BIOBASICS QUESTION OF WEEK

BIOBASICS Question of the week?

Which of the following is first modern Zoological park in the world?

BIOBASICS Answer:

First modern Zoological park came up in 1759 at Schonbrunn in Vienna set up by Empress Maria Theresa and her husband Franz.

SCIENCE NEWS: New rabies vaccine!!

BIOBASICS is glad to offer an all-new and thrilling column called SCIENCE NEWS. This column will feature recent, interesting facts and studies about science in general and Biology in particular. 'HAPPY READING'!!

A new vaccine might achieve protection against the virus with fewer injections:
One or two injections of a live-but-disabled rabies vaccine might be enough to stave off the virus, a study in monkeys finds. The vaccine will require further testing, but the early results demonstrate a potent immune response that shot-for-shot far exceeds the one generated by the most commonly used commercial vaccine. The current regimen uses killed rabies virus to engender immunity with five vaccine shots and one shot of antibodies.

Question of the Week?

BIOBASICS Question of the Week?

The first human endocrine disorder to be discovered was:

(a) Gigantism

(b) Addison's Disease

(c) Cushing Syndrome

(d) None of these

BIOBASICS Answer: (b) It was discovered by Thomas Addison in 1855, he is also called 'Father of Endocrinology' for his contribution.

Question of the Week

BIOBASICS Question of the Week:

State True/ False:
1. Echinoderms are marine animals.
2. Like Vertebrates, Echinoderms also have internal skeleton with same composition as the former.
3. Echinoderms have incomplete digestive system.
4. Echinoderms have well-defined respiratory and circulatory systems.

BIOBASICS Solution:

1. true
2. False (have internal skeleton but it has different composition i.e. it is made of calcium carbonate)
3. false (digestive system is complete with mouth and anus)
4. false (donot have any of these systems)

BIOBASICS QUESTION OF THE WEEK

BIOBASICS QUESTION OF THE WEEK:

WHICH LAYER OF SOIL IS RICHEST IN NUTRIENTS?
A. Top soil 
B. Subsoil 
C. Both of these 
D. None of these 

BIOBASICS SOLUTION: Top soil is the richest part of the soil with respect to nutrients because it contains the most humus and this soil is dark brown in colour.

SCIENCE NEWS - Human sperm created from embryonic stem cells

BIOBASICS is glad to offer an all-new and thrilling column called SCIENCE NEWS. This column will feature recent, interesting facts and studies about science in general and Biology in particular. 'HAPPY READING'!!

Human sperm have been created using embryonic stem cells for the first time in a scientific development which will lead researchers to a better understanding of the causes of infertility.

Researchers led by Professor Karim Nayernia at Newcastle University and the NorthEast England Stem Cell Institute (NESCI) have developed a new technique which has made the creation of human sperm possible in the laboratory.

The work was published on July 2009 in the academic journal Stem Cells and Development.

The NorthEast England Stem Cell Institute (NESCI) is a collaboration between Newcastle and Durham Universities, Newcastle NHS Foundation Trust and other partners.

SCIENCE NEWS - World's first panda cub born from frozen sperm

BIOBASICS is glad to offer an all-new and thrilling column called SCIENCE NEWS. This column will feature recent, interesting facts and studies about science in general and Biology in particular. 'HAPPY READING'!!

China announced the first successful birth of a panda cub from artificial insemination using frozen sperm, officials said today.

The breakthrough gives new hope for the endangered animals, which are notoriously poor breeders. Female panda You You gave birth to the cub yesterday morning at the Wolong Giant Panda Research Center, in southwestern Sichuan.

The sperm from male panda Lolo had been frozen for 'a number of years', said Huang.

Artificial insemination is commonly used for breeding pandas, which have very low sex drives.

In 2006, 34 pandas were born through artificial insemination in China and 30 survived - both record numbers for the endangered species.

The technique has also been used at zoos in the United States.

However, using panda sperm that has been frozen earlier - instead of from an immediate donor - had not been successful before.

To read more on this click on the orange title above.

SCIENCE NEWS - WHY ARE DASCHUNDS' SHORT-LEGGED?

BIOBASICS is glad to offer an all-new and thrilling column called SCIENCE NEWS. This column will feature recent, interesting facts and studies about science in general and Biology in particular. 'HAPPY READING'!!

Old gene, short new trick - Retrogene causes short legs in man’s best friends!!!

We may never know how the zebra got its stripes, but we know how the wiener dog got its short legs. Height-challenged dog breeds — including dachshunds, corgis and basset hounds — have an extra copy of a normal gene to thank for their diminutive stature, new research shows.

To read more on the issue, click the orange title above.

SCIENCE NEWS - Typhoid vaccine shows broad coverage.

BIOBASICS is glad to offer an all-new and thrilling column called SCIENCE NEWS. This column will feature recent, interesting facts and studies about science in general and Biology in particular. 'HAPPY READING'!!

A new trial suggests that a shot confers immunity across age groups for three years - An inexpensive vaccine against typhoid fever offers protection across age groups and is particularly effective in preschool-age children, a large trial in India finds. The same study shows that vaccinating half the people in a neighborhood confers significant protection throughout its population, researchers report in the July 23 New England Journal of Medicine.

To read more on the issue, click the orange title above.

SCIENCE NEWS - NEW HIV-1 GROUP

BIOBASICS is glad to offer an all-new and thrilling column called SCIENCE NEWS. This column will feature recent, interesting facts and studies about science in general and Biology in particular. 'HAPPY READING'!!

Scientists identify another variant of the virus that can cause AIDS - A new variant of HIV, the virus that can cause AIDS, has emerged, scientists report online August 2 in Nature Medicine. The discovery of the new version, in a 62-year-old Cameroonian woman living in Paris, suggests this virus and related primate-infecting viruses will continue to morph, though not necessarily into forms that are lethal to humans. Infected since at least 2004, the Cameroonian woman has not yet shown signs of AIDS.

To read more on the issue, click the orange title above.

SCIENCE NEWS - Kids now getting Adult disease

BIOBASICS is glad to offer an all-new and thrilling column called SCIENCE NEWS. This column will feature recent, interesting facts and studies about science in general and Biology in particular. 'HAPPY READING'!!

When she was 9 years old, Ann Albright went to the doctor with odd flulike symptoms. She was exhausted. She had to go to the bathroom frequently in the middle of the night. She was always thirsty. Even her vision was blurry.
The Verdict: Diabetes!!! More kids are developing diabetes, and obesity is a major reason. Why??

Know more on this by clicking the ORANGE TITLE above.

SCIENCE NEWS - Brain cells take a break!!

BIOBASICS is glad to offer an all-new and thrilling column called SCIENCE NEWS. This column will feature recent, interesting facts and studies about science in general and Biology in particular. 'HAPPY READING'

Just as we need little break after long hours of study, Neurons (the brain cells that conduct electricity) take breaks periodically as a person heads into deep sleep. These pauses in neuron activity help keep people asleep, even if they hear noises or are touched.


Click on the Orange title above to read more on what happens to the brain cells when you are in deep sleep.

SCIENCE NEWS - Silk Superpowers!!

BIOBASICS is glad to offer an all-new and thrilling column called SCIENCE NEWS. This column will feature recent, interesting facts and studies about science in general and Biology in particular. We bring you this interesting fact file about the world's most adorable fabric, THE SILK. Happy reading!!

Spider-Man isn’t the only person with an interest in spider silk, recent studies suggest that silk threads could be used to make bulletproof vests and support structures for growing cells, among other materials. Scientists are even trying to get silk from animals such as goats.

TO READ MORE ON THIS CLICK THE ORANGE TITLE ABOVE.

BIOBASICS Question of the week

BIOBASICS Question of the Week

Which is the Smallest carnivorous mammal on earth?

BIOBASICS Solution: The smallest carnivorous mammal is called The Least Weasel. This little mammal is found throughout the northern parts of Europe, Asia and North America, except for Ireland, Iceland and eastern Canada; it extends as far south as North Africa. It has been intrduced into New Zealand and Australia. It's mass is 57 grams at the most!


The Least Weasel (Mustela nivalis) belongs to the genus Mustela which is placed in the order Carnivora.

SCIENCE NEWS - Indian-origin student makes breakthrough with novel health-monitoring device

Click on the orange title above to read more about the Health monitoring device called 'Blue Scale' created by an Indian origin MBA student Nithin Rajan and his partner Steve Xu at University of Houston that has made it to the the American Society of Mechanical Engineers' Innovation Showcase, also known as the IShow finale in Palm Desert, California.

Online Objective test by Dr. Parmar on Proteins and Amino Acids for 11th class

Click on the orange link above to link to online practice test designed by Dr. Parmar for students for 11th class.

Number of Questions = 25
Level of Difficulty = Moderate

Online Objective test by Dr. Parmar on Epithelial tissues for 11th class

Click on the link above to link to objective test on Epithelial tissues designed by Dr. Parmar for students enrolled in class 11th.

Number of Questions = 25
Level of Difficulty = Moderate

Online Practice test on Animal tissues published by Dr. Parmar for 11th class

Click on the orange link above to link to online test on Animal tissues (10+1).

Number of Questions = 25
Level of Difficulty = Moderate

Online Practice test for 10+1 on Taxonomy

Click on the orange link above to link to online quiz on Taxonomy designed for students enrolled in 11th standard.

Number of Questions = 10
Difficulty Level = Moderate

Online Practice test for 10+1 on Digestive system

Click on the Orange link above to link to online Quiz on Digestive system

Number of Questions = 15

PRACTICE TEST for Class 10+1 on Endocrinology

Click on the orange title above to link to online practice test for Endocrinology (10+1).

Number of Questions = 25

Time allowed 23 minutes

Difficulty level = Moderate

Online PRACTICE TEST for Genetics (Part 3) for 10+2

Click on the orange title above to link to the third part of online practice test for Genetics.

Number of Questions = 25
Time Allowed = 20 minutes

Online PRACTICE TEST for Genetics (part 2) for 10+2

Click on the orange link above to link to second part of online practice test for Genetics.

Number of Questions = 25
Time allowed =20 min

Online PRACTICE TEST for Genetics (part 1) for 10+2

Click on the orange title above to link to the first part of online practice test for Genetics.

Number of questions = 20
Time allowed = 17 min

Question of the Week

Question of the Week:

Which of the following sugar is a part of Adenosine diphosphate?

1. Adenine

2. Fructose

3. Glucose

4. Ribose

Solution: Option '4' is the correct option. '1' is a nitrogenous base not a sugar; '2' and '3' are not a part of ADP.

Question of the Week

Question of the Week:

Enlist three characters of Birds.

Solution:Three characteristics that differentiate birds from others are given below:
1. Their forelimbs are modified to wings.
2. Their bones are hollow n filled with air making them light weight. these are called Pneumatic bones.
3. They are endothermic, egg-laying vertebrates with feathers on their skin.

AIPMT 2009 Answer key

Answer key for AIPMT 2009 held on Sunday, the 5th of April, 2009.

Question of the Week

Question of the Week:

How many eyelids does CAMEL have?

Solution:
A Camel has THREE eyelids.
If sand gets into an eye, a camel has a third eyelid to get it out (B). Like a windshield wiper on a car, this extra eyelid moves from side to side and wipes the sand away. The eyelid is very thin, so a camel can see through it. In sandstorms, camels often close their third eyelid and keep walking. You might say that a camel can find its way through a sandstorm with its eyes closed. To protect their eyes, camels have long eyelashes (A) that catch most of the sand. (Source: http://www.allsinai.info/sites/fauna/camel.htm).

Question of the Week

Question of the Week:

Name one food made by using Bacteria.

Solution:
Curd/ Yoghurt is a common food produced by the action of a bacterium (singular for bacteria) called Lactobacillus on milk. Lactobacillus causes curdling of milk by producing lactic acid, hence separating whey from milk.

Question of the Week

Question of the Week:

What is Protocooperation?

Solution:

Protocooperation refers to a kind of interaction between living organisms of different species where both organisms benefit but neither is dependent on the relationaship. Though the organisms benefit from relationship with each other but survival is possible without the relationship also.

An example of protocooperation is the connection between ants and aphids. The ant searches for food on trees and shrubs that are hosts to honeydew-secreting species such as aphids, mealybugs, and some scales. The ant gathers the sugary substance and takes it to its nest as food for its offspring. It has been known for the ant to stimulate the aphid to secrete honeydew straight into its mouth. In areas where the ant inhabits the same ecosystem as the plant the plants normally suffer from a higher presence of aphids which is detrimental to the plant but not to the two species protocooperating.

The flowers of plants that are pollinated by insects and birds benefit from protocooperation. The plants, particularly those with large bright colourful flowers bearing nectar glands, experience cross pollination because of the insects activities. This is beneficial to the insect that has got the food supply of pollen and nectar.

Protocooperation can occur in birds. This is something that we can see in our surroundings. The cattle egret in America as well does the same task of removing the unwanted insects and parasites. The Egyptian plover removes insect pests from the backs of buffalo, antelope, giraffes, rhinos, and also leeches from the open mouths of crocodiles.

Recall those Discovery documentaries on undersea environment. Certain small fish moving closely along the larger ones actually perform the task of cleaning the larger fish, by removing ectoparasites, cleaning wounded flesh, and getting rid of dead flesh. Even predatory fish rely on cleansing symbionts, and adopt a placid state while they are cleansed. The fish that do the cleansing are often concentrated around specific sites where the other fish come to be cleansed these are known as cleansing stations.

Question of the Week

Question of the Week:

What kind of anaemia is caused by folic acid deficiency? Why?

Solution:
Folic acid deficiency results in megaloblastic anaemia where RBCs are lesser in number in bigger in size.
This happens because folic acid is involved in synthesis of RNA, DNA and proteins (by transfering 1-carbon units like methyl, methylene & formyl groups to the essential substrates in these synthetic processes). Therefore, a division process of an actively diving cell, like a reticulocyte (mother cell of RBCs), is impaired while the cytoplasm grows at normal rate resulting in the formation undivided, immature, large RBCs. So mature erythrocytes are not found in circulation in the requisite amout.

Question of the Week

Biobasics Question of the Week:
Which of the following is methylated Uracil?

(a) Adenine

(b) Xanthine

(c) Thymine

(d) Hypoxanthine

Biobasics Solution: Thymine

I am the FIRST!

Which is the earliest known mammal?

Megazostrodon, which lived in Africa about 220 milion years ago, is the earliest known mammal. this insect eater was only 5 inches (12 cm) long and probably laid eggs like today's monotremes.

Mammals like us have single row of teeth while Sharks have many!!!!

Read on to know ..........WHY?

As we know that all the information about an individual living organism is the information contained in its genes. Gene expression is a process of converting this genetic information into proteins that make body's structures and carry out its vital processes.

Although teeth usually do not become visible until after birth, their formation starts early in development. Teeth develop from the epithelium and mesenchyme, two key tissue layers within the mammalian embryo. The first sign of tooth development in mammals is the thickening of the epithelium along the jaw line to form a band of cells called the dental lamina. Researchers confirmed that it was indeed the mesenchyme that carried tooth initiation signals later in development, but how those signals were restricted to the area beneath the tooth row was unknown. Past studies had shown bone morphogenic protein 4 (BMP4) to be an important factor for the initiation of teeth, and that a protein called Msx1 amplifies the BMP4 tooth-generating signal.

A recent study published in Journal Science provides the first solid proof that the precise space where mammals can develop teeth (called the "tooth morphogenetic field") is shaped and restricted by the effect of Oddskipped related-2 (Osr2) gene on the expression of the Bmp4 gene within the mesenchymal cell layer. Osr2 gene is present in high amounts towards the tongue side of the jaw and decreases towards cheek. Since the presence of Osr2 restricts the teeth forming effect of BMP4 gene, so teeth will be formed at a place with low concentration of Osr2 (high concentration of BMP4). So Osr2 restricts Bmp4 expression to the tooth mesenchyme under the dental lamina only, due to which teeth grow only in the region of dental lamina.

These results suggest that diversity in the number of tooth rows across species may be due to evolutionary changes in the control of the BMP4/Msx1 pathway. In mammals, Osr2 suppresses this pathway to restrict teeth within a single row.

Question of the Week

Biobasics Question of the Week:

What is Adaptive Radiation?

Biobasics Solution

Adaptive radiation is a process of evolution starting from a single point diversifying rapidly into different morphological adaptations. Phenotypes adapt in response to the environment, with new and useful traits arising. There are two basic causes of adaptive radiation: Innovation and Opportunity. (Source: en.wikipedia.org)

Innovation: The evolution of a novel feature may permit a clade to diversify by making new areas of morphospace accessible. A classic example is the evolution of a fourth cusp in the mammalian tooth. This trait permits a vast increase in the range of foodstuffs which can be utilized, with species able to specialize on feeding on a range of foodstuffs.

Opportunity: Adaptive radiations often occur as a result of an organism arising in an environment with unoccupied niches, such as a newly formed lake or isolated island chain. The colonizing population may diversify rapidly to take advantage of all possible niches.

Darwin's Finches are one of the best examples of Adaptive Radiation.
Adaptive radiations commonly follow mass extinctions: an extinction, many niches are left vacant. A classic example of this is the replacement of the non-avian dinosaurs with mammals at the end of the Cretaceous, and of Brachiopods by bivalves at the Permo-Triassic boundry.