JAMB UTME - Biology - 2018

Détails de la réponse

Spectacles with convex lenses correct long-sightedness by converging the light rays before they enter the eye. In long-sightedness, also known as hyperopia, the eyeball is too short, which causes light to focus behind the retina instead of directly on it. This results in blurry vision, especially when looking at close objects. Convex lenses are thicker in the middle and thinner at the edges, and they bend light rays towards each other. When a person with long-sightedness wears spectacles with convex lenses, the lenses converge the light rays before they enter the eye, which compensates for the shortness of the eyeball. This causes the light rays to focus directly on the retina, which results in clearer vision. Therefore, by converging the light rays before they enter the eye, convex lenses correct long-sightedness.

Détails de la réponse

The process that removes carbon from the atmosphere is "photosynthesis". Photosynthesis is the process by which green plants and other organisms use sunlight to synthesize foods with the help of carbon dioxide and water. During photosynthesis, carbon dioxide (CO2) is taken in from the atmosphere and used to produce glucose, a type of sugar that serves as food for the plant. In this process, the carbon from CO2 is converted into organic carbon compounds, which are then used to build the plant's structure and stored in the plant's tissues. This means that photosynthesis helps to remove carbon from the atmosphere and store it in the biomass of plants. In contrast, processes such as putrefaction, volcanic eruption, and burning of fuels release carbon into the atmosphere, contributing to the increase of atmospheric carbon dioxide levels and, in turn, to climate change.

Détails de la réponse

Scabies is the disease that is not hereditary. Scabies is a skin infestation caused by a tiny mite called Sarcoptes scabiei. It spreads through direct skin-to-skin contact with an infected person. Scabies is not a genetic disorder and does not pass down from parent to child through genes. It is caused by a microscopic organism that can infect anyone who comes into contact with it. On the other hand, Albinism, Haemophilia, and Color blindness are all hereditary diseases. Albinism is a genetic condition that affects the production of melanin, resulting in little or no pigment in the skin, hair, and eyes. Haemophilia is a genetic disorder that affects the blood's ability to clot properly. Color blindness is a genetic condition that affects the ability to distinguish between different colors. In summary, while Scabies is caused by a tiny mite and is not hereditary, Albinism, Haemophilia, and Color blindness are all genetic conditions that are inherited from one's parents.

Détails de la réponse

The curvature movement of plants in response to the stimulus of water is called "hydrotropism." Hydrotropism is a type of plant movement that occurs when a plant's roots grow towards a source of water. This is an important mechanism that allows plants to find water and nutrients in the soil. When a plant is exposed to a source of water, such as a moist patch of soil, the plant's roots will start to grow towards the water. This is because the cells on the side of the root closest to the water absorb more water and expand, causing the root to bend towards the source of water. As the root grows towards the water, it will continue to bend until it reaches the water source. Hydrotropism is different from other types of plant movements, such as geotropism, phototropism, and thigmotropism, which involve responses to gravity, light, and touch, respectively.

Détails de la réponse

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.

Détails de la réponse

The part of the ear which contains nerve cells sensitive to sound vibrations is the cochlea. The cochlea is a small, spiral-shaped structure in the inner ear. It is responsible for translating sound waves into electrical signals that can be interpreted by the brain. The cochlea contains tiny hair cells that are responsible for detecting sound vibrations. These hair cells are arranged along the length of the cochlea and are stimulated by different frequencies of sound. When sound waves enter the ear, they cause the eardrum to vibrate. These vibrations are then transmitted to the three small bones in the middle ear, including the malleus. The malleus transmits the vibrations to the inner ear, where they are picked up by the hair cells in the cochlea. The hair cells then convert the vibrations into electrical signals that are transmitted to the brain via the auditory nerve, allowing us to hear and interpret sounds. In summary, the cochlea is the part of the ear that contains nerve cells sensitive to sound vibrations. The hair cells within the cochlea are responsible for detecting sound waves and translating them into electrical signals that can be interpreted by the brain.

Détails de la réponse

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.

Détails de la réponse

Primary production in the photic zone is influenced by three major factors—nutrients and light, which are essential for photosynthesis, and grazing pressure, the rate at which the plants are eaten by herbivores.

Détails de la réponse

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.

Détails de la réponse

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.

Détails de la réponse

The energy released by 1 gram of glucose is about 4 kcal. To put it simply, when our bodies break down glucose, a type of sugar that is a source of energy, it releases energy that we can use. This energy is measured in units of calories, and 1 kilocalorie (kcal) is equivalent to 1,000 calories. So, when 1 gram of glucose is broken down, it releases approximately 4 kcal of energy.

Détails de la réponse

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.

Détails de la réponse

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.

Détails de la réponse

Pith, or medulla, is a tissue in the stems of vascular plants. Pith is composed of soft, spongy parenchyma cells, which store and transport nutrients throughout the plant. In eudicots, pith is located in the center of the stem. In monocots, it extends also into flowering stems and roots.

Détails de la réponse

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.

Détails de la réponse

Cytokinesis is the final stage of mitosis, the process by which a cell divides to form two identical daughter cells. During cytokinesis, the cytoplasm of the original cell is divided into two parts, with each part containing a complete set of genetic material (chromosomes). The main purpose of cytokinesis is to ensure that each daughter cell receives a complete set of genetic material and the necessary organelles to function properly. This is important because if one daughter cell received more genetic material or more organelles than the other, it could lead to problems such as cell death or mutations. Therefore, "each daughter cell gets the necessary organelles" is the correct label to associate with the question above. While the other options may be important aspects of mitosis, they do not directly relate to the role of cytokinesis in ensuring that each daughter cell receives a complete and functional set of genetic material and organelles.

Détails de la réponse

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.

Détails de la réponse

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.

Détails de la réponse

The rate, or velocity, of blood flow varies inversely with the total cross-sectional area of the blood vessels. As the total cross-sectional area of the vessels increases, the velocity of flow decreases. Blood flow is slowest in the capillaries, which allows time for exchange of gases and nutrients. Flow is slowest in the capillaries because of their larger cross-sectional area and narrow diameter.

Détails de la réponse

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.

Détails de la réponse

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.

Détails de la réponse

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.

Détails de la réponse

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.

Détails de la réponse

Like red cells, platelets (thrombocytes) have no nucleus. However, unlike red cells that originate in the marrow as nucleated cells and lose their nucleus, platelets are produced by budding off from a giant multinucleated marrow cell called a megakaryocyte.

Détails de la réponse

The majority of mammals (including humans) utilize a double circulatory system. This means we have two loops in our body in which blood circulates. One is oxygenated, meaning oxygen rich, and the other is deoxygenated, which means it has little to no oxygen, but a lot of carbon dioxide.

Détails de la réponse

Botany is also known as "phytology". This term is derived from the Greek word "phyton", which means "plant". Phytology is the scientific study of plants, including their structure, growth, reproduction, metabolism, and classification. It involves the examination of plant anatomy, physiology, ecology, genetics, and evolution. Botanists also study the relationship between plants and their environment, including the interactions between plants and other organisms such as insects, fungi, and bacteria. Overall, phytology is an important field of study that helps us to better understand and appreciate the complexity and diversity of plant life on our planet.

Détails de la réponse

Détails de la réponse

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.

Détails de la réponse

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.

Détails de la réponse

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.

Détails de la réponse

The process in which plants use sunlight to synthesize nutrients from carbon dioxide and water is called photosynthesis. Photosynthesis is a crucial process that enables plants to produce their own food and is responsible for releasing oxygen into the atmosphere. During photosynthesis, plants use chlorophyll, a pigment found in their leaves and other green parts, to capture energy from sunlight. This energy is used to combine carbon dioxide and water to produce glucose (a type of sugar) and oxygen. The glucose produced is then used by the plant as an energy source to fuel its growth and other metabolic processes. In summary, photosynthesis is the process by which plants convert sunlight into chemical energy, which they use to synthesize nutrients and sustain their growth and survival.

Détails de la réponse

Détails de la réponse

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.

Détails de la réponse

Special temporary organs or embryonic membranes form within the egg, both to protect the embryo and to provide for its nutrition, respiration, and excretion. These organs include the yolk sac. The yolk sac is also responsible for the initial circulation and is in charge of delivering nutrients, via a primitive aorta, to the developing embryo through a process called vitelline circulation.

Détails de la réponse

Reptiles are cold-blooded animals. This means that they cannot produce heat in their own bodies, and have to rely on their surroundings to keep warm. This is why most reptiles are found in hot or warm climates. Reptiles like snakes and lizards are this type of animal. Amphibians like frogs, toads, and salamanders are, too. Fish are also cold-blooded animals.

Détails de la réponse

The jelly-like fluid that fills a cell is called cytoplasm. It is made up of mostly water and salt. Cytoplasm is present within the cell membrane of all cell types and contains all organelles and cell parts. Cytoplasm has various functions in the cell.
Most of the important activities of the cell occur in the cytoplasm. Cytoplasm contains molecules such as enzymes which are responsible for breaking down waste and also aid in metabolic activity.

Détails de la réponse

A primary consumer is an organism that feeds on primary producers. Primary consumers are usually herbivores that feed on autotrophic plants, which produce their own food through photosynthesis.

Détails de la réponse

In the animal's intestine, the oncospheres hatch, invade the intestinal wall, and migrate to the striated muscles, where they develop into cysticerci. A cysticercus can survive for several years in the animal. Humans become infected by ingesting raw or undercooked infected meat.

Détails de la réponse

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.

Détails de la réponse

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.