Biology Miscellaneous PYQs – Biology, SSC & Railway

Greek Root Meanings
Checking each pairing against standard Greek root meanings used in biology terminology:
• Pro — generally means 'before', not 'true'.
• Chroma — means 'colour' in general, not specifically 'green' (green is 'chloros', as in chlorophyll/chloroplast).
• Karyon — means 'kernel/nucleus' (as in eukaryote, karyotype), not 'wall'.
• Leukos — correctly means'white'(as in leukocyte = white blood cell, leukaemia).
Only the Leukos–White pairing is correct among the four options.
Correct Answer: Leukos — White

Correct Answer: Antonie van Leeuwenhoek — Option (a)
Antonie van Leeuwenhoek (1632–1723) is universally known as the 'Father of Microbiology.' About Antonie van Leeuwenhoek: Born: October 24, 1632, Delft, Netherlands; Died: August 26, 1723; He was a Dutch tradesman and self-taught scientist who developed powerful single-lens microscopes capable of 270x magnification; Key contributions: First person to observe and describe microorganisms (bacteria, protozoa) directly through a microscope (1670s); He called them 'animalcules' (tiny animals); Observed bacteria from dental scrapings; Observed red blood cells, spermatozoa, and muscle fibers; His meticulous microscopy work laid the foundation for the field of microbiology; Elected Fellow of the Royal Society of London (1680) for his extraordinary scientific work; Historical context — Other key figures in microbiology: Robert Hooke (1635-1703): First described cells (in cork) in ' Micrographia ' (1665) — but Leeuwenhoek observed living microorganisms; Louis Pasteur (1822-1895): Known as 'Father of Germ Theory' — disproved spontaneous generation, developed pasteurization and vaccines; Robert Koch (1843-1910): Identified bacteria causing tuberculosis, cholera, anthrax; formulated Koch's Postulates; Edward Jenner (1749-1823): Developed the first vaccine (smallpox), known as 'Father of Immunology'.
Option (b) Louis Pasteur — Incorrect: Louis Pasteur is known as the 'Father of Germ Theory' (not Father of Microbiology); his contributions include pasteurization and vaccines; Antonie van Leeuwenhoek is the Father of Microbiology for being the first to observe microorganisms.
Option (c) Robert Hooke — Incorrect: Robert Hooke is known for his work on cells (coined the term 'cell' in 1665) and is sometimes called the 'Father of Microscopy' — but the title 'Father of Microbiology' belongs to Antonie van Leeuwenhoek.
Option (d) Edward Jenner — Incorrect: Edward Jenner is known as the 'Father of Immunology' for developing the smallpox vaccine in 1796 — not as the Father of Microbiology; Antonie van Leeuwenhoek holds that distinction.

Correct Answer: Orangutan — Option (a)
The word 'Orangutan' in the Malay language means 'man of the forest' or 'wild man.' About Orangutan and the word etymology: 'Orang' in Malay/Indonesian = 'person' or 'man'; ' Utan /Hutan' in Malay/Indonesian = 'forest' or 'wild'; Together: 'Orang Hutan' = 'person of the forest' or 'man of the forest'; About Orangutans: Scientific classification: Great apes (family Hominidae); Species: Bornean Orangutan (Pongo pygmaeus), Sumatran Orangutan (Pongo abelii ), Tapanuli Orangutan (Pongo tapanuliensis ); Habitat: Rainforests of Borneo (Indonesia/Malaysia) and Sumatra (Indonesia); They are the only great apes found in Asia (other great apes — gorillas, chimpanzees, bonobos — are in Africa); Conservation status: All three species are Critically Endangered (IUCN Red List); Threats: Habitat destruction (palm oil plantations, deforestation), illegal wildlife trade, hunting; Characteristics: Highly intelligent; can use tools; spend most of their lives in trees (arboreal); have distinctive reddish-brown fur; have a very long childhood (dependency on mothers up to 8-9 years — longest of any animal other than humans); Share approximately 96.9% of DNA with humans; Orangutans are considered Asia's 'gardeners' as they disperse seeds through forests.
Option (b) Sumatran Tiger — Incorrect: 'Sumatran Tiger' refers to the tiger subspecies from Sumatra island (Indonesia) — its name does not mean 'man of the forest' in Malay; 'Orangutan' is the word that means 'man of the forest' in Malay.
Option (c) Komodo Dragon — Incorrect: The Komodo Dragon (Varanus komodoensis ) is the world's largest living lizard found on Komodo Island, Indonesia — its name relates to Komodo Island, not to 'man of the forest'; the correct answer is Orangutan.
Option (d) Irrawaddy Dolphin — Incorrect: The Irrawaddy Dolphin ( Orcaella brevirostris) is named after the Irrawaddy River in Myanmar (also spelled Ayeyarwady) — its name does not mean 'man of the forest' in Malay; Orangutan is the correct answer.

Correct Answer: Vultures — Option (a)
Vultures are often called 'nature's scavengers' or 'nature's sanitation workers' because they feed exclusively on dead animals (carrion). Their ecological role is crucial: They rapidly consume carcasses, preventing the spread of diseases like anthrax, rabies, and botulism that could affect other animals and humans; They have highly acidic stomachs that can destroy dangerous pathogens including anthrax spores; They reduce the number of feral dogs and rats that feed on carcasses and can spread rabies; They recycle nutrients back into the ecosystem. In India, the dramatic decline in vulture populations (due to the veterinary drug diclofenac) in the 1990s–2000s led to serious public health concerns, highlighting the vultures' critical role.
Option (b) Elephants — Incorrect: Elephants are herbivores (plant eaters) and are known as 'ecosystem engineers' or 'gardeners of the forest' because they create water holes and pathways; they do not scavenge on dead animals.
Option (c) Lions — Incorrect: While lions occasionally scavenge, they are primarily apex predators; they are not specifically known as 'nature's scavengers' — that role belongs to vultures.
Option (d) Tigers — Incorrect: Tigers are solitary apex predators that hunt live prey; they are not scavengers and are not referred to as nature's sanitation workers.

J.C. Bose demonstrated that plants have a nervous system similar to animals and can respond to stimuli such as light, heat, and injury, concluding they can feel pain and pleasure. He invented the crescograph to measure plant growth and responses to stimuli.
(a) Incorrect: J.C. Bose did not discover the theory of evolution in plants; Charles Darwin is associated with evolutionary theory.
(c) Incorrect: Developing the first theory on plant genetics is associated with Gregor Mendel, not J.C. Bose.
(d) Incorrect: J.C. Bose did not invent the first microscope for studying plants; he invented instruments to study plant physiology and responses.

The Cheetah is the only big cat in this list that cannot roar. Unlike leopards, tigers, and jaguars, cheetahs lack the special two-piece hyoid bone structure in their throat that allows roaring. Instead, cheetahs communicate through purring, chirping, and yelping. Leopards, tigers, and jaguars all belong to the genus Panthera and have the ability to roar.

Correct Answer: Option 3 – Chippiparai - Kerala (INCORRECT pairing)
The Chippiparai is an indigenous sighthound breed that originates from Chippiparai , a town in Virudhunagar district of Tamil Nadu — NOT Kerala. It is associated with the erstwhile royal families of the Tirunelveli and Madurai regions of Tamil Nadu.
Option 1 (Gaddi Dog - Jammu and Kashmir): Correct. The Gaddi Kutta ( Himachali sheepdog) is found in the Himalayan regions of Himachal Pradesh and J&K.
Option 2 ( Combai - Tamil Nadu): Correct. The Combai is an indigenous terrier-type breed from the Combai region of Tamil Nadu.
Option 4 (Mudhol Hound - Karnataka): Correct. The Mudhol Hound (also called Caravan Hound) is from the Mudhol area of Bagalkot district, Karnataka.