Zoology Practical Question Paper 2019

Zoology Practical Question Paper 2019

Zoology practicals offer hands-on experience to understand animal biology, structure, and behavior. This guide provides a compilation of questions and answers that cover diverse topics in zoology to assist students in their studies and preparation for practical exams. Each section includes essential concepts explained concisely for better understanding.

Animal Classification

Question: What is taxonomy in zoology?

Answer: Taxonomy is the science of naming, defining, and classifying organisms based on their characteristics, evolutionary history, and relationships.

Question: Name the primary levels of classification in taxonomy.

Answer: The primary levels are Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus, and Species.

Question: Define binomial nomenclature.

Answer: Binomial nomenclature is a two-part naming system for organisms using Latin, consisting of the genus name and species name.

Question: What is the scientific name of the domestic dog?

Answer: The scientific name of the domestic dog is Canis lupus familiaris.

Question: Why is Latin used in scientific naming?

Answer: Latin is used because it is a “dead” language, ensuring consistency and universal understanding in naming.

Question: Differentiate between vertebrates and invertebrates.

Answer: Vertebrates have a backbone, whereas invertebrates lack a backbone.

Question: What are the key features of the Phylum Arthropoda?

Answer: Arthropods have a segmented body, exoskeleton, jointed appendages, and bilateral symmetry.

Question: Give an example of an organism from Phylum Mollusca.

Answer: An example is the octopus.

Question: What are cnidocytes, and which phylum has them?

Answer: Cnidocytes are specialized cells used for defense and capturing prey, found in Phylum Cnidaria.

Question: What is the largest phylum in the animal kingdom?

Answer: The largest phylum is Arthropoda.

Animal Anatomy and Physiology

Question: What is the function of the liver in vertebrates?

Answer: The liver detoxifies blood, stores nutrients, produces bile, and regulates metabolism.

Question: Where is the heart located in frogs?

Answer: The heart is located in the thoracic cavity between the lungs.

Question: How many chambers does a mammalian heart have?

Answer: A mammalian heart has four chambers.

Question: What is the primary role of hemoglobin in animals?

Answer: Hemoglobin transports oxygen from the lungs to body tissues and carries carbon dioxide back to the lungs.

Question: Name the type of excretion in birds.

Answer: Birds excrete uric acid, a type of uricotelic excretion.

Question: What is the function of gills in aquatic animals?

Answer: Gills facilitate the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide in water.

Question: How is the digestive system of ruminants unique?

Answer: Ruminants have a four-chambered stomach to digest cellulose efficiently.

Question: What is osmoregulation?

Answer: Osmoregulation is the process of maintaining water and electrolyte balance in the body.

Question: Name the smallest bone in the human body.

Answer: The smallest bone is the stapes in the middle ear.

Question: What is the main function of the nephron?

Answer: The nephron filters blood and forms urine in the kidneys.

Ecology and Behavior

Question: What is the definition of a habitat?

Answer: A habitat is the natural environment where an organism lives and grows.

Question: Define mutualism.

Answer: Mutualism is a relationship where both species benefit from the interaction.

Question: What is an ecological niche?

Answer: An ecological niche is the role and position a species has in its environment.

Question: Explain the term ‘keystone species.’

Answer: Keystone species are species with a significant impact on their ecosystem, affecting many other organisms.

Question: What are diurnal animals?

Answer: Diurnal animals are active during the day and rest at night.

Question: How do hibernation and aestivation differ?

Answer: Hibernation occurs in cold seasons to conserve energy, while aestivation occurs in hot conditions to avoid desiccation.

Question: Define food chain and food web.

Answer: A food chain shows a linear energy flow, while a food web interlinks multiple food chains in an ecosystem.

Question: What is an example of a primary consumer?

Answer: An example is a herbivore like a deer.

Question: What are abiotic factors?

Answer: Abiotic factors are non-living components of an ecosystem, such as sunlight, water, and soil.

Question: What is mimicry in animals?

Answer: Mimicry is when one species resembles another to gain a survival advantage.

Evolution and Genetics

Question: What is Darwin’s theory of natural selection?

Answer: Natural selection is the process where organisms better adapted to their environment tend to survive and reproduce more successfully.

Question: Define genetic drift.

Answer: Genetic drift is the change in allele frequencies due to random events, affecting small populations.

Question: What are homologous structures?

Answer: Homologous structures are anatomical features that share a common ancestry but have different functions.

Question: What is the significance of fossils in evolution?

Answer: Fossils provide evidence of past organisms and evolutionary changes over time.

Question: Define speciation.

Answer: Speciation is the process by which new species arise from existing ones.

Question: What is the role of DNA in heredity?

Answer: DNA carries genetic information for the inheritance of traits.

Question: What are vestigial organs?

Answer: Vestigial organs are reduced or non-functional structures that were functional in ancestors.

Question: Explain co-evolution.

Answer: Co-evolution is the reciprocal evolutionary influence between two species.

Question: What is genetic variation?

Answer: Genetic variation is the difference in DNA among individuals within a population.

Question: Define mutation.

Answer: A mutation is a change in the DNA sequence that can lead to genetic variation.

Practical Zoology Techniques

Question: What is the use of a compound microscope in zoology?

Answer: A compound microscope is used to study small, detailed structures of tissues and cells.

Question: How do you prepare a slide for microscopic observation?

Answer: Place the specimen on a slide, add a drop of water, cover with a coverslip, and observe under a microscope.

Question: What is the purpose of a dissection in zoology?

Answer: Dissections allow the study of the internal structures and organs of animals.

Question: What is a key feature of the dichotomous key?

Answer: It uses a series of choices to identify organisms based on characteristics.

Question: What is the function of a zoological museum?

Answer: A zoological museum preserves and displays animal specimens for study and education.

Question: How is a permanent slide made?

Answer: A permanent slide is prepared by fixing, staining, and mounting a specimen to preserve it indefinitely.

Question: Why is staining important in microscopy?

Answer: Staining enhances contrast and highlights specific structures in specimens.

Question: What is the significance of the pH in aquatic habitats?

Answer: pH affects water chemistry and the survival of aquatic organisms.

Question: What tools are used in animal tissue study?

Answer: Tools include microscopes, microtomes, and staining agents.

Question: What is the purpose of fieldwork in zoology?

Answer: Fieldwork helps study animals in their natural habitats, behavior, and ecological roles.