The disease caused by the protozoan Plasmodium falciparum is: MCQ with Answer and Explanation

Explanation:
Estrogen, secreted by the developing ovarian follicles, promotes the development of female secondary sexual characteristics such as breast development, widening of hips, and distribution of body fat. Testosterone is the male sex hormone. Progesterone prepares the uterus for pregnancy, and prolactin stimulates milk production.

Explanation:
Melatonin is a hormone secreted by the pineal gland, a small endocrine gland located in the brain. Its secretion is highly sensitive to light and dark cycles, being produced in higher amounts at night. Melatonin is crucial for regulating the circadian rhythm (sleep-wake cycle), maintaining biological clocks, and influencing seasonal reproductive functions in some animals. Thymosin is from the thymus, oxytocin from the posterior pituitary.

Explanation:
The ozone layer in the stratosphere protects Earth from harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation. Its depletion is primarily caused by Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), which were widely used in refrigerants, aerosols, and solvents. UV radiation breaks down CFCs, releasing chlorine atoms that catalytically destroy ozone molecules. The Montreal Protocol (1987) was an international treaty to phase out the production of CFCs.