38 STRATEGIES FOR ENHANCEMENT IN FOOD PRODUCTION

EXERCISE – 2: Previous Year Questions

1. Mutations in plant cells can be induced by: 3. Which of the following is not a step in Multiple
Ovulation Embryo Transfer Technology (MOET)?
(NEET 2021)
(NEET 2021)
(a) Gamma rays (b) Zeatin (a) Cow is fertilized by artificial insemination
(c) Kinetin (d) Infrared rays (b) Fertilized eggs are transferred to surrogate
Ans. (a) mothers at 8-32 cell stage
Sol. Induced mutation is one of the best alternatives for (c) Cow is administered hormone having LH like
the improvement of crop plants as it can help to activity for superovulation
regenerate and restore the variability, which is (d) Cow yields about 6-8 eggs at a time
generally lost in the process of adaptation to various Ans. (c)
stresses. Gamma sources are used to irradiate a wide Sol. Multiple ovulation embryo transfer technology is used
range of plant materials, like seeds, whole plants, for herd improvement in a short time. Cows are
plant parts, flowers, anthers, pollen grains, and administered hormones, with FSH-like activity for
single-cell cultures or protoplasts. Radiations have superovulation. 8-32 celled embryos are transferred
been used successfully to induce useful mutations for to surrogate mothers. 6-8 eggs are produced per
plant breeding. The lower doses/ concentrations of cycle. Cows can be fertilised by artificial
the mutagenic treatments could enhance the insemination.
biochemical components, which are used for 4. Which of the following is not an objective of
improved economic characters. biofortification in crops? (NEET 2021)
(a) Improve vitamin content
2. Match List-I with List-II. (NEET 2021) (b) Improve micronutrient and mineral content
(c) Improve protein content
List I List II
(d) Improve resistance to diseases
(a) Protoplast fusion (i) Totipotency
Ans. (d)
(b) Plant tissue culture (ii) Pomato
(c) Meristem culture (iii) Somaclones Sol. Biofortification – breeding crops with higher levels of
(d) Micropropagation (iv) Virus free plants vitamins and minerals, or higher protein and healthier
fats – is the most practical means to improve public
(a) (a)- (iii); (b) - (iv); (c) - (i);(d) - (ii) health. Breeding for improved nutritional quality is
(b) (a)- (iv); (b) - (iii); (c) - (ii);(d) - (i) undertaken with the objectives of improving – (i)
(c) (a)- (iii); (b) - (iv); (c) - (ii);(d) - (i) Protein content and quality; (ii) Oil content and
(d) (a)- (ii); (b) - (i); (c) - (iv);(d) - (iii) quality; (iii) Vitamin content; and (iv) Micronutrient
and mineral content.
Ans. (d)
Sol. When the protoplast of tomato is fused with that of
potato, and then they are grown – to form new hybrid 5. By which method was a new breed ‘Hisardale’ of
plants combining tomato and potato characteristics, sheep formed by using Bikaneri ewes and Marino
resulting in the formation of pomato. The capacity to rams? (NEET 2020)
generate a whole plant from any cell/explant in plant (a) Cross breeding (b) Inbreeding
tissue culture is called totipotency. Virus-free plants (c) Out crossing (d) Mutational breeding
can be obtained through meristem culture. The
Ans. (a)
method of producing thousands of plants through
Sol. Cross-breeding is the process where the breeding
tissue culture is called micro-propagation. Each of
between the two individuals of different species takes
these plants will be genetically identical to the
place. “Hisardale” is a new breed of sheep
original plant from which they were grown, i.e., they
developed by crossing Bikaneri ewes and Marino
are somaclones.
rams in Punjab.
STRATEGIES FOR ENHANCEMENT IN FOOD PRODUCTION
6. Select the incorrect statement. (NEET 2019)
(a) Inbreeding is essential to evolve purelines in any
animal.
(b) Inbreeding select harmful recessive genes that
reduce fertility and productivity.
(c) Inbreeding helps in accumulation of superior
genes and elimination of undesirable genes.
(d) Inbreeding increases homozygosity.
Ans. (b)
Sol. Inbreeding exposes harmful recessive genes that are
eliminated by selection. It also helps in accumulation
of superior genes and elimination of less desirable
genes. Therefore, this selection at each step increases
the productivity of inbred population. Close and
continued inbreeding usually reduces fertility and
even productivity.
7. Artificial selection to obtain cows yielding higher
milk output represents (NEET 2017)
(a) Stabilizing selection as it stabilizes the character
in the population.
(b) Directional as it pushes the mean of the character
in one direction.
(c) Disruptive as it splits the population into two one
yielding higher output and the other lower output.
(d) Stabilizing followed by disruptive as it stabilizes
the population to produce higher yielding cows.
Ans. (b)
Sol. Artificial selection to obtain cows yielding higher
milk output will lead to the shift of the mean of the
character to one side. This is a directional change.
In a stabilizing selection, organisms with the mean
value of the trait are selected. When extremes are
selected, it is called a disruptive selection.
8. Interspecific hybridization is the mating of
(NEET 2016)
(a) animals within same breed without having
common ancestors
(b) two different related species
(c) superior males and females of different breeds
(d) more closely related individuals within same
breed for 4-6 generations
Ans. (b)
39
Sol. Interspecific hybridization is the mating of the
different but related species from the same genus.
The progeny that results is usually sterile but has
characteristics of both the species. Mule is an
example of interspecific hybridization between a
male donkey and a female horse.
9. Among the following edible fishes, which one is a
marine fish having a rich source of omega-3 fatty
acids? (NEET 2016)
(a) Mystus (b) Mangur
(c) Mrigala (d) Mackerel
Ans. (d)
Sol. Mrigala is the marine fish having a very rich source
of proteins and their egg may be useful in preparing
protein rich food supplements. Among the following
edible fishes, Mackerel is a marine fish having a rich
source of omega-3 fatty acids. Mackerel also contains
proteins, minerals and vitamins as a source and little
fat. Mystus is a high fatty fish with a high level of
polyunsaturated fatty acids and about 10-11% protein
present in it. Mangur is also known as the walking
catfish. This category of fish also does not contain
omega-3 fatty acids.
10. Outbreeding is an important strategy of animal
husbandry because it (NEET 2015)
(a) exposes harmful recessive genes that are
eliminated by selection
(b) helps in accumulation of superior genes
(c) is useful in producing purelines of animals
(d) is useful in overcoming inbreeding depression
Ans. (d)
Sol. Inbreeding depression is the decrease in individual
fitness in small population sizes due to the mating of
genetically related individuals. This results in the
expression of recessive traits. This can be prevented
and overcome by out breeding.
11. To obtain virus-free healthy plants from a diseased
one by tissue culture technique, which part/parts of
the diseased plant will be taken? (NEET 2014)
(a) Apical meristem only
(b) Palisade parenchyma
40 STRATEGIES FOR ENHANCEMENT IN FOOD PRODUCTION
(c) Both apical and axillary meristems
(d) Epidermis only
Ans. (c)
Sol. The apical and axillary meristems are not invaded by
viruses even during the course of infection as these
are rapidly dividing undifferentiated cells which have
a high interferon activity. Hence, to obtain virus-free
healthy plants from a diseased plant during the
process of tissue culture, these tissues are used.
12. In plant breeding programmes, the entire collection
(of plants/seeds) having all the diverse alleles for all Ans. (d)
genes in a given crop is called (NEET 2013) Sol.
(a) selection of superior recombinants
(b) cross-hybridization among the selected parents
(c) evaluation and selection of parents
(d) germplasm collection
Ans. (d)
Sol. The germplasm collection is the entire collection of 15.
plants/seeds having all the diverse alleles for all the
genes in a given crop. These are used in plant
breeding programmes.
Ans. (b)
13. Which one of the following is a case of wrong Sol.
matching? (AIPMT 2012)
(a) Somatic hybridization - Fusion of two diverse
cells
(b) Vector DNA - Site for tRNA synthesis
(c) Micropropagation - In vitro production of plants
in large numbers
(d) Callus - Unorganized mass of cells produced in
tissue culture 16.
Ans. (b)
Sol. Vector DNA is a DNA molecule which functions as a
vehicle to transfer foreign genetic material into the
desired host cell. This function is useful in
recombinant DNA technology.
Ans. (d)
It is not the site of t-RNA synthesis.
Sol.
14. Consider the following four statements (I-IV) and
select the option which includes all the correct ones
only.
I. Single cell Spirulina can produce large quantities
of food rich in protein, minerals, vitamins, etc.
II. Body weight-wise the microorganism Methylophilus
methylotrophus may be able to produce several times
more proteins than the cows per day.
III. Common button mushrooms are a very rich
source of vitamin-C.
IV. A rice variety has been developed which is very
rich in calcium. (AIPMT 2012)
(a) Statements III and IV
(b) Statements I, III and IV
(c) Statements II, III and IV
(d) Statements I and II
Statement 3 is incorrect as common button
mushrooms are rich in the B group of vitamins.
Statement 4 is incorrect as there is no such rice
variety that is rich in calcium. Rice is rich in
carbohydrates. Statement 1 and 2 are correct.
‘Jaya' and `Ratna' developed for green revolution in
India are the varieties of (AIPMT 2011)
(a) maize (b) rice
(c) wheat (d) bajra
'Jaya' and 'Ratna' developed during the green
revolution are varieties of rice. The Green Revolution
in India was a phase when Indian agriculture was
converted into an industrial system with the
understanding of modern methods and techniques like
the use of high yielding variety seeds, agricultural
automobiles, irrigation facilities and chemicals like
pesticides and fertilizers.
‘Himgiri’ developed by hybridisation and selection
for disease resistance against rust pathogens is a
variety of (AIPMT 2011)
(a) chilli (b) maize
(c) sugarcane (d) wheat
Himgiri is a wheat variety that is resistant to hill bunt
disease which is caused by leaf and stripe rust
pathogens. It was developed by hybridisation and
selection.
STRATEGIES FOR ENHANCEMENT IN FOOD PRODUCTION 41

17. When two unrelated individuals or lines are crossed, Sol. Haploids are more suitable for mutation studies as all
the performance of F1 hybrid is often superior to both mutations whether dominant or recessive are
its parents. This phenomenon is called expressed in haploid. Diploids however, only express
(AIPMT 2011) dominant mutations phenotypically.
(a) transformation (b) splicing
(c) metamorphosis (d) heterosis
Ans. (d)
Sol. Heterosis, also known as hybrid vigor or outbreeding
enhancement is the phenomenon in which the hybrid
offspring has improved or increased function of a
particular biological quality. Hence, the hybrid is
superior to both the parents.

18. Breeding of crops with high levels of minerals,

vitamins and proteins is called (AIPMT 2010)
(a) somatic hybridisation (b) biofortification
(c) biomagnification (d) micropropagation
Ans. (b)
Sol. Biofortification is the process in which crops are bred
with high levels of minerals, vitamins and proteins.
The wheat variety “Atlas 66” has a higher protein
content compared to the generic wheat. Such
processes help keep malnutrition in check.

19. Somaclones are obtained by (AIPMT 2009)

(a) plant breeding (b) irradiation
(c) genetic engineering (d) tissue culture
Ans. (d)
Sol. Somaclones are plants that are genetically identical to
the parent plant. These are produced by using the
somatic cells of a parent plant through tissue culture
technique.

20. Haploids are more suitable for mutation studies than

the diploids. This is because
(AIPMT 2008)
(a) haploids are more abundant in nature than diploids
(b) all mutations, whether dominant or recessive are
expressed in haploids
(c) haploids are reproductively more stable than
diploids
(d) mutagens penetrate in haploids more effectively
than in diploids
Ans. (b)