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Q1. What information does a herbarium sheet provide about the specimen?

Solution

The herbarium sheet provides information about the date and place of collection of the specimen, local and botanical names, family and collector’s name.
Q2. Give the biological classification for the following: (1) Mango (2) Man

Solution

(1) Mango (Mangifera indica) Kingdom: Plantae Division: Angiospermae Class: Dicotyledonae Order: Sapindales Family: Anacardiaceae Genus: Mangifera Species: indica   (2) Man (Homo sapiens) Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Mammalia Order: Primata Family: Hominidae Genus: Homo Species: sapiens
Q3. Despite the number of differing features, why are fish, amphibians, birds, reptiles and mammals included in phylum Chordata?

Solution

A phylum is a higher taxonomic category. Phylum Chordata constitutes all animals which show the presence of a notochord and dorsal hollow neural system. Fish, amphibians, birds, reptiles and mammals show the presence of these two characters. Hence, despite the number of differing features, they are included in phylum Chordata.
Q4. Write the importance of flora, monographs and manuals as taxonomical aids.

Solution

A flora contains information on the habitat and distribution of plants of a given area and provides the index to the plant species found in a particular area. Manuals provide information on the identification of names of species found in a particular area.
Q5. How are insects preserved in the museum?

Solution

In a museum, insects are first collected, killed and pinned in an insect box.
Q6. Define taxonomy.

Solution

The process of classification of all living organisms based on characteristics into different taxa is called taxonomy.
Q7. Define nomenclature.

Solution

Nomenclature is the process of standardising the naming of living organisms such that a particular organism is known by the same name all over the world.
Q8. Discuss the utility of systematics.

Solution

Systematics is the science which deals with the diversity of organisms and their comparative and evolutionary relationships based on comparative anatomy, comparative biochemistry and physiology.   Systematics helps in 1. Providing knowledge about the evolutionary tree of life 2. Identification of new organisms
Q9. Name two botanical gardens located in India.

Solution

Two botanical gardens located in India:
  • National Botanical Research Institute at Lucknow
  • Indian Botanical Garden at Howrah
  • Q10. Name the three codes of nomenclature.

    Solution

    1. International Code of Botanical Nomenclature 2. International Code of Zoological Nomenclature 3. International Code of Bacteriological Nomenclature
    Q11. State the three factors which form the basis of modern taxonomic studies.

    Solution

    Factors which form the basis of modern taxonomic studies are as follows:
  • External and internal structure of organisms
  • Structure of cell
  • Development process and ecological information of organisms
  • Q12. What title did Linnaeus use for his publication?

    Solution

    Linnaeus used Systema Naturae for his publication.
    Q13. What does the abbreviation ICZN stand for?

    Solution

    ICZN: International Code of Zoological Nomenclature
    Q14. What does the abbreviation ICBN stand for?

    Solution

    ICBN: International Code for Botanical Nomenclature
    Q15. What are the universal rules of nomenclature?

    Solution

    The universal rules of nomenclature are as follows:
  • Biological names are in Latin and are written in italics.
  • The first word in the name indicates the genus, while the second word denotes its specific epithet.
  • When the name is handwritten, both the words are separately underlined. When printed, the name is in italics.
  • The first letter of the first word is always written in capital, while the first letter of the specific epithet, i.e. the second word, is a small letter.
  • Examples: Homo sapiens, Mangifera indica
    Q16. What are the two characteristics of growth of living organisms?

    Solution

    Increase in mass and increase in the number of individuals are the two characteristics of growth of living organisms.
    Q17. Distinguish between class and phylum, and give one example.

    Solution

    Class Phylum 1. It is a taxonomic category which includes all the related orders. 1. It is a taxonomical category higher than class, and it includes organisms based on common features. 2. Example: Monkey and cat belong to class Mammalia, but their orders differ. Monkey belongs to order Primata, while cat belongs to order Carnivora. 2. Example: Fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals belong to different classes, but all are placed under phylum Chordata based on common features such as the presence of notochord and a hollow neural system.  
    Q18. Define the taxonomic category ‘Family’.

    Solution

    A family is a group of related genera with less number of similarities between organisms as compared to the genus and species.
    Q19. What is binomial nomenclature? Give one example.

    Solution

    Binomial nomenclature is the system of providing a scientific name with two components. Example: The scientific name of mango is Mangifera indica.
    Q20. Define the following:
  • Botanical garden
  • Order
  • Solution


  • Botanical garden: It is a type of garden which has a collection of living plants along with their scientific names for reference.
  • Order: It is a taxonomic category which is the assemblage of different families which exhibit a few similar characters.
  • Q21. What is a tribe?

    Solution

    A tribe is the intermediate category between genus and subfamily.
    Q22. What is herbarium? State the use of herbarium.

    Solution

    A herbarium is a store house of collected plant specimens which are dried, pressed and preserved on sheets. A herbarium helps as a referral system in the taxonomical studies of plants.
    Q23. What are the two components of binomial nomenclature?

    Solution

    The two components of binomial nomenclature are the generic name and the specific epithet.
    Q24. Explain how specimens are preserved in a biological museum?

    Solution

    Specimens are preserved in a biological museum in the following ways:
  • Animal specimens are usually preserved in jars containing preservative solutions.
  • Plants and animals are sometimes preserved as dry specimens.
  • Insects are preserved in insect boxes after collecting, killing and pinning.
  • Large animals (e.g. birds and mammals) are stuffed and preserved in containers.
  • Animal skeletons are also preserved.
  • Q25. Explain the concept of New Systematics.

    Solution

    The term ‘New Systematics’ was coined by Julian Huxley. In new systematics, emphasis is given to classical morphology such as cytology, physiology, biochemistry, ecology and genetics.
    Q26. What is genus?

    Solution

    The genus is a group of related species which has more characters in common in comparison to species of other genera.
    Q27. Who proposed the binomial nomenclature system?

    Solution

    Carolus Linnaeus proposed the binomial nomenclature system.
    Q28. What are zoological parks?

    Solution

    The places where wild animals are kept in protected environments under human care and which enable us to learn about their food habit and behaviour.
    Q29. Why reproduction cannot be a defining characteristic of living beings?

    Solution

    Animals such as mules and sterile worker bees do not reproduce. Hence, reproduction cannot be a defining characteristic of living beings.
    Q30. Define classification.

    Solution

    Classification is the process by which anything is grouped into convenient categories based on some easily observable characters.


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