JAMB UTME - Biology - 2018

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A hygrometer is an instrument used to measure the amount of humidity and water vapor in the atmosphere, in soil, or in confined spaces. Humidity measurement instruments usually rely on measurements of some other quantity such as temperature, pressure, mass, a mechanical or electrical change in a substance as moisture is absorbed. By calibration and calculation, these measured quantities can lead to a measurement of humidity.

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The group of organisms that have kidneys as the excretory organ is: fishes, amphibians, birds, and man. Kidneys are specialized organs that remove waste products, excess water, and other impurities from the blood. These waste products are then eliminated from the body as urine. Fishes, amphibians, birds, and mammals (including humans) all have kidneys as their primary excretory organ. In fish, the kidneys are responsible for removing excess water and electrolytes from the blood. In amphibians, the kidneys also play a role in maintaining water balance, as well as removing nitrogenous wastes. In birds and mammals, the kidneys are responsible for filtering the blood, regulating water and electrolyte balance, and eliminating waste products. In contrast, annelids (a group of segmented worms), insects, protozoans, reptiles, and tapeworms have different excretory organs. For example, insects have specialized structures called Malpighian tubules that remove waste products and excess water from their blood, while tapeworms excrete waste products through their skin.

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Cold-blooded animals are referred to as "poikilothermic". Poikilothermic animals are also known as "ectothermic" animals, which means that their body temperature is regulated by the environment around them. This is in contrast to "homoeothermic" animals, also known as "endothermic" animals, which can regulate their own body temperature internally. Examples of poikilothermic animals include reptiles, amphibians, and most fish. These animals are often seen basking in the sun to warm up or seeking out cooler places in order to lower their body temperature. They are able to function at a range of different temperatures, but their bodily functions are often slower at cooler temperatures. On the other hand, homoeothermic animals, such as mammals and birds, are able to maintain a stable internal body temperature, even when the temperature of their environment fluctuates. This allows them to function effectively in a wider range of environmental conditions.

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The instrument used to estimate the number of plants in a habitat is a quadrant. A quadrant is a square or rectangular frame that is used to isolate a specific area within a habitat for study. It is typically made of a lightweight and durable material, such as metal or plastic, and can be any size, depending on the needs of the study. To estimate the number of plants in a habitat using a quadrant, researchers randomly select several quadrants within the study area and place them on the ground. They then count the number of plants within the quadrant and use this information to estimate the number of plants in the entire study area. Quadrants are a commonly used tool in ecology and are particularly useful for estimating the density and distribution of plant populations. They are simple to use and can provide valuable information for researchers who are interested in understanding the dynamics of plant communities.

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One distinguishing feature of mammals is the possession of hair. Hair is a unique type of structure that grows from the skin of mammals and is made up of a protein called keratin. Hair serves many important functions in mammals, such as keeping the body warm, protecting the skin from damage, and providing sensory information. Hair can also be used for social communication, such as when a cat raises its fur to make itself look bigger and more intimidating. While other animals like reptiles may have scales, and birds may have feathers, only mammals have hair as a defining feature.

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Note: Evolution is a process of gradual change that takes place over many generations, during which species of animals, plants, or insects slowly change some of their physical characteristics.

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Sandy soils are well drained. They have low water holding capacity and are therefore drought prone. They become firm when wet (the opposite of clay), and loose when dry. Sandy soil is light and easy to dig.

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Primary consumers eat these plants exclusively and are all herbivores. We defined secondary consumers as organisms, primarily animals, which eat primary consumers. Furthermore, secondary consumers can be classified into one of two groups: carnivores, or meat eaters, and omnivores, which are plant and meat eaters.

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Bone is the substance that forms the skeleton of the body. It is composed chiefly of calcium phosphate and calcium carbonate. Chitin is a major constituent of the exoskeleton, or external skeleton, of many arthropods such as insects, spiders, and crustaceans. The main structural components of our bodies are bone, muscle, and cartilage. Bones are rigid, while muscles bend, stretch, and are flexible. Cartilage connective tissue is the perfect halfway point between these other tissues. It is not as rigid or as hard as bone, and it is also less flexible than muscle. Therefore, we find cartilage in places where we need some support and structure, but a bit of flexibility as well. This includes places such as our joints, our ears, and our nose, as well as in between the vertebrae in our spinal column.

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Saprophytism is the ability of certain plants to live in dead or decaying organic matter. A saprophyte or saprotroph is an organism which gets its energy from dead and decaying organic matter. This may be decaying pieces of plants or animals. This means that saprophytes are heterotrophs. They are consumers in the food chain.

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A mammary gland is an exocrine gland in mammals that produces milk to feed young offspring. Mammals get their name from the Latin word mamma, "breast". Hens do not have mammary glands.

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Saline, also known as saline solution, is a mixture of sodium chloride in water and has a number of uses in medicine. Intravenous therapy (IV) is a therapy that delivers liquid substances directly into a vein. Saline is used in I.V. therapy, intravenously supplying extra water to rehydrate patients or supplying the daily water and salt needs ("maintenance" needs) of a patient who is unable to take them by mouth. Because infusing a solution of low osmolality can cause problems such as hemolysis, intravenous solutions with reduced saline concentrations typically have dextrose (glucose) added to maintain a safe osmolality while providing less sodium chloride. The amount of normal saline infused depends largely on the needs of the patient (e.g. ongoing diarrhea or heart failure).

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The organism designated P in the food chain is normally sustained by energy from the sun. This is because P is likely at the bottom of the food chain, which means it is a primary producer. Primary producers, such as green plants, use energy from the sun to produce their own food through photosynthesis. This food is then consumed by the next organism in the food chain, which is Q. The energy then passes from one organism to the next, all the way up the food chain to the top predator. Therefore, in this food chain, P is likely a green plant or another type of primary producer that uses energy from the sun to produce its own food, making sunlight the source of energy for P.

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The gland that is present close to the trachea is the thyroid gland. The thyroid gland is a small, butterfly-shaped gland located in the neck, just below the Adam's apple and above the collarbone. It wraps around the front of the trachea, which is the tube that carries air to the lungs. The thyroid gland produces hormones that regulate many important functions in the body, including metabolism, growth, and development. When the thyroid gland is not working properly, it can cause a variety of health problems, including weight gain or loss, fatigue, and mood changes.

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A seed is a small embryonic plant enclosed in a covering called the seed coat, usually with some stored food. It is the product of the ripened ovule of gymnosperm and angiosperm plants which occurs after fertilization and some growth with in the motherplant.

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The term that describes a group of organisms of the same species living together in a particular area is "population". A population refers to all the individuals of a particular species that live in a specific geographic area and can interbreed. For example, a population of deer in a forest or a population of fish in a river. On the other hand, a "colony" typically refers to a group of organisms of the same species living closely together, but it usually implies a degree of cooperation and organization beyond what is typically seen in a population. A "community" refers to all the different populations of organisms living together in a particular area and interacting with each other, such as a community of plants, animals, and microbes in a forest. Lastly, a "niche" refers to the particular role and position that a species has in its environment, including the resources it uses and the interactions it has with other species.

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The physiological term that can be used to describe the regulation of the body temperature of the lizard is "poikilothermy". Poikilothermy refers to the ability of an animal's body temperature to fluctuate with changes in the external environment. In other words, the body temperature of poikilothermic animals, such as lizards, is not actively regulated by their bodies, but rather is influenced by the temperature of their surroundings. As seen in the graph, the body temperature of the lizard varies with the temperature of the environment it is in. This is in contrast to homeothermic animals, such as birds and mammals, which can maintain a relatively constant body temperature regardless of external temperature changes through the process of "thermoregulation".

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Holozoic nutrition is a type of heterotrophic nutrition that is characterized by the internalization (ingestion) and internal processing of gaseous, liquid or solid food particles. Protozoa, such as amoebas, and most of the free living animals,such as animals, exhibit this type of nutrition.
In holozoic nutrition the energy and organic building blocks are obtained by ingesting and then digesting other organisms or pieces of other organisms, including blood and decaying organic matter. This contrasts with holophytic nutrition, in which energy and organic building blocks are obtained through photosynthesis or chemosynthesis, and with saprozoic nutrition, in which digestive enzymes are released externally and the resulting monomers (small organic molecules) are absorbed directly from the environment.
Holophytic (plant-like), holozoic (animal- like), and saprophytic nutrition is found in Euglena. Euglena obtains its carbohydrate food by photosynthesis and nitrogenous food by absorption from the surroundings. Its holozoic nutrition is, however, doubtful.

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An animal that is active during the day is known as a diurnal animal. This means that it is awake and active during the daytime hours, when the sun is shining, and typically sleeps or rests during the night. Diurnal animals have evolved to take advantage of the sunlight and are often adapted to see well in bright light. Examples of diurnal animals include humans, birds, squirrels, and many species of primates.

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Osmosis is the spontaneous net movement of solvent molecules through a selectively permeable membrane into a region of higher solute concentration, in the direction that tends to equalize the solute concentrations on the two sides.

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The phenomenon you're referring to is called haemolysis. Haemolysis is the bursting of red blood cells when they are placed in a solution that is different from their normal environment. When red blood cells are placed in distilled water, the water moves into the cells and causes them to expand and eventually burst, resulting in haemolysis. This occurs because the concentration of solutes (e.g. salts, sugars) is higher inside the red blood cells than in the distilled water, causing water to move into the cells and causing them to burst. In simple terms, haemolysis is the bursting of red blood cells due to a change in the solution they are in.

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Blood plasma is a yellowish liquid component of blood that normally holds the blood cells in whole blood in suspension. In other words, it is the liquid part of the blood that carries cells and proteins throughout the body. It makes up about 55% of the body's total blood volume.

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The longest bone in the body is the femur. The femur is located in the thigh region and runs from the hip joint to the knee joint. It is also the strongest bone in the body, designed to support the weight of the body and withstand the forces produced by activities such as running and jumping. The femur's length can vary depending on a person's height, with taller people generally having longer femurs. Overall, the femur plays a critical role in allowing us to walk, run, and engage in other physical activities.

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While humans and many other species have red blood, due to the iron in their hemoglobin, other animals have different colored blood. Spiders (as well as horseshoe crabs and certain other arthropods) have blue blood due to the presence of copper-based hemocyanin in their blood. Some animals, such as the sea cucumbers, even have yellow blood. What could make blood yellow? The yellow coloration is due to a high concentration of the yellow vanadium-based pigment, vanabin. Unlike hemoglobin and hemocyanin, vanabin does not seem to be involved in oxygen transport.

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The total salt content in blood is about 0.85 to 0.9%. Salt, which is also known as sodium chloride, is an essential mineral that is necessary for many bodily functions such as maintaining fluid balance, transmitting nerve impulses, and contracting muscles. However, too much salt in the blood can lead to health problems like high blood pressure, so it's important to maintain a proper balance. The normal range for salt content in the blood is typically around 0.9%, which is equivalent to 9 grams of salt per liter of blood.

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The vitamin that is commonly associated with swollen, bleeding gums is Vitamin C. Vitamin C is an essential nutrient that helps in the formation of collagen, which is an important component of connective tissues like gums. Without enough Vitamin C, the collagen fibers in gums can weaken and break down, leading to inflammation, bleeding, and even tooth loss. In addition, Vitamin C has antioxidant properties that can help to protect the gums from damage caused by harmful free radicals. Therefore, a diet deficient in Vitamin C can cause gums to become swollen, inflamed, and bleed easily. Consuming sufficient amounts of Vitamin C can help to prevent and treat these symptoms, which is why it is important to include Vitamin C-rich foods in your diet, such as citrus fruits, berries, kiwi, broccoli, and peppers, among others.

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The plant tissue that carries water and mineral salts from the roots to other parts of the plant is called xylem. Xylem is like a pipeline that runs throughout the plant and is responsible for transporting water and dissolved nutrients from the roots to the leaves and other parts of the plant. This tissue is made up of specialized cells called tracheids and vessel elements that are arranged end to end to form long, hollow tubes. These tubes allow water to flow through them with minimal resistance, and the water is pulled up through the xylem by a process called transpiration. In summary, xylem is the tissue responsible for carrying water and mineral salts from the roots to the rest of the plant, and it does so through a network of specialized cells that form long, hollow tubes.

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The temporary union of two organisms and the exchange of micronuclear elements is called "conjugation". Conjugation is a process of sexual reproduction in some single-celled organisms, such as certain bacteria and protozoa. During conjugation, two organisms come together and form a temporary union. They exchange genetic material through a small opening that forms between them, allowing the exchange of micronuclear elements, such as DNA. The exchanged micronuclear elements contain genetic information that can be used to produce new offspring with different genetic traits from the parent organisms. This allows for increased genetic diversity within a population, which can be important for adaptation and evolution. In summary, conjugation is a process of temporary union and genetic exchange between two organisms, which can lead to increased genetic diversity within a population.

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Double fertilization is a unique feature of angiosperms, also known as flowering plants. During double fertilization, two sperm cells from the pollen grain fertilize two different cells in the female reproductive structure of the flower. One sperm cell fertilizes the egg cell to form the zygote, which will develop into the embryo of the seed. The other sperm cell fertilizes two nuclei in the central cell, which results in the formation of a triploid cell called the endosperm. The endosperm provides nourishment to the developing embryo. This process is unique to angiosperms and is not seen in bryophytes, pteridophytes, or algae. It is one of the key factors that has contributed to the success of angiosperms, as the endosperm provides a rich source of nutrients for the developing embryo, giving it a competitive advantage for survival and growth.

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The incubation period for chicken eggs is generally 21 days. This means that after a fertilized egg is laid by a hen and is kept at the appropriate temperature and humidity in an incubator, it will take approximately 21 days for the chick to develop and hatch out of the eggshell. During this period, the egg goes through several stages of development. In the first week, the embryo's circulatory system, nervous system, and digestive system start to form. In the second week, the chick's beak, wings, and claws begin to develop. And in the third week, the chick grows rapidly and prepares to break through the shell using its egg tooth, a small point on its beak. It's important to note that the incubation period can vary slightly depending on factors such as the breed of chicken and the temperature and humidity in the incubator. However, 21 days is the average incubation period for chicken eggs.

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The production of pancreatic hormones, including insulin, somatostatin, gastrin, and glucagon, play an important role in maintaining sugar and salt balance in our bodies.

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The essential elements can be divided into macronutrients and micronutrients. Nutrients that plants require in larger amounts are called macronutrients. About half of the essential elements are considered macronutrients: carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium, and sulfur.

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Cnidaria is a phylum under Kingdom Animalia containing over 11,000 species of animals found exclusively in aquatic environments: they are predominantly marine. Their distinguishing feature is cnidocytes, specialized cells that they use mainly for capturing prey. Modern cnidarians are generally classified into four main classes: sessile Anthozoa (sea anemones, corals, sea pens); swimming Scyphozoa (jellyfish) and Cubozoa (box jellies); and Hydrozoa, a diverse group that includes all the freshwater cnidarians as well as many marine forms, and has both sessile members such as Hydra and colonial swimmers such as the Portuguese Man o' War. The Turbellaria are one of the traditional sub-divisions of the phylum Platyhelminthes, and include all the sub-groups that are not exclusively parasitic.

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Trichocyst, a structure in the cortex of certain ciliate and flagellate protozoans consisting of a cavity and long, thin threads that can be ejected in response to certain stimuli. Trichocysts may be widely distributed over an organism or restricted to certain areas (e.g., tentacles, papillae, around the mouth). It is also a structure in the cortex of certain ciliate and flagellate protozoans consisting of a cavity and long, thin threads that can be ejected in response to certain stimuli.

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The giraffe's long neck is a perfect adaptation to the animal's natural habitat. Clearly the giraffe evolved this uncommon and helpful trait in order to reach those nourishing leaves. That's how natural selection works. Use and disuse' theory in human life advocate the idea that animals acquired characteristics after using certain physical traits constantly.

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The boy who is fond of swimming in a pond and passes urine with traces of blood is likely to have contracted schistosomiasis. Schistosomiasis is a parasitic infection caused by a type of flatworm called Schistosoma that commonly inhabits freshwater snails and bodies of water such as ponds and lakes. When a person comes into contact with water contaminated with the parasite, it can penetrate the skin and enter the bloodstream, where it eventually travels to the bladder or intestines and causes inflammation and damage to the tissues. This can lead to symptoms such as blood in the urine or stool, abdominal pain, diarrhea, and anemia. If left untreated, schistosomiasis can lead to chronic health problems such as liver and kidney damage. Therefore, it is important to seek medical attention if experiencing symptoms after swimming or coming into contact with freshwater bodies in endemic areas.

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An accurate identification of a rapist can be carried out by conducting DNA analysis. DNA analysis involves collecting and analyzing a sample of DNA from a suspect, such as a hair, skin, or semen sample, and comparing it to a sample of DNA taken from the crime scene. If the DNA profiles match, it can provide strong evidence linking the suspect to the crime. Blood group tests and behavioral tests are not reliable methods for identifying a rapist, as they do not provide a unique identifier like DNA analysis does. Additionally, RNA analysis is not typically used for the identification of rapists. DNA analysis is the most scientifically accepted and accurate method for identifying individuals in criminal investigations, including sexual assault cases.

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The cycle that involves the process of precipitation and transpiration is the water cycle. The water cycle is the process by which water circulates through the Earth's environment. It starts with the evaporation of water from bodies of water, such as oceans, lakes, and rivers, as well as from the soil and plants through a process called transpiration. This water vapor then rises into the atmosphere, where it cools and condenses into clouds. When these clouds become heavy enough, the water falls back to Earth as precipitation, which can take the form of rain, snow, sleet, or hail. Once the precipitation falls to the ground, it can either be absorbed by the soil and become groundwater or run off into bodies of water. From there, the cycle starts again. In summary, the water cycle involves the process of precipitation, which is the falling of water from the atmosphere to the Earth's surface, as well as the process of transpiration, which is the release of water vapor from plants. This cycle is essential for providing fresh water to living things and maintaining the Earth's environment.