BOTANY SECOND YEAR

VERY SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS (2 MARKS).

UNIT - I PLANT PHYSIOLOGY.
1. TRANSPORT IN PLANTS
1. What are porins? What role do they play in diffusion?
Ans:
 Porins are proteins that form huge pores in the outer membranes of the plastids, mitochondria and
some bacteria.
 They allow the molecules up to the size of small proteins to pass through.
2. Define water potential. What is the value of water potential of pure water?
Ans:
 The difference between the chemical potential of pure water and chemical potential of a solution is
called water potential. (or) Water molecules posses kinetic energy. This energy is called Water
potential.
 The water potential of pure water is '0'.
3. Differentiate osmosis from diffusion?
Ans:
 Osmosis: The movement of water molecules from low concentrated place to high concentrated place
through a semi permeable membrane is called osmosis.
 Diffusion: The movement of gases or molecules from high concentrated place to low concentrated
place is called diffusion.
4. What are apoplast and symplast?
Ans:
 Apoplast: It is the continuous system of cell walls and intercellular spaces in plant tissues.
 Symplast: It is the system of all cells inter- connected by plasmadesmata in plant body.
5. How does guttation differ from transpiration?
Ans:
 Guttation: The loss of water in the form of liquid from the leaves of plants is called guttation.
 Transpiration: The loss of water in the form of vapour from the aerial parts of the plant is called
transpiration.
6. What are the physical factors responsible for the ascent of sap through xylem in plants?
Ans:
1. Cohesion: Mutual attraction between water molecules.
2. Adhesion: Attraction between water molecules and surface of tracheary elements.
3. Transpiration pull: The driving force for upward movement of water.
7. With reference to transportation within plant cells, what are source and sink?
Ans:
 Source: Part of the plant, which synthesises the food i.e the leaf.
 Sink: Part of the plant that needs (or) stores the food. Eg: Flowers, fruits and seeds.
8. Does transpiration occur at night? Give an example?
Ans: Yes, Transpiration occurs at night.
Eg: Cactus, Bryophyllum.
9. Compare the pH of guard cells during the opening and closing of stomata?
Ans:
 The pH of guard cells increases during opening of stomata.

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  The pH of guard cells decreases during closing of stomata.
10. In the wake of transpirational loss, why do the C4 plants are more efficient than C3 plants?
Ans: C4 plant loses only half as much water as C3 plant for the same amount of CO2 fixed.
11. What is meant by transport saturation? How does it influence facilitated diffusion?
Ans:
 Transport rate reaches a maximum when all of the protein transporters being used are called
transport saturation.
 Transport saturation increases the facilitated diffusion.
12. How does ABA bring about the closure of stomata under water stress conditions?
Ans: Under water stress conditions, abscisic acid (ABA) drives the K+ ions out of guard cells making them
close.
4. PHOTOSYNTHESIS IN HIGHER PLANTS.
1. Name the processes which take place in the grana and stroma regions of chloroplasts?
Ans:
 Light reaction occurs in grana of chloroplast.
 Dark reaction occurs in stroma of chloroplast.
2. Where does the photolysis of H2O occur? What is its significance?
Ans:
 Lumen of thylakoid.
 This creates oxygen (O2 ).
3. How many molecules of ATP and NADPH are needed to fix a molecule of CO 2 in C3 plants?
Where does this process occur?
Ans:
 3 ATP, 2 NADPH are needed to fix a molecule of CO2 in C3 plants.
 It takes place in stroma of the chloroplast.
4. Mention the components of ATPase enzyme. What is their location? Which part of the enzyme shows
conformational change?
Ans: There are two components in ATPase enzyme.
 F0 particle (Stalk): It is embedded in the membrane of thylakoid.
 F1 particle (Head): It protrudes out into the stroma.
 F1 particle of the ATPase shows conformational change.
5. Distinguish between action spectrum and absorption spectrum?
Ans:
 Action spectrum: A graph showing the rate of photosynthesis at different wave lengths of light.
 Absorption spectrum: A graph showing the absorption of light by the photosynthetic pigments at
different wave lengths.
6. Of the basic raw materials of photosynthesis, what is reduced? What is oxidised?
Ans: H2O is oxidized, CO2 is reduced.
7. Define the law of limiting factors proposed by Blackman?
Ans: In a process participated by a number of separate factors, the rate of the process is limited by the
factor which is present in minimal value.
8. What is the primary acceptor of CO2 in C3 plants? What is first stable compound formed in a Calvin
cycle?
Ans:
 Primary acceptor of CO2 in C3 plants - RUBP.
 The first stable compound in Calvin cycle - 3-PGA.

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9. What is the primary acceptor of CO2 in C4 plants? What is the first compound formed as a result of
primary corboxylation in the C4 pathway?
Ans:
 Primary acceptor of CO2 in C4 plants - PEP.
 The first stable compound in C4 cycle - OAA.
UNIT -II MICROBIOLOGY
7. BACTERIA
1. Write briefly on the occurrence of microorganisms?
Ans:
 Microorganisms are omnipresent, i.e everywhere.
 They are found in soil, water, air and on or inside living organisms. They also occur in a variety of foods
and they can withstand extreme cold, heat and drought conditions.
2. Define Microbiology?
Ans: Microbiology is a branch of biology that deals with the study of invisible microorganisms.
3. Name the bacteria which is a common inhabitant of human intestine. How is it used in biotechnology?
Ans:
 E. Coli
 It is used in biotechnology for the production insulin hormone.
4. What are pleomorphic bacteria? Give an example?
Ans: Some bacteria that can change their shape depending upon the type of environment and nutrients
available are called pleomorphic bacteria.
Eg: Acetobacter.
5. What is sex pilus? What is its function?
Ans:
 The process of conjugation requires a special conjugation apparatus called sex pilus.
 The F + and F ‾ bacteria cells are held together with help of sex pilus, that acts as a conjugation tube
during conjugation.
6. What is a genophore?
Ans: The main genetic material of the bacteria (or) bacterial chromosome is called genophore.
7. What is a plasmid? What is its significance?
Ans: In addition to the genophore some bacteria contain small, circular double stranded DNA molecules
called plasmid.
Significance: Plasmids are used as vectors in genetic engineering.
8. What is conjugation? Who discovered it and in which organism?
Ans:
 The transfer of genetic material through direct cell to cell contact is known as conjugation.
 It was first discovered by Lederberg and Tatum in E. coli.
9. What is transformation? Who discovered it and in which organism?
Ans:
 The uptake of naked DNA fragments from the surrounding environment and the expression of that
genetic information in the recipient cell are known as transformation.
 It was discovered by Frederick Griffith in Streptococcus pneumoniae.
10. What is transduction? Who discovered it and in which organism?
Ans:
 The transfer of genetic material from one bacterium to another through bacteriophage is known as
transduction.
 It was discovered by Lederberg and Zinder in Salmonella typhimurium.
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 UNIT -3 GENETICS
9. PRINCIPLES OF INHERITANCE AND VARIATIONS
1. What is the cross between the F1 progeny and the homozygous recessive parent called? How is it useful?
Ans:
 Test cross.
 Test cross is used to know the genotype of F2 progeny (dominant trait) whether it is homozygous (or)
heterozygous.
2. Do you think Mendel's laws of inheritance would have been different if the characters that he chose
were located on the same chromosome?
Ans:
 Yes,
 If the alleles of characters chosen by Mendel were present on the same chromosome, he must have
faced the problem of linkage and could not have proposed the law of independent assortment.
3. Who proposed the Chromosome Theory of Inheritance?
Ans: Sutton and Boveri.
4. Define true breeding. Mention its significance?
Ans: True breeding: Is a process of production homozygous off springs from homozygous parents
through self pollination.
Significance: Desirable characters in true breeding remain stable for many generations.
5. Explain the terms phenotype and genotype?
Ans:
 Phenotype: The physical or external appearance of an organism is called phenotype.
 Genotype: The genetic makeup of an individual is called genotype.
6. What is point mutation? Give an example?
Ans: The mutation that occurs in a single base pair of a DNA is called point mutations.
Eg: Sickle cell anemia.
7. What is the genetic nature of wrinkled phenotype of pea seeds?
Ans: Genetic nature of wrinkled phenotype of pea seed - rr.
UNIT - IV MOLECULAR BIOLOGY.
10. MOLECULAR BASIS OF INHERITANCE.
1. Distinguish between heterochromatin and euchromatin. Which of the two is transcriptionally active?
Ans:
 Heterochromatin: It is darkly stained, more densely packed.
 Euchromatin: It is lightly stained, loosely packed chromatin.
 Euchromatin is transcriptionally active chromatin.
2. Who proved that DNA is genetic material? What is the organism they worked on?
Ans:
 Alfred Hershey and Martha Chase.
 Bacteriophages
3. What is the function of DNA polymerase?
Ans: It helps in DNA replication. It uses a DNA template to catalyse the polymerisation of
deoxynucleotides in 5' - 3' direction.
4. What are the components of a nucleotide?
Ans: A nucleotide consists of 1. Nitrogen base 2. Pentose sugar 3. Phosphate group.
5. Given below is the sequence of coding strand of DNA in a transcription unit
3' AATGCAGCTATTAGG 5'

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 write the sequence of
(a) its complementary strand
(b) the mRNA
Ans:
(a) its complementary strand - 5' TTACGTCGATAATCC 3'
(b) the mRNA - 5' UUACGUCGAUAAUCC 3'
6. Name any three viruses which have RNA as the genetic material?
Ans: TMV, HIV, Q.B bacteriophages.
7. What are the components of a transcription unit?
Ans: Transcriptional unit consists of 1. Promoter 2. Structural gene 3. Terminator.
8. What is the difference between exons and introns?
Ans:
 Exons: The coding sequences (or) expressed sequences are defined as exons, they appear in mature
RNA.
 Introns: Intervening sequences in between exons are defined as introns , they do not appear in
mature RNA.
9. What is meant by capping and tailing?
Ans:
 Capping: The attachment of methyl guanosine triphosphate to 5' end of hnRNA is called capping.
 Tailing: The attachment of 200-300 adenylate residues to 3' end of hnRNA is called tailing.
10. What is meant by point mutation? Give an example?
Ans: The mutation that occurs in a single base pair of DNA is called gene or point mutations.
Eg: Sickle cell anemia.
11. What is meant by charging of tRNA?
Ans: Activation of amino acids in the presence of ATP and linked to their cognate tRNA is called charging
of tRNA.
12. What is the function of the codon AUG?
Ans:
 AUG is an initiator codon.
 Which also codes for methionine.
13. Define stop codon. Write the codons?
Ans:
 The codons which do not code for any amino acids are called stopcodon.
 They are UAA UAG UGA
14. What is the difference between the template strand and a coding strand in a DNA molecule?
Ans:
 Template strand: The strand that has the polarity 3' - 5' acts as a template strand.
 Coding strand: The strand which has the polarity 5' - 3' acts as a coding strand.
15. Write any two chemical differences between DNA and RNA?
Ans:

DNA RNA

1. Deoxyribose sugar is present. 1. Ribose sugar is present.

2. Thymine is present in pyramidines. 2. Instead of Thymine, Uracil is present.

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16. In a typical DNA molecule, the proportion of Thymine is 30% of the N bases. Find out the percentages of
other N bases?
Ans: Thymine - 30%, Adenine - 30%, Guanine - 20%, Cytocine - 20%.
17. The proportion of nucleotides in a given nucleic acid are: Adenine 18%, Guanine 30%, Cytosine 42%, and
Uracil 10%. Name the nucleic acid and mention the number of strands in it?
Ans:
 The nucleic acid is RNA.
 Which is single strand.
UNIT - V BIOTECHNOLOGY.
11. BIOTECHNOLOGY: PRINCIPLES AND PROCESSES.
1. Define biotechnology?
Ans: "Biotechnology is the science of utilizing microorganisms or to exploit cells and the cell constituents
at industrial level for generating useful products essential to human welfare".
2. What are molecular scissors? Where are they obtained from?
Ans:
 Restriction enzymes are called "molecular scissors", which cut the DNA at specific locations.
 Usually they are obtained from bacteria.
3. Name any two artificially restructured plasmids?
Ans: pBR 322, pUC 19, pUC 101 (Any two)
4. What is EcoRI? How does it function?
Ans:
 EcoRI is a restriction enzyme obtained from E. coli.
 It specifically recognises GAA sites on the DNA and cuts it between G and A.
5. What are cloning vectors? Give an example?
Ans: Vectors used for multiplying the foreign DNA sequences are called cloning vectors.
Eg: Plasmids, bacteriophages.
6. What is recombinant DNA?
Ans: The hybrid DNA formed by the fusion of DNA with desirable genes with the vector DNA by DNA
ligase is called recombinant DNA (rDNA).
7. What is palindromic sequence?
Ans: Palindromes are groups of letters that form the same words when read in both forward and
backward directions.
Eg: 5' GAATTC 3'
8. What is the full form of PCR? How is it useful in biotechnology?
Ans:
 PCR stands for Polymerase Chain Reaction.
 PCR technique used in amplification of gene of interest.
9. What is down-stream processing?
Ans: Separation and purification of biotechnological products before they are ready for marketing is
called downstream processing.
10. How does one visualize DNA on an agar gel?
Ans: The separated DNA fragments can be visualised only after staining with ethidium bromide followed
by exposure to UV rays.
11. How can you differentiate between exonucleases and endonucleases?
Ans:
Exonucleases: They remove nucleotides from the ends of the DNA.
Endonucleases: They cut at specific positions within the DNA.

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 12. BIOTECHNOLOGY AND IT'S APPLICATIONS.
1. Give different types of cry genes and pests which are controlled by the proteins encoded by these
genes?
Ans:
 Cry I AC and Cry II Ab -control the cotton bollworms.
 Cry I Ab - controls corn borer.
2. Can a disease be detected before its symptoms appear? Explain the principle involved?
Ans:
 Yes.
 Very low concentration of microorganisms can be detected by amplification of their nucleic acid
through PCR.
3. What is GEAC and what are its objectives?
Ans:
 GEAC - Genetic Engineering Approval Committee.
 It makes decisions regarding the validity of GM research and the safety of GM organisms.
4. Name the nematode that infects the roots of tobacco plants. Name the strategy adopted to prevent this
infestation?
Ans:
 Meloidegyne incognitia.
 RNA interference (RNAi)
5. For which variety of Indian rice, has a patent been filed by a USA company?
Ans: Basmati Rice
6. Give one example for each of transgenic plants which are suitable for food processing and those with
improved nutritional quality?
Ans: 1. Flavr- savr tomato.
2. Golden Rice.

UNIT- VI: PLANTS, MICROBES AND HUMAN WELFARFE.

13. STRATEGIES FOR ENHANCEMENT IN FOOD PRODUCTION.
1. What is meant by 'hidden hunger'?
Ans: Many people suffer from deficiencies of micronutrients, proteins and vitamins are called 'Hidden
hunger'.
2. Name two semi-dwarf varieties of rice developed in India?
Ans: Jaya and Ratna.
3. Give two examples of wheat varieties introduced in India, which are high yielding and disease resistant?
Ans: Sonalika and Kalyan Sona.
4. Give two examples of fungi used in SCP production?
Ans: (Any two)
 Candida utilis (Torula yeast).
 Saccharomyces cerevisiae (Baker's yeast).
 Chaetomium cellulolyticum.
5. Which two species of sugarcane were crossed for better yield?
Ans: Saccharum barberi and Saccharum officinarum.

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 14. MICROBES IN HUMAN WELFARE.
1. Why does 'Swiss cheese' have big holes. Name the bacteria responsible for it?
Ans:
 Due to production of large amount of CO2 by a bacterium.
 Propionibacterium sharmanii.
2. What are fermentors?
Ans: Fermentors are large vessels in which microbes are grown in large numbers on an industrial scale.
3. Name a microbe used for statin production. How do statins lower blood cholesterol level?
Ans:
 Monascus purpureus.
 It acts as a competitive inhibitor for the enzyme responsible for cholesterol synthesis.
4. Why do we prefer to call secondary waste water treatment as biological treatment?
Ans: Microbes are mainly used in the secondary waste water treatment. Which reduces BOD
(Biochemical Oxygen Demand) by consuming organic matter from effluent.
5. What is Nucleopolyhedrovirus is being used for now a days?
Ans:
 They are used as biological control agents.
 They are species- specific, narrow spectrum insecticides.
6. Write the most important characteristic that Aspergillus niger, Clostridium butylicum and Lactobacillus
share?
Ans: These are organic acids producers.
Aspergillus niger - Citric acid,
Clostridium butylicum - Butyric acid,
Lactobacillus - Lactic acid.
7. Name any two genetically modified crops?
Ans: Bt- cotton, Bt- brinjal.
8. Name any two industrially important enzymes?
Ans: Lipase, Pectinase, Streptokinase, protease (Any two)
9. Name an immunosuppressive agent?
Ans: Cyclosporin -A.
10. What is the group of bacteria found in both the rumen of cattle and sludge of sewage treatment?
Ans: Methanogens Eg: Methanobacterium.
11. Name the scientists who were credited for showing the role of penicillin as an antibiotic?
Ans: Alexander Fleming, Ernest Chain and Howard Florey.