In the context of environmental pollution, 'Minamata disease' in Japan was caused by the severe contamination of water with: MCQ with Answer and Explanation

In the context of environmental pollution, 'Minamata disease' in Japan was caused by the severe contamination of water with:
A. Methylmercury
B. Cadmium
C. Lead
D. Arsenic
Answer: Option A
Solution (By JKExamLibrary)
Minamata disease is a severe neurological syndrome caused by severe mercury poisoning. It was first discovered in Minamata city, Kumamoto prefecture, Japan, in 1956. It was caused by the release of methylmercury in the industrial wastewater from the Chisso Corporation's chemical factory, which contaminated the local bay and the fish and shellfish. People who consumed the contaminated seafood suffered from severe neurological damage, including ataxia, numbness, and muscle weakness.

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Practice More Biology Questions

Question #1
The pigment that is responsible for the color of the iris in the eye is:
A. Rhodopsin
B. Melanin
C. Hemoglobin
D. Carotene

Correct Answer: Option B


Explanation:
Melanin pigment in the iris determines eye color. High melanin: brown; low melanin: blue/green. Hemoglobin is in blood, carotene in plants, rhodopsin in retina.

This question belongs to: Science Biology
Question #2
The 'Bottleneck effect' in population genetics refers to:
A. The movement of individuals into a new population, introducing new alleles
B. A sharp reduction in the size of a population due to environmental events, leading to a loss of genetic variation
C. The gradual accumulation of beneficial mutations in a population
D. The non-random mating of individuals based on specific traits

Correct Answer: Option B


Explanation:
The bottleneck effect is a form of genetic drift that occurs when a population's size is drastically reduced for at least one generation due to a severe environmental event (like a natural disaster, disease, or overhunting). The surviving population is a random, small sample of the original, and its gene pool may not represent the original population's genetic diversity. This leads to a significant loss of genetic variation, making the population more vulnerable to future changes.

This question belongs to: Science Biology
Question #3
In snapdragon (Antirrhinum), a cross between red and white flowers produces pink flowers. This is an example of:
A. Incomplete dominance
B. Complete dominance
C. Epistasis
D. Codominance

Correct Answer: Option A


Explanation:
Incomplete dominance occurs when the phenotype of the heterozygote is an intermediate blend of the two homozygous phenotypes. In snapdragons, a cross between a homozygous red (RR) and homozygous white (rr) flower produces heterozygous pink (Rr) flowers. Neither allele is completely dominant over the other, resulting in a blended phenotype.

This question belongs to: Science Biology