UNIVERSITY OF LAGOS

B.Sc.(Hons)/B.Sc. (Educ) Hons./Prelim Examinations

FIRST SEMESTER 2007/2008

FSC 101: INTRODUCTORY BIOLOGY Time Allowed: 1 ½ Hours

READ ALL INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY.

(i) On the answer sheet provided, write and shade you matric. number and
name correctly in the space provided. Leave the space blank if you have not
been given matric. number.
(ii) On the back of the answer sheet, write your surname first, in CAPITAL
letters and your other names in full. Also, indicate your department,
laboratory group and table number.
(iii) Answer ALL questions. With an HB pencil shade fully in the answer sheet
the letter corresponding to the correct answer. Five percent (5%) of the total
number of wrong answers will be deducted from the total number of
correct answers.
(iv) There is only one correct answer for each question.
(v) Assume that there are no errors in the questions.
(vi) DO NOT write on or mark the question paper which must be handed in with
your answer sheet. You may be accused of misconduct if you fail to comply.
(vii) If you are in the wrong venue, your paper will not be marked.

1. Biology comprises two words

A. Bio and logy B. Bio and logo C. Bios and logos D. Bio and Logic

2. Unifying all of biology is A. Cellular basis of life B. Immergent properties C. All

biological information is inherited D. Unity underlying all the diverse forms of
life.

3. _______ is life’s primary source of energy A. Food B. Water C. Sunlight D. ATP

4. _______ enhances the rate of reaction A.Protein B.Enzyme C.Water D. Cofactor

5. ATP is mainly A. Energy Carrier B. Reactant C. Enzyme D.Cofactor

6. Immerse a living cell in a hypotonic solution and water will tend to A.diffuse into
the cell B.diffuse out of the cell C.show no net movement D. move in by
endocytosis

7. ________ is the capacity of cells to extract energy from sources in the

environment and use it to grow, live and reproduce A.Metabolism B.
Reproduction C.Homeostasis D. Inheritance

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8. ________ is a state in which the internal environment is being maintained within
a tolerable range A.Metabolism B. Reproduction C.Homeostasis D.Inheritance

9. DNA _______ A.Contains instructions for building proteins B.Undergoes

mutation C.is transmitted from parents to offspring D.all of the above

10. ________ are to proteins as _______ are to nucleic acids

A.Sugars, lipids B.Sugars, Proteins C. Amino acids, hydrogen bonds
D. Amino acids, nucleotides

11. After mitosis the chromosome number of a daughter cell is _____the parent’s cell
A.The same as B.one –half C.Rearranged compared to D.Doubled compared to

12. The cell was first described by A. Malpigi B. Hooke C. Leeuwenhoek D.Virchow

13. The Unifying concept in biology was proposed by a

A. Botanist B. Microbiologist C. Zoologist D. Biochemist

14. The term protoplasm given to the jelly-like content of cells was first used by
A.von Baer B. Virchow C.Purkinjee D. Malpighi

15. _________ showed that all cells arise from pre-existing cells by cell division
A. Malpighi B. Virchow C. Hooke D. Schwann

16. The cell theory was proposed in

A.1839 B. 1836 C. 1590 D. 1665

17. ________ discovered that capillaries link arteries to veins

A. Malpighi B. Virchow C. Hooke D.Schwann

18. Biology was made popular by

A. Thomas Hukley B. Robert Hooke C. de Lamarck D.R.L. Virchow

19. The study of fossils is called

A. Fossilogy B. Geology C. Paleontology D. Palinology

20. _______ was a builder of microscopes

A. Purkinjee B.Leeuwenhoek C. Hooke D. Virchow

For nos. 21 – 36 shade Letter “A” if the statement is TRUE and Letter “D” if the
whole or any part of statement is FALSE.

21. A correlation exists between the structure and function of a cell

22. Biological organisation does not move from one structural level to another
23. Information in viruses is encoded in the DNA
24. Most common and biologically important elements are H, O, N & C.
25. Red Blood cells can be seen with the naked eye

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 26. Mitosis provides mechanism for quick reproduction in single celled organisms
and for growth and reproduction in multicellular organisms.
27. Differentiation in cells reduces efficiency
28. Plastids are colourless if not exposed to light
29. The hard outer covering of seeds and nuts is made of collenchyma cells
30. Main mineral in bone is Ca2 (PO4) 2.
31. Blood is not a tissue
32. Platelets do not initiate the process of blood clothing
33. The kidney is a homeostatic device
34. Filling of the contractile vacuole in Amoeba is a form of active transport
35. White Blood cells take up bacteria by phagocytosis.
36. The Secretion of enzymes from the pancreas is a form of exocytosis.

Choices for Nos. 37 – 40

A.106 µ B.103 µ C. 0.01 µ D. 1 µ

Allocate the size range that best fits the following.

37. Man 38. Bacteria 39. Gene 40. Fruit fly (Drosophila)

41. The genetic factors responsible for creating the measurable properties of an
organism are called A.phenotype B.genotype C.nucleus D. mutation.

42. Mendel’s first law of inheritance describes A. independent assortment of

different genes B. the segregation of alleles C. the segregation of genes
D. the separation of genes.

43.When a homozygote for one allele is crossed with a homozygote for another allele,
all the progeny in the F1 generation are A. genotype of the original parent
B. homozygote with the same phenotype C. heterozygote with the same
phenotype D.heterozygote with the same genotypes.

44. How many of 160 F2 offspring from a monohybrid cross of a true breeding tall
and short Pisum sativum will be heterozygote tall? A. 120 B. 40 C. 80 D. 60.

45. What is the probability that the zygotes of a dizygotic twin will be males?
A. ½ B. 1/4 C. 1/8 D. 2/4 .

46. Haemophilia is caused by a sex- linked, recessive allele. Two parents have
a haemophilic son, a normal son and a haemophiliac daughter. What are the
most likely genotypes of the mother and father respectively? A. XHXh and XhY
B. XHXh and XHY C. XhXh and XHY D. XHXH and XhY.
C.
47. A human cell containing 22 autosomes and a Y chromosome is
A. a somatic cell of a male B. a zygote C. a sperm cell D. an ovum.

48. During meiosis, when the meiotic spindles distribute chromosomes with errors
to daughter cells. This is called? A. disjunctional error B. mutational error
C. variation D. nondisjunctional error.
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49. The syndrome in humans in which an individual’s somatic cells contain the three
sex chromosomes XXY is called A. Klinefelter’s B.Turner’s C. Down’s D.Edward’s.

50. The sex-determination system in which males are XY and females XX is found in all
A. multicellular organisms B. animals C. vertebrates D. mammals.

51. Joseph expressed hypertrichosis (hairy pinna), a trait carried by a gene on his
Y chromosome. What is the chance that his grandson will inherit the trait from him?
A. 0% B. 25% C. 50% D. 100%.

52. Colchicine is a chemical that stops chromatids from separating during mitosis.
Which phase will the cell reach and then stop dividing? A. anaphase B. interphase
C.metaphase D. telophase

53. The formation of chiasma(ta) is an important feature of meiotic divisions because it

A. ensures that the same genetic characteristics appear in daughter cells as in
the parents. B. provides opportunities for new genotypes to arise.
C. prevents homologous chromosomes from pairing
D.occurs among non sister chromatids of homologous chromosomes.

54. The amount of DNA in a mammalian cell in early prophase1 is X. What is

the amount of DNA in the same cell in anaphase1 of meiosis?
A.X/4 B. 2X C. X/2 D. X

55. When is the DNA content of a cell doubled?

A. anaphase B. metaphase C. prophase D. interphase.

56. The diagram shows two pairs of homologous chromosomes. Which stage of
nuclear division is shown?

A. anaphase of mitosis B. anaphase1 of meiosis

C. metaphase of mitosis D. metaphase1 of meiosis.

57. How many different combinations of maternal and paternal chromosomes

can be packaged in gametes made by an organism with a diploid number of 8 ?
A. 4 B. 8 C. 16 D. 32.

58. For double-stranded DNA which of the following base ratios will always
equal to 1? A. G/T B. A+T / G+C (c) G+C/A+T (d) A+G/ C+T

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59. During DNA analysis, a sample of double-stranded DNA has 62% GC. \
What is the percent of adenine (A) present in the DNA sample?
A. 38% B. 31% C. 19% D. 18%.

60. A nucleoside comprises of A. a base, a sugar and phosphate B. a base and a sugar
C. sugar and phosphate D. a base and phosphate.

61. In DNA hydrogen bonds are formed between A.the phosphate groups
B. the 31-OH and 21-H C.the 31-OH and the 5 1- phosphate D. the bases

62. The number of nucleotides in a complete turn of the DNA double helix is
A. 20 B. 15 C. 10 D. 25.

63. In the transformation experiment to demonstrate that DNA is the hereditary

material, mice were infected with A.Heat- killed, smooth, pneumococcus
bacteria mixed with live, smooth bacteria. B. Heat-killed, rough
pneumococcus bacteria with live rough bacteria. C.live, smooth
pneumococcus bacteria mixed with heat-killed rough bacteria.
D.live rough pneumococcus bacteria mixed with heat-killed smooth bacteria.

64. What is the base sequence of the DNA strand that would be complementary
to the following single stranded DNA molecule 51 AGTTACCTGATCGTA 31?
A.51 TCAATGGACTAGCAT 31 B.31 TCAATGGACTAGCAT 51
C. 51 UCAAUGGACUAGCAU 31 D. 31 UCAAUGGACUAGCAU 51

65. Reverse transcriptase is the enzyme which copies A. DNA to DNA

B. mRNA into tRNA C. RNA into DNA D. RNA into proteins.

66. The RNA triple UAG acts as a codon, terminating the synthesis of a polypeptide.
The diagram shows strand of DNA which codes for four amino acids.
Where would a mutation, introducing a thymine nucleotide, result in the
termination of transcription?

T C C A C T C A G T C C

A B C D

67. What is the action of the enzyme DNA ligase? A. DNA is broken up at specific
Sites B.DNA fragments are joined together C. DNA replication occurs
D. DNA transcription occurs.

68. Which statement correctly describes mRNA? A.mRNA binds amino acids
for incorporation into proteins B.mRNA contains the five – carbon
sugar deoxyribose C.mRNA recognizes the anticodon of tRNA.
D. None of the above

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69. The insulin molecule is composed of two polypeptide chains, one consisting of
20 amino acids and the other consisting of 31. What is the minimum number of
base pairs of DNA required to code for this molecule? A. 20 B. 51 C. 102 D. 153.

70. The signal to start translation is the initiator codon, usually AUG, the codon for
A. tyrosine B.leucine C. methionine D. initiator proteins.

71. A polypeptide is assembled on a A.DNA molecule B.nucleolus

C.ribosomal RNA D. ribosome.

72. The function of tRNA is to A. form a site for protein synthesis

B. transcribe the genetic code C. transport specific amino acids to specific site on
the mRNA D. synthesize amino acid.

73. The information shows the results of two types of gene mutation. Original sequence
is CGATTACCATGCATA. Mutant sequence 1 is CGATTAACCTGCATA
and mutant sequence 2 is CGATTACCAGGCATA. What type of gene
mutation produced mutant sequences 1 and 2 respectively?
A. deletion and insertion B. insertion and deletion C. inversion and substitution
D. substitution and insertion.

74. A mutation results in the substitution of thymine for cytosine in the base
sequence ATC in a section of a DNA molecule. What are the base sequence on
the mRNA and tRNA corresponding to the new triplet?
A. TAG on mRNA and ATC on tRNA B. TGG on mRNA and ACC on tRNA
C. UAG on mRNA and AUC on tRNA D.UGG on mRNA and ACC on tRNA.

75. How many genotypes are produced by the 4 human blood groups: A, B, AB and O?
A. 4 B. 6 C. 10 D. 8.

76. A natural unit composed of living and non living components, whose
interactions result in a stable, but not static, self perpetuating, is an example of
A. autecology B. an ecosystem C. synecology D. a biosphere.

77. Two bird species feed on small invertebrates lodge in bark crevices on the same
tree but do not complete for the food resources because of different food
preferences and differing locomtor patterns in foraging behaviour. Each of these
bird species occupies A.the same niche in a different habitat B. a different niche
in the same habitat C. the same habitat in a different ecosystem
D. the same niche in the same ecosystem.

78. What are edaphic factors in the environment concerned with?

A. animals B. the climate C. the soil D. topography.

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79. The term community is used in ecology to describe all the
A.food webs in one ecosystem B.members of one species within a
social organization C.species of plants and animals in a natural habitat
D. species of plants and animals in one ecosystem.
80. The chart below is a simple representation of the nitrogen cycle.

T humus

N2 animals

S V Plants

NO 3 U NH3

To which processes do the letters S ,T, U and V refer

S T U V

A. denitrification nitrogen fixation nitrification nitrogen fixation

B. nitrogen fixation nitrogen fixation denitrification nitrification

C. nitrogen fixation denitrification nitrification nitrogen fixation

D. denitrification nitrification nitrification nitrogen fixation.

81. Which one of the following soil types would have the highest proportion
of colloidal particles? A. clay B. sand C. silt D. loam.

82. Competition between species will be greatest if they attempt to occupy the
same A. community B. habitat C. niche D. ecosystem.

83. Intraspecific competition is competition among A. species B. individuals of

a population C. individuals of a community D.populations and their
regulatory factors.

84. The association between cattle egrets, which feed on insects, and the cows
they follow, which flush insects from vegetation, is an example of
A. protocooperation B.obligatory mutualism C. parasitism D.symbiotic.

85. Which of the following interaction will not promote coevolution?

A.interspecific competition B. commensalism C. mutualism D. parasitism.

86. Energy and nutrients enter a community by way of the

A. producers B. consumers C.scavengers D. detritivores.

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87. Sequence of species through which the organic molecules in a community
pass is called A.food chain B. pyramid of energy C. food web D. nutrient cycle.

88. The term “ecology” was first used by

A. Linnaeus B. Ernst Haeckel C. E.P. Odum D. Tansley.

89. The study of the types or forms of interrelationships among a community

of organisms within the same habitat is referred to as
A. autecology B. synecology C. ecology D. ecosystem.

90. Which of these is NOT a pollutant?

A. CO B. solid waste C. crude oil D. water

91. An imperfect flower is a flower lacking?

A. both stamens and carpels B. either stamens or carpels
C. ability to produce flowers D. the standard petals.

92.The first step in germination of many seeds is?

A. maturation B. imbibition C. enzyme activation D. metabolism.

93.Which of the following is not part of the mammalian reproductive male anatomy?
A. bulbourethal glands B. baculum C. Ureter D. epididymis

94.Which of the following events is not correct with the time span associated with it
in a normal human fetus?
A. the sex of the child is evident in week 10
B. the limbs are distinct and bones begin to form in week 8
C. heart begins beating in week 4 D. none of the above.

95. A superior ovary is found in which type of flower?

A. hypogynous B. epigynous C. perigynous D. ectogynous.

96.Which of the following parts is not normally associated with the ovules?
A. funicle B. placenta C. nucellus D. peduncle

97.Which of the following mechanisms favour cross-pollination?

A. protogyny B. homogamy C. cleistogamy D. monoecious

98.Which of these membranes act primarily as a “bladder” for storing excretory

products during the embryonic development in reptiles and birds?
A. amnion B. chorion C. allantois D. yolk sac

99.Which of these layers of uterus in humans contain glands and many blood vessels?
A. myometrium B. endometrium C. uterometrium D. fimbriae

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100. Which of these pairs is mis-matched?
A. interstitial cells - testoesterone
B. seminiferous tubule – sperm production
C. vasa deferentia – seminal fluid production
D. urethtra - conducts sperm.

101.In tracing the path of sperm, you would mention vasa deferentia before
A. testes B. urethra C. epididymis D. uterus

102.An oocyte is fertilized in the ? A. vagina B. uterus C. oviduct D. ovary

103. Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH)

A. is secreted by females dut not males
B. stimulates the seminiferous tubules to produce sperm
C. secretion is controlled by gonadotropic-releasing hormones (GnRH)
D. both B and C are correct.

104.Which of these is mismatched?

A. polar nuclei - plumule
B. egg and sperm - zygote
C. ovule - seed
D. ovary – fruit.

105.The vas deferens is functionally most like which female structure?

A.vagina B.oviduct C.uterus D.cervix

106. Which of the following is haploid in the carpel of a flower ?

A. polar nuclei B. ovary wall C. integuments D. synergids.

107.The condition when one gamete is clearly larger than the other is called ?
A. isogamy B. anisogamy C. oogamy D. dichogamy.

108.The life cycle type in organisms in which the adult organism exist in haploid form
is called? A. diplophase B. diplontic C. haplodiplontic D. haplophase.

109. Similarities are greatest between the individuals in a:

A. Class B. Genus C. Order D. Family E. None of the above

Choices for Nos. 110-114.

A. Kingdom B. Phylum C. Family D. Order E. Class

110.Monotremata 111. Archaebacteria 112. Hominidae 113. Aves 114.Arthropoda

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Choices for Nos. 115-117.

A. Period B. Eon C. Epoch D. Era E. None of the above

115. Precambrian 116. Jurassic 117. Holoscene

Choices for Nos. 118-120.

A. Homo erectus B. Australopithecus afarensis C. Australopithecus boisei
D. Homo sapiens E. Homo habilis

118.Coexisted with Neanderthal man.

119. Coexisted with Homo floresiensis
120.Java man.
121. In strict sense, the first product of photosysnthesis is
A. Hexose B. Triose C. Triose Phosphate D. Hexose phosphate E. Glucose

122.Which of the following combinations of light do green leaves absorb?

A. Green light B. Red light C. Blue light D. B and C E. A, B, and C.
123.Chlorophyll C is found in A. all eucaryotic phototrophs B. Green algae
C. Golden brown algae D. Blue-green algae E. all of the above

124. Plants gather wavelengths of light NOT absorbed by the main chlorophylls
a and b through: A.Photosystem I B. Photosystem II C. Accessory Pigments
D.Carotenoids E. Palisade

125. Among light, oxygen and temperature, which one is the limiting factor in the
rate of photosynthesis A. Light B. Oxygen C. Temperature D. all of the above
E. Equally limiting.

126. In C02 fixation reaction which enzyme catalyses the first step reaction.
A. RuBP carboxylase B. Malate dehydrogenases C. PEP dehydrogenase
D. PEP carboxylase

127. A C3 plant is a plant that uses 3- carbon A. PGA as the first intermediate for
carbon fixation B. oxaloacetate as the first intermediate for carbon fixation
C. acetate as the first intermediate for carbon fixation D. all of the above.

128. Which of the following is not a property of all living organisms?

A. Photosynthesis B. Reproduction C. Movement D. Respiration

129. Which of the following statements is true of protoplast? It is associated with

A.Plant cell only B. Animal cell only C. Both plant cell and Animal cell
D. Neither plant cell nor animal cell E. Some animal cells.

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130. Light-independent reactions in plants proceed in the A. grana B. cytoplasm
C. plasma membrane D. stroma

131. Which one of the following best typifies the expression “universal currency
of energy exchange”? A. DNA B. FSH C. PTC D. ATP

132. Which of these is also known as Embden-Meyerhof pathway?

A.Glycolysis B. Krebs cycle C. Phosphorylation D. Electron transport chain

133.During glycolysis ATP is used up in

A. Step 1 only B. Step 3 only C. Steps 7 and 10 D. Steps 7 only
E. None of the above.

134. One of these enzymes is a multienzyme complex requiring five coenzymes

for itsreaction A. pyruvate dehydrogenase B. lactate dehydrogenase C. A & B.
E.none of the above.

135. Which of the following respiratory parts of an insect is not cuticularized?

A. Trachea B. tracheole C. Stigmata D. Spiracle E. Coxa.

136. During anaerobic respiration,the product preceeding ethanol is ? A. pyruvate

B. Lactic Acid C.Acetaldehyde D.Phosphoglyceric Acid.

137. The approximate percentage of the energy content of glucose which is made into
ATP by aerobic respiration isA. 20% B. 50% C. 75% D. 100% E. 10%

138. ‘Oxygen debt’ is associated with man during

A. Extreme anaerobic state B. Relative Anaerobic state
C. Extreme aerobic state D. Relative aerobic state

139. In the Calvin-cycle, the joining of phosphoenol pyruvate to carbon dioxide

leads to formation of. A. Acetyl coA B. Oxaloacetate C. Malate D. Fumarate
E. succinate
140. The first compound to be generated in Krebs cycle is
A. Oxaloacetate B. Citrate C. Aconitate D. Malate E. glyceraldelyde
141. Cytochrome oxidase contains
A. Fe B. Se C. Zn D. CN E. Cu

142. Which organelle is associated with these functions: autophagy, autolysis and
endocytosis? A. Lysosome B. ribosome C. Golgi D. Peroxisome

143. Robert Hooke contributed to all these areas except.

A.Cell B. Politics C. Physics D. Chemistry E. Biology

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144. Who among the following first described tissues?
A. R. Hooke B. R. Dutrochet C. J. Purkinje D. O. Hertwig E. T. Schwann

145.The most conspicuous structure in a typical cell is A. Cytoplasm

B. Mitochondria C. Membrane D. Golgi complex E. None of the above

146. Cell appear generally in how many dimensions in space

A. 1 B. 2 C. 3 D. 4 E. 5

147. Where is thrombokinase,important in clotting, synthesized?

A.In red blood cells B.on ribosomes C.in bone marrows D.in the Golgi bodies

148. The number of students that are expected to be on the same table with you
during lab session is A. 10 B. 11 C. 14 D. 16

149. Which of the following directions do you face when in FSC 101 class for lectures
A. East B. West C. North D. South.

150. The full name of the female lecturer in this course for 2007/2008 session is
A. Bukola Oboh B. Bunmi Oboh C. Bimbo Oboh D. Bola Oboh

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