ID. No.

Name: No. BIRLA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY AND SCIENCE, PILANI First Semester 2012-2013 BIO F111 General Biology

Tutorial Sec.

Date: 03-Dec-2012

COMPREHENSIVE EXAMINATION Part A (Closed-book)

Max. Marks: 20

Please check to see if the question paper you have received has been printed on four sides. You will be allowed a maximum of 45 minutes for attempting this part of the exam.

For Q. 1 24, choose the best option from the ones provided and tick the option:

[ 24 x 1/4 = 6 ]

1. In the absence of recombination, how many genetically different types of gamete can an organism with five homologous chromosome pairs produce? (a) 5 (b) 10 (c) 32 (d) 64 2. What would be the most obvious outcome of repeated cell cycles consisting of S phase and M phase only? (a) Cells would not be able to replicate their DNA. (b) The mitotic spindle could not assemble. (c) The cells produced would get smaller and smaller. (d) Cells would get larger and larger. 3. Which of the following organisms have the greatest problem with photorespiration? (a) C4 plants (b) Heterotrophs (c) C3 plants (d) CAM plants (e) purple sulfur bacteria 4. Order the following, with respect to the normal menstrual cycle: i. LH surge ii. Increase in progesterone levels iii. Ovulation iv. Selection of a dominant follicle v. proliferation of endometrial layer (a) iv, ii, i, iii, v (b) iii, iv, i, ii, v (c) i, iv, ii, iii, v (d) iv, v, i, iii, ii 5. When a B or T cell is primed by an interaction with its particular antigen, the cell ______. (a) dies, killing the antigen (b) engulfs the antigen and destroys it (c) grows, divides, and differentiates further (d) converts the antigen to a non-harmful form 6. The basic function of T cells is to identify and destroy invaders in our ______. (a) cells (b) interstitial fluid (c) brain (d) blood or lymph 7. Which type of immune response is always disadvantageous to a person? (a) cell-mediated (b) humoral (c) inflammatory (d) autoimmune (e) None!

8. Which one of the following statements is true? (a) The posterior pituitary is composed of endocrine cells. (b) The anterior pituitary is composed of nervous tissue. (c) The pituitary is the master control center of the entire endocrine system. (d) Inhibiting hormones make the anterior pituitary secrete hormones. (e) The pituitary secretes hormones that influence numerous body functions. 9. Soon after eating a calcium-rich breakfast of yogurt and cereal, your blood levels of calcium increase, stimulating the release of ______. (a) insulin (b) glucagon (c) parathyroid hormone (d) glucocorticoids

(e) calcitonin 10. Which of the following effects could result from activation of the sympathetic nervous system? (a) decreased heart rate (b) increased saliva production (c) decreased rate of digestion (d) constriction of the bronchi (e) decreased rate of breathing 11. Which of these is not part of the cells endomembrane system? (a) nuclear envelope (b) mitochondrion (c) lysosome (d) golgi (e) RER 12. A prokaryotic cell typically has __________ but does not have __________. (a) An extensive endoplasmic reticulum / a membrane bound nuclear area. (b) Ribosomes / a membrane bound nuclear area. (c) A membrane bound nuclear area / an extensive endoplasmic reticulum. (d) A membrane bound nuclear area / ribosomes. 13. Four of the five answers listed below are related as members of the same group. Select the exception. (a) lactose (b) sucrose (c) maltose (d) fructose (e) table sugar 14. Four of the five answers listed below are part of the light-independent reactions. Select the exception. (a) water (b) CO2 (c) RuBP (d) PGAL (e) phosphoglycerate

15.

When proteins and fats are used as energy sources, their breakdown subunits enter ______. (a) ETS (b) glycolysis (c) TCA cycle (d) lysosomes (e) fermentation 16. Gallstone surgery sometimes requires that the gallbladder be removed. Patients are then advised to avoid ingesting large amounts of fat because _____. (a) the gallbladder makes bile, which makes it easier to digest fats (b) without the bile produced by the gallbladder, fats cannot be enzymatically hydrolyzed (c) the gallbladder produces pepsin (d) the gallbladder stores large quantities of bile, releasing it when fats reach the small intestine (e) fats first enter the gallbladder before moving to the liver 17. The body systems that perform respectively some generative and metabolic processes would be: (a) Urinary and Immune systems (b) Endocrine and Reproductive systems (c) Reproductive and Digestive systems (d) Endocrine and Urinary systems (e) Immune and Digestive systems 18. The primary site of nutrient absorption is _________ and that of fat breakdown is _________. (a) stomach, liver (b) small intestine, large intestine (c) large intestine, stomach (d) small intestine, small intestine

19. When you are thirsty or dehydrated, (a) The hypothalamus produces less ADH and thus conserves the water in your system. (b) The hypothalamus produces more ADH and thus conserves the water in your system. (c) The kidney produces less ADH and thus conserves the water in your system. (d) The kidney produces more ADH and thus conserves the water in your system. 20. Which of the following statements about human gametogenesis is false?

(a) (b) (c) (d) (e)

Primary spermatocyte and primary oocyte differ in their ploidy. The sperm is necessary for completion of meiosis II of the oocyte. Females have limited gamete potential. Both sperms and ova arise from germline cells of the gonads. Hormones influence gamete formation.

21. Presence of which of these cellular structures can be used as a basis to differentiate a plant and an animal cell? (a) ribosomes (b) centrioles (c) Smooth ER (d) chromatin 22. Defect in which of the following is associated with Type II diabetes? (a) insulin (b) glucagon (c) insulin receptor (d) None of these

23. In a cross of AaBbccDd to AabbCCDD, the frequency with which we would expect to obtain progeny of the genotype AABbCcDd is (a) 1/128 (b) 1/64 (c) 1/32 (d) 1/16 (e) 1/8 none of these

(f)

24. Ethanol is administered as an antidote for methanol poisoning, because alcohol dehydrogenase acts on both these substrates. This is an example of ____________ at work. (a) turnover number (b) enzymatic competition (c) enzyme inhibition (d) allosteric interaction (e) competitive inhibition
For Q.25 34, write a single term that best suits the description provided: . [ 10 x = 5 ]

25. The hormone that appears in the human bloodstream soon after implantation occurs, and is indicative of pregnancy. ________________________________________________________________ 26. Term given to a substance that elicits an immune response.
__________________________________________________________

27. The most important chemical molecule that is part of the reaction centre in photosystem of chloroplast. ___________________________________________________________ 28. The name of the stage at which an embryo gets implanted in the endometrium.
_______________________________

29. A group of blood proteins that can recognize invading bacteria and kill them by forming pores. ________________________________________________________

30. That branch of immunity that is effective against blood-borne infections. ________________________________________
31. The term used to refer to the state wherein some individuals relate strongly with that gender opposite to their physical appearance. _______________________________________________________ 32. The kingdom of life in which all members are unicellular, and some of which have introns in their genome. _______________________________________________________________ 33. Communities that interact with the physical world in a particular place.
__________________________________________

34. The technique used to accomplish cloning in vertebrates

______________________________________________________________

With reference to the following schematic of transcription, answer the questions that follow: [4x =2]

35. Of the two strands of nucleic acids shown (#1 and #2), strand # ____ is RNA and # ____ is DNA. 36. For the DNA strand shown, what is the polarity from left to right? _____________ 37. If the fifth base from the left (A) were deleted from strand #1, what would the new second codon be? ___________________ 38. What would be the effect on the protein sequence due to this specific change described in Q.37 above, and why?
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Each of the following statements/group of statements is formulated as an answer for a question. Your task is to write down (in the space provided) the most appropriate question for each answer given. Your question should not exceed one sentence. [ 7 x 1 = 7] e.g. For the answer It is a sequence of nucleotides that encodes a functional product (protein/RNA) the question would be What is a gene?.

39. They are organisms that have a simple cell structure, devoid of a well-defined nucleus or any membranous organelle.

40. Despite being the immune systems response to discourage growth of bacteria, allowing it to continue unabated will lead to the denaturation of the bodys proteins and may even result in death.

41. Both G and A are purines and have two rings. The double helix only has enough space for a single purine (two rings) and pyrimidine (one ring), but not enough for four rings total.

42. Thats because in the worm one gene makes one protein, whereas in humans there is extensive alternative splicing leading to an expansion of the proteome.

43. Though both the proteins recognize antigens, while the former can recognize free antigens, the latter can recognize antigens only when presented along with an MHC protein by an antigen-presenting cell like a macrophage or B-cell.

44. This is so because the zygote maintains the corpus luteum (by secreting a specific hormone), and thereby progesterone levels. After 10 weeks, the placenta takes over the production of progesterone and estradiol that maintains the uterine lining and inhibit the pituitary production of FSH and LH. Hence, we observe this.

45. Thats owing to the fact that there is a refractory period that ensues soon after an action potential has passed one part of the neuron membrane that precludes an action potential from being re-initiated till this period has ended.

BIRLA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY AND SCIENCE, PILANI First Semester 2012-2013BIO F111 General Biology Date: 03-Dec-2012 50 COMPREHENSIVE EXAMINATION Part B (Open-book) Max. Marks:

Please check to see if the question paper you have received has been printed on four sides. Questions are divided into seven sections. You may begin with any section of your choice, but you should finish attempting all questions of that section before you proceed to the next. If you jumble your answers belonging to different sections, those answers may not be evaluated! Section #1

1A. The polar bear is magnificently adapted to thrive in its harsh Arctic environment. Research has shown that they eat only during a few weeks out of the year and then fast for periods of eight months or more! The adult polar bear eats mainly during winters, feeding almost exclusively on seal blubber (similar to whale blubber). Explain what is the significance of this dietary adaptation of the polar bear. [2] 1B. (i) Match each equation in column A with the corresponding standard redox potential in column B (write the number to alphabet mapping in your answer sheet). Column A Column B 1. H2O O2 + 2H+ + 2 eA) +30 mV + 2. reduced ubiquinone oxidized ubiquinone + 2H + 2 e B) +820 mV + + 3. NADH NAD + H + 2 e C) +230 mV 4. reduced cytochrome c oxidized cytochrome c + eD) -320 mV (ii) How do these standard redox potentials support our understanding of the stepwise electron transfers that occur in the electron-transport chain? (iii) Why would it not be advantageous for living systems to evolve a mechanism for the direct transfer of electrons from NADH to O2? [3] 1C. An uncharged molecule is transported across a membrane, from a side where its concentration is 10-6 molar to a side where its concentration is 10-3 molar. (i) Will the transport be active or passive? Explain your answer. (ii) Cite two contexts in the human body where such type of transport occurs. Be as specific as possible. [2] Section #2 2A. As you know, the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a retrovirus with an RNA genome. a. Assume that each HIV contains two RNA genomes and 50 molecules of the reverse transcriptase enzyme. b. Assume that each reverse transcriptase molecule acts on each RNA genome 10 times to produce DNA. c. Assume that an integrase enzyme successfully integrates 1% of the available reverse transcribed HIV genomes into the genome of a human host cell.

d. Assume that each integrated copy of the viral genome is transcribed 500 times/day. Calculate how many HIV RNA genomes are created per day from one infected cell. [2] 2B. Inahuman pedigreefor an autosomal trait, ifanindividualand both his parents show the trait, what can you conclude about the mode of inheritance dominant or recessive? Justify your answer. [1] 2C. In tomatoes, red fruit colour is dominant to yellow, and purple stems dominant to green. A mating between two tomato plants yielded these results: 661 red fruit, purple stem plants; 647 red fruit, green stem plants; 217 yellow fruit, purple stem plants; and 201 yellow fruit, green stem plants. Predict the parental genotypes and phenotypes, clearly showing how you arrived at the answers. [2] 2D. A type of blindness called aniridia is caused by a dominant gene, A. Normal sight is found in those who are homozygous for the recessive allele, a. Another gene for hair color has two alleles showing incomplete dominance: DD = black, D 'D' = blond, and DD' = brown hair. These two genes segregate independently of each other. Two individuals who are blind (both have a sighted parent) and have brown hair want to know what proportion of their offspring would be blind and have brown hair. What is the probability? [2] Section #3 3A. Consider a segment of RNA with the sequence AGUCUAGGCACUGA. If you were told that this segment of RNA was in the middle of an mRNA that encoded a large protein, would you know which reading frame was used? How so? Also indicate the amino acids in this reading frame. [2]
A C G T Form 1 Form 2 21.9 27.5 28.3 22.3 % % % % 31.0 31.3 18.7 19.0 % % % %

3B. DNA extracted from the cells of a patient with a viral infection consisted of two forms: double-stranded human DNA and single-stranded viral DNA. The base compositions of these two forms of DNA obtained are as shown. Which form is the viral DNA, and which form is the human DNA? Explain your reasoning. [1] 3C. The hormone insulin is made of two polypeptide chains with a total of 51 amino acids. Assume one amino acid can be translated in 60 milliseconds. How many copies of insulin could be made in three minutes? [1] 3D. Identify what is being referred to in each of the following statements. Simply write the term corresponding to each question in your answer sheet: [3] (i) We attach along the length of waving strands of genetic material to give it a compact shape. (ii) During replication in a cell, I help separate the two wound strands of genetic material. (iii) Being attached to DNA on one side and a different protein on another side, I

am a protein that participates in the tug-of-war that happens during anaphase. (iv) I am the most important protein that actually manufactures the cellular message required for forming building blocks. (v) I carry the bricks for the building blocks, one by one, and deliver them once I recognize segments of the message (referred to in part (iv) above) generated in the cell. (vi) It's a curse! The boredom couldn't be worse! I'm stuck in a rut; every sequence I cut is the same when it's read in reverse! Section #4 4A. The most serious complication of rubella infection is Congenital Rubella Syndrome (CRS), the result when the rubella virus attacks a developing fetus. Infection at which stage (trimester) of fetal development would produce the most pronounced effects? Why? [1] 4B. A molecule of CO2 that is generated in the cardiac muscle of the left ventricle would not come in contact with which of the four heart chambers of the heart before leaving the body? Justify your answer briefly. [2] 4C. A woman, aged thirty, is facing some fertility problem. Upon diagnosis it was found that she has short menstrual cycles, having a period every 22 days or less. Short cycles can be caused by shortening of any one of the two phases of the menstrual cycle (other than ovulation event). State in a sentence each how the shortening of either phase can be related to fertility problems. [1] 4D. Justify each of the following statements: [4] (i) Hypothalamic damage severely affects homeostasis in humans. (ii) Treating a man with high doses of testosterone increases his aggression and physical characteristics but not necessarily his sperm count. (iii) Those who have undergone organ transplants are put on lifelong immune-suppressive drugs. (iv) Exercising has an effect on edema. Section #5 5A. The panel on left depicts the steps involved in the preparation of a vaccine against a viral disease. (i) Explain how a vaccine prepared by this method produces immunity against the viral disease. Also include the rationale for the method. [2] (ii) Indicate the step in the procedure that ensures the safety of the prepared vaccine. Justify your choice. [1] (iii) What would be a risk-free way of producing large quantities of the protein vaccine in the lab without involving viruses?

Simply outline the procedure using a flow diagram. [2] 5B. In a hospital, due to flooding, mixed up four babies that were hospital records were also ascertain the correct identity of commissioned DNA Shown on the panel on right is comparing one couple (M, the four children (marked C1 child is least likely to belong to answer. [2] Section #6 6A. Can you identify the biological phenomena being referred to in each of the following scenarios? Be as specific as possible. Identify and write down as many components of the descriptions as you are able to. You dont have to explain the biological phenomenon, but just mention it. [3] (i) Even when its about to die, the cell serves its neighbours by giving them a gift. Upon receiving it, they neighbours are protected against the danger. (ii) If a mistake cannot be rectified completely, then its better to commit suicide rather than to live and be a threat to the rest of the body. (iii)Forgetting its past, the cell takes on a new role, a new job and starts a new life, generating a new individual. 6B. Unlike mitochondria, chloroplasts do not have a transporter that allows them to export ATP to the cytosol. How, then, does the rest of the cell get the ATP it needs to survive? [1] 6C. In eukaryotes how will the ATP yield per mole of glucose oxidation be affected if the mitochondrial membrane is made permeable to NADH? Explain. [1] 6D. Heterotrophs occupy different types of food chains. What are the fundamentally distinct categories of heterotrophs participating in these food chains? Explain the effect the removal of each of these categories will have on the ecosystem. [2] Section #7 Read the following transcript of a telephonic conversation between two friends. Then answer the questions that follow.
Hello! Yeah, hi! It's been a long time since I got your call. How have you been? Good, and you? Not bad, and how is your twin sister doing? Ah, she is fine - except that she always keeps picking on me. Ha ha! You've always been quite different from her, haven't you? Both of you will make a perfect subject for research on epigenetics! Yeah! Hey, did you follow the news about the execution of the convict of Mumbai terror attacks? Of course, how could anyone miss that? Lots of media coverage on it.

the maternity ward born that day. Some destroyed. In order to babies, the hospital fingerprinting analysis. the result for a test mother; F, father) with C4) born that day. Which this couple? Explain your

I also read about revisiting the method of how death penalty is administered something about lethal injection. Do you know about it? In a lethal-injection procedure, three chemicals are used in sequence to bring about what appears to be a painless death. The first chemical, usually sodium thiopental, puts the person to sleep in about a minute. The second chemical, pancuronium, is a muscle relaxant that acts on the diaphragm, while the third injection, potassium chloride, stops the heart. Hmmpretty scientifically designed, I guess. And did you also hear about the recent death of an Indian-origin lady in Ireland due to complications during pregnancy? Yes, that was very unfortunate and shocking.

When reading that story, I had a doubt: how exactly do doctors induce labour in a pregnant mother? They use a combination of one or more methods to do this: giving an intravenous dose of Pitocin, oral dose of synthetic prostaglandins and by following membrane disruption procedures. And this marks the onset of the one of the rare feedback mechanisms in the human body, right? Thats right. It looks like you have been rather attentive in your biology classes! I sure was! And talking of biology class, I have one to rush to right now. So, talk to you later? Sure, we'll catch up soon. Bye. Bye!

7A. Which of the two type of human twins is highly valued for epigenetics research, and why? Your explanation must be concise, written in a point-wise manner and supported with examples. [3] 7B. Given that sodium thiopental is a barbiturate (enhancing the action of GABA receptor), pancuronium is an acetylcholine inhibitor at the neuromuscular junction, and an overdose of potassium ions cause ionic imbalance in the heart, can you explain the biology behind this deadly cocktail by postulating how each of its constituents works? [3] 7C. How does administering Pitocin (artificial oxytocin) and prostaglandins help induce labour? [1]

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