Biology

Biological Reproduction

806 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 zoology reproduction in organisms parthenocarpic fruits parthenogenesis the life cycle of plants

Which of the reproductive strategy is most effective in stable environment and abundant resources?

  1. Sexual reproduction, with intense parental care and slow development

  2. Sexual reproduction, with slight parental care and quick development

  3. Parthenogenesis

  4. All of the above

  5. None of the above
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

  • Parthenogenesis involves growth and development of embryo from an unfertilised egg cell. 
  • Parthenogenesis will result in offspring that are genetically similar and with stable environment and abundant resources all of them can survive.
  • While, sexual reproduction results in offspring that are not identical and this variation leads to competition for resources.
So, the correct option is 'Parthenogenesis'.

Multiple choice zoology reproduction in organisms parthenocarpic fruits parthenogenesis the life cycle of plants

Which corresponds to parthenogenesis?

  1. Autogamy

  2. Cytogamy

  3. Endomixis

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

Parthenogenesis is the production of an embryo from a female gamete without any genetic contribution from a male gamete, with or without the eventual development into an adult. It corresponds to endomixis since the nuclear reorganization leads to the formation of macronucleus which also results in rejuvenation of the organism.

So, the correct option is 'Endomixis'.

Multiple choice zoology reproduction in organisms parthenocarpic fruits parthenogenesis the life cycle of plants

Whiptail lizard show

  1. Periodic parthenogenesis

  2. Paedogenic parthenogenesis

  3. Obligatory parthenogenesis

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

Parthenogenesis is a natural form of asexual reproduction in which growth and development of embryo occur without fertilisation. The offspring arise from a single organism and inherits the genes of that parent only, it does not involve the fusion of gametes, and almost never changes the number of chromosomes.

There are mainly two types of parthenogenesis: facultative and obligatory. 
In facultative parthenogenesis, there is switching between sexual reproduction and parthenogenesis.
In obligatory parthenogenesis organisms exclusively reproduce through asexual means. Whiptail lizards are unisex reptiles which reproduce only asexually. A female will produce an ovum with a full set of genes provided solely by the mother. Thus, a male is not needed to provide sperm to fertilise the egg. This type of asexual reproduction is a serious threat to biodiversity due to lack of gene variation and decreased the fitness of offspring.
Incomplete or periodic parthenogenesis are same as facultative parthenogenesis where sexual reproduction alternates with parthenogenesis. For e.g., in bees and wasps, some eggs develop without fertilisation and produce females and those eggs that are fertilised develop into males.
Paedogenic parthenogenesis is found in Gallfly, where larva may lay eggs which develop parthenogenetically into the new generation of larvae.
Thus, the correct answer is option C.

Multiple choice zoology reproduction in organisms parthenocarpic fruits parthenogenesis the life cycle of plants

Parthenogenesis is the development of fruit

  1. With viable seeds after fertilization

  2. With viable seeds after pollination

  3. With viable seeds without fertilisation

  4. Without seeds after pollination
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Parthenogenesis is a natural form of asexual reproduction in which growth and development of embryo occur without fertilisation. It can occur without meiosis  i.e., division to form haploid cells. Mature egg cells are formed by the mitotic division of ovary or somatic cells and these cells directly develop into embryos. In flowering plants, cells of gametophyte can undergo this process. The seeds thus formed are viable and produce exact replica or clone of their mother.

Thus, the correct answer is option C.

Multiple choice zoology reproduction in organisms parthenocarpic fruits parthenogenesis the life cycle of plants

Parthenogenesis is the development of a female egg into a new individual without the contribution of a male set of chromosomes.
In a hypothetical pond, two populations of fish are found; one reproduces through sexual reproduction, the other through parthenogenesis. Initially, the parthenogenetic fish are a larger population when the pond is first studied. However, researchers soon observe that the parthenogenetic fish are more frequent hosts for a new blood-borne parasite than the sexually reproducing fish. As a result, the sexually reproducing population increases and the parthenogenetic population decreases.
Which of the following best explains the reason for the shift in population numbers?

  1. Sexual reproduction increases genetic variation. Some individuals in the sexually reproducing population will be adapted to a change in environment, in this case, the addition of a new parasite. These individuals will survive and reproduce at a higher rate than those affected by the parasite.

  2. The asexual fish are more susceptible to the parasites because they are an all female population, and typically less aggressive. The sexually reproducing population is protected by aggressive adult males fighting off the invading parasites.

  3. The asexually reproducing fish are intentionally reducing their population density as a mechanism to slow the spread of the parasite.

  4. The sexually reproducing population can reproduce faster than the parthenogenesis population, allowing them to produce so much offspring that not all can be affected by the new parasite.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Parthenogenetic fish are produced by asexual reproduction. Hence, genetic variation does not takes place in them. Whereas fishes that are produced sexually increases genetic variation. Due to genetic variation, this population can adapt to changing environment. When the pond is infected by blood-borne parasite, parthenogenetic fish could not adapt to this changed environment. However, fishes produced sexually will adapt to it. Due to genetic variation, it will survive and reproduce at a higher rate.

Thus, the correct answer is 'Sexual reproduction increases genetic variation. Some individuals in the sexually reproducing population will be adapted to a change in environment, in this case, the addition of a new parasite. These individuals will survive and reproduce at a higher rate than those affected by the parasite.'

Multiple choice zoology reproduction in organisms parthenocarpic fruits parthenogenesis the life cycle of plants

A phenomenon is termed as parthenogenesis when 

  1. Artificial fertilization occurs

  2. Egg is fertilized by a sperm

  3. Egg undergoes cleavage without fertilization

  4. Sperm dies before fertilization
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The term parthenogenesis was coined by Charles Bonnet. It is also called the virgin birth. Parthenogenesis refers to the process of formation of the organism from an unfertilized egg (it is a special type of asexual reproduction). Parthenogenesis is of the following three types:

1) Arrhenotoky: male develops parthenogenically.
2) Thelytoky: Female develops parthenogenically.
3) Amphytoky: Parthenogenesis results in any sex depending on environmental conditions.
So, considering all the information the correct answer is 'Egg undergoes cleavage without fertilization'.

Multiple choice zoology reproduction in organisms parthenocarpic fruits parthenogenesis the life cycle of plants

State whether the following statements are true or false.
Formation of fruit without fertilization is called parthenogenesis.

  1. True

  2. False
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Parthenocarpy (literally meaning "virgin fruit") is the natural or artificially induced production of fruit without fertilization of ovules, which makes the fruit seedless. Pathogenesis is the reproduction from an ovum without fertilization, especially as a normal process in some invertebrates and lower plants.

So, the correct option is, 'False'.

Multiple choice zoology reproduction in organisms parthenocarpic fruits parthenogenesis the life cycle of plants

Which of the following characterizes parthenogenesis?

  1. An individual may change its sex during its lifetime

  2. Specialized groups of cells may be released and grow into new individuals

  3. An egg develops without being fertilized

  4. Both members of a mating pair have male and female reproductive organs
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Parthenogenesis, a reproductive strategy that involves the development of a female gamete (sex cell) without fertilization. An egg produced parthenogenetically may be either haploid (i.e., with one set of dissimilar chromosomes) or diploid (i.e., with a paired set of chromosomes). Parthenogenesis has received considerable attention as a tool for the production of stem cells. The possibility of deriving stem cells from parthenogenetic embryos could eliminate the requirement to produce and destroy viable embryos and may reduce the ethical concerns surrounding stem cell research. 

So the correct option is 'an egg develops without being fertilized'.

Multiple choice zoology menustral cycle in human parturition and lactation pregnancy and birth fertilization and post fertilization in humans

Monoestrous cycle animals may have

  1. One ovulation each month

  2. One egg

  3. One breeding season in a year

  4. One menses each month
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Estrous cycle, or oestrous cycle, is the reproductive cycle found in most mammalian placental females, whereby there are recurring periods when the female is fertile and sexually receptive (estrus) interrupted by periods in which the female is not fertile and not sexually receptive (anestrus). 

Animals that have estrous cycles reabsorb the endometrium (inner membrane of the mammalian uterus) if conception does not occur during that cycle. The estrous cycle is contrasted with the menstrual cycle in which the endometrium is shed through menstruation when pregnancy does not occur and in which the female may be sexually receptive at any time during the cycle. 
There are many variations among animals in terms of their estrous cycles. Some may undergo estrous only one time a year during a particular season (monoestrous example white-tailed deer, foxes), while others may undergo a succession of cycles (polyestrous) during a certain time of the year if they do not become pregnant (horses, sheep), and others may undergo cycles throughout the whole year (mice, cows, pigs).

Multiple choice botany bacteria bacteria - introduction, shape and structure bacteria: types and structure bacteria; benefits and harmful effects non cellular organism : virus world of virus

The meiospores of yeast are nonmotile and called?

  1. Aeciospores

  2. Aplanospores

  3. Ascospores

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

In ascomycetes fungi, which include yeasts, sexual spores are produced endogenously inside a sac called an ascus and are known as ascospores. These spores are nonmotile.

Multiple choice botany bacteria bacteria - introduction, shape and structure bacteria: types and structure bacteria; benefits and harmful effects non cellular organism : virus world of virus

How many young Amoebae hatch out from a cyst of E. histolytica?

  1. One

  2. Two

  3. Four

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

Entamoeba histolytica is a protozoan protist. It is pathogenic in nature. The type of nutrition present in Entamoeba is parasitic. The parasite is generally with one pseudopodium. The contractile vacuole is absent as there is no need of osmoregulation. It feeds on red blood corpuscles by damaging the wall of the large intestine and reaching the blood capillaries. It produces ulcers. It resides in the upper part of the human large intestine and causes the disease known as amoebic dysentery or amoebiasis. Entamoeba histolytica is transmitted through food or water contaminated with cysts. A mature cyst is called quadri-nucleate cyst. It has four nuclei and two chromatid bodies. Quadrinucleate cyst is the infective stage. Only one young Amoeba with four nuclei hatches out from a cyst of Entamoeba histolytica. However, single cyst of Entamoeba histolytica produces eight Amoebae.

Multiple choice botany bacteria bacteria - introduction, shape and structure bacteria: types and structure bacteria; benefits and harmful effects non cellular organism : virus world of virus

Cell division is a type of reproduction in 

  1. Unicellular organisms

  2. Multicellular organisms

  3. Both A and B

  4. None of the above
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Cell division is the process in which a parent cell divides into two or more daughter cells. The unicellular organism divides and results in the formation of daughter cells and hence, cell division is a type of reproduction in unicellular organisms. Thus, the correct answer is option A.