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CLASS XII

BIOLOGY (044)

Maximum Marks: 70 Time: 3 hours

General Instructions:
(i) All questions are compulsory.
The question paper has five sections and 33 questions. All questions are
(ii)
compulsory.
(iii) Section–A has 16 questions of 1 mark each; Section–B has 5 questions of 2 marks
each; Section– C has 7 questions of 3 marks each; Section– D has 2 case-based
questions of 4 marks each; and Section–E has 3 questions of 5 marks each.
(iv) There is no overall choice. However, internal choices have been provided in some
questions. A student has to attempt only one of the alternatives in such questions.
Wherever necessary, neat and properly labeled diagrams should be drawn.
Section A
1. Seminiferous tubules in the testis are lined with which type of cells?
(a) Germinal cells
(b) only germinal cells
(c) Sertoli cell
(d) Both a and c
ANSWER
(d) Both a and c

2.Match following columns according to their age group and amount of sexually transmitted
diseases
Column-I Column-II
(P) 15-19 (i) medium/moderate
(Q) 20-24 (ii) less
(R) 25-29 (iii) very less
(S) 30-34 (iv) more
(a) P-iii, Q-iv, R-i, S-ii
(b) P-ii, Q-iv, R-i, S-iii
(c) P-ii, Q-iv, R-i,S-iii
(d) P-ii, Q-iii, R-iv, S-i
ANSWER
(c) P-ii, Q-iv, R-i,S-iii

3. Molecular basis of organ differentiation depends on the modulation in the transcription by

what?
(a) ribosome
(b) transcription factor
(c) anticodon
(d) RNA polymerase
ANSWER
(a) RNA polymerase
 (b) Transcription factor

4.Which of the following examples of variation is not important from an evolutionary

standpoint?
(a) Genetic differences between individual organisms comprising the population
(b) Inherited differences between individual organisms comprising the population
(c) Differences due to diet, health, age or accident that do not affect an individual’s ability to
survive and reproduce
(d) a and b
ANSWER
(c) Differences due to diet, health, age or accident that do not affect an individual’s ability to
survive and reproduce

5.The liver gets damaged in persons addicted to alcohol because it?

(a) has to detoxify the alcohol
(b) stores excess glycogen
(c) is overstimulated to secrete more bile
(d) accumulates an excess of fat
ANSWER
(a) has to detoxify the alcohol
d) accumulates excess of fat

6.The cells proliferate in malignant tumours, grow rapidly and move to other parts of the body to
form new tumours. What is this stage of the disease known as?
(a) metagenesis
(b) metastasis
(c) teratogenesis
(d) mitosis
ANSWER
(a) metastasis

7.What is normally given to a patient with myocardial infarction when they arrive at the hospital?
(a) Penicillin
(b) Streptokinase
(c) Cyclosporin-A
(d) Statins
ANSWER
(a) Streptokinase

8.Which of the following is the basis for DNA fingerprinting?

(a) The relative proportions of purines and pyrimidines in DNA
(b) Satellite DNA occurring as highly repeated short DNA segments
(c) The relative difference in the DNA occurrence in blood, skin and saliva
(d) The relative amount of DNA in the ridges and grooves of the fingerprints
ANSWER
(a) Satellite DNA occurring as highly repeated short DNA segments
9.The presence of flagellated protozoans in the gut of termites is an example of?
(a) Symbiosis
(b) Parasitism
(c) Antibiosis
(d) Commensalism
ANSWER
(a) Symbiosis
10. Which of the following is considered a hot spot of biodiversity in India?
(a) Indo-Gangetic Plain
(b) the Eastern Ghats
(c) Aravalli Hills
(d) the Western Ghats
ANSWER
(d) the Western Ghats
11. The biomass available for consumption by the herbivores and the decomposers is called
(a) net primary productivity
(b) secondary productivity
(c) standing crop
(d) gross primary productivity.
ANSWER
(a)
12. Species whose populations have been severely depleted and their ultimate
survival is uncertain are known as?
(a) Threatened species
(b) Endangered species
(c) Vulnerable species
(d) Rare species
ANSWER
(b) Endangered species
13.Question No. 13 to 16 consist of two statements – Assertion (A) and Reason (R). Answer
these questions selecting the appropriate option given below:
A. Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.
B. Both A and R are true and R is not the correct explanation of A.
C. A is true but R is false.
D. A is False but R is true.
13. Assertion:nuclear endosperm is formed by subsequent nuclear division with out
wall formation.

Reason: Coconut is an example of such endosperm.Where endosperm remain nuclear

throughout the development of the fruit.
Answer:aC
14. Assertion: The progeny produced have both the characters of parents.
Reason: The process by which characters pass from parent to progeny is known as inheritance.
Answer:b
15. Assertion: Due to excessive synthesis of gene for adenosine deaminase ADA
deficiencydisorder is caused.
Reason: It affects the human digestive system.
Answer:d
16.Assertion: The nitrogen-fixing bacteria in leguminous plant nodules live as symbionts.
Reason: Leg-haemoglobin synthesized by leguminous plants protect bacteria.
Answer:a
Section B
17.Study the figure given below and answer the questions that follow:

(i) Name the stage of the human embryo the figure represents.
Answer:
Blastocyst (Blastula).½

(ii) Identify ‘a’ in the figure and mention its function.

Answer:
Trophoblast½

(iii) Mention the fate of the inner cell mass after implantation in the uterus,
Answer:
Inner cell mass gets differentiated as embryo after implantation.1

18. Explain the mechanism of ‘sex determination’ in birds. How does it differ from that of
human beings?
Answer:
Sex determination is of ZW-ZZ type in birds./
In this type, the males are homogametic and have ZZ sex chromosomes, /and females are
heterogametic with ZW pair of sex chromosomes.

In human beings, the chromosomal mechanism of sex determination is of XX- XY type. /The
human male is heterogametic and has XY sex chromosomes, whereas the human female is XX.

- ½+ ½+½+ ½
19.How does a vaccine for a particular disease immunise the human body against that
disease?
Ans.During vaccination for a particular disease, an antigen or antigenic protein or pathogen
which is in inactive form is introduced into the body which induces mild immuneresponse./
The vaccine generates antibodies that neutralises the toxin/pathogen and produces memory B or
T-cells, which recognise the pathogen in the subsequent encounters and produce antibodies.
1+1
20.Why is making cells competent essential for biotechnology experiments?
List any one ways by which this can be achieved.
Ans. Since, DNA molecules are hydrophillic, they cannot pass through cell
membranes./ For recombinant DNA to be integrated into vector or host genome it
is necessary for the DNA to be inserted in the cell.1
- Therefore, making the host cells competent is necessary in
biotechnologyexperiments.
The two ways by which cells can be made competent to take up DNA
are:
(i) Chemical action By increasing concentration of divalent
cation, calcium, thereby increasing the efficiency of DNA entering
through pores in cell, wall./

(ii) Heat shock treatment Incubating the cells with recombinant

DNA on ice, followed by brief treatment of heat at 42 °C and again
putting them back on ice. Any one (½+ ½)

21.Differentiate between two different types of pyramids of biomass with the help of an example.
Answer:
Pyramid of biomass refers to the relationship between producers and consumers in terms of
biomass. It can be upright, e.g. in grasslands ecosystem or inverted, e.g. in pond ecosystem.1

TC

SC
PC

PP

Pyramid of biomass.1

Fishes- C

Phytoplankton- P

or
Draw the pyramids of biomass in a sea and in a forest,why are the two pyramids different.
Answe:(ii) (a) The pyramid of biomass in a sea ecosystem is inverted. Because, the sum total of
the weight of phytoplankton (producer) is far less than a few fishes feeding at higher trophic

Level(1+1)

1
(b) Pyramid of biomass in a forest ecosystem is upright because producers are more in biomass
than primary consumers.
Primary consumers are more than secondary consumers and secondary consumers are more than
tertiary consumers (top).//

Section C

22.What is the placenta? How placenta act as a endocrine gland?

Answer:
It is the structure formed by the union of the fetal and uterine tissue for purpose of nutrition,
respiration, and excretion of the embryo. /Although the blood vessels of the embryo and the
mother come close but are kept separated by some barriers between them. /Or The useful
substances pass from maternal blood to fetal blood while the wastes (excretory products and
C02) are passed from the fetal blood to maternal blood.(½+ ½+ ½)

Placenta produces several hormones like human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG),/ human
placental lactogen (hPL),/ estrogens, /progesterons that are essential to maintain
pregnancy. This way placenta acts as an endocrine tissue.(½+ ½+ ½)

23.List a few adaptations that parasites have developed.

Answer:
Parasites have evolved one or more of the following adaptations:

1. Loss of unnecessary sense organs.

2. Presence of hooks/adhesive organs and suckers.
 3. Loss of digestive system.
4. High reproductive capacity.
5. Produces antitoxins to counter toxins to the host.
6. Feeding organ absent in endoparasite.

(½X6=3)

24.Human insulin when synthesised in the body needs to be processed before it can act.
Explain giving reasons.
Ans. Human insulin when initially synthesised in human body consists of three peptide chains-
A, B and C. 1

The C-peptide is an extra stretch of amino acids joining the A and B-chains. This is called
proinsulin or prohormone. 1

It undergoes processing or splicing to release the functional mature insulin that can carry out its
normal functions. During processing, the C-peptide is removed. Only A and B-chains contribute
to form the functional insulin.1

25. With the help of an algebraic equation, how did Hardy-Weinberg explain that in a given
population the frequency of occurrence of alleles of a gene is supposed to remain the same
through generations ?
Answer:
Hardy-Weinberg’s principle states that allele frequencies in a population are stable. They remain
constant from generation to generation. The gene pool also remains constant. This is called
genetic equilibrium./

Thus, according to this principle, the sum total of all the allelic frequencies in a population is
always 1. Suppose in a diploid individual, p and q represent the frequency of allele A and allele
a, respectively./ The probability that an allele A with a frequency of P appears on both the
chromosomes of a diploid organism in the p². Similarly of aa is q², of Aa is 2pq. Hence, p² + 2pq
+ q² = 1.

The difference measured in the expected values of frequencies, indicates the extent of
evolutionary change. (1+1+1)

26.a)Name and explain the two types of immune responses in humans.

Answer:
Immune responses are of two types

 Primary response The reaction of the body’s immune system to the first attack of
microbe (antigen) is called primary immune response. It is slow and less intense.1
  Secondary response The reaction of the body’s immune system to any subsequent
infection of the same microbe is termed as secondary immune response. It is fast
and intense.1
 The two major types of immunity are innate or natural and acquired or adaptive.
 Innate immunity is inherited by the organism from the parents and protects it from
birth throughout life. It is also known as non-defensive mechanism. It includes
physical barrier like skin, chemicals in blood etc.
 The immunity that an individual acquires after the birth is called acquired or
adaptive immunity. T cells and B cells are the major immune cells. The T cells
provide cell mediated immunity while the B-cells provide humoral immunity.

b) Why is an antibody represented as H2L2?

Answer:
Antibody is represented as H2I2 because each antibody molecule has four peptide chains, i.e.
two small light (L) chains and two longer heavy (H) chains.1

Or

Name the two special types of lymphocytes in humans. How do they differ in their roles in
immune response?
Answer:
Two special types of lymphocytes in humans are

B-lymphocytes or B-cells

T-lymphocytes or T-cells(½+ ½)

Differences between B and T-lymphocytes are as follows: (1+1)

B-lymphocytes T-lymphocytes

They produce antibodies against antigen. They stimulate B-cells to produce antibodies.

They do not respond to organ transplant. They react to organ transplant.

27. Write advantage of GM crops.

Answer:
The advantages of the production of genetically modified crops are:

1. They have proved to be extremely valuable tools in studies on plant molecular

biology, regulation of gene action, identification of regulatory/ promontory
sequences.
2. Genetically modified crops have improved agronomic and other features such as
resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses.
3. Over-ripening losses can be reduced, e.g. flavor saves tomato.
4. Nutritional values are improved, e.g. Golden rice has high vitamin A content.
5. Viral resistance can be introduced.
6. The number of pharmaceuticals like insulin, interferon, blood clotting factors are
improved.
7. Insect resistance can be introduced, e.g. cry gene can be introduced into cotton,
wheat, and rice from Bacillus Thuringiensis.any

28.Write the percentage of land area that was covered by forests by the end of the last
century.
(b) Describe any two practices that led to deforestation.
(c) State the consequences of deforestation.
Ans (a) 19.4% = ½
b)-Trees are axed for timber / firewood / land for industrial requirement
-Slash and burn agriculture
- habitat loss and fragmentation- clearing of forest land into grass land
for raising cattle(Any two) = ½+½
(c) -Deterioration of our environment in terms of air - water and soil quality.
-causes loss of bio diversity
- disturbance in hydrological cycle / biogeochemical cycle(Any two) =
½+ ½
Section D

29.Study the diagram showing the entry of HIV into the human body and the
processes that are followed:
 (i) Name the human cell 'A' HIV enters into.
(ii) Mention the genetic material 'B' HIV releases into the cell.
(iii) Identify enzyme 'C'
(iv) Name the infection and its causative if a patient is prescribed the Anti
Retroviral therapy.
Or

How do interferons protect us?

(i)Macrophage.1
(ii) RNA (Ribonucleic acid).1
(iii) Reverse transcriptase.1
(iv) The disease is AIDS and its causative is HIV.

Or
Ans.Interferons produced by virus-infected cells protects the non-infected
cells from viral infection by inhibiting its replication and making cells
resistant to viral infection. 1
30.

Que. 1) What the above picture depicts. How this disease can transmit to a healthy
person
If a person is having dry and scaly lesions on various parts of the body, then the
person is infected by…………………. Disease.
Que. 2) A healthy person can have infection of Ascaris
through ………………………………………………….
Que. 3) If a person is having dry and scaly lesions on various parts of the body, then
the person is infected by…………………. Disease.

Que. 4) Name any two genera of the fungi which are responsible for causing
ringworms.
or
Give an example of filarial worm and round worm.
Answer Key
Que. 1) Elephatiasis,Through female mosquito bite.1
Que. 2) Contaminated food and water.1
Que. 3) Ringworm.1

Que. 4) Answer: Epidermophyton and Microsporum are the two genera of fungi which
are responsible for causing ringworms.
or
Answer: Example of filarial worm is Wuchereria and an example of round worm is
Ascaris.1
Section E

31. (a) Explain the steps involved in in vitro fertilisation popularly known as test tube baby
programme.
(b) State the importance of this programme.
Ans (a) i) Ova from wife / donor and sperms from husband / donor are collected
ii) They are induced to form zygote under simulated conditions ( in the labortory )
iii) The zygote or early embryos upto 8 blastomeres could then be transferred to fallopian tube
/ZIFT
iv) Embryos more than 8 blastomeres, into the uterus / IUT/ Intra uterin transfer = 1× 4
(b) Allows couples to bear children who were unable to do so naturally = 1
[4+1=5 ]
OR
(a) State one difference and one similarity between geitonogamy and xenogamy.
(b) Explain any three devices developed in flowering plants to discourage self
pollination and encourage cross pollination.

Ans (a) Difference- In geitonogamy pollen grains from one flower are transferred to the
stigma of another flower on the same plant whereas in xenogamy the pollen grains
 are transferred to the stigma of a flower on another plant(of the same species)
genetically similar , genetically different
Similarity -In both types of pollination pollen grains from the anther are transferred to
the stigma of another flower of the same species =1
(b) - Pollen release & stigma receptivity not synchronised / hence the maturity of stigma
and pollen are different /Protandry / Protogyny
- Anther and Stigma are placed at different positions so that pollen cannot come in
contactwith stigma of the same flower.
- Self incompatibility/ Self sterility.
- Production of unisexual flowers (Any three) = 1 × 3

5Marks

32.Explain the process of transcription in prokaryotes.How it differs from transcription of

eukaryotes.
Ans DNA dependent RNA polymerase ; binds to the promoter site ( of DNA) ; to initiate
transcription; it uses nucleoside triphosphate / nucleotides as substrates; polymerises in a
template dependant fashion; following the rule of complementarity.
DNA dependent RNA polymerase is only capable of catalysing elongation process; it
associates temporarily with initiation factor to terminate transcription, once the polymerase
reaches terminator region the nascent RNA falls off so also the RNA polymerase from
DNA template thus completing transcription. = ½ × 6 = 3

 For prokaryotic transcription, both the process of transcription occurs continuously and
simultaneously in the cytoplasm. But this process does not occur continuously and
simultaneously in Eukaryotic Transcription.
 The translation and transcription of prokaryotic transcription occur in the cytoplasm.
However, in Eukaryotic Transcription, the transcription occurs in the cytoplasm and takes
place in the nucleus.
 Different types of RNA: In prokaryotic transcription, there is only one type of RNA
polymerase enzyme. This polymerase enzyme helps to synthesize all the other types of
RNA, for example, tRNA, mRNA, and rRNA. On the other hand, eukaryotic transcription
involves three types of RNA. These three types of RNAs are RNA Polymerase II for
mRNA, rRNA synthesis, and RNA Polymerase III to aid the synthesis of 5SrRNA and
tRNA.
 hnRNA, intron and exon removal of intron

The main difference between Eukaryotic Transcription and Prokaryotic

Transcription is that the RNA capping is absent in Prokaryotic Cells. In the
Transcription in Eukaryotic Cells the capping takes place at the 5' position and
tailing at 3’ end of mRNA which is not present in the prokaryotic transcription
produces polycistronic mRNA while eukaryotic transcription produces
monocistronic mRNA.
 Any four-½X4=2

Or

Skin colour in humans does not have distinct alternate forms but shows a whole range of
possible variations in skin colour. Explain the pattern of inheritance of such a trait. What is
this type of inheritance known as ? Provide another example of exhibiting such an
inheritance pattern.

Skin colour is controlled by three genes; A,B,C dominant genes and a,b,c the recessive
genes ; the effect of each type of allele is addictive ; more the dominant allele, darker the
skin colour; more the recessive allele lighter the skin colour ; when three dominant alleles
and three recessive alleles are present in an individual the skin colour is intermediate = ½
×6
- Polygenic inheritance =1
- Human Height /or any other correct example =1

33.a)How has the development of bioreactor helped in biotechnology ?

b)Name the most commonly used bioreactor and describe its working.

Ans. (a) Larger biomass / large volume of culture can be processed leading to higher
yields of desired specific products (protein / enzymes) , under controlled condition = ½ +
½+½

(b) Stirring type = 1

Mixing of reactor contents evenly (with agitator system or a stirrer)

=½

Facilitates oxygen availability = ½

- Temperature / pH / foam control // under optimum conditions = ½+½+½

or

a.How has the use of Agrobacterium as vectors helped in controlling

Meloidegyne incognitia infestation in tobacco plants ? Explain in correct
sequence.
Ans. - Using Agrobacterium vector nematode specific genes introduced into host plant

- Sense and antisense strands of mRNA are produced

- ds RNA is formed

- ds RNA initiates RNAi

- Prevents translation of mRNA / silencing of mRNA of parasite / nematode -

Parasite will not survive

[½ × 6 = 3 marks]

b.Name the organism from which the ‘cry’ genes are isolated. Mention with the help of
suitable example why and how bio-technologists have made use of ‘cry’ genes. Ans
Bacillus thuringiensis = 1
- Source of insecticidal ( crystal) protein that control the cotton bollworms / corn
borer = 1
- Specific Bt toxin genes were isolated from Bacillus thuringiensis , incorporated
into several crop plants such as cotton = ½ × 2
[5 Marks]

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