Biology

Biological Reproduction

762 Questions

Biological reproduction encompasses processes like asexual and sexual reproduction, alternation of generations, and specific mechanisms in plants and fungi. This topic is fundamental for biology paper preparation in various competitive exams. Practice these questions to solidify your understanding.

Asexual reproduction structuresPlant and fungi life cyclesCloning and fertilizationReproductive terminology

Biological Reproduction Questions

Multiple choice botany reproduction in angiospermic plants artificial vegetative propagation common modes of vegetative propagation vegetative propagation asexual modes of reproduction

Budding and fission are processes used by-

  1. Diocious species.

  2. Hermaphroditic organisms.

  3. Organisms requiring new gene combinations for each generation.

  4. A sexually reproducing species.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Budding and fission are forms of asexual reproduction, which does not involve gamete fusion or new gene combinations.

Multiple choice botany tissue culture common modes of vegetative propagation plant breeding for food production plant tissue culture

In a sexual reproduction, two offspring's have the same genetic material and the same body features are called _______.

  1. Callus

  2. Twins

  3. Clones

  4. Mitosis
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation
  • In sexual reproduction, two offsprings have the same genetic material and the same body features are called identical twins.
  • They are two offspring produced by the same pregnancy.
  • Twins have the same genetic material and the same body features because they develop from a single fertilized egg, they have the same genome.
  • So, the correct answer is 'Twins'.
Multiple choice biology kingdom monera, protista and fungi mycorrhiza classification of fungi useful and harmful microbes

Which form of sexual reproduction can be related to Mucor?

  1. Isogamy

  2. Anisogamy

  3. Oogamy

  4. All of the above
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Reproduction in Mucor takes place by isogametes. Mucor reproduces both in the sexual and asexual methods. While asexual reproduction takes place by the formation of spores, sexual reproduction takes place by conjugation of isogamy. 

Hence the correct option is A.

Multiple choice biology kingdom monera, protista and fungi mycorrhiza classification of fungi useful and harmful microbes

Heterothallism is found in :

  1. Mucor

  2. Cycas

  3. Selaginella

  4. Volvox
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Heterothallic fungi have sexes that reside in different individuals. The term is applied particularly to distinguish heterothallic fungi, which require two compatible partners to produce sexual spores. Mucor is a heterothallic fungi.

So the correct option is A.

Multiple choice biology kingdom monera, protista and fungi mycorrhiza classification of fungi useful and harmful microbes

Zygospore of Mucor is :

  1. Haploid

  2. Thick-wall resting spore

  3. Asexual spore

  4. Spore that germinates to form zoospores
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The zygospore of Mucor is covered by a thick wall and is a resting spore which means it undergoes a resting period, to avoid unfavorable environmental conditions

So, the correct answer is 'Thick-wall resting spore'

Multiple choice zoology origin of life and organic evolution neo darwinism mechanism of evolution other theories of evolution

Reproduction of the groups at different times of the year lead to

  1. Geographical isolation

  2. Mechanical isolation

  3. Temporal isolation

  4. Hybrid sterility

  5. Behavioral isolation
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The presence of populations of a species in distant localities preventing the gene flow between them leads to geographical isolation. Incompatible differences in reproductive structures refer to as mechanical isolation. Different periods of attaiment of sexual maturity lead to temporal isolation. Hybrid sterility is a post zygotic isolation. Incompatible premating behaviour leading to no attraction between groups for mating is termed as behavioural isolation. Thus, the correct answer is C.

Multiple choice zoology origin of life and organic evolution neo darwinism mechanism of evolution other theories of evolution

Post mating isolating mechanism includes

  1. Gametic mortality

  2. Zygotic mortality

  3. Hybrid sterility

  4. All of the above
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Postmating isolating mechanism is any structure, physiological function, or developmental abnormality that prevents organisms of two different populations, once mating has occurred, from producing vigorous, fertile offspring. Postmating isolating mechanisms includes, gametic. Gametic incompatibility  (Sperm transfer takes place, but egg is not fertilized), Zygotic mortality (Egg is fertilized, but zygote does not develop), Hybrid inviability (Hybrid embryo forms, but of reduced viability), Hybrid sterility (Hybrid is viable, but resulting adult is sterile) and Hybrid breakdown (First generation (F$ _{1}$) hybrids are viable and fertile, but further hybrid generations (F$ _{2}$ and backcrosses) may be inviable or sterile). Thus, option D is correct and other options are wrong.

Multiple choice zoology origin of life and organic evolution neo darwinism mechanism of evolution other theories of evolution

Which is not a pre-zygotic isolation mechanism?

  1. Geographical isolation

  2. Ecological isolation

  3. Seasonal isolation

  4. Hybrid sterility
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Sterility of hybrid is never a pre - zygotic isolation mechanism.Hybrid zygotes sometimes develop into adults, such as mules (hybrids

between female horses and male donkeys), but the adults fail to develop

functional gametes and are sterile.

Multiple choice zoology origin of life and organic evolution neo darwinism mechanism of evolution other theories of evolution

Which of these is a premating isolating mechanism?

  1. Habitat isolation

  2. Temporal isolation

  3. Gamete isolation

  4. All of the above
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

In order for different species to diverge from common ancestors and drive evolution, reproductive isolation must occur. There are several types of reproductive isolation that lead to speciation. 

One major type is called prezygotic isolation and it happens before fertilization occurs between gametes. Basically, prezygotic isolation keeps different species from sexually reproducing. If individuals cannot reproduce, they are considered to be different species and diverge on the tree of life. There are several types of prezygotic isolation that range from incompatibility of gametes, to behaviors that result in incompatibility, and even a type of isolation that keeps individuals from physically being able to breed.
Mechanical- Mechanical isolation is probably the simplest concept, that keeps individuals from being able to reproduce offspring with each other. Simply put, mechanical isolation is the incompatibility of sexual organs. They just do not fit together. It may be the shape of the reproductive organs not being compatible, or size differences that prohibit the individuals from coming together.In plants, mechanical isolation is a bit different. Since size and shape are irrelevant to reproduction in plants, mechanical isolation is usually due to the use of a different pollinator for the plants.
Habitat isolation- Even very closely related species have a preference of where they live and where they reproduce. Sometimes, the preferred locations of the reproductive events are not compatible and this leads to what is known as habitat isolation. Obviously, if individuals of two different species live nowhere near each other, there will be no opportunity to reproduce and reproductive isolation will lead to even more speciation.
Temporal isolation- Different species tend to have different breeding seasons. The timing of when females are fertile leads to temporal isolation. Similar species may be physically compatible, but may still not reproduce due to mating seasons being different times of the year. If the females of one species are fertile during a given month, but the males are not able to reproduce at that time of the year, then there will be reproductive isolation between the two species.
Gametic isolation- During sexual reproduction, the female egg is fused with the male sperm and together they create a zygote. If the sperm and egg are not compatible, this fertilization cannot occur and the zygote will not form. The sperm may not even be attracted to the egg due to the chemical signals released by the egg. Other times, the sperm just cannot penetrate the egg because of its own chemical make up. Either one of these reasons is sufficient enough to keep fusion from happening and the zygote will not form.

Multiple choice zoology origin of life and organic evolution neo darwinism mechanism of evolution other theories of evolution

In which of the following mechanisms fertile offsprings are not produced as a result of mating between groups?

  1. Geographical isolation

  2. Mechanical isolation

  3. Temporal isolation

  4. Hybrid sterility

  5. Behavioral isolation

  6. Both C and D
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
F Correct answer
Explanation

Abnormal distributions to the gametes of whole chromosomes, chromosome segments or combinations of genes lead to hybrid sterility. Geographical, mechanical, temporal and behavioral isolations are pre zygotic barriers and prevent mating between groups by one or other means and hybrid is not produced. Thus, the correct answer is D.

Multiple choice biology economic importance of bacteria and fungi common diseases in humans epidemics transmission of diseases

Choose the correct answers from the alternatives given.
A sexual spore produced by a sac fungus is called

  1. mycelium

  2. conidium

  3. ascospore

  4. basidiospore
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Ascomycota members include molds that have septate hyphae and some yeasts which are called sac fungi because their sexual spores, called ascospores, are produced in a sac or ascus.

So, the correct option is 'ascospore'.

Multiple choice zoology insects and human welfare bee keeping apiculture apiculture, sericulture and fisheries

Male produce sperms by mitosis in _______________.

  1. Periplaneta americana

  2. Apis mellifera

  3. Drosophila melanogaster

  4. Lepisma
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation
In organisms which have haploid males (such as honeybees, Apis mellifera), there is a variation of meiosis during spermatogenesis. The meiosis-I is abortive i.e. the chromosomal events such as crossover and separation of homologous chromosomes, do not happen. However, some cytological changes do happen which is described by Sharma et al (1961) as "simulation of the normal meiosis I". This is followed by meiosis II (which is mechanistically same as mitosis). So, basically there is no halving of the number of chromosomes and the gametes are also haploid.

So, the correct answer is 'Apis mellifera'.