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1. Key is a taxonomical aid used in the classification of plants and animals. 

2. Keys are based on contrasting characters. One of the contrasting characters gets accepted and the other gets rejected. 

3. The statement in a key is called a lead. 

4. Normally keys are analytical in nature.

The empty protein coat left outside after penetration is ghost.

Spirulina is used in single cell protein.

(a) Aspergillus flavus

(b) Cyanobacteria

The bacterial chromosome is a single circular DNA molecule, tightly coiled and is not enclosed in a membrane as in Eukaryotes. This genetic material is called nucleoid or genophore.

Some bacteria are surrounded by a gelatinous substance which is composed of polysaccharides or polypeptide or both. A thick layer of glycocalyx bound tightly to the cell wall is called capsule. It protects cell from desiccation and antibiotics. The sticky nature helps them to attach to substrates like plant root surfaces, Human teeth and tissues. It helps to retain the nutrients in bacterial cell.

Plasmids are extrachromosomal double stranded, circular, self – replicating, autonomous elements. They contain genes for fertility, antibiotic resistant and heavy metals. It also help 1 in the production of bacteriocins and toxins which are not found in bacterial chromosome.

The size of a plasmid varies from 1 to 500 kb usually plasmids contribute to about 0.5 to 5% of the total DNA of bacteria. The number of plasmids per cell varies. Plasmids are classified into different types based on the function. Some of them are F (Fertility) factor, R (Resistance) plasmids, Col (Colicin) plasmids, Ri (Root inducing) plasmids and Ti (Tumour inducing) plasmids.

(c) Joshua Lederberg

(b) bacteriochlorophyll

The General Characters of Bacteria:

1. They are prokaryotic organisms and lack nuclear membrane and membrane bound organelles. 

2. The genetic material is called nucleoid or genophore or incipient nucleus. 

3. The cell wall is made up of polysaccharides and proteins. 

4. Most of them lack chlorophyll, hence they are heterotrophic (Vibrio cholerae) but some are autotrophic and possess Bacteriochlorophyll (Chromatium).

5. They reproduce vegetatively by binary fission and endospore formation. 

6. They exhibit variations which are due to genetic recombination and is achieved through conjugation, transformation and transduction.

Each virus possesses only one type of nucleic acid either DNA or RNA. The nucleic acid may be in a linear or circular form. Generally nucleic acid is present as a single unit but in wound tumour virus and in influenza virus it is found in segments. The viruses possessing DNA are called ‘Deoxyviruses’ whereas those possessing RNA are called ‘Riboviruses’.

Majority of animal and bacterial viruses are DNA viruses (HIV is the animal virus which possess RNA). Plant viruses generally contain RNA (Cauliflower Mosaic virus possess DNA). The nucleic acids may be single stranded or double stranded. On the basis of nature of nucleic acid viruses are classified into four categories. They are viruses with ssDNA (Parvo viruses), dsDNA (Bacteriophages), ssRNA (TMV) and dsRNA (wound tumour virus).

(b) Erysiphe

(a) oomycetes

Actinomycetes are also called ‘Ray fungi’ due to their mycelia like growth. They are anaerobic or facultative anaerobic microorganisms and are Gram positive. They do not produce an aerial mycelium. Their DNA contain high guanine and cytosine content .

(E.g., Streptomyces).

The empty protein coat left outside by the phage after penetrating the host cell is called as ghost.

Phages multiply through two different types of life cycle: 

1. Lytic or Virulent cycle 

2. Lysogenic or Avirulent life cycle

(c) mycoplasma

Filamentous trichome is the plant body of Nostoc

(a) calcium carbonate

Stromatolites are deposits formed when colonies of cyanobacteria bind with calcium carbonate.

Correct Answer is : (b) Planaria

(b) Mycoplasma

One nanometer equals to metres 10^-9.

The different tools used for maintaining biodiversity records are as follows: 

• Flora: It is the plant life occurring in a particular area at a particular time. 
• Monograph: It describes any one selected biological group. 
• Manual: It provides information and keys about identification of species found in a particular area.

Fungi growing on dung are called coprophilous fungi. 

Example: Pilobolus.

Correct Answer is: (d) Pilobolus

1. Due to rapid increase in human population and industrialization, humans have over utilized natural resources; leading to degradation of the environment and hence only humans can help conserve the ecosystem. 

2. Humans are capable of conserving and improving the quality of nature and thus, can play a major role in biodiversity conservation.

3. In order to conserve biodiversity and its environmental resources, humans must use the resources rationally and avoid excessive degradation of environment. 

4. Human beings are stakeholders of the environment and need to come together to overcome pollution and improve the environment quality in order to conserve biodiversity. 

E.g. Ban or limit on use of harmful products (plastic, chemicals, etc.) that are toxic to various birds, animals, etc. Human beings also play a role in conservation of biodiversity by establishment of various sites for in situ (national parks, wildlife sanctuaries and biosphere reserves) and ex situ (botanical gardens, culture collections and zoological parks) conservation.

1. biodiversity 

2. formalin 

3. zoo/ zoological park 

4. biodiversity 

5. lead

1. Zoological park (zoo) is a type of ex-situ conservation in which wild animals are kept in captivity. 

2. Humboldt penguins are native to South America and the surrounding environment differs significantly at Jijamata Udyan (zoo) in Mumbai. 

3. In order to ensure that these penguins survive longer and are healthy they need to be acclimatised (adjust) to their new environment slowly. 

4. If they are not acclimatised or the facilities in the zoo where the penguins are kept are not optimal/ suitable, they may develop abnormal stress and exhibit unusual behaviours due to it. 

5. These penguins may also be more prone to contracting certain diseases, since they are suited to living in a particular climatic condition. 

6. The enclosure of these penguins consists of water pool, air handling units and a chiller system to maintain temperatures between 12 – 14°C, where the penguins were kept for around 8 to 10 days to get acclimatised to their new environment before allowing any visitors inside the zoo. 

Hence, Humboldt penguins need to be acclimatised to their new surroundings, when kept at a place away from their natural habitat.

Flora, manuals, monographs and catalogues are some tools of maintaining biodiversity records.

1. Zoological park (zoo) is a place where wild animals are kept in captivity.

2. Wild animals are kept in a protected environment and care is taken to provide conditions similar to their natural habitat. 

3. It is a form of ex situ conservation of species i.e. away from their natural habitat. 

4. A naturalist can study the food habits and behaviour of animals in a zoological park.

1. (B) zoological park

2. (C) Fauna

3. (B) Manuals

4. (A) are used to identify plants and animals based on similarities and dissimilarities.

(c) Irritability

1. The newly discovered plant can be identified with the help of taxonomic keys, monographs, floras, herbaria and preserved plant specimens. 

2. A separate taxonomic key is available for each taxonomic category. 

3. The individual would have to study the morphological and anatomical features of the plant and compare it with the existing information available in the scientific literature.

1. Rakesh can press and mount the plant specimen on the herbarium sheet and can preserve the dried plant material. 

2. He can also write any information he knows about the plant on herbarium sheet, which can be used for further studies.

(a) Herbarium

(b) d’Herelle

Plants that reproduce through seeds:  

• Soybeans 
• Mangoes 
• Carrots 

Plants that reproduce through stems:  

• Rose plant 
• onion 
• Potato

Reproduction of plant advantages:  

1. The time taken is short for this type of reproduction, 

2. Chance of variation is less, mutation is less frequent.

Folding of leaves when touched, in touch me not plant, stinging of scorpion when some external thing touches it, flower of sunflower plant turning in the direction of sun – this way organisms respond to stimuli,  

(i) False

(ii) True

No, all organisms are not similar. 

1. Organisms on the earth exhibit great diversity. 

2. Organisms are grouped as microbes, plants (autotrophs), animals (heterotrophs) and decomposers.

3. Different microbes and decomposers have various shapes and sizes.

4. Plants can be further classified on their shape, size, structure, mode of reproduction, etc. Plants also differ greatly based on the locations in which they are found, e.g. Snowy, desert, forest, aquatic, etc.

5. Even animals show a high degree of variation. They are classified as unicellular, multicellular, invertebrates, vertebrates, etc. Also, based on the environment in which they live, they are classified as terrestrial,aerial, aquatic and amphibians.

Sacred groves in Maharashtra are located in districts like Ahmednagar, Bhandara, Chandrapur, Jalgaon, Kolhapur, Nashik, Pune, Raigad, Ratnagiri, Sangli, Satara, Sindhudurg, Thane, Yavatmal. [Source: Data as per C.P.R. Environment Education Centre, Chennai.]

e. g. Sacred grove of Parinche valley, Pune district of Maharashtra:

The Parinche valley region is comprised of the inaccessible rear part of the Purandhar fort and its surrounding valley region and is situated about 63 km to the southeast of Pune city and 18 km from Saswad town. The total area of the valley region is about 132 sq. km. Parinche is the biggest village and a nodal place in the valley. The majority (12) of the documented groves are located in the Kaldari and Pangare zones. The size of the sacred groves has however reduced due to various human related activities that have taken place in recent years.

The biggest sacred grove in the Parinche valley belongs to Buvasaheb of Tonapewadi and spreads over an area of 4.80 hectares. The forest types are unique to the groves. Presence of key species in the sacred groves varies from region to region. Two key tree species, i.e. Terminalia bellerica and Ficus spp., are present in these sacred groves which have almost disappeared from the surrounding areas.

Large buttressed trees are another important feature of well-preserved sacred groves. The presence of these tree species indicates the vegetation of the past and also the type of potential vegetation that can be regenerated in these regions.

[Source: Waghchaure, C. K., Tetali, P., Gunale, V. R., Antia, N. H., & Birdi, T. J. (2006). Sacred Groves of Parinche Valley of Pune District of Maharashtra, India and their Importance. Anthropology & Medicine, 13(1), 55-761 

Biodiversity is the degree of variation of life forms in an ecosystem.

Taxidermy is a science in which larger animals like birds and mammals are usually stuffed and preserved.

1. Museums are places where collections of preserved plant and animal specimens are kept. 

2. The different types of specimens found in a museum include; 

(a) Plant and animal specimens preserved in formalin (10% to 40% formaldehyde) in transparent jars.

(b) Larger animals like birds and mammals, usually stuffed and preserved. 

(c) Certain specimens in dried forms are also kept in a museum. 

(d) Systematic collections of shells, skeletons of animals and insect boxes are also found in museums.

The chemical composition of cell wall is rather complex and is made up of peptidoglycan or mucopeptide (N – acetyl glucosamine, N – acetyl muramic acid and peptide chain of 4 or 5 aminoacids).