This section includes 7 InterviewSolutions, each offering curated multiple-choice questions to sharpen your Current Affairs knowledge and support exam preparation. Choose a topic below to get started.
| 1. |
The genetic defect adenosine deaminase deficiency may be cured permanently by ______ (a) Enzyme replacement therapy(b) periodic infusion of genetically engineered lymphocytes having ADA cDNA(c) administering adenosine deaminase activators(d) introducing bone marrow cells producing ADA into embryo at an early stage of development. |
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Answer» (d) introducing bone marrow cells producing ADA into embryo at an early stage of development. |
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| 2. |
Enumerate the steps involved in producing transgenic animals. |
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Answer» The various steps involved in the production of transgenic organisms are : 1. Identification and separation of desired gene. 2. Selection of a vector (generally a virus) or direct transmission. 3. Combining the desired gene with the vector. 4. Introduction of transferred vector into cells, tissues, embryo or mature individual. 5. Demonstration of integration and expression of foreign gene in transgenic tissue or animals. Transgenic animals such as mice, rat, rabbit, pig, cow, goat, sheep and fish have been produced. |
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| 3. |
Describe the procedure by which Dolly was developed. |
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Answer» Dolly was the first mammal (Sheep) clone developed by Ian Wilmut and Campbell in 1997. Dolly, the transgenic clone was developed by the nuclear transfer technique and the phenomenon of totipotency. Totipotency refers to the potential of a cell to develop different cells, tissues, organs and finally an organism. The mammary gland udder cells (somatic cells) from a donor sheep (ewe) were isolated and subjected to starvation for 5 days. The udder cells could not undergo normal growth cycle, entered a dormant stage and became totipotent. An ovum (egg cell) was taken from another sheep (ewe) and its nucleus was removed to form an enucleated ovum. The dormant mammary gland cell/udder cell and the enucleated ovum were fused. The outer membrane of the mammary cell was ruptured allowing the ovum to envelope the nucleus. The fused cell was implanted into another ewe which served as a surrogate mother. Five months later dolly was bom. Dolly was the first animal to be cloned from a differentiated somatic cell taken from an adult animal without the process of fertilization. |
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| 4. |
Differentiate between Gene augmentation therapy and gene inhibition therapy. |
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Answer» Gene augmentation therapy which involves insertion of DNA into the genome to replace the missing gene product and Gene inhibition therapy which involves insertion of the anti sense gene which inhibits the expression of the dominant gene. |
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| 5. |
List out the uses of Transgenesis. |
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Answer» 1. Transgenesis is a powerful tool to study gene expression and developmental processes in higher organisms. 2. Transgenesis helps in the improvement of genetic characters in animals.Transgenic animals serve as good models for understanding human diseases which help in the investigation of new treatments for diseases.Transgenic models exist for many human diseases such as cancer, Alzheimer’s, cystic fibrosis, rheumatoid arthritis and sickle cell anemia. 3. Transgenic animals are used to produce proteins which are important for medical and pharmaceutical applications. 4. Transgenic mice are used for testing the safety of vaccines. 5. Transgenic animals are used for testing toxicity in animals that carry genes which make them sensitive to toxic substances than non-transgenic animals exposed to toxic substances and their effects are studied. 6. Transgenesis is important for improving the quality and quantity of milk, meat, eggs and wool production in addition to testing drug resistance. |
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| 6. |
Dolly, the sheep was obtained by a technique known as _______ (a) Cloning by gene transfer (b) Cloning without the help of gametes (c) Cloning by tissue culture of somatic cells (d) Cloning by nuclear transfer |
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Answer» (d) Cloning by nuclear transfer |
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| 7. |
How does Somatic cell therapy differ from germ line gene therapy? |
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Answer» Somatic cell therapy involves the insertion of a fully functional and expressible gene into a target somatic cell to correct a genetic disease permanently whereas Germ line gene therapy involves the introduction of DNA into germ cells which is passed on to the successive generations. Gene therapy involves isolation of a specific gene and making its copies and inserting them into target cells ’to make the desired proteins. |
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| 8. |
How gene therapy is done to treat ADA deficiency? |
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Answer» During gene therapy the lymphocytes from the blood of the patient are removed and grown in a nutrient culture medium. A healthy and functional human gene, ADA cDNA encoding this enzyme is introduced into the lymphocytes using a retrovirus. The genetically engineered lymphocytes are subsequently returned to the patient. Since these cells are not immortal, the patient requires periodic infusion of such genetically engineered lymphocytes. The disease could be cured permanently if the gene for ADA isolated from bone marrow cells are introduced into the cells of the early embryonic stages. |
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| 9. |
Identify the incorrect statement. (i) The first clinical gene therapy was given by French Anderson. (ii) For a four year old boy with ADA deficiency. (iii) ACD is a autosomal dominant metabolic disorder. (iv) Where patients have non-functioning B – lymphocytes.(a) i and iv only (b) ii, iii and iv (c) i, ii and iv (d) all the above |
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Answer» (b) ii, iii and iv |
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| 10. |
Statement 1: ADA deficiency was the first disease treated by gene therapy. Statement 2: ADA is an autosomal recessive metabolic disorder. (a) Statement 4 is true. Statement 2 is false. (b) Statement 1 is false. Statement 2 is true. (c) Both statements 1 and 2 are true. (d) Both statements 1 and 2 are false. |
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Answer» (c) Both statements 1 and 2 are true. |
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| 11. |
The first clinical gene therapy was done for the treatment of ______ (a) AIDS (b) Cancer (c) Cystic fibrosis(d) SCID |
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Answer» Correct Answer is: (d) SCID |
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| 12. |
Define Transgenesis. |
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Answer» Transgenesis is the process of introduction of foreign DNA (exogenous DNA) into the genome of the other organism to create and maintain stable heritable characters. |
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| 13. |
One of the applications of biotechnology is ‘gene therapy” to treat a person born with a hereditary disease1. What does “gene therapy” mean? 2. Name the hereditary disease for which the first clinical gene therapy was used. |
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Answer» 1. SCID (Severe Combined Immuno Deficiency) disease was the first disease treated by using gene therapy. 2. There are two strategies involved in gene therapy namely Gene augmentation therapy, which involves insertion of DNA into the genome to replace the missing gene product and Gene inhibition therapy, which involves insertion of the anti sense gene which inhibits the expression of the dominant gene. |
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| 14. |
Mention the number of primers required in each cycle of PCR. Write the role of primers and DNA polymerase in PCR. Name the source organism of the DNA polymerase used in PCR. |
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Answer» 1. For each cycle of PCR two primers are required. 2. Primers are the small fragments of single stranded DNA or RNA which serves as template for initiating DNA polymerization. 3. DNA polymerase is an enzyme that synthesize DNA molecules by pairing the Deoxyribo Nucleotides leading to formation of new strands. 4. DNA polymerase used in PCR is Taq polymerase which is isolated from a thermophilic bacteria called Thermus aquatics. Taq polymerase will remain active ever at very high temperature (80°C) and hence used in PCR amplification technique. |
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| 15. |
PCR technique was developed by (a) Eva Engvall (b) Peter Perlmanin (c) Kary Mullis (d) Wilmut |
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Answer» (c) Kary Mullis |
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| 16. |
Assertion (A): PCR is a amplification technique used in biotechnology. Reason (R): Using PCR multiple copies of DNA can be generated. (a) R explains A. (b) Both A and Rare incorrect. (c) A is correct. R is incorrect. (d) A and R are correct. R does not explains A. |
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Answer» (a) R explains A. |
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| 17. |
For which disease does the first clinical gene therapy was done? Who accomplished it? |
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Answer» The first clinical gene therapy was done for SCID. Severe Combined Immuno Deficiency disease is caused by ADA deficiency. It was done by French Anderson in 1990. |
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| 18. |
Simply define the PCR technique. Also mention its inventor. |
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Answer» The Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) is an invitro amplification technique used for synthesising multiple identical copies (billions) of DNA of interest. The technique was developed by Kary Mullis in the year 1983. |
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| 19. |
Why are xylem and phloem called complex. |
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Answer» Xylem and phloem are called complex tissues because they contain more than one type of cells, which perform vital functions in plants. |
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| 20. |
Expand PCR and name the steps involved in the process. |
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Answer» 1. PCR – Polymerase Chain Reaction. 2. Denaturation, Renaturation or Primer annealing and Primer extension are the three steps in PCR technique. |
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| 21. |
Write the names of any two molecular diagnostic techniques used for early diagnosis of diseases? |
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Answer» 1. Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) technique. 2. Enzyme Linked Immuno Sorbent Assay (ELISA) |
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| 22. |
Whether PCR can be done for RNA molecules? Explain. |
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Answer» The PCR technique can also be used for amplifications of RNA in which case it is referred to as reverse transcription PCR (RTPCR). In this process the RNA molecules (mRNA) must be converted to complementary DNA by the enzyme reverse transcriptase. The cDNA then serves as the template for PCR. |
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| 23. |
Suggest any two techniques for early diagnosis of bacterial / viral human diseases. |
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Answer» PCR and ELISA |
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| 24. |
How many pollen grains and ovules are likely to be formed in the anther and ovary of an angiosperm bearing 25 microspore mother cells and 25 megaspore mother cells respectively. |
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Answer» Microspore mother cells 25 x 4=100 pollen grains and from megaspore mother cells 25 ovules respectively. 100 pollen grains, 25 ovules. |
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| 25. |
DAISY, the cyber tool is – (a) Digital automated identification system(b) Digital automated information system (c) Direct automated identification system (d) Digital automated identification science |
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Answer» (a) Digital automated identification system |
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| 26. |
Explain how the activity of fascicular cambium and cork cambium contribute towards the growth in thickness of a dicot stem. |
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Answer» Primary growth produces growth in length and development of lateral appendages. Secondary growth is the formation of secondary tissues from lateral meristems. It increases the diameter of the stem. Secondary tissues are formed by two types of lateral meristems, fascicular cambium and cork cambium. Fascicular cambium: The vascular bundles have intrafascicular cambium between xylem and phloem. Interfascicular cambium is formed from parenchyma cells between vascular bundles. Fascicular and interfascicular cambium join to form a complete ring of vascular cambium. The cells of cambium ring divide diagonally to form secondary phloem outside and secondary xylem towards the inner side. The amount of secondary xylem produced is always greater than that of secondary phloem. Due to formation of greater amount of secondary xylem, the cambium ring moves towards the periphery and the primary xylem and phloem which were near together are separated far apart. Cork cambium: The outermost layer of cortex becomes meristematic and is called cork cambium. Sometimes hypodermis also become meristematic and forms cork cambium. The cells of cork cambium divide by periclinal division towards outer side to form cork. The cork has rectangular cells which become dead at maturity. These are highly thick walled due to the presence of a chemical called suberin. Thus cork is also called suberised tissue. The cork is impervious to water and thus outer layers like hypodermis and epidermis become dead. The cells of the cork Cambium also divide towards their inner side by periclinal divisions to form secondary cortex. It has loosely packed parenchymatous cells which are thick walled. The phellem, phellogen and phelloderm are collectively called periderm. All dead cells outer to cork cambium form bark. It includes dead cells cork, hypodermis and epidermis. |
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| 27. |
What are neo – taxonomical tools? |
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Answer» The new taxonomical tools which are based on electron microscopic images to study the molecular structure of cell organelles are neo-taxonomical tools. |
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| 28. |
Name some Automated species identification tools or cybertools. |
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Answer» ALIS : Automated Leafhopper Identification System. DAISY : Digital Automated Identification System. ABIS : Automatic Bee Identification System. SPIDA : Species Identified Automatically (spiders, wasp, bee wing characters). Draw wing : Honey bee wing identification. |
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| 29. |
Nomenclature of organisms is necessary. |
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Answer» The unique nomenclature for each organisms is necessary as it is uniform in all countries and in all languages. A scientific name refers to only one organism. |
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| 30. |
What are the taxonomical tools used for the study of plants and animals? |
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Answer» Herbarium and Botanical garden may be used as tools for the plant taxonomy. Museum, Taxonomical keys and Zoological parks are classical tools for animal studies. Field visits, survey, identification, classification, preservation and documentation are the important components of taxonomical tools. |
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| 31. |
Origin of species is the book written by – (a) John Ray (b) Charles Darwin (c) Linnaeus (d) Aristotle |
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Answer» (b) Charles Darwin |
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| 32. |
The unit of classification containing concrete biological entities is ………..(a) taxon(b) species (c) category (d) order |
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Answer» The unit of classification containing concrete biological entities is taxon. |
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| 33. |
What are the rules to be followed in the nomenclature of organisms? |
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Answer» The scientific name should be italicized in printed form and the generic name and specific name should be underlined separately if it is handwritten.
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| 34. |
What is binomial system of nomenclature? |
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Answer» The system of naming the organism with two names, generic name and specific (species) name is known as binomial system of nomenclature, e.g. Pavo cristatus – Indian pea fowl. |
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| 35. |
Binomial nomenclature refers to ………….(a) Two names of a species (b) one specific and one local name of a species (c) two words for the name of a species (d) two life cycles of a organism |
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Answer» (c) two words for the name of a species |
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| 36. |
Binomial nomenclature was given by …………(a) Huxley (b) Ray (c) Darwin (d) Linnaeus |
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Answer» (d) Linnaeus |
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| 37. |
Two words comprising the binomial nomenclature are ………… (DPMT-96) (a) Family & genus(b) order & family (c) genus & species(d) species & variety |
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Answer» (c) genus & species |
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| 38. |
Who was known as the father of Botany? (a) Aristotle (b) Carolus Linnaeus (c) John Ray (d) Theophrastus |
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Answer» (d) Theophrastus (d).Theophrastus |
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| 39. |
Who developed the scientific system of Taxonomy and Binomial nomenclature? (a) R.H. Whittaker (b) Carolus Linnaeus (c) John Ray (d) Charles Darwin |
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Answer» (b) Carolus Linnaeus |
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| 40. |
Who coined the term ‘taxonomy’?(a) Candolle (b) Waksman (c) Leuwenhoek (d) Louis Pasteur |
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Answer» (a) Candolle |
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| 41. |
What is natural system of classification? |
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Answer» Linnaeus considered a few characters of organisms for classifying them. Later many characters were considered for classifying organisms. Morphological, anatomical and embryological characters were considered. |
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| 42. |
What is phylogenetic classification or cladistics? |
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Answer» The classification of organisms based on evolutionary and genetic relationship among them is known as phylogenetic classification. |
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| 43. |
What is numerical taxonomy? |
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Answer» The evaluation of resemblances and differences of organisms through statistical methods followed by computer analysis to establish the numerical degree of relationship among them is known as numerical taxonomy. |
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| 44. |
Why growth and reproduction cannot be taken as defining property of all living organisms ? |
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Answer» • Non-living things can also increase in mass by accumulation of material on surface. • Many organisms do not reproduce (e.g., mules, sterile worker bees). |
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| 45. |
Do people in coma have consciousness in them? |
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Answer» The three major disorders of consciousness are coma vegetative state, and minimally conscious state. In coma, which typically is present for the first one to two weeks after brain injury, patients are not awake or aware, meaning that they do not open their eyes, have only reflex responses and are unaware of those around them. If a coma lasts more than two or three weeks, it evolves into the vegetative state. In this state, unlike coma, wakefulness is present, which means that patients' eyes open either spontaneously or in response to stimulus. However, as in coma, awareness is not present. If the vegetative state persists for more than three to six months, the term persistent vegetative state is applied. |
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| 46. |
Which is the first step of taxonomy?(a) nomenclature (b) classification (c) identification (d) hierarchical arrangement |
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Answer» (c) identification |
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| 47. |
What is the meaning of all-inclusive and all-exclusive characteristics of living beings? |
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Answer» Reproduction cannot be used as an all inclusive defining characteristic of living organisms as there are few organisms that cannot reproduce like mules, worker bees, infertile man or woman etc. Inclusive means ‘all other things included’. Exclusive means ‘not with other things’ |
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| 48. |
Which of the histogens gives rise to root cap?(a) Plerome(b) Periblem (c) Dermatogen (d) Calyptrogen |
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Answer» Correct Answer is: (d) Calyptrogen |
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| 49. |
Cladogram considers the following characters – (a) Physiological and Biochemical (b) Evolutionary and Phylogenetic (c) Taxonomie and systematic (d) None of the above |
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Answer» (b) Evolutionary and Phylogenetic |
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| 50. |
Which of the following statement is not correct?(a) The outer most layer of the root is called piliferous layer. (b) The chief function of piliferous layer is protection. (c) Piliferous layer is made up of parenchyma cells with intracellular space. (d) Piliferous layer is made up of parenchyma cells without intracellular space. |
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Answer» (d) Piliferous layer is made up of parenchyma cells without intracellular space. |
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