Zoology 2024 Paper I 50 marks Describe

Q7

(a) Mention the causative agent and means of spread of malaria. Also describe symptoms, diagnosis, treatment and preventive measures of malaria. (20 marks) (b) Explain the principle, instrumentation and applications of UV-Visible Spectrophotometer. (15 marks) (c) How do animals perceive mechanical and olfactory stimuli from the environment ? Explain. (15 marks)

हिंदी में प्रश्न पढ़ें

(a) मलेरिया के रोगकारक (कारक एजेंट) एवं फैलाव के तरीकों का उल्लेख कीजिए। मलेरिया के लक्षणों, निदान, इलाज एवं निवारक उपायों का भी वर्णन कीजिए। (20 अंक) (b) पराबैंगनी-दृश्य स्पेक्ट्रमी प्रकाशमापी (यूवी-विजिबल स्पेक्ट्रोफोटोमीटर) के सिद्धांत, यंत्रीकरण एवं अनुप्रयोगों की व्याख्या कीजिए। (15 अंक) (c) जानवर पर्यावरण से यांत्रिक एवं घ्राण उद्दीपनों को कैसे समझते हैं ? व्याख्या कीजिए। (15 अंक)

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Directive word: Describe

This question asks you to describe. The directive word signals the depth of analysis expected, the structure of your answer, and the weight of evidence you must bring.

See our UPSC directive words guide for a full breakdown of how to respond to each command word.

How this answer will be evaluated

Approach

The directive 'describe' for part (a) and 'explain' for parts (b) and (c) demand comprehensive, structured coverage with factual precision. Allocate approximately 40% of time/words to part (a) given its 20 marks, and 30% each to parts (b) and (c). Structure as: brief introduction → systematic treatment of each sub-part with clear headings → integrated conclusion emphasizing public health relevance of malaria control, spectrophotometry in disease diagnostics, and sensory physiology in vector behavior.

Key points expected

Part (a): Causative agents (Plasmodium species: P. vivax, P. falciparum, P. malariae, P. ovale, P. knowlesi), Anopheles mosquito vector biology, life cycle stages in human and mosquito hosts
Part (a): Clinical symptoms (paroxysm, fever patterns: tertian/quartan, complications like cerebral malaria), diagnostic methods (peripheral blood smear, RDTs, PCR, serology), treatment protocols (ACTs, chloroquine resistance, primaquine for hypnozoites), preventive measures (IRS, ITNs, larvivorous fish, vaccine development like RTS,S/AS01)
Part (b): Beer-Lambert law principle, instrumentation components (light source, monochromator, sample holder, detector, recorder), qualitative and quantitative applications in protein/DNA estimation, enzyme kinetics, clinical diagnostics
Part (c): Mechanoreception: hair sensilla, campaniform sensilla, stretch receptors, Pacinian corpuscles, lateral line system in fish; signal transduction via mechanosensitive ion channels
Part (c): Olfactory reception: odorant binding proteins, G-protein coupled receptors, signal transduction cascade, olfactory bulb processing, pheromone communication in insects and mammals, vomeronasal organ

Evaluation rubric

Dimension	Weight	Max marks	Excellent	Average	Poor
Concept correctness	22%	11	Accurately distinguishes all Plasmodium species with correct definitive/intermediate hosts; precisely states Beer-Lambert law with mathematical expression; correctly identifies mechanotransduction ion channels (Piezo, TRP) and olfactory receptor neuron pathways without factual errors across all three sub-parts	Identifies major Plasmodium species with minor errors in life cycle; states basic spectrophotometry principle without mathematical precision; describes general sensory mechanisms but confuses specific receptor types or transduction pathways	Confuses causative agents (e.g., names Plasmodium as bacterium/virus), misidentifies Anopheles as Aedes; fundamental errors in spectrophotometry principle; conflates mechanical and chemical reception or describes entirely wrong mechanisms
Diagram / labelling	18%	9	Includes well-drawn, properly labelled diagrams for Plasmodium life cycle (human and mosquito phases), UV-Vis spectrophotometer schematic with component functions, and cross-section of sensory structures (insect sensilla/vertebrate olfactory epithelium) with accurate anatomical details	Provides basic diagrams for life cycle or spectrophotometer with some labelling; sketchy representation of sensory structures with incomplete annotations; diagrams support text but lack precision	No diagrams despite clear visual requirements; or diagrams present but fundamentally mislabelled (e.g., wrong host for sexual/sporogonic cycle, incorrect light path in instrument); diagrams contradict textual description
Examples & nomenclature	20%	10	Uses correct binomial nomenclature throughout (Plasmodium falciparum, Anopheles stephensi/culicifacies); cites Indian context (NVBDCP strategies, malaria-endemic regions like NE India, tribals); names specific drugs (artemether-lumefantrine, primaquine); references model organisms for sensory studies (Drosophila, Caenorhabditis)	Uses generic terms like 'malaria parasite' or 'mosquito' without species specificity; mentions some Indian control programs but vaguely; lists common drug classes without specific combinations; limited taxonomic precision in sensory examples	Incorrect nomenclature (e.g., 'Plasmodium malaria'), confuses genus and species; no Indian context; invents drug names or cites obsolete treatments exclusively; no specific examples for sensory systems or uses inappropriate vertebrate/invertebrate comparisons
Process explanation	22%	11	Clearly sequences erythrocytic and exo-erythrocytic cycles with schizogony details; explains spectrophotometric quantification with calibration curve methodology; details complete signal transduction from stimulus reception to action potential generation in both mechano- and olfactory reception with temporal dynamics	Describes life cycle stages in correct order but lacks detail on merozoite invasion or hypnozoite dormancy; explains basic spectrophotometry operation without quantitative methodology; outlines sensory reception generally without specific cascade steps or ion channel mechanisms	Disordered or incomplete life cycle description; describes spectrophotometer as 'machine that measures color' without optical principles; presents sensory perception as passive reception without any transduction explanation; major gaps in causal chains
Evolutionary / applied context	18%	9	Integrates evolutionary arms race between Plasmodium and Anopheles, insecticide resistance evolution; connects spectrophotometry to modern proteomics and nanotechnology applications; discusses evolutionary convergence in sensory systems and applied aspects like mosquito behavior modification for vector control	Brief mention of drug resistance or diagnostic importance; superficial connection between technique and biological research; limited discussion of why diverse sensory systems evolved or their practical exploitation	No evolutionary perspective on host-parasite relationship or sensory system origins; treats techniques as isolated procedures without research applications; misses public health relevance entirely; no synthesis across sub-parts

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