NEET 2025 Biology Practice Questions

Comprehensive practice vocabulary flashcards covering basic taxonomy, Kingdom Protista, Fungi, Plantae, and Animalia based on the Darwin Series STP Special lecture notes.

Mutually exclusive events

The classification of growth and reproduction in the majority of higher plants and animals.

$$Triticum aestivum$$

The scientific name for wheat, belonging to the family Poaceae, order Poales, and class Monocotyledonae.

Solanaceae

The plant family that includes genera such as Solanum, Petunia, and Datura.

Polymoniales

The plant order that includes the families Convolvulaceae and Solanaceae.

Felidae

The animal family to which cats belong.

Canidae

The animal family to which dogs belong.

Primata

The animal order that includes monkeys, gorillas, gibbons, and humans (Hominidae).

Regeneration

A method of reproduction characteristic of Planaria.

Budding

A form of asexual reproduction observed in Hydra.

Fragmentation

A common form of vegetative reproduction found in fungi, filamentous algae, and the protonema of mosses.

Chrysophytes

A group in Kingdom Protista comprising microscopic organisms like diatoms and golden algae (desmids) that float passively in water currents as plankton.

Diatomaceous earth

Gritty silica deposits formed by the accumulation of diatom cell walls over billions of years; used in polishing and filtration.

Pellicle

A protein-rich layer in euglenoids that makes their body flexible.

Plasmodium

An aggregation formed by slime molds during favourable conditions which may grow and spread over several feet.

Protozoans

Heterotrophic organisms believed to be primitive relatives of animals that live as predators or parasites.

Plasmogamy

The first stage of the sexual cycle in fungi, involving the fusion of protoplasms between two motile or non-motile gametes.

Karyogamy

The second stage of the sexual cycle in fungi, involving the fusion of two nuclei.

Natural classification system

A system for flowering plants given by George Bentham and Joseph Dalton Hooker.

Cyanobacteria

Blue-green algae that are now considered members of Kingdom Monera rather than algae.

Ascospores

Sexual spores in ascomycetes produced endogenously in sac-like asci.

Basidiospores

Sexual spores in basidiomycetes produced exogenously on the basidium.

Conidia

Asexual spores in ascomycetes produced exogenously on special mycelium called conidiophores.

Haplo-diplontic

A type of life cycle found in Ectocarpus, Polysiphonia, and kelps.

Floridean starch

A storage material found in red algae that is structurally similar to amylopectin and glycogen.

Red algae cell wall

Composed of cellulose, pectin, and polysulphate esters.

Heterosporous

Plants that produce two kinds of spores (microspores and megaspores), such as Selaginella and Salvinia.

Coralloid roots

Specialized roots found in Cycas that are associated with nitrogen-fixing cyanobacteria.

Sequoia

The giant redwood tree, which is one of the tallest gymnosperm species.

Binomial nomenclature

A naming system ensuring each organism has a unique name that description allows others to arrive at the same name.

Prions

Causative agents of Mad Cow Disease in cattle and Cr–Jacob disease (CJD) in humans.

W.M. Stanley

The scientist who demonstrated in $1935$ that viruses could be crystallised and consist largely of proteins.

Bioluminescence

The property of a living organism to emit light, notably seen in Ctenophores like Pleurobrachia.

Stomochord

A rudimentary structure present in the collar region of Hemichordates.

Polyp

A sessile and cylindrical body form in coelenterates, such as Hydra and Adamsia.

Medusa

An umbrella-shaped and free-swimming body form in coelenterates, such as Aurelia (jelly fish).

Metagenesis

The alternation of generations where polyps produce medusae asexually and medusae form polyps sexually, as seen in Obelia.

Mantle

A soft and spongy layer of skin formed over the visceral hump in molluscs.

Radula

A file-like rasping organ used for feeding found in the mouth of molluscs.

Water vascular system

The most distinctive feature of echinoderms, used for locomotion, capture/transport of food, and respiration.

Pneumatic bones

Long, hollow bones with air cavities found in birds (Aves) to assist in flight.

Flame cells

Specialized cells used for excretion and osmoregulation in Platyhelminthes (flatworms).

Claspers

Structures found on the male pelvic fins of Chondrichthyes (e.g., Pristis and Scoliodon) used for mating.

Operculum

A gill cover present in Osteichthyes but absent in Chondrichthyes.