SECOND PUC PREPARTORY EXAMINATION, MARCH-2022

SUBJECT: BIOLOGY (36)

TIME: 3 Hours 15 Mins. Max. Marks: 70
PART-A
Answer any TEN of the following questions in ONE word or ONE sentence each: 10x1=10

1. Define embryogenesis.
The process of development of embryo from the zygote is called embryogenesis

2. How does a Chara differ for Marchantia with respect to sexuality?

Chara is unisexual/homothallic/monoecious and Marchantia is unisexual/heterothallic/dioecious

3. Which type of flowers assure seed set even in the absence of pollinators?
Cleistogamous flowers

4. What is polyembryony?
Some angiosperms produce more than one embryo in their seed. This phenomenon is called polyembryony.

5. Give an example for Non-medicated IUD.

Non- medicated IUDs-e.g... Lippes loop.

6. Define Gene pool.

The aggregate of all the genes and their alleles present in an interbreeding population is known as gene
pool.

7. "Evolution also occur by anthropogenic action"- Justify the statement by giving an example.

Eg-1.Resistance of pests to herbicides, pesticides, etc..

2.Antibiotic resistant bacteria- in bacteria which are multidrug resistant due to excess use of

drugs and medicines.

(Any one example )

8. Name the widely used diagnostic test for AIDS.

Enzyme linked immune-sorbent assay.

9. Macrophage in the body acts like a HIV factory. Substantiate.

Viral DNA gets incorporated into DNA of Macrophage and directs the infected cells to produce virus
particles and the macrophages continue to produce virus.

10. Name the Genus of the fungi that helps in Phosphorus enrichment of soil.

Genus of the fungi - Glomus

11. Mention the significance of the 'cyclosporin-A' as a bioactive molecule.

'cyclosporin-A' is used as an immunosuppressive agent in organ transplant patients.

12. The pyramid of biomass in sea is generally inverted. Give reason.

Pyramid of biomass in a sea is inverted because the biomass of fishes is more than the
phytoplankton’s.
 13. Define 'Biopiracy'.

Biopiracy refers to the use of bio-resources by multinational companies and other organisations without
proper authorisation from the countries and people concerned without compensatory payment.

14. State Gause's Competitive exclusion principle.

Gause’s competitive exclusion principle: States that two closely related species competing for the
same resources cannot co- exist indefinitely and the competitively inferior one will be eliminated
eventually.

15. How do sacred grooves help in the conservation of biodiversity?

Sacred grooves are Tracts of forest set aside, and all the trees and wildlife within are venerated and
given total protection. Hence help in conservation of biodiversity.

PART -B

Answer any FIVE of the following questions in 3-5 sentence each, wherever applicable: 5x2=10

16. Mention the asexual reproductive structures in the following : a) Chlamydomonas b) Penicillium

Chlamydomonas - Zoospores
Penicillium - Conidia

17. Differentiate between seasonal breeders and continuous breeders.

SEASONAL BREEDERS CONTINUOUS BREEDERS

: M Mammals that is reproductively active only during Mammals that are reproductively active through
favorable seasons. their reproductive phase.
F

18. Distinguish between geitonogamy and xenogamy.

Geitonogamy: Transfer of pollen grain from the anther to the stigma of another flower of the same
plant.
Xenogamy: Transfer of pollen grains from the anther to the stigma of a different plant.

19. List any four hormones secreted by the placenta.

progestogens ,human chorionic gonadotropin(hCG),human placental lactogen (hPL), estrogen,

20. Define Infertility. Mention the reasons for infertility in humans.

Infertility: Unable to produce children in spite of unprotected sexual co- habitation.
 Reasons for infertility:
 Physical, congenital, diseases, drugs, immunological , psychological

21. Mention the essential criteria for a biomolecule that acts as genetic material.
Essential criteria -(i) It should be able to generate its replica (Replication). (ii) It should chemically
and structurally be stable. (iii) It should provide the scope for slow changes (mutation) that are required
for evolution. (iv) It should be able to express itself in the form of 'Mendelian Characters’.
 22. Differentiate template strand and coding strand of transcription unit.

Template strand Coding strand

It has the polarity 3'→5' It has the polarity 5'→3'

It doesn’t have the sequence same as RNA It has the sequence same as RNA (except
thymine at the place of uracil)
It is not displaced during transcription It is displaced during transcription

It carries coded messages It does not code for anything

It is transcribed It is not transcribed

(Any four )

23. Sketch a labelled structure of an antibody molecule.

structure of an antibody molecule

24. What are the different mechanisms in organisms that help them to cope with stressful conditions in their
habitat?

 Migrate: Organisms move away temporarily from the stressful habitat to more hospitable area
and return when stressful period is over.
 Suspend: In bacteria, fungi and lower plants various kinds of thick walled spores are formed
which help them to survive unfavourable conditions.
 Higher plants show dormancy.
 Animals that are unable to migrate avoid stress by escaping in time Hibernation: during winter
 Aestivation: Avoid summer related problems, heat and desiccation.
 Diapause- Stage of suspended development during unfavourable conditions

25. What is Biomagnification? Mention the effects of DDT biomagnification in birds.

Biomagnification: Increase in concentration of the toxicants at successive trophic levels.

 EFFECTS:
 High concentration of DDT disturb calcium metabolism in birds causing thinning of eggs shell.
 Premature breaking of eggs and leading to the decline in bird population

PART - C

Answer any FIVE of the following questions in 40-80 words each, wherever applicable: 5 x3=15

26. What is Autogamy? Describe any two strategies in flowering plants to prevent this.
Autogamy: Transfer of pollen grains from the anther to the stigma of the same flower.
(Any two strategies)
 Pollen release and stigma receptivity are not synchronised. Either the pollen are released before the stigma
becomes receptive or the stigma becomes receptive before the release of pollen.
 The anther and the stigma are placed in different positions so that the pollen cannot come in contact with
the stigma of the same flower.
 Self- incompatibility is a genetic mechanism that prevents self-pollen from fertilizing the ovules by inhibiting
pollen germination or pollen tube growth in the pistil.
 Production of unisexual flowers i.e. male and female flowers is present on different plants.

27. Define Parturition. Describe how does foetal ejection reflex helps in parturition.
 Parturation: Vigrous contraction of the uterus at the end of pregnancy causes expulsion / delivery of the foetus,
this process is called parturation.
 foetal ejection reflex :The signal for parturition originate from the fully developed foetus and the placenta which
induce mild contractions called foetal ejection reflex.
 This triggers the release of oxytocin hormones from the pituitary.
 The oxytocin acts on the uterine muscle and cause stronger uterine contractions .This leads to the
expulsion of the baby out of the uterus through the birth canal.

28. Give a brief account of Natural birth control Methods.

. Natural methods works on the principle of avoiding chances of ovum and sperm meeting.

 Periodic abstinence: Couples avoid/ abstain from coitus from day 10to 17 of the menstrual cycle
when ovulation is expected. As chances of fertilisation is very high during this period and
conception could be prevented. It is called fertile period.
 Withdrawal or coitus interruptus: The partner withdraws his penis from the vagina just before
ejaculation so as to avoid insemination.
 Lactational amenorrhea (absence of menstruation): Ovulation and the cycle do not occur during
intense lactation following parturition.

29. Drosophila melanogaster is found to be suitable for genetic studies. Mention any three points in support
of the statement.
Drosophila melanogaster is found to be suitable for genetic studies (Any three)
(i) They could be grown on simple synthetic medium in the laboratory.
(ii) They completed their life cycle in about two weeks.
(iii) Single mating could produce large number of progeny flies.
(iv) Clear differentiation between sexes male and female flies are easily distinguishable.
(v) Many types of hereditary variations.

30. Sketch a neat labelled diagram of a typical biogas plant.

 A typical biogas plant
31. What is gel electrophoresis? Explain how this technique is used in the separation and isolation of DNA
fragments.

Gel electrophoresis - It’s the technique used to check the progression of REN and to separate the
DNA fragments.
Steps-

→ DNA being negatively charged is forced to move towards the anode under an electric field in
matrix (agarose gel ).
→ DNA fragments are separated according to their size through sieving effect of the agarose gel
hence the smaller sized fragments move farther.

32. Draw a simplified model of the phosphorus cycle in a terrestrial ecosystem.

33. What are biodiversity hot spots? Name any two regions of accelerated habitat loss in India.
 Biodiversity hotspots: ‘Biodiversity hotspots’ are regions with very high levels of species
richness and high degree of endemism.
 Western Ghats and Himalaya.

34. Explain the role of people’s participation in conservation of forests by taking an example of the Bishnoi
community incident.
Bishnoi women Amrita Devi showed exemplary courage by hugging a tree and daring the king’s men to cut
her first before cutting the tree, the tree mattered more to her than her own life.
 Amrita Devi Bishnoi wild life protection award for individuals or communities from rural area that have
shown extraordinary courage and dedication in protecting wild life.

35. Explain the mechanism of working of an electrostatic precipitator with a diagrammatic representation.
  ELECTROSTSTIC PRECIPITATOR: Removes 99% particulate matter present in the exhaust from a thermal
power plant
 Electrostatic precipitator has electrode wires that are maintained at several thousand volts, which
produce a corona that release electrons.
 These electrons attach to dust particles giving them a net negative charge.
 The collecting plates are grounded and attach to the charged dust particle.
 The velocity of the air between the plates must be low enough to allow the dust to fall.

PART - D

SECTION -I

Answer any FOUR of the following Questions in 200-250 words each, wherever applicable 4x5=20

36. Draw a neat labelled diagram of a typical anatropous ovule.

Typical anatropous ovule

37. Draw a neat labelled sectional view of the human female reproductive system.

Human female reproductive system

38. a) Define Aneuploidy.

Aneuploidy: The addition or deletion of one or a few chromosomes from the usual diploid set of
chromosomes.
b) Write short notes on: i) Down's syndrome ii) Klinefelter's syndrome.
DOWN’S SYNDROME:21 –trisomy
▪Genetic disorder caused due to the presence of an additional copy of the chromosome number 21.
▪The karyotype shows 47 chromosomes(46+1=47)
▪Characteristics : ● short stature with small round head.
● Furrowed tongue and partially open mouth.
● Palm is broad with charecteristic palm crease.
● Physical, psychomotor and mental development is retarded.
KLINEFELTER’S SYNDROME:(44+XXY)=47
▪Genetic disorder caused due to the presence of an additional copy of X chromosome resulting into a
karyotype of47,XXY.
▪Characteristics: ●Individuals have overall masculine development.
●Development of breast(gynaecomastia)
●Individuals are sterile.

39. What is Incomplete Dominance? Explain with reference to flower colour in Snapdragon.
It is a situation in which neither allele of a pair is completely dominant or recessive, and both allele for a
trait are expressed, so that in a heterozygous condition, an intermediate phenotype, which does not
resembel either parents, will be produced.
 When a cross is made between a
pure breeding plant producing red flowers,
genotype (RR) and
another producing white flowers,genotype(rr),
the F1 offspring plants produce pink flowers
genotype(Rr) .Hence neither colour is
dominant ,and a mixture of both coloures
appears in the offspring.
 When heterozygous hybrids of the F1 are
inbred, the F2 generation consist of plants
producing red, white and pink
- coloured flowers.
 The genes for red and white colour
do not blend or mix.

 Penotypic ratio: Red : Pink : White

1 : 2 : 1

 Genotypic ratio: RR : Rr : rr
1 : 2 : 1
40. Define Genetic code. Enumerate any four salient features of Genetic code.
Genetic code-It’s a specific sequence of three nitrogen bases on mRNA, that codes for a specific amino acid.
The salient features of genetic code are as follows:
(i) The codon is triplet. 61 codons code for amino acids and 3 codons do not code for any amino
acids, hence they function as stop codons.
(ii) One codon codes for only one amino acid, hence, it is unambiguous and specific.
(iii) Some amino acids are coded by more than one codon, hence the code is degenerate.
(iv) The codon is read in mRNA in a contiguous fashion. There are no punctuations.
(v) The code is nearly universal: for example, from bacteria to human UUU would code for
Phenylalanine (phe). Some exceptions to this rule have been found in mitochondrial codons, and in
some protozoans.
(vi) AUG has dual functions. It codes for Methionine (met) , and it also act as initiator codon.

41. Explain the role of the inducer in 'Switching on' and 'Switching off" of the lac operon in E.Coli with a
schematic representation.
Lactose is the substrate for the enzyme beta-galactosidase and it regulates switching on and off of
the lac operon. Hence, it is termed as inducer.
MECHANISM : 1.Switching off of the operon – In the absence of an Inducer(Lactose).

The repressor protein binds to the operator region of the operon and prevents RNA polymerase
from transcribing the operon. Hence no Lactose (Substrate / Inducer) none of the enzymes are
synthesised.
2. Switching on of the operon- In the presence of an inducer, such as lactose, the repressor is
inactivated by interaction with the inducer.

This allows RNA polymerase to access the promoter and transcription proceeds. All the three gene
products in lac operon that are required for metabolism of lactose are synthesised.
Three structural genes are (z, y, and a).
The z gene codes for beta-galactosidase (β-gal), y gene codes for permease and a gene encodes for
transacetylase.
 42. Draw a neat labelled diagram of Stanley Miller's apparatus.

Stanley Miller's apparatus

43. What is innate immunity? Explain any four barriers of innate immunity with suitable examples.
Innate Immunity is non-specific type of defence, present at the time of birth.
(i) Physical barriers : Skin on our body is the main barrier which prevents entry of the micro-
organisms. Mucus coating of the epithelium lining the respiratory, gastrointestinal and urogenital
tracts also help in trapping microbes entering our body.
(ii) Physiological barriers : Acid in the stomach, saliva in the mouth, tears from eyes–all prevent
microbial growth.
(iii) Cellular barriers : Certain types of leukocytes (WBC) of our body like polymorpho-nuclear
leukocytes (PMNL-neutrophils) and monocytes and natural killer (type of lymphocytes) in the blood
as well as macrophages in tissues can phagocytose and destroy microbes.
(iv) Cytokine barriers : Virus-infected cells secrete proteins called interferons which protect non-
infected cells from further viral infection.
(any one example under each barrier)
SECTION - II

Answer any THREE of the following questions in 200-250 words each, wherever applicable 3x5=15

44. Explain the steps involved in breeding a new genetic variety of a crop.

1. Collection of genetic variability or germplasm

o Collection and preservation of all the different wild species and relatives of the cultivated species.
o Evaluation of their characters.
o The entire collection having all the diverse alleles for all genes in a given crop is called germplasm
collection.
2. Evaluation and selection of parents
o The germplasm is evaluated to identify plants with desirable combination of characters.
o The selected plants are multiplied and used in hybridization.
o Pure line is created wherever desirable and possible.
3. Cross hybridization among the selected parents
o Cross hybrisdisation of two selected parents by emasculation and bagging, to produce hybrids of
combined character of both parents. For example- high protein quality of one parent may need to be
combined with disease resistant from another parent.
o Usually one in few hundred to a thousand crosses offspring’s shows desirable combinations.
 4. Selection and testing of superior recombinants
o Selection is done from the progeny of hybrids produced by cross hybridization.
o Hybrids plants that are superior to both of the parents are selected.
o Hybrids are self pollinated for several generations till they reach a state of homozygosity.
5. Testing, release and commercialization of new cultivars
o Selected pure lines are evaluated in the research field for their yield and other agronomic traits of
quality, disease resistance etc.
o Testing is done in the fields of farmers at least for three generations.
o The material is compared with best available local crop cultivar -check or reference cultivar.
o If found promising, it’s released for commercialisation as new cultivars.

(Write highlighted 5 points and atleast a relavant sentence)

45. Describe any five applications of Tissue Culture.

Applications-
1.Production of large number of plants- Micropropagation- The method of production of thousands of plants
through tissue culture is called micro propagation.
2.Production of Virus free plants- The plant meristem (apical and axillary) is free of virus hence used as an
explant to obtain virus free plants in tissue culture.
3.Production of Genetically similar plants- Soma clones- The plants which are produced through micropropagation
are genetically identical to the original plant from which they were grown.
4.Production of Somatic hybrids by the fusion protoplasm of two different varieties of plants.Eg: Pomato.

(5.Somaclonal variations-The variations observed affecting cytoplasmic as well as nuclear genome among plants
useful for improvement of crops regenerated from tissue culture.
6. Invitro plant germplasm conservation and cryopreservation in Gene bank. –Nowhere under Tissue culture
heading of text has mentioned fifth application, but if asked enter 5th or 6th point)

46. Describe the role of Microbes in household products.

MICROBES IN HOUSEHOLD PRODUCTS

· Lactobacillus or Lactic acid bacteria (LAB):

- It converts milk to curd and thereby improve it’s nutritional quality by increasing vitamin B12.

- In stomach, LAB helps to check pathogens.

· Bacterial fermentation in dough is used to make foods such as dosa, idli etc. The puffed-up appearance of dough is
due to the production of CO2.

· Baker’s Yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae): It is used to make bread by fermenting dough.

· Toddy is made by fermenting sap from palms.

· Microbes are used to ferment fish, soya bean & bamboo-shoots and to produce cheeses.

· Swiss cheese with large holes is produced by Propionibacterium sharmanii (a bacterium).

. Roquefort cheese is ripened by growing a fungus (Penicillium roqueforti) on them, which gives them a particular
flavour.

47. a) Define plasmid. Mention any two features of a plasmid that are required to facilitate cloning into a
vector. (3M)

Plasmids are self-replicating circular extra-chromosomal DNA of bacteria.

Features of a plasmid
 a. Origin of replication (ori)
b. Selectable marker (marker gene)
c. Cloning sites
(Any two features)

b) List any two methods available for the introduction of r-DNA into the host cell. (2m)

→Heat shock → Micro-injection

→ Biolistics or (gene gun) → Disarmed pathogen vectors
(Any two)
48. What is RNA interference? Explain how this novel strategy is adopted to develop resistance in tobacco
plants against Nematode infection.

- RNAi is a method of cellular defence in all eukaryotic organisms. It prevents translation of a specific
mRNA (silencing) due to a complementary dsRNA molecule.
Steps involved: -Isolation of Nematode-specific genes (DNA).
- Nematode-specific genes are introduced into Agrobacterium vector via RNA virus genome or mobile genetic
elements called Transposons, that replicate via an RNA intermediate.
-It is now made to express in host plant using Agrobacterium vectors via infection.
-It produces both sense & anti-sense RNA in host cells. These RNAs are complementary. So they form double
stranded (ds) RNA.
-ds RNA is fragmented in to 20-25 long oligonucleotides called siRNAs with the help of Dicer and are made to express
via plant genome.
- siRNAs initiate RNAi via RISC(RNA induced silencing complex) leading to the breakdown of nematodal mRNA and
silences it. Thus the parasite starve and cannot survive in a transgenic host expressing specific interfering RNA.

49. Mention the types of interactions among the following :

a) Cuscuta growing on a hedge plant. Plant Ectoparasite
b) An Orchid growing on a mango branch.- Commensalism
c) Cuckoo bird laying its eggs in the nest of a crow. Brood parasitism
d) Association between fungus and algae. Mutualism
e) Cactus and cactus feeding moth. Predation

50. a) State 10% law. (1M)

10% law: Only 10% of the energy is transferred to each trophic level from the lower trophic level.
b) How does Xerarch succession differ from Hydrarch succession? (2M)
 HYDRACH SUCCESSION: Succession takes place in water or very wet areas and the
succession series progress from hydric to mesic conditions.
 XERACH SUCCESSION: Succession takes place in dry areas and the series progress from xeric
to mesic condition
c) Distinguish between standing state and standing crop. (2M)
 Standing state: Amount of nutrients present in the soil at any given time.
 Standing crop- Each trophic level has a certain mass of living material at a particular time.

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