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Practice each question, then open the answer or worked solution.
Diatoms are also called as ‘pearls of the ocean’, why? What is diatomaceous
earth?
Diatoms are majorly phytoplankton, which are the chief producers of the ocean. Hence known as “pearls of oceans”
There is a myth that immediately after heavy rains in forest, mushrooms appear in large number and make a very large ring or circle, which may be several metres in diameter. These are called ‘Fairy rings’. Can you explain this myth of fairy rings in biological terms?
This naturally occurring ring or arch of mushrooms, occurring as a common turf disease, is identified as large dead rings or arch of grass in lawns during the spring or summer and is known as a ‘fairy rings’.
Neurospora – an ascomycetes fungus has been used as a biological tool to understand the mechanism of plant genetics much in the same way as Drosophila has been used to study animal genetics. What makes Neurospora so important as a genetic tool?
Neurospora is used as a genetic tool because
Fastest growing in vitro can be grown in minimal media.
• Due to its haploid nature it can express both dominant as well as recessive traits.
• Analysis of genetic combination is facilitated by the ordered sequence of the products in the form of eight ascospores
Cyanobacteria and heterotrophic bacteria have been clubbed together in Eubacteria of kingdom Monera as per the “Five Kingdom Classification” even though the two are vastly different from each other. Is this grouping of the two types of taxa in the same kingdom justified? If so, why?
Cyanobacteria synthesise their food, and they are autotrophic. Heterotrophic bacteria depend on other organisms for their food. Both Cyanobacteria and heterotrophic bacteria are categorised under Eubacteria of kingdom Monera. Therefore the classification according to the cellular structure is justified.
At a stage of their cycle, ascomycetes fungi produce fruiting bodies like apothecium, perithecium or cleistothecium. How are these three types of fruiting bodies different from each other?
Apothecium: It’s a saucer or cup-shaped, open-fruiting body. Perithecium: Flask-shaped fruiting body. With an opening lid called the ostiole. Cleistothecium: It’s a closed spherical structure. Ostiole is absent.
What observable features in Trypanosoma would make you classify it under kingdom Protista?
Trypanosoma is a unicellular eukaryotic organism.
Locomotion is facilitated by flagella.
Method of reproduction is asexual.
The reserve food material is present in the form of granules.
Fungi are cosmopolitan. Write the role of fungi in your daily life.
Used in the brewery and baking industry: Saccharomyces cerivesea is used. Under anaerobic conditions process of fermentation takes place which releases ethanol and CO2. The release of CO2 helps the dough to rise. Fungi are used as biological control agents: Soil inhabiting fungus Trichoderma kills Pythium fungus known to cause root rot.