarcane as the predominant source of the world’s sucrose, with sugar beet second. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Sugar beet is significant but not the largest worldwide. Watermelon, dates, and sweet corn are not primary sucrose feedstocks for the global sugar industry. Common Pitfalls: Confusing regional dominance (e.g., Europe’s sugar beet) with global dominance (sugarcane). Final Answer: Sugarcane

Question 15

Ecology fundamentals — defining the discipline  What is the scientific study called that investigates interactions between living organisms and their environment, including both biotic and abiotic factors?

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: Biological organization spans from molecules to the biosphere. The field that focuses on organisms interacting with each other and with their physical environment is a core branch of biology and environmental science. Given Data / Assumptions: The question asks for the name of a discipline, not a structure or a specific community. It involves interactions among living things and their abiotic surroundings. Terminology must be precise and widely accepted. Concept / Approach: Ecology is the discipline studying distribution, abundance, interactions, and energy/material flows among organisms and between organisms and their environment. An ecosystem is a system (not the discipline) comprising organisms and their physical environment. Phytogeography concerns plant distributions, and photosociology is not a standard modern term for the discipline described. Step-by-Step Solution: Identify the scope: interactions among organisms and environment.Map scope to discipline name: Ecology.Distinguish from “ecosystem,” which is a unit of study, not the field itself.Select “Ecology”. Verification / Alternative check: Standard biology textbooks define ecology exactly this way, subdividing into population, community, ecosystem, and global ecology. Why Other Options Are Wrong: “Ecosystem” is a system, not a field. “Phytogeography” focuses on plant distribution patterns. “Photosociology” and “Ethology” (animal behavior) do not match the definition. Common Pitfalls: Confusing the object of study (ecosystem) with the discipline (ecology). Final Answer: Ecology

Question 16

Stoichiometry of oxygen evolution — photosynthesis gas ratios  Under the overall light-driven reaction of oxygenic photosynthesis, what is the volume ratio of O2 liberated to CO2 fixed?

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: Understanding the stoichiometry of photosynthesis is key to plant physiology and global carbon–oxygen cycling. The classic balanced equation links carbon dioxide uptake to oxygen evolution, guiding both conceptual questions and quantitative problems. Given Data / Assumptions: We consider the net overall oxygenic photosynthesis reaction. Idealized equation: 6 CO2 + 6 H2O (light) → C6H12O6 + 6 O2. Volume ratios of gases under identical conditions mirror mole ratios. Concept / Approach: The stoichiometric coefficients in the overall reaction indicate that 6 moles of CO2 are fixed while 6 moles of O2 are released. Therefore, the molar (and thus volume) ratio of O2 produced to CO2 consumed is 1:1. Although various pathways (C3, C4, CAM) differ in biochemical details, the global stoichiometry for oxygen evolution relative to CO2 fixation remains 1:1 under the simplified overall equation. Step-by-Step Solution: Write the overall reaction: 6 CO2 + 6 H2O → C6H12O6 + 6 O2.Compare coefficients: O2 produced = 6, CO2 fixed = 6.Compute ratio O2:CO2 = 6:6 = 1:1.Translate mole ratio to volume ratio under same conditions. Verification / Alternative check: Introductory biochemistry and plant physiology texts use the 1:1 relation when discussing gas exchange in photosynthetic organisms, barring side reactions like photorespiration adjustments. Why Other Options Are Wrong: 2:1, 1:2, 3:1, and 1:3 do not match the balanced overall equation of oxygenic photosynthesis. Common Pitfalls: Confusing net oxygen evolution with water-splitting details, or overcomplicating with photorespiration; at the overall level, 1:1 applies. Final Answer: 1:1

Question 17

Root–fungus mutualism — defining mycorrhizae  Mycorrhizae are best described as symbiotic associations between which two partners?

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: Mycorrhizal relationships are among the most widespread and ecologically important symbioses on land. They directly influence plant nutrition, soil structure, and ecosystem productivity. Given Data / Assumptions: The term “mycorrhiza” literally combines “myco-” (fungus) and “-rhiza” (root). We are identifying the two biological partners. The association is mutualistic under normal conditions. Concept / Approach: Mycorrhizae form when fungal hyphae associate with plant roots, either externally (ectomycorrhizae) or within root cortical cells (endomycorrhizae/arbuscular mycorrhizae). Plants benefit from improved access to immobile nutrients (especially phosphorus), while fungi receive carbohydrates from plant photosynthesis. Step-by-Step Solution: Parse the word origin to identify partners.Confirm ecological function: nutrient exchange and improved water relations.Select “Root and fungi”.Exclude pairings that do not match the term. Verification / Alternative check: Standard botany and ecology sources uniformly describe mycorrhizae as plant root–fungus associations, distinct from lichens (algae/cyanobacteria + fungi). Why Other Options Are Wrong: Algae–fungi refers to lichens; bacteria–root refers to rhizobia nodulation; bacteria–fungi and algae–bacteria are not mycorrhizae. Common Pitfalls: Assuming “mycorrhiza” involves algae due to familiarity with lichens; remember “rhiza” points to roots. Final Answer: Root and fungi

Question 18

Crop cytogenetics — understanding triticale as a cereal hybrid  Triticale, recognized as the first widely publicized man-made cereal, is an example of which chromosomal category created by interspecific hybridization and chromosome doubling?

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: Triticale is a hybrid of wheat (Triticum) and rye (Secale) developed to combine yield and quality traits of wheat with stress tolerance of rye. Its cytogenetic classification illuminates how plant breeders use chromosome manipulation to stabilize interspecific crosses. Given Data / Assumptions: Triticale arises from crossing two different genera/species: Triticum × Secale. Chromosome doubling is needed to restore fertility. We are to classify the resulting chromosome constitution. Concept / Approach: Allopolyploidy refers to polyploidy involving chromosomes from different species. After hybridization, chromosome doubling (e.g., via colchicine) creates pairing partners for each chromosome set, enabling meiotic stability and fertility. Autopolyploidy, by contrast, involves duplication of a single species’ genome rather than combining different genomes. Step-by-Step Solution: Identify parental lineages: wheat (Triticum) and rye (Secale) → different genomes.Note the need for chromosome doubling to achieve stable meiosis.Classify the outcome: allopolyploid (polyploid with non-homologous genomes).Choose “Artificial allopolyploidy”. Verification / Alternative check: Plant breeding literature and cytogenetics texts explicitly describe triticale as an allopolyploid derived from wheat × rye. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Autopolyploidy duplicates one genome; triticale contains distinct genomes. “Man-made crossing” without polyploidy ignores the essential chromosome doubling. “Artificial evolution” is vague. “Haplodiploidy” describes certain animal sex-determination systems, not crops. Common Pitfalls: Confusing general hybridization with the specific chromosomal status (polyploidy across species). Final Answer: Artificial allopolyploidy

Question 19

Rice physiology — survival in submerged paddy fields  Why can rice plants grow successfully in water-submerged soils typical of paddy cultivation?

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: Flooded paddy soils are hypoxic or anoxic, yet rice thrives where many crops fail. The plant has multiple anatomical and physiological strategies that maintain root function, gas exchange, and tolerance to reduced soil chemistry. Given Data / Assumptions: Environment: waterlogged, oxygen-poor soils. Species: Oryza sativa (rice). Mechanisms may include morphology, oxygen transport, and detoxification. Concept / Approach: Rice develops aerenchyma (air spaces) in roots and shoots, facilitating internal oxygen diffusion from shoots to roots. Oxygen release at root tips and along the cortex forms an oxidized rhizosphere that can precipitate toxic reduced ions (like Fe2+) as less soluble oxides, mitigating toxicity. Rice also expresses enzymes and transporters aiding tolerance to sulfides and other reduced compounds common in flooded soils. Step-by-Step Solution: Identify anatomical adaptation: aerenchyma creates a low-resistance path for O2.Describe physiological effect: radial oxygen loss oxidizes the immediate root zone.Add biochemical tolerance: handling of reduced/toxic species maintains root metabolism.Combine mechanisms → select “All of the above”. Verification / Alternative check: Agronomy and plant physiology studies document each mechanism, explaining rice’s comparative advantage in waterlogged cultivation systems. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Each single mechanism alone is incomplete; rice employs all of them together. “None of the above” contradicts well-established adaptations. Common Pitfalls: Focusing exclusively on aerenchyma while overlooking oxidized rhizospheres and detoxification strategies that enable longer-term survival and productivity. Final Answer: All of the above

Question 20

Plant pigments — biochemical basis of flower colour  The visible colour of many flowers is primarily due to which cellular components or pigments?

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: Flower colours attract pollinators and are central to angiosperm reproduction. Multiple pigments contribute to the palette, but two sources dominate in petals: plastid-based carotenoids and vacuolar anthocyanins. Given Data / Assumptions: We are concerned with the main determinants of petal colour. Chromoplasts house carotenoids (yellow to red/orange). Anthocyanins in vacuoles provide red, purple, blue hues depending on pH and metal chelation. Concept / Approach: Chromoplasts are specialized plastids that accumulate carotenoids, creating yellow and orange colours. Anthocyanins are water-soluble flavonoids stored in vacuoles; their colour shifts with vacuolar pH, co-pigments, and metal ions. Chlorophyll is typically degraded in petals; xanthophylls are carotenoids but the term alone ignores anthocyanins. “Florigen” is a historical term for flowering signal, not a pigment. Step-by-Step Solution: List principal pigment sources in petals: carotenoids (chromoplasts) and anthocyanins (vacuoles).Match colours: carotenoids → yellow/orange; anthocyanins → red/purple/blue.Exclude chlorophyll (mostly absent in petals) and regulatory signals (florigen) not pigments.Select “Chromoplasts or anthocyanin pigments”. Verification / Alternative check: Plant biochemistry and horticulture references consistently attribute petal colours to carotenoids and anthocyanins, with betalains in certain families as exceptions. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Chlorophyll is a leaf pigment, not typically giving petal colour. Xanthophylls are a subset of carotenoids but the answer must include anthocyanins. Florigen is not a pigment. Cellulose is structural and colourless. Common Pitfalls: Overgeneralizing carotenoids as “xanthophylls only,” or assuming chlorophyll colours petals. Petal pigments are specialized. Final Answer: Chromoplasts or anthocyanin pigments

General Plant Biotechnology Questions