08

HEALTH AND DISEASES

As an average 4 to 5 questions are asked from this chapter. These questions are based upon bacterial
diseases, viral diseases and STDs.

Some of them are as follows

HEALTH
Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social Bacterial Diseases
well-being. It is the functional or metabolic efficiency of
a living being. Some basic factors such as balanced diet, Following diseases are caused by bacteria
personal hygiene and regular exercise contributes to
good health. Apart from these, awareness about diseases 1. Tuberculosis (TB)
and immunisation, etc., also affects health. • It is caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (gram positive).
• It spreads through coughing, sneezing, talking and splitting
DISEASES droplets. Symptoms of this disease are fever, cough, sputum
with blood, chest pain, loss of appetite, weight loss.
Disease is a condition of disturbed or damaged • It can be prevented by immunisation that includes BCG
functioning of the body due to infection, defective diet, (Bacillus Calmette Guerin) vaccine, isolation of patient,
heredity and environment. The causes of disease in sanitation, etc.
humans can be pathogens, genetical, etc.
• Antibiotics such as rifampicin, isoniazid, etc.
Different types of diseases are categorised as follows
Disease 2. Diphtheria
• It is caused by Corynebacterium diphtheriae (gram
Communicable Non-communicable Genetic disorders
diseases diseases, e.g. cancer e.g. Haemophillia
positive).
• Infection occurs through droplets.
• It is characterised by slight fever, oozing of semisolid
Bacterial Viral Protozoan Fungal
diseases diseases diseases diseases material in throat (sore throat).
• Immunisation is done with DPT vaccine.
Communicable Diseases 3. Pertussis/Whooping Cough
There are various kinds of communicable diseases, • It is caused by Bacillus pertussis or Bordetella pertussis
which affect the health of human beings. These diseases (gram negative).
are infectious, i.e. they spread from affected individual
• Infection occurs through direct contact and droplets,
to normal individual. These are caused by pathogens
such as bacteria, virus, Protozoa and fungi. These characterised by inflamation of respiratory passage, cold,
pathogens can spread the disease by means of air, water, cough and mild fever in beginning leading to accumulation
vectors or sexual contact. of mucus and inspiratory whoop.
GENERAL SCIENCE Biology 805

• Vaccination is done with DPT 7. Pneumonia • Treatment with antiplague vaccine,

(Diphtheria, Pertussis and spraying of pesticides for killing of
• It is caused by Diplococcus
Tetanus), use of antibiotic drugs rats.
like erythromycin, pneumoniae or Streptococcus
• Wayson stain test is performed for
chloramphenicol and ampicillin. pneumoniae (gram positive).
diagnosis of this disease.
• It transmits through droplets
4. Tetanus / Lock Jaw (sputum). 11. Typhoid
Disease (Dhanustamba) • Symptoms are sudden chill, chest • It is caused by Salmonella typhi.
• It is caused by Clostridium tetani pain, cough with rusty mucoid • It spreads through food, milk and
(rod-shaped, gram positive). sputum and rise in temperature.
water contaminated with intestinal
• Its infection occurs through spores • It is treated by uses of drugs like discharge either directly or through
of bacteria entering into body via erythromycin, tetracycline and houseflies.
wounds, accidents and unsterilised penicillin. • High fever in steps, lesions and
surgical instruments as this ulceration in the intestinal wall are
bacterium secretes tetanospasmin 8. Syphilis common symptoms.
toxin. • It is caused by Treponema pallidum
• Use of antibiotics (ampicillin and
• It is characterised by muscular (a spirochaete). chloramphenicol), prolonged
rigidity (lock jaw) and painful • It transmits through sexual contact treatment is required for this disease.
muscular spasm. and from mother to children. • Widal test is performed for diagnosis
• Injection of ATS (Anti Tetanus
• Common symptoms are painless of this disease.
Serum) within 24 hours of injury
ulcer on the genitals and swelling of
leads to protection against this
disease.
local lymph glands, rashes, hair loss, 12. Leprosy
swollen joints and flu-like illness. (Hansen’s Disease)
5. Cholera • Disease is curable through
• It is caused by Mycobacterium leprae.
appropriate antibiotics, e.g.
• It is caused by Vibrio cholerae. • It does not spread by initial contact,
penicillin and tetracycline.
• It spreads through contaminated but prolonged closer contact through
food and water or by direct 9. Gonorrhoea skin lesions, nasal and throat
contact. discharges also spreads this disease.
• It is characterised by effortless • It is caused by Neisseria
• Sanitation and use of suitable drugs
watery stool, vomiting, rapid gonorrhoeae or Diplococcus
like dapsone, rifampicin, ofloxacin
dehydration, muscular cramps. gonorrhoeae.
and chaulmoogra oil along with
• It is treated by use of ORS (Oral • It spreads through sexual contact, surgery may protect from the disease.
Rehydration Solution) and common toilets and under clothes.
• Bacterium can enter into the body
sanitation. • Bacterium lives in genital tubes, and damage nerves, skin, lymph
• ORS contains (1L) 1.5 g glucose, produces pus containing discharge, nodes, eyes, nose, mouth, larynx,
3.5 g NaCl, 2.9 g KCl and 12.9 g pain around genitalia and burning muscles, spleen, etc.
trisodium citrate. sensation during urination.
• Appearance of skin patches,
• Use of antibiotics, e.g. penicillin,
6. Diarrhoea numbness in some body parts, fever,
ampicillin and maintain high moral
finally ulcer, nodules, lesions, scaly
• It is caused by Salmonella characters.
scabs, deformities in finger, toes and
typhimurium (salmonellosis) and • It is Venereal Disease (VD) or wasting of body parts are symptoms.
Shigella shigae (shigellosis). Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD).
• It spreads through contaminated 13. Botulism
meat and other proteinaceous food 10. Plague/Bubonic • It is caused by Clostridium botulinum.
articles and transmitted through Plague (Black Death) • Symptoms are double vision, blurred
fingers, beds, clothes and utensils • This disease is caused by Yersinia vision, drooping eyelids, slurred
and most importantly by faeces. pestis or Pasturella pestis. speech, difficulty in swallowing, dry
• Vomiting, nausea, headache, • It spreads through rat flea mouth and muscle weakness.
paratyphoid fever and frequent (Xenopsylla cheopis) to man. • It spreads through contaminated food
passage of stool with mucus, blood and water or food stuffs product.
• Symptoms are armpit and groin
and abdominal cramps are
swell up into painful buboes, • To remove the source of toxin
symptoms.
high-fever, chill, exhaustion and producing bacteria, the
• Oral and intravenous rehydration is
haemorrhages, which turns black. administration of proper antibiotics
required for treatment. are used.
806 NDA/NA Pathfinder

4. Chickenpox • It spreads by the entering of

Viral Diseases contaminated air into respiratory
Following diseases are caused by viruses • It is caused by Varicella zoster
tract.
with incubation period of 14-16
days. • It starts with fever, headache, sore
1. Measles (Khasra) throat, cold with sneezing and pain
• It is caused by Rubeola • It is a contagious disease that
all over the body with restlessness.
virus/Polynosa morbillorum. occurs in winter and springs.
• No vaccine, hygiene and sanitation.
• It is transmitted by contact, fomite or • Presence of prodermal rashes
with crops of pinkish centripetal
droplet methods.
spots first on trunk, forehead
7. Rabies / Hydrophobia
• The virus enters through respiratory and face. • It is caused by Rhabdo virus.
tract and conjuctiva. • It is transmitted to human beings by
• Uneasiness, aches and high fever
• It is characterised by itching, skin accompany each new crop. Spots bitting saliva of rabid (mad) dog or
rash, small raised red spot in turn into fluid-filled vesicles and cat.
crescent-shaped groups starting from then scabs. • Jackals, wolves, foxes, mongoose and
back of ears and reaching to forehead,
• Scabs fall off without leaving any bats also have rabies virus.
face and then on whole body.
mark. • Initial symptoms of rabies are
• Antibiotics and vitamin-A are given
• No drugs and no vaccines, only excessive saliva from mouth, severe
to prevent complications. Vaccination
use of boric acid and calamine headache, high fever, depression and
MMR (Mumps, Measles, Rubella) is
reduces itching problem. inability to swallow even fluids due
given at the age of one.
to choked throat.
2. Mumps 5. Polio / Infantile • Fear of water, i.e. hydrophobia is
• It is caused by Paramyxo or Mumps Paralysis most important characteristic.
virus. • It is caused by Polio virus or • The virus destroys the brain and
Entero virus. spinal cord.
• It is transmitted by direct contact,
droplet. • Highly infectious disease of • Bitten person should be immediately
infant and children. administered vaccine (earlier 14
• In this disease, patient feels difficulty
inoculations but now 6 doses of
in swallowing and opening of mouth. • Transmitted through faeces,
vaccines) are recommended.
• Its symptoms are high fever, chills, urine and nasal secretions
contaminating food, water,
• Dog should be watched for 10 days
headache, general bodyaches and loss
drinks, either directly or through for the development of rabies
of appetite.
flies with an incubation period of symptoms (running amuck, change of
• Treated by vaccination with MMR. voice and excessive salivation).
5-17 days.
3. Smallpox (Chechuk) • It produces inflammation of the 8. Dengue Fever
• It caused by Variola virus. nervous system causing inability
• It is caused by DEN-1-4 virus and
to bend the head forward.
• Common but less severe in children transmitted by female Tiger mosquito
of upto 10 years and severe, but rare • Paralysis starts following the (Aedes aegypti).
in adults. weakness of particular skeletal • Its symptoms are headache, fever
muscles.
• Infection spreads from oral, nasal, chill, pain in joints and skin rashes.
vesicular discharges, pustules and • Polio is preventive. More severe in adults.
scabs. • Salk’s vaccine (now Sabin’s oral) • In this disease, blood platelets
• Symptoms are reddish spots, which is available for taking at the age number falls below 70000/mm 3 .
change into papules, pustules and of 6 weeks, 10 weeks, 14 weeks • Paracetamol with replenishment of
finally scab. and booster dose at 18-24 blood platelets may be helpful.
• Spots appear first on the hair line, months.
then face followed by over rest of the • The Hoffkine Institute of 9. Hepatitis
body, but fewer on the trunk. On Mumbai is known for the • It is commonly called jaundice.
falling, these spots left permanent production of polio vaccine.
• Jaundice is the result of incomplete
marks. metabolism of bilirubin pigment of
• Vaccination for small pox was 6. Influenza / Flu wornout RBCs.
developed by Edward Jenner • It is caused by Haemophilus
• Its infection spreads through
in 1796. influenzae or Myxovirus faecal-oral route and polluted water.
influenzae.
GENERAL SCIENCE Biology 807

• Initially liver is enlarged and congested. 12. Chikungunya

• Symptoms are fever, nausea, vomiting, pain in muscles
• It is caused by Alphavirus and spreads by Aedes mosquito.
and joints. Urine is dark and stool is pale. • The symptoms are fever, joint pain, swelling and rashes.
• Six varieties of hepatitis virus are HAV, HBV, HCV,
• It can be prevented by checking mosquito populations.
HDV, HEV and HGV.
• No such treatment apart from paracetamol and anti
• Personal cleanliness, use of boiled water, properly
inflammatory drugs.
cooked/cleaned food articles and control of flies are
required. 13. Swine Flu
10. AIDS • It is caused by H1N1 virus.

• Acquired Immuno Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) is a • It is also called hog flu or pig influenza.
disease of human immune system. • The risk of this disease is higher in those, who consume pork.
• It is caused by Human Immunodeficiency Virus • Symptoms are fever, lethargy, sneezing, coughing, difficulty
(HIV). in breathing and decreased appetite.
• HIV is a lentivirus of the retrovirus family. • Tamiflu and relenza vaccine are used to prevent this disease.
• HIV can spread by the following methods • There is absence of an effective treatment or vaccine for
(i) Through sexual contact, e.g. oral, vaginal and anal swine flu.
sex.
(ii) Through blood transfusions, e.g. accidental needle Helminthic Diseases
sticks or needle sharing. These diseases are caused by helminthic worms. Some
(iii) From mother to child, e.g. a pregnant woman can helminthic diseases are
transmit virus to her foetus through their shared
blood circulation or a nursing mother can pass it 1. Ascariasis
to her baby through breast’s milk.
• It is caused by Ascaris lumbricoides.
• Major clinical symptoms of AIDS in humans are loss
• It spreads through raw vegetables, dirty hands and ingestion
of weight, prolonged fever, chronic diarrhoea, red or
of contaminated soil.
brown blotches on or under the skin of nose, mouth.
swallon gland, fatigue, etc. • Its symptoms are nausea, cough and severe abdominal pain.
Intestinal destruction may also occur.
• In children less then 12 years of age, persistent
cough is not a clinical symptom of AIDS. • Preventive measures includes sanitation and uses of
antihelminthic drugs.
• ELISA, PCR and RIP/IFA are the confirmatory tests
for AIDS.
2. Taeniasis
• Anti-retroviral drugs, e.g. AZT (Azidothymidine),
• It is caused by Taenia solium.
zidovudine and norvir are used to supress AIDS.
• It spreads through improperly cooked food and also through
• AIDS day is observed on 1st December.
raw vegetables, which are not properly washed.
11. Yellow Fever • The symptoms are chronic indigestion, anorexia, similar
symptoms of epilepsy.
• It is caused by Flavi virus.
• Treated by sanitation, use of properly cooked food and
• The mosquito Aedes aegypti transmits the virus to
helminthic drugs.
humans.
• Its symptoms are aching muscles particularly the back 3. Filariasis
and knee muscles, dizziness, loss of appetite, nausea, • It is caused by Wuchereria bancrofti.
shivers (chills) and vomiting. Skin and whites of eyes
• Transmitted by Culex sp. of mosquito.
take a yellow tinge.
• Fever, legs may become swollen and resemble with those of
• No effective antiviral medication, but making sure
the patient’s blood pressure is adequate, replacing elephant. So, this disease is also called elephantiasis.
lost blood and treating any secondary infections. • The preventive measures includes destruction of mosquitoes
• This disease is not prevalent in India.
and use of mosquito repellent creams and mats and
antihelminthic drugs.
808 NDA/NA Pathfinder

Protozoan Diseases 4. African Sleeping Sickness

These diseases are caused by protozoans. Some protozoan (Trypanosomiasis)
diseases are • It is caused by Trypanosoma gambiense.
• The parasite is transmitted by blood sucking tse-tse fly
1. Malaria (Glossina palpalis).
• It is caused by Plasmodium species. It affects several • Parasite lives in blood plasma.
body parts like liver (initial multiplication), RBCs, • Fever with glandular swelling.
spleen and brain. But it does not affect kidney. It
• In acute condition, parasite enters into cerebrospinal fluid
shows multiplication in liver.
and damage the brain. It makes the patient lethargic and
Plasmodium has two hosts unconscious.
(i) Female Anopheles mosquito (definitive or primary • Prevention is done by eradicating from flies and shrubs.
host) present in the saliva of mosquito.
(ii) Human beings (intermediate or secondary host). Fungal Diseases
• Plasmodium vivax Fungal diseases are also called mycoses. Mycoses are
(i) It causes benign tertian malaria. common in human as well as in animals. One of them is
(ii) Most common in India.
• Plasmodium falciparum
Ringworm
• It is caused by Microsporum.
(i) It causes cerebral malaria.
• It spreads by unbathed cats, dogs or infected persons.
(ii) Common in certain parts of India.
• In this disease, sores are formed, which become reddish
• Plasmodium ovale and contain blisters.
(i) Rarest species, which infects man. • Treated by proper sanitation and hygiene.
• Plasmodium malariae • Some other fungal diseases with their causative agents are
(i) Common in tropical Africa, Burma, Sri Lanka and aspergillosis (Aspergillus fumigatus), meningitis
parts of India. (Cryptococcus neoformans), dermatitis of beard and hair
(ii) Use of mosquito nets, repellent creams and mats, (Trichophyton verrucosum) and athlete's foot (Tinea
use of chloroquine, primaquine tablets may prevent pedis).
malaria.
(iii) Most effective medicine for malaria is quinine
(obtained from cinchona tree). NON-COMMUNICABLE DISEASES
There are various kinds of non-communicable diseases,
2. Amoebiasis / Amoebic Dysentry which affect the health of human beings.
• It is caused by Entamoeba histolytica (an endoparasite). Some of the common non-communicable diseases are
• Parasite lives in the large intestine of humans.
• Infection occurs by ingesting cysts with food and 1. Diabetes
water. • Diabetes is a long-term condition caused by too much
• The symptoms are mild diarrhoea, presence of mucus glucose (sugar) in the blood.
and blood in stool and abdominal pain. • There are two main types of diabetes
• Proper sanitation and personal hygiene is useful for (i) Type 1 diabetes occurs when the body does not
protection. Antiamoebic drugs are used for protection. produce enough insulin to function properly or the
body's cells do not react to insulin. This is known as
3. Leishmaniasis insulin resistance.
• It is commonly called as kala-azar. (ii) Type 2 diabetes is far more common than type 1
• It is caused by Leishmania donovani. It multiplies by diabetes, which occurs when the body does not
multiple fission. produce any insulin at all. Type 2 diabetes usually
• Spreads by sandfly (Phlebotomus) bite.
affects people over the age of 40.
• Symptoms are feeling very thirsty, urination frequently
• The symptoms often resemble malaria with irregular
particularly at night, feeling very tired, weight loss and
recurrent fever and leukopenia with enlargement of
loss of muscle bulk.
spleen and liver.
GENERAL SCIENCE Biology 809

2. Cancer 2. X-Linked Recessive Disorders

• It is the uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells in the Genes are located in the differential segments of
body. X-chromosome. These are as follow
• Cancer occurs when normal cells due to uncontrolled (i) Haemophilia Haemophilia appeared in several
mitotic division are converted into tumour cells. interrelated Royal families of Europe, apparently
arising from a mutation in one parent of Queen
• The resulting uncontrolled growth forms masses of cells Victoria of England (1819-1901), hence is called
called tumour. ‘Royal disease’. In this disorder, blood coagulation
• Cancerous cells are also called malignant cells. does not take place. It is due to deficiency of Factor
• Symptoms of cancer depend on the type and location of
VIII (antihaemophilic factor).
the cancer. (ii) Colour Blindness This disease is also known as
Daltonism. Affected person cannot distinguish
• These are induced by physical, chemical and biological
between green and red colour. Colourblind persons
factors or agents. The agents causing cancer are called cannot service in Railway department.
carcinogens or cancer causing agents.
• Tobacco smoke contains chemical carcinogens that cause 3. Y-Linked Recessive Disorders
lung cancer. • Hypertrichosis, i.e. excessive hairs on ear pinna is a
• Viruses also cause cancer. These are called oncogenic Y-linked recessive disorder.
viruses as they have genes called viral oncogenes.
• Leukaemia or blood cancer can be detected based on
biopsy and histopathological studies of the tissue and
VACCINATION AND
blood and bone marrow tests for increased cell counts. IMMUNISATION
Cancer therapies are • The principle of vaccination and immunisation is based
(i) Cryo surgery (ii) Proton therapy upon the ‘memory’ of immune system.
(iii) Radiation therapy • In vaccination a preparation of inactivated or weakened
(iv) Stem cell transplantation (also involved in spinal pathogen (vaccine) are introduced into the body. The
injury cure) antibodies are produced against these antigen would
(v) Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Transplantation (PBSCT) neutralise the pathogenic agents during actual infection.
The vaccine also generate memory B and T-cells that
recognise the pathogens quickly on subsequent exposure
GENETIC DISORDERS and act against them with a massive production of
A genetic disorder is an illness caused by one or more antibodies.
abnormalities in the genome. These may be of three types • Edward Jenner discovered the first vaccine.
• Pasteur invented the vaccine for rabies.
1. Autosomal Recessive Disorders • Robert Koch discovered anthrax bacteria.
These are as follow • Penicillin was discovered by Sir Alexander Flemming
(i) Albinism This disesase is caused due to inability to from Penicillium fungus.
produce melanin pigment. It is characterised by Age Vaccinations
absence of normal colouration of the skin.
3-12 months DTP—Diphtheria, Tetanus and Pertussis (whooping
(ii) Galactosaemia This is due to defect in galactose cough)
metabolism. They may causes mental retardation.
Polio (oral)— 3 doses at intervals of 4-6 weeks
(iii) Phenylketonuria It occurs due to the deficiency of BCG (Bacillus of Calmette and Guerin) Tuberculosis.
an enzyme phenylalanine hydroxylase, which converts
phenylalanine into tyrosine. Symptoms are mental 9-15 months Measles vaccine— one doses
retardation, typical colour of skin and urine. 18-24 DTP—booster dose
(iv) Alkaptonuria In this metabolic disorder, there is months
Polio (oral) booster doses
absence of homogentisic acid oxidase, which oxidises
homogentisic acid. The urine of such patients darkens
on exposure. IMMUNITY
(v) Sickle-cell Anaemia It is a genetic disorder. The ability of a host to defend itself from most of the
It is characterised by RBCs of patient(individuals) foreign agents is called as immunity. The parts of body
become elongated and curved to become sickle-shaped that act together to achieve immunity together constitute
in O 2 deficiency. In defective haemoglobin, the the immune system. Immunology is the branch of science
glutamin amio acid at 6th place of β-chain of Hb is that studies the immunity. Emil von Behring considered to
replaced by valine. be the father of immunology.
810 NDA/NA Pathfinder

The second type is called cell mediated immune

Types of Immunity response or cell mediated immunity (CMI). The
Immunity is of two types T-cells mediate CMI.
(i) Innate Immunity It is non-specific and present at the
time of birth. Health Organisations
(ii) Acquired Immunity It is pathogen specific and Some health organisations are as follows
characterised by memory. There are two types of (i) World Health Organisation It was established
immune systems found in our body. One is humoral in 1948.
and other is cell mediated. B-lymphocytes produce (ii) Red-Cross It was founded in 1864. The emblem of
antibodies and T-cells help them in this process. The red-cross is a red-coloured ‘plus’.
response provided by antibodies IgA, IgM, IgE, IgG
and IgD present in blood is called humoral immune (iii)United Nations International Emergency Funds
response (antibody-mediated). (UNICEF). Its an organisation of UNO.

PRACTICE EXERCISE
1. Extreme swelling on legs and feet 11. Black death is the name given to 19. Which one of the following is not
is the main symptom of the (a) malaria (b) cholera a bacterium?
disease (c) cancer (d) plague (a) Escherichia coli
(a) food poisoning (b) AIDS 12. Ascaris is transmitted through (b) Neisseria gonorhoeae
(c) elephantiasis (d) malaria (a) housefly (c) Treponema pallidum
(b) contaminated food (d) Wuchereria bancrofti
2. Which one is a bacterial disease?
(a) Ringworm (b) AIDS (c) mosquito (d) tse-tse fly 20. Which one of the following
(c) Malaria (d) Leprosy 13. Rats are known to transmit the diseases is not prevalent in
3. Which of the following is related germs for India?
(a) malaria (b) typhoid (a) Hepatitis (b) Fluorosis
with diphtheria disease?
(c) plague (d) rabies (c) Yellow fever (d) Meningitis
(a) Liver (b) Blood
(c) Throat (d) Spleen 14. Infection of taeniasis usually 21. AIDS is caused by Human
4. In which disease, DPT vaccine is occurs by Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)
used? (a) mosquito which is
(a) Tuberculosis (b) Diphtheria (b) roughly cooked food (a) retrovirus (b) DNA virus
(c) Polio (d) All of these (c) contaminated food and water (c) Both a and b (d) immune virus
(d) None of the above 22. Cure to spinal injury is likely to
5. Which of the following is a cause
of AIDS disease? 15. Polio vaccine was first prepared emerge from
(a) Protozoa (b) Virus by (a) gene therapy
(c) Bacteria (d) Helminthic worm (a) J Salk (b) L Pasteur (b) stem cell therapy
(c) G J Mendel (d) Watson (c) xenograft
6. In our body, the immune system (d) transfusion
is suppressed by this disease 16. The disease haemophilia, in
(a) AIDS (b) TB human beings, is due to 23. Leishmania, the causative agent
(c) cancer (d) arthritis (a) sex-linked recessive gene of kala-azar, multiplies
(b) sex-linked dominant gene asexually by
7. Cancer is a disease caused by (c) autosomal recessive gene (a) budding (b) binary fission
(a) bacteria (b) virus (d) autosomal dominant gene (c) multiple fisson (d) sporogony
(c) fungus (d) carcinogens
17. Which one of the following is a 24. Consider the following
8. Most effective medicine for genetic disorder? statements regarding the recent
malaria is (a) Bronchitis global outbreak of ‘Swine Flu’.
(a) streptomycin (b) quinine (b) Night blindness (a) The agent of infection is not
(c) penicillin (d) None of these (c) Osteoporosis well-identified
9. Which one is a viral disease? (d) Sickle-cell anaemia (b) The risk is higher in those who
(a) Cholera (b) Tetanus consume pork
18. Which one is the causative agent (c) It has a propensity to spread
(c) Rabies (d) None of these
of cerebral malaria? from contact with an infected
10. Which disease is called as Royal (a) Plasmodium falciparum person
disease? (b) Plasmodium malariae (d) Absence of an effective treatment
(a) Haemophilia (b) Cancer (c) Plasmodium ovale or vaccine makes it risk for global
(c) Diabetes (d) Anaemia (d) Plasmodium vivax pandemic
GENERAL SCIENCE > Biology 811

25. Which of the following pairs is 31. Consider the following pairs. 37. Match the following columns.
correctly matched? 1. Robert Koch — Anthrax Column II
Disease Causative agent bacterium Column I
(Pathogen/prevention
(a) Scabies – Entamoeba 2. Edward Jenner — Vaccine (Diseases)
/treatment)
histolytica 3. Pasteur — Rabies A. Amoebiasis 1. Treponema pallidum
(b) Pneumonia – Sarcoptes Rom
Which of these pairs is/are correctly B. Diphtheria 2. Use only sterilised
(c) Filaria – Wuchereria
matched? food and water
bancrofti
(a) Only 1 (b) Only 2 C. Cholera 3. DPT vaccine
(d) Tetanus – Haemophilus
(c) 1 and 3 (d) All of these D. Syphilis 4. Use of oral rehydration
pertussis
32. Which of the following are correctly therapy
Directions (Q. Nos. 26-29) The matched? Codes
following questions consist of two 1. Tse-tse fly — Sleeping sickness A B C D
statements one labelleled Statement I 2. Female Anopheles (a) 1 2 3 4
and the other labelleled Statement II. — Malaria mosquito (b) 2 4 1 3
Select the correct answers to these 3. Sand fly — Kala-azar (c) 2 1 3 4
questions from the codes given below. Codes (d) 2 3 4 1
Codes (a) 1 and 2 (b) 2 and 3
38. Match the following columns and
(a) Both Statements are true and (c) 1 and 3 (d) All of these
Statements II is the correct
choose the correct option.
33. Consider the following diseases.
explanation of Statement I Column I Column II
1. Typhoid 2. Tuberculosis
(b) Both Statements are true, but A. Leishmania donovani 1. Filariasis
Statement II is not the correct 3. Diphtheria 4. Filaria
Which of the above diseases is not B. Trypanosoma 2. Kala-azar
explanation of Statement I
gambiense
(c) Statement I is true, but caused by becteria?
(a) 1 and 4 (b) 2 and 4 C. Entamoeba histolytica 3. Sleeping-
Statement II is false sickness
(d) Statement I is false, but (c) Only 4 (d) Only 2
D. Wuchereria bancrofti 4. Amoebiasis
Statement II is true 34. Which of the following diseases are
26. Statement I Haemophilia is a preventable by vaccine? Codes
genetic disorder. 1. Tetanus 2. Polio A B C D A B C D
3. Leprosy 4. Pertussis (a) 2 3 4 1 (b) 2 3 1 4
Statement II Its genes are
(c) 3 1 2 4 (d) 3 1 4 2
located in the differential Select the correct answer using the
segment of X-chromosome. codes given below. 39. Match the Column I with Column
27. Statement I Malaria is caused (a) 1 and 3 (b) 2 and 4 II and choose the correct answer.
(c) 1, 2 and 4 (d) All of these
by Plasmodium sp. Column I Column II
Statement II Plasmodium is 35. Which of the following diseases are
A. Colour 1. RBCs of patient
present in the saliva of female water-borne? blindness become
Anopheles mosquito. 1. Typhoid 2. Cholera sickle-shaped
3. Hepatitis-A 4. Tuberculosis B. Hypertrichosis 2. Inability to produce
28. Statement I Rabies is a viral
Select the correct answer using the melanine pigment
disease.
codes given below. C. Albinism 3. Also known as
Statement II Filariasis is (a) 1, 2 and 3 (b) 3 and 4 Daltonism
transmitted by Aedes mosquito. (c) 1 and 4 (d) Only 4 D. Sickle-cell 4. Excessive hairs on
29. Statement I Gonorrhoea is a anaemia ear pinna
36. Match Column I with Column II
bacterial disease. and select the correct answer using Codes
Statement II It spreads the codes given below. A B C D A B C D
through sexual contact, common
(a) 1 2 3 4 (b) 2 3 1 4
toilets and under clothes. Column I Column II
(c) 3 4 2 1 (d) 3 2 1 4
30. Consider the following pairs. A. Common cold 1. Haemophilus
1. Syphilis – Sexually pertussis Previous Years’ Questions
transmitted B. Food poisoning 2. Rhino Rom 40. Which one among the following is
disease C. Whooping cough 3. Streptococcus not included in the major clinical
2. Tuberculosis – BCG vaccine sign as a cause definition of AIDS
D. Septic sore throats 4. Clostridium
3. Typhoid – Widal test botulinum in children less then 12 years of
4. Gonorrhoea – Viral disease age? e 2012(II)
Which of these pairs is/are Codes (a) Persistent cough for more than
correctly matched? A B C D A B C D 1 month
(a) 1, 2 and 4 (b) Only 1 (a) 2 4 1 3 (b) 2 4 3 1 (b) Loss of weight
(c) 2, 3 and 4 (d) 1, 2 and 3 (c) 4 2 1 3 (d) 4 2 3 1 (c) Chronic diarrhoea
(d) Prolonged fever
812 NDA/NA Pathfinder

41. Polio disease is caused by 45. Which one among the following 51. Who among the following
e 2012(II) diseases is not caused by polluted discovered antibiotic producing
(a) bacteria (b) fungi water? e 2013 (II) fungus from Penicillium genus?
(c) virus (d) worm (a) Dysentery (b) Jaundice (a) Louis Pasteur e 2015 (II)
(c) Typhoid (d) Tuberculosis (b) Sir Alexander Flemming
42. After entering the human body (c) Stanley Prusiner
through mosquito bite, the 46. Which of the following human (d) Robert Hooke
malarial parasite (Plasmodium) organs is not associated with
shows initial multiplication in immune response? e 2013 (II) 52. Which one of the following is not a
e 2012 (II) place of action in human body for
(a) Thymus (b) Brain
(a) Spinal cord (b) Blood
the malarial parasite
(c) Spleen (d) Lymph node
Plasmodium? e 2015 (II)
(c) Liver (d) Spleen
47. Adulteration of which of the (a) Liver
43. Which one among the following following causes dropsy? (b) Kidney
water-borne diseases is not caused e 2014 (I) (c) Red blood cell
by a bacteria? e 2012 (II)
(a) Ghee (b) Arhar pulse (d) Brain
(a) Cholera (c) Mustard oil (d) Turmeric powder
(b) Bacillary dysentery 53. Which of the following pairs of
(c) Typhoid 48. Which one among the following is vector and disease is/are correctly
(d) Hepatitis-A not a sexually transmitted matched? e 2016 (I)
disease? e 2014 (I)
44. Consider the following diseases. Vector Disease
(a) Syphilis (b) Gonorrhoea
e 2013 (I)
(c) Scurvy (d) Hepatitis-B 1. Anopheles — Malaria
1. Cholera 2. Tuberculosis 2. Aedes aegypti — Chikungunya
3. Filaria 4. Typhoid 49. What is ‘breakbone fever’ most
commonly known as? e 2014 (I) 3. Tse-tse fly — Filariasis
Which of the above diseases are
(a) Typhoid (b) Rhinitis 4. Bed bugs — Sleeping sickness
caused by bacteria?
(a) 1 and 3 (c) Yellow fever (d) Dengue
Select the correct answer using
(b) 2 and 4 50. Leprosy is caused by e 2015 (I) the codes given below
(c) 1, 3 and 4 (a) virus (b) bacteria (a) 1, 2 and 3 (b) 1 and 2
(d) 1, 2 and 4 (c) protozoan (d) retrovirus (c) 1 and 4 (d) Only 2

ANSWERS
1 c 2 d 3 c 4 b 5 b 6 a 7 d 8 b 9 a 10 a
11 d 12 b 13 c 14 b 15 a 16 a 17 d 18 a 19 d 20 c
21 a 22 a 23 c 24 d 25 c 26 a 27 b 28 c 29 b 30 d
31 d 32 d 33 c 34 b 35 a 36 a 37 d 38 a 39 c 40 a
41 c 42 c 43 d 44 d 45 d 46 b 47 c 48 c 49 d 50 b
51 b 52 b 53 b
09
ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE
OF BIOLOGY
Usually 2 to 3 questions are asked from this chapter. These questions are based upon economic
importance of plants.

PLANT BREEDING Principles of Plant Breeding

Plant breeding is the purposeful There are following principles of plant breeding
manipulation of plant species in order to
(i) Plant Introduction
create desired plant types of early
maturing, high yielding and disease • Plant introduction involves introducing plants from their natural habitat
resistant varieties. to a new habitat .
Plant breeding programmes are carried • This can be done by import or export of sexual or asexual reproductive
out in systematic way worldwide. In structures.
1960, green revolution was came (ii) Selection
successfully by plant breedings. Dr. N E
• Individual plant or group of plants are sorted out from mixed population,
Borlaug is known as Father of Green
Revolution in world. thus eliminating undesirable ones.
• The selection methods include mass selection, pure line selection and
Objectives of Plant clonal selection.
Breeding (iii) Hybridisation
Plant breeding have following objectives It is the method of producing new crop varieties, in which two or more
• To increase the yield and quality of plants of unlike genotype (genetically dissimilar) are crossed.
crops. Hybridisation can be
• To develop disease resistant crops. (i) intravarietal, (ii) intervarietal,
• To develop crops that are resistant to (iii) interspecific or intrageneric (iv) intergeneric hybridisation
drought and salt. Hybrid It is an offspring of a cross between two genetically unlike
• To develop high yielding varieties from individuals.
less yielding varieties.
(iv) Polyploid Breeding
• To develop pest resistant crop.
Polyploid breeding is done to produce plants with extra set of
chromosomes.
814 NDA/NA Pathfinder

(v) Induced Mutation • Pisciculture is the practice of fish rearing involving proper
• Mutations are the sudden permanent changes in the utilisation of freshwater, brackish water and coastal areas.
genome of organisms. These can be artificially induced • Edible fishes in India are classified as major carps, e.g.
with the use of X-ray, β-rays, γ-rays, UV-rays, etc. It Rohu, catla (both freshwater) and eel (marine) and minor
can also be induced by chemicals such as mustard gas, carps, e.g. Calbasu (freshwater) and Hilsa (marine).
etc. • In fish production, India is the second largest nation.
• H J Muller (1927) first of induced mutation in • Fishes are used for oil with vitamin-A and D.
Drosophila melanogaster using X-rays. Base analogue
• Clarification of wine and beer can be done by isinglass
of thymine is 5-bromo uracil.
produced by gall bladder of fish.
(vi) Tissue Culture
• Tissue culture technique is based on the totipotency Poultry
(i.e. ability of a cell to give rise to whole plant) of • The term ‘poultry’ means rearing of fowls, ducks, geese,
plant cell. turkey and some varieties of pigeons, but most often for
• The concept of totipotency was given by Haberlandt fowls. Broilers are the poultry birds reared for meat and
(1902) and detailed practical applications of layers are the females birds raised for egg production.
totipotency was shown by Steward (1932), who • India ranks sixth nation in world for egg production.
developed a complete carrot plant from a root cell.
• The part of plant used to generate whole plant is
Poultry Diseases
explant. • Ranikhet disease (new castle disease) is the most common
• Callus is a mass of cell developed due to
disease affecting the fowls of all ages. In this mortality rate
redifferentiation in explant. is about 98-100%.
• Infectious coryza disease in poultry birds causes nasal and
• Auxin and cytokinin are important in tissue culture.
eye discharges with foul smell, acute respiratory problem
and inflammed and swollen eyes.
IMPORTANT POINTS
• Bird flu is an avian influenza, caused by H5N1 virus.
●
Dr. M S Swaminathan (Father of Green Revolution
in India) developed a high yielding wheat variety
Sharbati Sonora by induced mutation in Sonora-64.
Apiculture
●
Jaya and Ratna are two rice varieties developed for Apiculture (bee-keeping) includes the maintenance of hives
Green Revolution in India. of honey bees for the production of honey and bees wax.
●
In golden rice, a transgene has been introduced for Honey bees are colonial, socialy polymorphic insects, which
Vitamin-A production. shows division of labour.
●
Holstein-Friesin is the highest milk yielding variety of Honey bee Colony
cattle in world.
Queen Drone Workers
●
Ascariasis is a common disease of cattles. Single fertile female. Sterile females (many).
Few fertile male.
Biggest member of Have 1-2 months Develop from unfertilised
the colony. of lifespan and egg (16 chromosomes).
ECONOMIC ZOOLOGY Feeds on royal jelly
2.5 years of lifespan.
dies after
copulation.
Smallest members of
the colony.
The science of rearing, caring, feeding, breeding, Only function is to lay eggs. 6 weeks of lifespan.
improvement and utilisation of domesticated animals is Function is to produce
called animal husbandry. honey and bees wax.

The domesticated animals kept for use or profit are • In India, the commonly domesticated species are
collectively called live stock. Dog was the first domestic Apis mellifera (common European bee) and Apis indica
animal. The live stock of India can be categorised. (the small Indian bee).
(i) Milk yielding animals, e.g. cow, goat, buffalo, etc. • Honey is acidic in nature. It is composed of sugarcane
(ii) Egg yielding animals, e.g. hen, ducks, etc. (sucrose), which then converts into levulose (38.9%),
(iii) Drought animals, e.g. mule, donkey, etc. dextrose (21.28%), maltose and other sugars (8.81%).
(iv) General utility animals, e.g. dog, cat, buffalo, etc. • Bees wax is a secretory product of hypodermal glands of
worker bee’s abdomen. It is yellowish to greyish brown
Fisheries coloured insoluble in water and soluble in organic
solvents.
• Aquaculture involves the production of useful aquatic
• Honey bees are ecologically very important because they
plants and animals, such as fishes, prawns, crabs,
molluscs (edible and pearl oysters). act as pollinator for many of our crop plants.
GENERAL SCIENCE Biology 815

Sericulture 1. Microbes in Antibiotic Production

• Sericulture is the phenomenon of rearing of silkworm Antibiotic Sources
for commercial production of silk. India ranks second
Penicillin Penicillium notatum and
after China among the major silk producing countries of P. chrysogenum
the world. There are five major types of silk produced
in India, i.e. mulberry silk, tasar silk, muga silk, eri silk Streptomycin Streptomyces griseus
and oak silk. Erythromycin S. erythreus
• The catterpillars (larva) of the silkworm feed on their host
Viomycin S. floridae
tree and their salivary glands secrete liquid (pasty
secretion), i.e. silk. Silk contains protein fibroin and Chlorotetracyclin S. aureofaciens
sericin in 80:20 ratio. Terramycin S. rimosus
• This silk when comes in contact with air takes the form
of long thread of silk and is wrapped around catterpillar 2. Microbes in Enzyme Production
in form of covering called cocoon.
• Silk is obtained from six species of silk worm, Enzymes Organisms Uses
i.e. mulberry silkworm (Bombyx mori), tasar silk worm α-amylase Aspergillus sp. Laundry detergent
(Antheraea paphia), muga silk worm (Antheraea β-amylase Bacillus subtilis Brewing
assama), eri silk worm (Attacus ricinni), oak silk worm
Cellulase Trichoderma viride Fruit juice, coffee and paper
(Antherae pernyi) and giant silk worm (Attacus altas).
Invertase Saccharomyces Sweet manufacture
• Bombyx mori (mulberry silkworm) is a well known cerevisiae
silkworm used commercially, which feeds on mulberry
leaves. Diseases of silkworm are pebrine (protozoan), Lactase Saccharomyces Digestive aid and sweet
fragilis manufacture
flacherie (viral or bacterial), muscaridine (fungal) and
grasserie (viral). Oxidases Aspergillus niger Paper and fabric bleaching

• Castor, oak and teak leaves are commonly used for Lipase Aspergillus niger and Used in detergent
Candida lipolytica formulations, leather tanning
rearing silk worms. and cheese production
Pectinase Aspergillus niger and Clarifying bottled fruit juice
Lac Culture Byssochlamys fulva
Lac is obtained from Indian lac insect Tachardia lacca or Proteases Aspergillus oryzae Meat tenderiser, leather
Kerria lacca. It lives on trees like banyan, sal, palash, beri, tanning and clarifying-
etc., and feed on the sap of host trees. The females are bottled fruit juice
without wings, legs and eye. During unfavourable season Rennin Mucor and E. coli Cheese production
lac is secreted as a protective covering by females. (chymosin)

In lac 68-90% resin, 2-10% dye, 6% wax, 5-10%

albuminous substance and 3-7% mineral are found. 3. Microbes in Nutrition
Lac is scrapped from twigs and processed to form shell lac. Vitamins Organisms Uses
The shell lac is used in preparation of varnishes, paints, Vitamin- B12 Pseudomonas sp. Health supplement
polishes, gramophone records, printing ink, buttons and
Vitamin-B 2 Ashbya gossypii Health supplement
pots, fillings of ornaments such as bangles and bracelets (riboflavin)
and as an insulating material.
Vitamin-C Acetobacter sp. Health supplement

Pearl Culture Proteins

Chlorella and
Spirulina
Food additive

Pearl is secreted by pearl oyster (Pinctada velgaris), a

member of Mollusca phylum. Pearl is made of CaCO 3 and 4. Microbes in Dairy Products
cholkitin. Kokichi Mikimoto is the Father of Pearl
Industry. Japan ranks first in the production of pearl. Product Microbes
Swiss cheese Propionibacterium shermanii

MICROBES IN HUMAN Roquefort cheese Penicillium roquefortii

Curd Lactobacillus
WELFARE Yoghurt Streptococcus
The main uses of microbes for human welfare are given in
Bread Saccharomyces cerevisae (Yeast)
the tables.
816 NDA/NA Pathfinder

5. Microbes in Medicines Sugars

• Cyclosporin-A is derived from fungus Trichoderma
• Presently, world gets major supply of sugar from the culms
polysporum, it is used as an immuno suppressant.
of sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum, family–Poaceae).
• Statins that lowers Bad cholesterol are produced
• A small portion of sugar is obtained from sugarbeet root
from yeast.
(Beta vulgaris, family–Chenopodiaceae).
• Also insulin, growth hormones, antibodies are
• Sugar obtained from sugarcane and sugarbeet is sucrose.
produced by microbes.
• Microbes also play important role in genetic Paper
engineering. • Paper is a cellulosic product. Fibrous plants are used to
make paper, cloth, rope, etc.
ECONOMIC BOTANY • About 97% of world’s paper is made from pulp of wood.
Economic botany includes the study of the utilisation Of it, 85% is derived from conifers (non-flowering plants)
of economically important crops such as cereal crops, especially spruces (Picea sp.), fir (Abies sp.) and pines (Pinus
vegetable, pulses, etc. sp.).
• In India, chief sources of raw material for paper is bambusa
Crop (Bambusa arundinacea and Dendrocalamus strictus).
On the basis of season, crops are of the following types
(i) Kharif Crop These crops are grown in the rainy Legumes and Pulses
season, i.e. from June to September, e.g. maize, • These are all members of family–Leguminosae (Fabaceae).
bajra, red gram, paddy, soyabean, groundnut, Some of the important pulses are
cotton, millets, sarghum, moong bean, sugarcane as
(i) Gram or chick pea (Cicer arietinum)
well tea, coffee, etc. These are called summer or
monsoon crops. (ii) Pigeon pea or Arhar (Cajanus cajan)
(ii) Rabi Crop These are grown in the winter season, (iii) Soyabean (Glycine max)
i.e. from October to March, e.g. wheat, barley, (iv) Pea (Pisum sativum)
mustard, pea, seasame, green gram, linseed, etc. (v) Groundnut (Arachis hypogea)
• Pulses contain 17-30% protein on a dry weight basis.
Some Economically Soyabean (42% protein) occupies top position among the
protein rich legumes.
Important Crops
• Folic acid can be obtained from sprouted pulses.
Following are economically important crops
• Pulses also contain carbohydrates upto 60% in the form of
Cereals starch. Fat content is very low (1-2%) except soyabean,
• The cereals are the most important source of food
where it is high (up to 20%).
for human beings. • Legumes are usually preferred for mixed cropping to
• Cereals are rich in carbohydrates, but also contain enhance the bioavailability of nitrogen, e.g. gram.
considerable amount of proteins, fats, vitamins and • Folic acid can be obtained from sprouted pulses.
minerals. • Riboflavin, niacin and thiamine, vitamins are also present in
• Paddy, wheat, maize, barley, oat and rye are cereals pulses and legumes.
or true cereals. All of these belong to
family–Poaceae. Vegetables
• Fruit of cereals is caryopsis. • India is a major producer of vegetables as well as fruits due
There are some true cereals namely to different varieties and variation in its agroclimatic
(i) Rice (Oryza sativa) Rice contains 90% conditions.
carbohydrates and 8-10 % proteins. Its varieties • Vegetables are rich in vitamins and mineral salts.
are basmati, Krishna Kaveri, Sona, IR-36, etc. • Carotene (a precursor of vitamin-A) is abundant in cabbage,
(ii) Wheat (Triticum aestivum) Its varieties are carrot, green peppers, raw tomatoes, spinach, pumpkin and
Lerma Roja, Sonora-64, Sonalika, etc. sweet potato.
(iii) Maize (Zea mays) Its varieties are Amber, • Among vegetables vitamin-C is found in tomatoes, peppers,
Deccan, etc. potatoes, cabbage, bitter gourd, onion, etc.
(iv) Oat (Avena sativa) Its varieties are Bonda, • Green vegetables like spinach are rich in vitamin-E.
Cocker, etc. • Brinjal is good source of iron.
• Triticale is the first man-made cereal made by • Vegetables of wild cabbage are kale, broccoli, kohlrabi.
crossing wheat and Secale. • Turmeric is rich in natural pigment curcumin.
GENERAL SCIENCE Biology 817

Fruits • Fats are solid/semisolid at room temperature. These are

edible and are used in manufacturing soap and candles.
• Fruit is ripend ovary enclosing seeds.
• All fruits developing from a part other than ovary of Oil Uses
inferior ovary are false fruit. Olive oil Cooking, cosmetics pharmaceuticals
also used as a fuel
• Fruits are juicy (water content upto 96%). Fruits are
inferior in food value, but banana and dates are rich Mustard oil Cooking
sources of energy, i.e. carbohydrate. Soyabean oil Cooking
• Usually, the fruits are good sources of mineral and Coconut oil Cooking, medicine, industry
vitamins.
Groundnut oil Making soaps, as massage oil
• Banana, mango, citrus are indigenous to India.
• Majority of cultivated fruits belongs to two families–
Rosaceae followed by Rutaceae.
Woods
• It is mainly secondary xylem formed by vascular cambium
• Amla is the richest source of vitamin-C.
during secondary growth. The main function of the inner
• Saffron is obtained from dried stigmas. bark of a woody plant is to transport.
Edible Parts and Kinds of Some Common Fruits • Cricket bats are manufactured from the wood of Salix alba
(Willow).
Fruit Type of fruit Edible part
• Matchsticks and matchboxes are made of Salmalia
Apple, pear, loquat Pome Fleshy thalamus
malabarica, Boswellia serrate.
Banana Berry Mesocarp and endocarp
• Hocky sticks, tennis and badminton rackets, cricket stumps
Custard apple Etaerio of Fleshy pericarp of are made of Morus alba (shatoot), while pencils from the
berries individual berry
wood of Adina cordifolia, Juniperus sp., etc.
Cashew nut Nut Stalk and cotyledons
• The wood produced by gymnosperm plants is
Coconut Drupe Endosperm commercially known as soft wood.
Cucumber Pepo Mesocarp, endocarp and
placenta Spices and Condiments
Date palm Berry Fleshy pericarp • They are generally hard parts of plants used in pulverised
Guava Berry Thalamus and pericarp state for flavour.
Grapes Berry Pericarp and placenta • They can be obtained from different parts of plants, e.g.

Lady’s finger Capsule Pericarp and seed

(i) Turmeric, ginger from underground dried rhizomes.
(ii) Clove (laung), saffron (kesar) from dry stigma of flower.
Lemon/Orange Hesperidium Juicy placental hair
(iii) Black pepper, coriander, fennel (saunf) from fruits.
Maize, wheat, rice, barley Caryopsis Entire fruit
(iv) Mint (pudina), peppermint from leaves.
Mango Drupe Mesocarp (v) Cardamom (elaichi) and fenugreek (methi) from seeds.
Papaya Berry Mesocarp
Pea, bean Legume Cotyledons and embryo MEDICINAL PLANTS
Pineapple Sorosis Bracts, perianth and • Hippocrates is called the Father of Medicine.
receptacle
• Depending upon the plant organ from, which the drug is
Tomato Berry Mesocarp and placenta
obtained, the drug plants are divided into following
categories
Oils and Fats
Oils obtained from plants, are of two types
Drugs Obtained from Roots
• Belladona from Atropa belladona.
(i) Essential oils Essential oils are aromatic and
volatile. These contain terpenes, sulphuretted oil, • Atropine alkaloid is obtained and used for dilating pupil of
oxygenated oils. These are useful in attracting eye.
insects and repel enemies. • Serpentine from Rauwolfia serpentina.
(ii) Fatty oils Fatty oils present in plants are of three • About 30 alkaloids are obtained and out of which reserpine
types
alkaloid is most important one having sedative influence.
(a) Non-drying oil
• Ashwagandha from Withania somnifera.
(b) Drying oil
(c) Semi-drying oil
• It is used in treatment of rheumatic pain, inflammation of
joints, ulcers and to promote healing processes.
818 NDA/NA Pathfinder

Drugs Obtained from Leaves IMPORTANT POINTS

• Tulsi from Ocimum sanctum. ●
Dropsy is a disease caused when adulterated ghee is
• Its leaf juice is given in cold, cough and chronic consumed.
fever. ●
Apple, almond, banana, tea, mango, wheat, onion,
cotton, etc., are old world crops.
Drugs Obtained from Fruits and Flowers ●
Maize, potato, sweet potato, tobacco, tomato,
• Opium from Papaver somniferum. It has great groundnut, pumpkin, etc., are new world crops.
medicinal value. ●
Lentil, cowpea and sunnhemp are used as green
• Saffron (kesar) from Crocus sativus. The dried stigmas manure.
and apps of the style are medicinally used. Lingeng is ●
Based on calorific content
obtained from true ginseng. Acts as etinvlent and rice → sugar → potato → banana.
treat stomachache.

PRACTICE EXERCISE
1. Which of the following enzyme is 9. Bird flu is caused by 14. Clarification of wine and beer can
produced by Aspergillus? (a) H1N1 virus (b) H3N1 virus be done by the help of isinglass,
(a) d-amylase (b) Lipase (c) H1N3 virus (d) H5N1 virus which is mainly produced by
(c) Cellulase (d) Both (a) and (b) 10. Carotene is abundantly found in (a) liver of fish
(a) carrot (b) tomato (b) pancreas of fish
2. The enzyme produced by
(c) bitter gourd (d) radish (c) larva of silkworm
Aspergillus oryzae and used for (d) gall bladder of fish
leather tanning is 11. Bees wax, which is yellowish to
(a) pectinase (b) protease greyish brown coloured byproduct 15. Bombyx mori is a
(c) lactase (d) invertase of bee-keeping is (a) fish (b) silkworm
(a) soluble in water and partially (c) ringworm (d) moth
3. Vitamin-B12 is produced by
soluble in organic solvent 16. Which one of the following plants is
(a) Pseudomonas (b) Ashbya gossypii
(b) Insoluble in water and partially used for green manuring in India?
(c) Acetobacter (d) Chlorella
soluble in organic solvent (a) Wheat (b) Sunnhemp
4. An immuno suppressant is (c) insoluble in water and completely (c) Cotton (d) Rice
(a) cyclosporin-A (b) statin soluble in organic solvent
(c) penicillin (d) Both (a) and (c) (d) completely soluble in water as well 17. Highest milk yielding variety of
as organic solvent cattle in world is
5. Statins that lower bad cholesterol
12. The queen honey bee after mating (a) brown jersey (b) ongole
are produced by (c) holstein-friesin (d) hallikar
(a) a fungi (b) a bacteria lays down two types of eggs, i.e.
(c) algae (d) mycoplasma fertilised diploid (with 32 18. Which of the following disease is
chromosomes) and the other one is not found in cattle?
6. A microbe used as protein (a) unfertilised diploid (with 32 (a) Athlete’s foot
supplements is chromosomes) (b) Ranikhet
(a) Chlorella (b) Ashbya (b) ferilised haploid (with 32 (c) Both (a) and (b)
(c) Spirulina (d) Both (a) and (c) chromosomes) (d) Ascariasis
7. β-amylase used in brewing (c) unfertilised haploid (with 16
19. Which of the statement is correct?
industry is obtained from chromosomes)
(a) Pulses contains 80% carbohydrates
(a) Bacillus subtilis (b) S. cerevisiae (d) larvae
(b) Rice contains 90% carbohydrates
(c) E. coli (d) A. niger 13. Chemically silk fibres are and 8-10% proteins
8. The female birds raised for egg predominantly (c) Rice contains 60% carbohydrates
production are called as (a) protein (b) carbohydrate and 35-40% proteins
(a) layers (b) broilers (c) complex lipid (d) Rice contains 70% carbohydrates
(c) Both (a) and (b) (d) None of these (d) mixture of polysacchride and fat and 25-30% proteins
GENERAL SCIENCE > Biology 819

20. Which one of the following is a 30. Which part of saffron plant is 36. Match the following columns.
marine fish? used to obtain the spice ‘saffron’? Column I Column II
(a) Rohu (b) Hilsa (a) Dry stigma (b) Leaves
(c) Fruits (d) Petals A. Totipotency 1. Part of a plant grown in
(c) Catla (d) Common Carp vitro.
21. Plant breeding methods by which 31. Consider the following crops B. Callus 2. Undifferentiated tissue.
new and better varieties of plant 1. Cotton 2. Groundnut C. Explant 3. Capacity of a cell to
can be formed 3. Rice 4. Wheat produce whole plant.
(a) hybridisation (b) selection Which of these are cereal yielding Codes
(c) introduction (d) All of these crops? A B C A B C
(a) 1 and 4 (b) 3 and 4 (a) 2 1 3 (b) 1 2 3
22. Name the sugars present in (c) 1, 2 and 3 (d) 2, 3 and 4 (c) 3 2 1 (d) 3 1 2
honey.
(a) Levulose (b) Maltose 32. Consider the following plants. 37. Match the following columns.
(c) Dextrose (d) All of these 1. Lentil 2. Cowpea Column I Column II
23. Bombyx mori is a 3. Sunnhemp 4. Wheat
A. Chick pea 1. Cajanus cajan
(a) eri silkworm (b) mulberry silkworm Which of the plnats given above B. Pea 2. Pisum sativum
(c) tasar silkworm (d) muga silkworm is/are used as ‘green manure in
C. Soyabean 3. Glycine max
India’?
24. What is/are the characteristics of D. Pigeon peas 4. Cicer arietinum
(a) Only 3 (b) 1, 2 and 3
honey bees? (c) 2 and 3 (d) 1, 2, 3 and 4 Codes
(a) Colonial A B C D A B C D
(b) Socially polymorphic 33. With references to human
(a) 1 4 3 2 (b) 1 2 3 4
(c) Show division of labour nutrition, consider the following
(c) 4 2 3 1 (d) 4 3 1 2
(d) All of the above statements.
1. Milk is a source of phosphorus. 38. Match the following columns.
25. The man-made cereal made by 2. Groundnuts provide iron. Column I Column II
crossing Triticum with Secale is 3. Folic acid can be obtained
(a) Triticale (b) Triticum aestivum A. Mango 1. Thalamus
from sprouted pulses.
(c) Jaya (d) Ratna B. Apple 2. Mesocarp
4. Vitamin-E is available in
C. Litchi 3. Endosperm
26. The genetically engineered green leafy vegetables.
Which of these statements are D. Coconut 4. Fleshy aril
‘Golden rice’ is rich in which of
the following? corrects? Codes
(a) Vitamin-A (a) 1 and 2 (b) 2, 3 and 4 A B C D A B C D
(b) β-carotene and folic acid (c) 1, 3 and 4 (d) 1, 2, 3 and 4 (a) 1 2 4 3 (b) 2 1 3 4
(c) β-carotene (c) 2 1 4 3 (d) 4 3 1 2
34. Arrange the following in ascending
(d) Vitamin-A and niacin order of calorific content per 100 g
27. Which one of the following is an and choose the correct answer.
39. From which part of turmeric, is
example of legume? 1. Banana 2. Sugar
the turmeric powder obtained?
(a) Amla (b) Groundnut 3. Rice 4. Potato
e 2013 (II)
(c) Wheat (d) Brinjal (a) 2, 3, 1, 4 (b) 3, 2, 4, 1
(a) Dried rhizome (b) Dried root
28. Which of the following pairs is the (c) 2, 4, 3, 1 (d) 3, 4, 2, 1
(c) Dried fruit (d) Seed
source of vitamin-C? 35. Match the following columns.
(a) Milk, papaya (b) Tomato, cabbage 40. Leaves of which of the following
(c) Milk, carrot (d) Both (b) and (c) Column I Column II plants are not used for the rearing
A. Swiss cheese 1. Penicillium of silkworms? e 2014 (I)
29. What is the reason for India being
roquefortii (a) Mulberry (b) Castor
a major producer of different
B. Roquefort cheese 2. Propioni bacterium (c) Oak (d) Teak
varieties of fruits and vegetables? C. Curd 3. Yeast
(a) Its large population size 41. Which one of the following is
D. Bread 4. Lactobacillus
(b) Its large land area useful in paper manufacturing
(c) Variation in its agro-climatic Codes industry? e 2015 (II)
conditions A B C D A B C D
(a) Fibrous plants (b) Orchids
(d) Diversity in socio-cultural (a) 3 1 4 2 (b) 2 4 1 3
(c) Non-flowering plants
phenomenon (c) 2 1 4 3 (d) 1 4 3 2
(d) Plants growing in high altitude

ANSWERS
1 d 2 b 3 a 4 a 5 a 6 d 7 a 8 a 9 d 10 a
11 c 12 c 13 a 14 d 15 b 16 a 17 c 18 c 19 b 20 b
21 d 22 d 23 b 24 d 25 a 26 a 27 b 28 b 29 c 30 a
31 b 32 b 33 c 34 b 35 c 36 c 37 c 38 c 39 a 40 a
41 a
10
ECOLOGY, BIODIVERSITY
AND ENVIRONMENT
Generally 1 to 2 questions are asked from this chapter. These questions are based upon pollution of
atmosphere.

ECOLOGY Components of Ecosystem

Ecology (Oikas = living place and logos = study). It is An ecosystem consists of two components as described
the science dealing with the study of organisms and their below
relations to the environment. Haeckel defined ecology as 1. Abiotic Components Abiotic components mean
the branch of biology, which deals with the organisms non-living factors and some of these are mentioned
(living beings) and their mutual relationship with below
surroundings (atmosphere). Reiter first used the term (i) Physical components, e.g. temperature, water, air,
‘ecology’ in 1868. Prof R Misra is known as Father of etc.
Ecology in India. (ii) Inorganic matter, e.g. nitrogen, carbon, potassium,
Ecology can be studied under the following two groups etc.
(i) Autecology It is the ecology of a single species, i.e. (iii) Organic matter, e.g. proteins, carbohydrates, lipids,
the relations between that species and its etc.
environment. 2. Biotic Components Biotic components include all the
(ii) Synecology It is the ecological study of living organisms present in ecosystem. These
interrelationships among communities of organism components are broadly divided into following three
of any specific region. It includes population categories
ecology, community ecology, ecosystem ecology. (i) Producers (Autotrophs) These are organisms, which
can prepare their own food (from simple inorganic
ECOSYSTEM substances like carbon dioxide and water) by using
sunlight in the presence of chlorophyll, e.g. green
• Term ecosystem was first given by AG Tansley
plants and certain blue-green algae. Thus, solar
(1935). energy is the driving force of an ecosystem.
• The system arising out of interactions between living and (ii) Consumers (Heterotrophs) These are organisms,
non-living components of environment is called which feed on other organisms or their parts.
ecosystem.
GENERAL SCIENCE Biology 821

• They can be of three types, i.e. primary In nature, three major types of food chains are
consumers consume mainly producers, (i) Grazing food chain starts with green plants, which are
secondary consumers consume mainly eaten by herbivores, which in turn are eaten by carnivores.
primary consumers, tertiary consumers (ii) Detritus food chain starts with dead organic matter acted
consume secondary consumers. upon by decomposers.
• Omnivores Those organisms that consume (iii) Parasitic food chain starts with big organisms, which in
both producers and other consumers. turn are eaten by small ones.
• Detritivores Those organisms that consume
detritus (the tissues of dead organisms, either Food Web
producers or consumers and organic wastes). • Various food chains are interconnected with each other
(iii) Decomposers (Reducers) These are organisms, forming an interlocked system, which is known as food web.
which feed on dead bodies of organisms and • Food webs are very important in maintaining equilibrium of
organic wastes of living organisms, e.g. termites, ecosystem.
beetles, becteria, saprophytic bacteria, fungi
(mushrooms), etc. Trophic Level
It is a specific position of an organism in the food chain,
Types of Ecosystem according to their feeding relationships with other organisms.
These are of two types Generally, green plants form the first trophic level, (the
(i) Natural Ecosystem The natural ecosystems are producers). Herbivores form the second trophic level, while
forests, deserts, grassland (terrestrial) and carnivores and omnivores form the third and even the fourth
ponds, lakes, wetland (aquatic), etc. The aquatic trophic levels.
ecosystems can be of three types
(a) Lentic, e.g. lake TEN PER CENT LAW
(b) Lotic, e.g. river, streams The Ten Per Cent Law for the transfer of energy from one
trophic level to the next was introduced by Lindeman and also
(c) Marine, e.g. oceans, sea
known as ‘Lindeman’s rule’. According to this law, during the
(ii) Artificial (Man-made) Ecosystem The transfer of energy as organic food from one trophic level to the
man-made ecosystems are gardens, aquariums, next, only about 10% of the energy is transferred to each
crop fields, etc. trophic level. The remaining is lost during transfer, respiration
or incomplete digestion, etc.
Energy Flow in Ecosystem
• In an ecosystem, energy is transferred in the form
of food and it leads to degradation and loss of a Ecological Pyramids
major part of food energy as heat during metabolic • Trophic structure of ecosystem is a type of
activities and very small fraction becomes stored as producer-consumer arrangement and the graphical
biomass. The flow of energy from the sun to representation of trophic structures of ecosystem constitute
producers and then to consumers is unidirectional. ecological pyramids.
• Lindeman (1942) proposed that energy flow in • The concept of ecological pyramid was given by Elton in
ecosystem follows 10% law. According to this law 1927.
10% energy is transferred from one level to
• Each food level is also called trophic level.
another. It is because when energy flows from a
particular trophic level to the next trophic level, Ecological pyramids are of three types
some energy is always lost as heat at each step. (i) Pyramid of Number Number of individuals at each
• Energy flow is also dependent upon laws of trophic level is shown in pyramid. Its pyramid may be
thermodynamics. upright in grassland and pond ecosystem, intermediate in
forest ecosystem and inverted in parasitic food chain.
Food Chain (ii) Pyramid of Biomass Where biomass of each trophic level
Process of transfer of energy from producers through is shown in pyramid. This pyramid may be upright in
a series of organisms to consumers. It includes a grassland and forest ecosystem, whereas inverted in pond
chain of organisms that feed upon each other. ecosystem.
Eaten by Eaten by (iii) Pyramid of Energy Where energy content or
Grass → Rabbit → Hawk productivity of different trophic levels is shown in
(Producer) ( Primary ( Secondary
c onsumer consumer pyramid. This pyramid is always upright in all ecosystems.
or herbivore) or carnivore)
822 NDA/NA Pathfinder

Ecological Succession Some Ecological Relationships and their Occurrence

It is a phenomenon or process by which an Relationships Occurring between
ecological community undergoes more or less Commensalism One organism benefits without affecting the other, e.g. orchids,
orderly and predictable changes following runners.
disturbance or initial colonisation of new Mutualism Two organisms of different species, in which each individual derives a
habitat. Succession was first studied by King fitness benefit, e.g. lichens, coralloid roots in Cycas.
(1685) and George-Buffon (1742). After the Parasitism Non-functional relationship between organisms of different species
establishment of an ecological community at any where one organism (parasite) benefits from another (host), e.g.
Cuscuta.
specific place, the process of evolution continues
in it. Predation Predator prey (organism that hunts)— Prey (organism that is hunted).
Competition Living things for resources such as food, space, shelter, mate,
Types of Succession ecological status, etc.
Amensalism Product of one organism has a negative effect on other organism.
There are mainly two types of ecological
succession Commensalism and mutualism are positive interactions, while others
(i) Primary Succession In this type, an are negative interactions.
ecological community is developed in
the areas where no living organisms ever
existed, e.g. sandy land, rocks of stone, etc. BIOGEOCHEMICAL CYCLES
(ii) Secondary Succession In this, an The term nutrient cycle or biogeochemical cycle is used for the
ecological community is developed in the exchange/circulation of biogenetic nutrients between the living and
regions where ecological community was non-living components of the biosphere. Biogenetic nutrients or
earlier present, but whose existence has biogeochemicals are essential elements required by the organisms for
been destroyed, e.g. to destroy a forest their body building and metabolism.
through fire, but again reappearance and
development of a new forest community. 1. Nitrogen Cycle
It includes following steps
Productivity in an (i) Nitrogen-Fixation It is the process of converting atmospheric
Ecosystem nitrogen into water soluble nitrates and nitrites. This is done by
• The rate of biomass production by producers nitrogen-fixing bactria (e.g. Azotobacter, Clostridium and
is called gross primary productivity. Rhizobium).
(ii) Nitrogen Assimilation It is carried out by plants. Plants absorb
• The amount of biomass or organic matter
nitrate and nitrites and form amino acids, that are used to make
produced per unit area over a time period by proteins.
plants during photosynthesis is called as
(iii) Ammonification It is the process of production of ammonia
primary productivity and it is expressed in
either by the decomposition or breakdown of dead and complex
terms of weight ( g −2 ) or energy (kcal m −2 ). organic matter or by degradation of animal excreta.
• The rate of formation of new organic matter (iv) Nitrification It is the process of conversion of ammonia into
by consumers is called as secondary nitrites and then into nitrates, by nitrifying bacteria (e.g.
productivity. Nitrosomonas and Nitrobacter).
• Net primary productivity = Gross primary (v) Denitrification It is the process of reducing nitrates or ammonia,
productivity − Energy released in respiration. present in the soil to molecular nitrogen ( N 2 ).
• The annual net primary productivity of the
whole biosphere is approximately 170 billion
2. Carbon Cycle
tons of organic matter. The carbon cycle is the biogeochemical cycle by which carbon is
exchanged among the biosphere, pedosphere, geosphere and
atmosphere of the earth. The carbon cycle was initially discovered by
Ecological Interactions Joseph Priestley and Antoine Lavoisier.
The relationship between organisms in an
ecosystem is known as ecological interactions. 3. Oxygen Cycle
The negative type of interactions are predation
and competition, and positive interactions are It is the biogeochemical cycle that describes the movement of oxygen
mutualism, commensalism, amensalism and within its three main reservoirs, the atmosphere, the total content of
parasitism, etc. biological matter within the biosphere and the lithosphere.
GENERAL SCIENCE Biology 823

4. Phosphorus Cycle Levels of Biodiversity Causes of Biodiversity Loss

It is the biogeochemical cycle that Following are the levels of The major causes of biodiversity loss
describes the movement of biodiversity (The Evil Quartet) are
phosphorus through the lithosphere, (i) Genetic diversity (i) Habitat loss and fragmentation
hydrosphere and biosphere. Unlike (ii) Species diversity (ii) Overexploitation
other biogeochemical cycles, (iii) Alien species invasions
(iii) Ecosystem diversity
atmosphere does not play a significant
(iv) Coextinctions
role in the movement of phosphorus.
Importance of Biodiversity
5. Sulphur Cycle Biodiversity is important as it is a Biodiversity
The sulphur cycle is the collection of major resource for various services Conservation
processors by which sulphur moves such as food, medicines, habitat, soil, Conservation of biodiversity is
to and from minerals and living preservation of soil, recycling of protection and scientific management
systems. Steps of sulphur cycle wastes, pollination of crops, of biodiversity to maintain it at its
include mineralisation of organic ecological balance, etc. optimum level and derive sustainable
sulphur into organic forms such as benefits for the present as well as
hydrogen sulphide, oxidation of Mapping Species future strategies. There are two ways
hydrogen sulphide to sulphate, Biodiversity of conserving the biodiversity.
reduction of sulphate to sulphide and The first attempt of mapping
lastly incorporation of sulphide into biodiversity was made by Brits, Paul 1. In Situ Conservation
organic compounds. Williams, Decair Right and Chris It is the conservation of living
Humpreger. resources through their maintenance
6. Water Cycle within the natural ecosystems, in which
• The water cycle is also known as Mainly three types of diversity were
they occur. It includes following
taken into consideration while
the hydrological cycle or water systems
mapping, such as
cycle. The water constantly
circulates through evaporation, (i) Alpha diversity helps in (i) National Parks
condensation and precipitation and analytical study of biodiversity
• A national park is an area strictly
the nutrients dissolved in water in various regions.
reserved for the protection and
also circulate within it. It describes (ii) Beta diversity is associated welfare of wildlife. In India, there are
the continuous movement of water with the comparison of 120 national parks. The first national
on, above and below the surface of biodiversity between ecosystem park in the world, the ‘Yellowstone
the earth. (iii) Gamma diversity is the rate of National Park’ was founded in 1872
• The water cycle influences climate, change of species with the in USA.
which leads to temperature expanding geographical region.
• In 1935, the first national park of
changes. Human activites that alter India was established in the
the water cycle includes agriculture,
Loss of Biodiversity
foothills of the Himalayas (Hailey
industry, dams, urbanisation, use of • IUCN (International Union for National Park) presently known as
ground water, etc. Conservation of Nature and Corbett National Park. A total of
Natural Resources), Red List 166 national parks have been
BIODIVERSITY (2004) documented the extinction authorised. Plans are underway to
of 784 species (338 vertebrates, establish the remaining scheduled
Biodiversity refers to the variety and 359 invertebrates and 87 plants) in parks.
variability of living organisms on the
the last 500 years.
planet earth. It can also be defined as (ii) Sanctuaries
the variety of life forms, gene pools • Dodo (Mauritius), and three
and habitats found in an area. The subspecies (Bali, Javan and These are notified for the protection of
term ‘Biodiversity’ was popularised Caspian) of tiger are the examples wild animal and fauna. In India, there
by socio-biologist Edward Wilson to of recent extinction. are over 500 sanctuaries in different
describe the combined diversity at all states. Among these, the 28 tiger
• About 27 species have been
the levels of biological organisations. reserves are governed by Project
extincted during last 20 years. Tiger, one of special significance in
In 1992, UNO organised a summit in Some groups like amphibians
Rio De Janeiro, Brazil to concern the conservation of the tiger. Some
appear to be more vulnerable to wildlife sanctuaries are specifically
about biodiversity. 172 countries took
extinction. named bird sanctuary.
part in that summit. It is also known
as Earth summit.
824 NDA/NA Pathfinder

(iii) Biosphere Reserves Red Data Book

• The concept of biosphere reserves was launched under • A Red Data Book or Red List is a catalogue of taxa
MAB programme of UNESCO (started in 1975). facing risk of extinction. International Union of
Biosphere reserve programme was started in India in Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN)
1986. Total biosphere reserves in India are 14. maintains it.
• The first biosphere reserve established in 1986 was • Red Data Book or Red List was initiated in 1963 and first
‘Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve’. A biosphere reserve is made published on 1st January 1972.
of core, buffer and manipulation zone.
• According to recent IUCN red list great Indian bustard,
• MAB stands for Man and Biosphere programme. Siberian crane, Baer’s pochard and Nilgiri mystees are
critical endangered.
2. Ex Situ Conservation
It means, conservation outside the habitats by perpetuating Some International and National Organisations
sample population in genetic resource centres. It usually MNHS Mumbai Natural History Society
includes zoos, botanical garden, etc., e.g. ‘Royal Botanical’
Garden Kew, England is the largest botanical garden. CITES Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of
wild Fauna and Flora
Now, some newer techniques are also used.
IBWL Indian Board for Wildlife
These are as follows
(i) Seed and Pollen Banks The seeds and pollens have NWAP National Wildlife Action Plan
germplasm stored in them. Thus, they act as genetic UNCED United Nations Conference on Environment and Development
resources. These can be stored by keeping them in
−196°C in liquid nitrogen. This method is known as WPSI Wildlife Preservation Society of India
cryopreservaion. WWF World Wildlife Fund
(ii) Tissue Culture It can be extended to endangered NEERI National Environment Engineering Research Institute
species as well as those, which may orherwise require
very rapid climatic condition and can be maintained
at one place in aseptic culture. Environment
(iii) Gene Bank Genes of plants are stored in gene Environment means the surrounding and everything around
banks from which whole plant can be generated. In us. It includes physical conditions like air (atmosphere),
India, NBPGR, Delhi is the main centre for gene water (hydrosphere) and land (lithosphere) and the
conservation. biological conditions like plants, animals, human beings,
microorganisms (like bacteria, fungi, etc.) and their
Hotspots interrelationships.
These are areas that are extremely rich in species diversity,
have high endemism and are under constant threat. Atmosphere of Earth
The biodiversity hotspots were first proposed by Norman • Atmosphere of earth is in the form of gaseous layer that
Myers in 1988. There are currently 25 hotspots in the surrounds the planet.
world. India has two hotspots, i.e. one in Eastern • It is retained by earth’s gravity.
Himalayas and other in Western Ghats. • The atmosphere protects the life forms from ultraviolet
solar radiation, greenhouse gases, etc.
Forests • The atmospheric gases, in common term are collectively
• A forest is an area with many trees. They are very known as air.
important and grow all over the world.
• Components of air are nitrogen (78.09%), oxygen
• Temperate or dry deciduous forests, i.e. having 70-150 cm (20.95%), carbon dioxide (0.039%) and small amount of
annual rainfall. Teak, neam, peepal, sal are main other gases.
varieties.
• Air also contains a variable amount of water vapours, on
• Temperate coniferous forests, i.e. cold climate with an average of about 1%. Air content and pressure vary at
high rainfall. Spruce, cedar, pine trees are most common different layers of atmosphere. It has different density at
varieties. different height from sea level, which result in the
• Temperate evergreen woodland (Chaparrals), i.e. formation of several layers. The atmosphere around earth
Mediterranean type climate with warmth. is warm. It may be because of radiations from earth.
GENERAL SCIENCE Biology 825

These layers are as follows indicated by lichens (the symbiosis plant between
(i) Troposphere It is the lowest layer of atmosphere, algae and fungi).
extending up to a height of 18 km. It is a turbulent and • Excess of sulphites is the cause of SO 2 injury in
dusty zone, which contains air ( N 2 , O 2 , CO 2 ) much plants.
water vapour and clouds. The temperature in this region • SO 2 above 1 ppm affects human beings in terms of
ranges from 15°C to 50°C. It is suitable for living irritation of eyes, respiratory tract, bronchitis, asthma,
systems like terrestrial plants and animals. etc.
(ii) Stratosphere It lies between 18-60 km above the sea • Maximum SO 2 pollution in India occurs in Kolkata.
level. In this region, temperature starts to rise from • Yellowing and blackening of Taj Mahal in Agra is
−50°C to about 10°C, therefore tropopause is the point,
due to SO 2 released by Mathura refinery. This type
at which temperature inversion occurs.
of pollution is called ‘stone cancer’.
In stratosphere, ozone layer is present, which absorbs
most of the ultraviolet radiation emitted by the sun and
• The mixing of SO 2 and NO 2 with rain water may
thus, protects the humans and other living things from cause acid rain.
it. • The term acid rain was coined by R August (1872).
(iii) Mesosphere This region extends from 60-85 km. In this • Acid rain have a pH of less than 5.
region, temperature decreases with height and reaches to • It is caused by large scale emission of nitrogen oxides
−90 to −100°C. That’s why, when any meteors enter in (NO 2 ), SO 2 and HCl from thermal power plants,
mesosphere, it burns up. industries and automobiles.
(iv) Ionosphere The ionosphere is a region of the upper • Bhopal gas tragedy It took place in Bhopal on 2nd
atmosphere, from about (85-600 km) altitude. December, 1984. It was a cause of case serious air
pollution that occurred due to release of MIC
(Methyl Isocyanate) from insecticide factory of
POLLUTION union carbide. It took the life of nearly 8200 people.
• Odum defined the term ‘pollution’, as undesirable change
• Diseases caused by air pollution are bronchitis,
in physical, chemical and biological properties of air, water
asthma, COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary
and soil, which directly or indirectly affect human beings.
Disorder) lung cancer, allergy, etc.
• Pollution causing agents or substances are called pollutants.
Pollutants can be primary or secondary, PAN is a Water Pollution
secondary pollutant. • It is mainly caused by industrial waste, sewage and
Pollutants are of two types other wastes.
(i) Biodegradable, e.g. dung, plant debris, human dead • Degree of water pollution is measured in terms of
bodies, etc. BOD (Biochemical Oxygen Demand).
(ii) Non-biodegradable, e.g. DDT, BHC, plastics, glass, etc. • If BOD is less than 1500 mg/L it indicates less
pollution.
Types of Pollution • If BOD is 1500-4000 mg/L it indicates medium
Pollution can be classified into the following four groups; air pollution.
pollution, water pollution, soil or land pollution, and sound • If BOD is more than 4000 mg/L it indicates high
or noise pollution. pollution.
• Mercury (Hg) is very persistant effluent and causes
Air Pollution minamata disease.
• Air pollution is undesirable change in physical, chemical • Cadmium (Cd) accumulation in liver, kidney and
and biological property of air. thyroid causes itai-itai (ouch-ouch) disease.
• It occurs due to excess of different gases, smoke, particulate • Eutrophication is the phenomenon of aging of lake
matters, chemicals, allergens, etc. due to nutrient enrichment of a waterbody that
• Important primary air pollutants are CO, lead, benzene, initially supports a dense growth of plants and animal
SO 2 , NO 2 , HF, etc. life.
• Secondary air pollutants are Ozone (O 3 ) , Peroxy-Acetyl
Nitrate (PAN), etc. Soil Pollution
• Secondary air pollutants are main components of • Toxicity of soil increases as a result of chemical
photochemical smog. wastes, which has adverse effect on human beings.
• SO 2 is produced due to combustion of fossil fuels. • Excessive use of nitrogen fertilisers has increased
• Lichens are indicators of air pollution as they can only levels of nitrates in soil, which may cause ‘blue baby
grow in purified environment. Specifically SO 2 pollution is syndrome’.
826 NDA/NA Pathfinder

• Alteration in soil brought about by different types Thermal Pollution

of wastes, which constitute soil pollution.
Due to nuclear and other conventional sources, temperature of
• Biological pathogens play important role in soil
waterbodies and atmosphere increases, which has adverse effect
pollution. on different organisms.
Noise Pollution
• Unwanted sound is called noise and it is measured
Greenhouse Effect
Greenhouse effect is a process by which thermal radiation from a
in terms of decibels (dB).
plantary surface is absorbed by atmospheric greenhouse gases and
• Generally, sound above 80 dB is termed as noise. is re-radiated in all directions. Thus, these gases let incoming
• Kanpur is the most noise polluted city in UP. sunlight pass through, but stop outgoing infrared radiation. It
• Large green plants, which are planted in high noise mainly results in the elevation of the average surface temperature,
pollution zones are known as ‘green mufflers,’ as i.e. global warming. It is caused by the greenhouse gases.
they have capacity to absorb sound waves. The four major greenhouse gases are as follows
(i) Carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) (ii) Methane (CH 4 )
Radioactive Pollution (iii) Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)
• The chief source of radioactive pollution is nuclear- (iv) Nitrous oxide ( N 2 O )
explosions.
• The radioactive substances
(Sr 90 , Cs137 , C14 , Co 60 , Ru106 ) are initially in gaseous
Ozone Layer Depletion
• In the region of upper stratosphere, 17-26 km above the
form 10-15 km above earth surfaces. earth’s surface, exists a thin veil of renewable ozone (O 3 ).
• These radioactive fallouts cause air, water and soil This O 3 absorbs about 99 % of the harmful incoming
pollution. non-ionising UV rays from the sun and prevents it from
• Sr 90 accumulates in bone marrow and causes cancer reaching the earth's surface, so it acts as a blanket for our
(leukaemia). earth.
• Cs137 accumulates in muscles and causes muscular • The primary cause of ozone depletion appears to be the
pain. increased use of chemicals, such as chlorofluorocarbons
• Radioactive disasters occurred first in 1945 in (CFCs), Carbon tetrachloride, halons.
Hiroshima and Nagasaki cities of Japan, when USA • Researchers discovered that ozone in the upper stratosphere
dropped nuclear bombs during the World War II. over Antarctica is being destorted during the Antarctic, spring
• Recently in 1986, nuclear accident occurred at and early summer (September-December). So called it as
chernobyl (USSR). ozone hole, i.e. it is more thinning.

PRACTICE EXERCISE
1. The primary cause of ozone 5. The concept of ecological pyramid (b) a group of green plants
depletion is was given by (c) a group of animals interacting with
(a) CFCs (b) CO 2 (c) O 3 (d) PAN (a) Elton (b) R August environment
(c) Reiter (d) Hatch and Slacks (d) a group of different plants and
2. In a food chain, energy transfer
animals only
occurs 6. Which of the following is always
(a) from river to earth upright in all ecosystems? 9. Primary productivity is the rate of
(b) lower lattitude to higher lattitude (a) Pyramid of number (a) formation of new organic matter by
(c) from one organism to other (b) Pyramid of energy consumers
organism (c) Pyramid of biomass (b) conversion of light into chemical
(d) None of the above (d) Both (b) and (c) energy in an ecosystem
(c) biomass production per unit area
3. The driving force of an ecosystem is 7. In which ecosystem grassland is
over a time period during
(a) biomass (b) producer included? photosynthesis
(c) carbohydrate in producers (a) Marine (b) Freshwater (d) None of the above
(d) solar energy (c) Terrestrial (d) Artificial
10. Energy storage at consumer level
4. Biodiversity is richer in 8. Ecosystem is
is called
(a) tropical regions (b) polar regions (a) any functional unit that includes the
(a) gross primary productivity
(c) temperate regions whole community in a given area
(b) secondary productivity
(d) oceans interacting with the abiotic factors
GENERAL SCIENCE > Biology 827

(c) net primary productivity 19. Disease aggravated by air pollution (a) the water vapour of the air and
(d) primary productivity is retains its heat
(a) Cholera (b) Rheumatism (b) the ultraviolet part of the solar
11. Which of the following ecosystem radiation
types has the highest (c) Bronchitis (d) None of the above
(c) all the solar radiations
biodiversity? 20. Which of the following is the most (d) the infrared part of the solar
(a) Tropical rainforest destructive enemy of ozone? radiation
(b) Tropical deciduous forest (a) Liquid NH 3 (b) SO 2
(c) Moist deciduous rainforest
29. What is the major role of a green
(c) CFCs (d) CO
(d) Temperate deciduous forest house gas that contributes to
21. Which pollution is caused by lead? temperature rise of the earth’s
12. Food chain refers to (a) Soil pollution (b) Air pollution surface?
(a) group of organisms, which eat the (c) Radioactive pollution (a) Transparents to both incoming sunlight
same type of food (d) Thermal pollution and outgoing infrared radiation
(b) animals eating the plants (b) Stops both incoming sunlight and
(c) series of plants or animals, which
22. Noise is measured in
(a) decibel (b) pikogram outgoing infrared radiation
are interrelated in the form of (c) Lets outgoing infrared radiation
organism being eaten as food by (c) microgram (d) hertz
pass through, but stops incoming
the other 23. Which of the following is secondary sunlight
(d) None of the above pollutant? (d) Lets incoming sunlight pass
13. Food chain is a series of (a) PAN (b) NO through, but stops outgoing infrared
population, which starts with (c) NO 2 (d) SO 2 radiation
producers. It is concerned with 24. Term ecosystem was first given by 30. Which of the following are green
(a) biotic components only (a) AG Tansley (b) Reiter house gases?
(b) energy flow and transfer of (c) R Misra (d) Haeckel (a) CO 2, O 2, NO 2, NH 3
nutrients (b) CFC, CO 2, NH 3, N 2
25. Which of the following flow is
(c) Both (a) and (b) (c) CH 4 , N 2, CO 2, NH 3
correct about ascending level of
(d) physical conditions (d) CFC, CO 2, CH 4 , NO 2
organisms in environment?
14. Which one of the following is not (a) Organism → Community → Species 31. Rainwater collected after 30 to
a site for in situ method of → Population 40 minutes of raining is not
conservation of flora? (b) Community → Population → Species suitable for drinking because it
(a) Biosphere reserve → Organism (a) contains bacteria and dirt
(b) Botanical garden (c) Organism → Species → Population (b) contains dissolve toxic chemicals
(c) National park → Community (c) is deficient in minerals
(d) Wildlife sanctuary (d) Population → Species → Organism (d) is acidic
→ Community
15. The atmosphere around earth is 32. CFCs released from refrigerator
warmed because 26. Which of the following statements discharge may affect
(a) warm air cannot escape, as in is true about population (a) troposphere (b) stratosphere
greenhouse interaction? (c) lithosphere (d) hydrosphere
(b) molecules in the atmosphere are (a) Predation is beneficial to both 33. Nitric oxide pollution can lead to
warmed by radiation from earth interacting organisms all of the following, except
and retain that heat (b) Amensalism affects both interacting (a) leaf spotting in plants
(c) fossil fuels release heat organisms (b) bronchitic related respiratory
(d) plants absorb carbon dioxide (c) Competition gives harmful effect to problems in human
(CO 2 ) both participating organisms (c) production of corrosive gases
16. Which of the following is not a (d) Commensalism gives benefit to both through photochemical reaction
primary gas causing greenhouse interacting organisms (d) silicosis in human
effect? 27. Carbon monoxide, emitted by 34. Photochemical smog is a result of
(a) Carbon dioxide automobiles, prevents transport of the reaction among
(b) Carbon monoxide oxygen in the body due to (a) NO 2, O 3 and peroxyacetyl nitrate in
(c) Argon (a) combining with oxygen to form the presence of sunlight
(d) Methane gas carbon dioxide (b) CO, O 2 and peroxyacetyl nitrate in
(b) destruction of haemoglobin the presence of sunlight
17. Acid rain is formed due to
(c) preventing reaction between oxygen (c) CO, CO 2 and NO 2 at low temperature
contribution from the following (d) high concentration of NO 2, O 3 and
and haemoglobin
pair of gases CO in the evening
(d) forming stable compound with
(a) Methane and Ozone
haemoglobin 35. Acid rain is caused by the
(b) Oxygen and Nitrous oxide
(c) Methane and Sulphur dioxide 28. The increasing amount of carbon pollution of environment by
(d) Nitrogen oxides and Sulphur dioxide dioxide in the air is slowly raising (a) carbon dioxide and nitrogen
the temperature of the atmosphere, (b) carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide
18. Lichens indicate pollution by (c) ozone and carbon dioxide
(a) O 3 (b) SO 2 (c) NO 3 (d) CO because it absorbs
(d) nitrous oxide and sulphur dioxide
828 NDA/NA Pathfinder

36. The rapidly growing mass of 3. Protected sites for Previous Years’ Questions
phytoplankton covering the surface conservation of nature and
water of a lake or pond is known as natural resources in various 46. Consider the following layers of
(a) water pollution (b) water hyacinth countries. the atmosphere. e 2013 (II)
(c) eutrophication (d) water bloom Select the correct answer using 1. Troposphere 2. Stratosphere
37. Chloroflurocarbons are widely used in the codes given below. 3. Mesosphere 4. Thermosphere
(a) micro-ovens (b) solar heaters (a) 1 and 3 (b) Only 2 Which one among the following is
(c) washing machines (c) 2 and 3 (d) Only 3 the correct sequence of the layers
(d) refrigerators 43. Biodiversity forms the basis for with increasing altitude from the
38. Greenhouse effect is the heating up human existence in the earth’s surface?
of the earth’s atmosphere, which is following ways (a) 1, 2, 3, 4 (b) 2, 1, 3, 4
1. Soil formation (c) 3, 2, 1, 4 (d) 4, 2, 3, 1
due to
(a) the ultraviolet rays 2. Preservation of soil erosion 47. Which of the following groups of
(b) γ-rays (c) the infra-red rays 3. Recycling of waste plants can be used as indicators of
(d) X-rays 4. Pollination of crops SO 2 pollution of air? e 2014 (II)
39. ‘Bhopal gas tragedy’ 1984 is Select the correct answer using (a) Ferns (b) Mentha
related to the codes given below. (c) Lichens (d) Hornworts
(a) aluminium phosphide (a) 1, 2 and 3 (b) 2, 3 and 4 48. Which one of the following is not a
(b) methyl bromide (c) methyl isocyanate (c) 1 and 4 (d) All of these greenhouse gas? e 2015 (II)
(d) carbon dioxide
44. Consider the following (a) Water vapour (b) Methane
40. Which of the following pairs of an statements. (c) Ozone (d) Carbon monoxide
animal and a plant represents 1. Biodiversity hotspots are 49. ‘Sal’ tree is a e 2016 (I)
endangered organisms in India? located only in tropical
(a) Banyan and black duck (a) tropical evergreen tree
regions. (b) tropical semi-evergreen tree
(b) Bentinckia nicobarica and red panda 2. India has four biodiversity
(c) Tamarind rhesus monkey (c) dry deciduous tree
hotspots, i.e. Eastern (d) moist deciduous tree
(d) Cinchona and leopard
Himalayas, Western
41. Consider the following statements 50. Spruce and cedar are tree varieties
Himalayas, Western Ghats
of e 2016 (I)
1. Any undesirable change in and Andaman and Nicobar
physical, chemical or biological Islands. (a) equatorial forest
(b) temperate coniferous forest
characteristics of air, land or Which of the statements given (c) monsoon forest
soil and water is called above is correct? (d) temperate deciduous forest
pollution. (a) Only 1 (b) Only 2
2. Term biodiversity is given by (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2 51. One of the main causes of air
Edward Wilson. pollution in cities is emissions
45. Consider the following
Which of the above statements from vehicles like cars and trucks.
statements regarding ecological
is/are incorrect? pyramids. Cars emit various pollutants,
(a) Only 1 (b) Only 2 which are bad for human health
1. Pyramid of energy is always
(c) 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2 upright, can never be when inhaled, like e 2016 (I)
42. The red data books published by inverted. 1. nitrogen oxides (NO x )
the International Union for 2. When energy flows from a 2. carbon monoxide (CO)
Conservation of Nature and particular tropic level to the 3. carbon dioxide (CO 2)
Natural Resources contains list of next tropic level, some 4. benzene
1. Endemic plant and animal energy is always lost as Which of the above pollutants are
species present in the heat at each step. not tolerated by human being even
biodiversity hotspots. Choose the correct option. at very low level?
2. Threatened plant and animal (a) Only 1 (b) Only 2 (a) 1 and 4 (b) 1 and 2
species. (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2 (c) 1, 2 and 3 (d) 1, 2 and 4

ANSWERS
1 a 2 c 3 d 4 a 5 a 6 b 7 c 8 a 9 c 10 b
11 a 12 c 13 b 14 b 15 b 16 c 17 d 18 b 19 c 20 c
21 b 22 a 23 a 24 a 25 c 26 c 27 d 28 d 29 d 30 d
31 d 32 b 33 d 34 a 35 d 36 c 37 d 38 c 39 c 40 b
41 d 42 b 43 d 44 d 45 c 46 a 47 c 48 a 49 d 50 b
51 c