Name of the Organization : Homi Bhabha Centre For Science Education
Name Of The Exam : Indian National Biology Olympiad (INBO) – 2017
Document Type : Sample Question Paper
Subject : Biology
Year : 2017

Website : http://olympiads.hbcse.tifr.res.in/?page_id=1376#QS
Download Biology Model/Sample Question Papers : http://www.indianjobtalks.com/upload...9-INBO2017.pdf

Indian National Biology Olympiad Question Paper :
Duration : 2 hours
Please Note :
** The question paper is divided into Section A and Section B.
** Before starting, please ensure that you have received a copy of the question paper containing pages 1 – 35.
** All answers should be written in the answer sheet booklet only which will be collected at the end of the examination.
** The question paper need not be submitted to the examiner.

Section A :
** Section A consists of 21 questions carrying 1 point each.
** All 21 questions are of multiple choice type, with only one correct answer for each question.
** Mark the correct answer with „?? on the answer sheet provided. The correct way of marking is shown below. Use a pen to mark your answer.
** Each wrong answer will have negative marking as indicated in the scoring key.

Section B :
** Section B consists of 32 questions with a total of 79 points.
** The points for the questions in Part B vary depending on the number of answers and the complexity of the question. These points have been indicated along with the question.
** Contradictory answers will not be considered for marking.

Section A :
Cell Biology : (4 points)
1. (1 point) In a lung cancer cell line, it is observed that a single point mutation (cysteine to phenylalanine) makes a protein defective in phosphorylation function. The loss of function is most likely due to:
a. increase in solubility of the protein in aqueous environment.
b. alteration of protein conformation essential for protein-protein interaction.
c. increase in the net charge of the protein leading to loss of active site.
d. decrease in hydrophobic interactions of the protein with other proteins.

2. (1 point) Which of the following proteins are likely to be active during mitosis?
i. Telomerase
ii. Primase
iii. Topoisomerase
iv. Kinesin
a. ii, iii & iv only
b. iii & iv only
c. i, ii & iii only
d. only iv

3. (1 point) A tuberculosis patient died within a few minutes of second intravenous administration of streptomycin and the post-mortem report gave anaphylactic shock as the cause of death. This is explained as:
a. a sudden surge in IgM synthesis leading to complement activation causing fatal drop in blood pressure.
b. a vigorous precipitation of soluble antigens in body fluids triggered by the IgA insurgence leading to blockage of capillaries to vital organs.
c. IgE induced mast cell degranulation triggering abrupt dilation of peripheral blood vessels resulting in a precipitous drop in blood pressure.
d. IgD induced agglutination of antigen-bearing cells in vital organs leading to multi-organ failure.

4. (1 point) Apoptosis is programmed cell death characterized by the formation of apoptotic bodies whereas necrosis is characterized by bursting of cells. Which of the following condition/s lead/s to necrosis?
i. Gaps and nicks formed in DNA during replication cannot be repaired.
ii. Developing neurons fail to make synapses with neighbouring cells.
iii. Heart muscle cells damaged by oxygen depletion followed by cardiac infarction.
a. i and ii
b. ii and iii
c. i only
d. iii only

Plant Sciences : (3 points)
5. (1 point) Diagrams A – D show the external or internal structures of leaves from different groups of plants.
Match these diagrams with the plants described by statements I - IV.
I. The sexual reproductive structures are formed on an independent non-dominant plant body.
II. Plants in this group have leaves with a haploid number of chromosomes.
III. Plants in this group are seed-bearing and amongst the earliest evolved extant trees.
IV. The mega gametophytes develop within enclosed ovules.
a. I-B, II-A, III-D, IV-C
b. I-B, II-D, III- C, IV-A
c. I-C, II-A, III-B, IV-D
d. I-D, II-B, III-A, IV-C

6. (1 point) A few statements regarding the sexual and asexual modes of reproduction in plants are given.
1. In sexual reproduction, progeny are genetically different from each other.
2. In asexual mode of reproduction, progeny are genetically identical to each other but different from the parent.
3. Sexual reproduction is more conducive for driving evolution.
4. A minor change in the habitat may adversely affect all offspring derived by asexual reproduction.
5. A bisexual plant grown in isolation is always incapable of sexual reproduction
Which of these statements are correct?
a. 1, 3 and 4
b. 1, 2 and 5
c. 3, 4 and 5
d. 2, 3 and 4

7. (1 point) Which one of the following plant traits is NOT associated with colonization on land from aquatic habitat?
a. Presence of apical meristems.
b. Absence of alternation of generations.
c. Formation of multicellular, dependent embryos.
d. Production of gametes within multicellular organs

Animal Sciences : (6 points)
8. (1 point) Fluid filtration across capillaries depends on several factors. Which of the following causes net filtration at the arterial end and net reabsorption at the venous end?
a. Greater osmotic pressure of plasma at the arterial end of capillary than that at the venous end.
b. Greater interstitial fluid osmotic pressure at venous end of capillary than that at arterial end.
c. Greater capillary hydrostatic pressure than osmotic pressure of plasma at arterial end and the same being lower than plasma colloidal osmotic pressure at venous end.
d. Sum total of plasma colloidal osmotic pressure & interstitial fluid osmotic pressure at venous end being greater than the sum total at the arterial end capillary.