2024 - JAMB Biology Past Questions and Answers - page 2

Paramecium reproduces asexually by binary fission. In this process, the cell divides into two identical daughter cells.

• Budding: A form of asexual reproduction where a new organism develops from an outgrowth or bud.
• Spore formation: Organisms produce spores, which are dispersed and can develop into new individuals.
• Fragmentation: The organism breaks into fragments, and each fragment develops into a new organism.

Photosynthesis is the process by which plants use sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide to create glucose and release oxygen as a byproduct. The other options do not release oxygen: respiration consumes oxygen, combustion consumes oxygen, and decomposition generally does not release oxygen.

Schistosomiasis is a parasitic disease caused by worms that live in certain freshwater snails. Controlling the disease involves eliminating the snails that act as intermediate hosts. Clearing water weeds and removing snails reduces the parasite's ability to spread.

The chemical and physical composition of soil is described by the term 'edaphic factor'. This encompasses the soil's properties, including its mineral content, texture, structure, and the presence of organic matter. These factors directly influence plant growth and the types of organisms that can live in the soil.

The xylem is a vascular tissue responsible for transporting water and minerals from the roots to the rest of the plant. One key component of xylem tissue is the tracheid, an elongated cell with thick walls that provides structural support and facilitates water transport.

• Companion cells are part of the phloem, which transports sugars.
• Tracheids are a key component of xylem.
• Sieve tubes are part of the phloem.
• Epidermal cells form the outer protective layer of the plant.

The first organisms are believed to have evolved in aquatic environments (oceans) due to the protective properties of water and the availability of necessary chemical building blocks.

Carbon is the major building block of an organism. It forms the backbone of all organic molecules, including carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids.

Secondary succession occurs in areas where an existing community has been disrupted or destroyed, but the soil remains. It begins on a surface that has already been colonized, unlike primary succession, which starts on bare surfaces.

• Starts on a bare surface: Incorrect.
• Takes longer time to reach climax: True for both primary and secondary succession.
• Starts on already colonized surface: Correct defining characteristic.
• Starts with low organism: Less defining.

Radioisotope dating is used to determine the age of fossils by measuring the decay of radioactive isotopes in the fossil or surrounding rock. This technique is essential for studying fossil records and understanding evolutionary timelines.

The diagram likely depicts an insect. In insects, the body is divided into three main parts: head, thorax, and abdomen. Part III represents the thorax, the middle section where legs and wings are attached.