The Living World and Microbes in Human Welfare: Important Questions and Notes By PW

The Living World and Microbes in Human Welfare include several important terms, examples, scientific names and applications that can be difficult to remember during NEET preparation. From taxonomic categories and nomenclature to the microorganisms used for producing acids, medicines and other useful products, these chapters require clear concepts along with regular revision.

Use the PW One Shot Video for NEET to revise the important concepts and NCERT-based points from both chapters in one go. After watching the lecture, practise the important MCQs and revise the key facts to improve recall before solving more NEET questions.

The Living World

The Living World introduces the basic ideas required to understand biodiversity and biological classification. The chapter covers taxonomy, systematics, species, taxonomic categories, taxonomic hierarchy and binomial nomenclature.

Taxonomic Hierarchy

The major taxonomic categories are arranged from lower to higher as:

Species → Genus → Family → Order → Class → Phylum → Kingdom

Species is the basic unit of classification. A genus includes related species, while related genera are placed in a family.

Taxonomic Categories And Examples

Some important examples to remember are:

• Homo sapiens belongs to the family Hominidae.

• Housefly belongs to the family Muscidae.

• Gorilla, chimpanzee and humans belong to the order Primates.

• Brinjal and potato belong to the genus Solanum.

• The family suffix in animals is -idae.

• The family suffix in plants is -aceae.

Binomial Nomenclature

Binomial nomenclature gives each organism a two-word scientific name consisting of the genus name and specific epithet.

For example, the scientific name of humans is Homo sapiens.

The system of binomial nomenclature is associated with Carolus Linnaeus.

Important Points To Remember

• Species is the basic unit of classification.

• The taxonomic hierarchy proceeds from species to kingdom.

• Genus contains related species.

• Family contains related genera.

• Animal families generally end with -idae.

• Plant families generally end with -aceae.

• Scientific names are written using binomial nomenclature.

• Carolus Linnaeus is associated with binomial nomenclature.

• Ernst Mayr gave the biological species concept.

• Taxonomic aids include museums, zoological parks, herbaria and botanical gardens.

The Living World: Important MCQs

1. Correct ascending order of taxonomic categories is:

A. Species → Genus → Family → Order → Class → Phylum → Kingdom
B. Kingdom → Phylum → Class → Order → Family → Genus → Species
C. Species → Family → Genus → Order → Class → Phylum → Kingdom
D. Genus → Species → Family → Order → Class → Phylum → Kingdom

Answer: A. Species → Genus → Family → Order → Class → Phylum → Kingdom

2. Gorilla, chimpanzee and monkey belong to the same:

A. Species
B. Genus
C. Family
D. Order

Answer: D. Order (Primata)

3. Housefly belongs to the family:

A. Hominidae
B. Poaceae
C. Solanaceae
D. Muscidae

Answer: D. Muscidae

4. Hominidae is the family of:

A. Housefly
B. Mango
C. Brinjal
D. Humans (Homo sapiens)

Answer: D. Humans (Homo sapiens)

5. The suffix used for the family category in animals is:

A. -aceae
B. -ales
C. -idae
D. -opsida

Answer: C. -idae

6. The suffix used for the family category in plants is:

A. -idae
B. -ales
C. -aceae
D. -opsida

Answer: C. -aceae

7. ICBA stands for:

A. International Code of Biological Association
B. International Code of Botanical Nomenclature
C. Indian Code of Botanical Association
D. International Council of Biological Assessment

Answer: B. International Code of Botanical Nomenclature

8. Definition of the biological species concept was given by:

A. Carolus Linnaeus
B. R.H. Whittaker
C. Ernst Mayr
D. Darwin

Answer: C. Ernst Mayr

9. Binomial nomenclature was proposed by:

A. Ernst Mayr
B. R.H. Whittaker
C. Darwin
D. Carolus Linnaeus

Answer: D. Carolus Linnaeus

10. Brinjal and potato belong to the same genus because they are:

A. Able to produce a fertile hybrid
B. Included in a single species
C. Morphologically identical
D. Related species

Answer: D. Related species

Microbes in Human Welfare

Microorganisms are useful in several areas of human welfare. NCERT discusses their applications in household products, industrial production, medicines, sewage treatment, biogas and biofertilisers.

Microbes In Industrial Production

Important microorganisms and their products include:

• Aspergillus niger → Citric acid

• Acetobacter aceti → Acetic acid

• Clostridium butylicum → Butyric acid

• Lactobacillus → Lactic acid

• Saccharomyces cerevisiae → Bread and brewing industry

These associations are important NCERT-based facts for quick revision. NCERT's exemplar also tests the association of these microorganisms with their commercially important products.

Microbes And Medicines

Some important microbial products and their applications are:

• Streptokinase → Used as a clot buster.

• Cyclosporin A → Used as an immunosuppressive agent.

• Statins → Used as blood-cholesterol-lowering agents.

NCERT specifically asks students to identify the microbes from which Cyclosporin A and statins are obtained.

Important Microorganisms To Remember

• Trichoderma polysporum → Cyclosporin A

• Monascus purpureus → Statins

• Saccharomyces cerevisiae → Bread and brewing

• Aspergillus niger → Citric acid

• Acetobacter aceti → Acetic acid

• Clostridium butylicum → Butyric acid

• Lactobacillus → Lactic acid

Enzymes And Their Uses

Important enzyme applications include:

• Streptokinase → Clot buster

• Pectinases and proteases → Clarification of bottled fruit juices

Remembering the enzyme or microbial product together with its application makes these facts easier to revise.

Microbes in Human Welfare: Important MCQs

1. Commercial industrial production of citric acid is carried out by:

A. Clostridium butylicum
B. Saccharomyces cerevisiae
C. Aspergillus niger
D. Lactobacillus

Answer: C. Aspergillus niger

2. Which microorganism produces acetic acid?

A. Acetobacter aceti
B. Clostridium butylicum
C. Lactobacillus
D. Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Answer: A. Acetobacter aceti

3. Which microorganism produces butyric acid?

A. Aspergillus niger
B. Acetobacter aceti
C. Clostridium butylicum
D. Lactobacillus

Answer: C. Clostridium butylicum

4. Which microorganism produces lactic acid?

A. Saccharomyces cerevisiae
B. Aspergillus niger
C. Acetobacter aceti
D. Lactobacillus

Answer: D. Lactobacillus

5. Which of the following is an immunosuppressive agent?

A. Penicillin
B. Statins
C. Cyclosporin A
D. Streptokinase

Answer: C. Cyclosporin A

6. Cyclosporin A is derived from:

A. Penicillium notatum
B. Monascus purpureus
C. Trichoderma polysporum
D. Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Answer: C. Trichoderma polysporum

7. Which microorganism produces statins (blood-cholesterol-lowering agent)?

A. Aspergillus niger
B. Monascus purpureus
C. Clostridium butylicum
D. Lactobacillus

Answer: B. Monascus purpureus

8. Which enzyme is used as a clot buster?

A. Lipase
B. Pectinase
C. Protease
D. Streptokinase

Answer: D. Streptokinase

9. Which enzymes are used for clarifying bottled fruit juices?

A. Lipases and proteases
B. Pectinases and proteases
C. Amylases and lipases
D. Cellulases and amylases

Answer: B. Pectinases and proteases

10. Which microorganism is used in the bread and brewing industry?

A. Lactobacillus
B. Aspergillus niger
C. Saccharomyces cerevisiae
D. Clostridium butylicum

Answer: C. Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Important Points To Revise From Both Chapters

The Living World and Microbes in Human Welfare are important for revising NCERT-based definitions, examples, scientific names and direct factual concepts. Focus on taxonomic hierarchy, species and nomenclature in The Living World, and revise the important microorganisms, products and applications in Microbes in Human Welfare.

For quick revision, watch the PW One Shot Video for NEET, revise the important points and then practise the MCQs to check your preparation.

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