Model Question Paper for M.Sc. (Agri.) Qualifying Examination GPB GKVK

UNIVERSITY OF AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES, BANGALORE

Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding, College of Agriculture, GKVK, Bangalore – 560 065

Question Paper for Qualifying Examination of Senior M.Sc. Students
Duration: 3 Hours  Maximum Marks: 100

---

I. Define (Any 10 out of 12)

(One mark each)

1. Centromere

2. Synaptonemal complex

3. Differentiate between intra-genic and inter-genic interaction.

4. Mention the forces that destabilize Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium.

5. Define scaling tests.

6. Define joint scaling test.

7. What is totipotency? How is it used in crop improvement?

8. Difference between sexual and somatic hybridization.

9. Crop vulnerability.

10. Luxuriance.

11. Dominance hypothesis.

12. Deanimation.

---

II. Answer the Following (Any 10 out of 12)

(Two marks each)

1. Differentiate between auto-orientation and co-orientation.

2. Differentiate paranemic and plectonemic coiling.

3. Illustrate the composition of gametes resulting from F₁s harboring genes in coupling and repulsion phases considering a di-genic, di-allelic example.

4. Mention the possible genotypes considering a penta-allelic gene.

5. Mention the components of P₁, P₂, F₁, F₂ generations and means.

6. What is a vector? Name two vectors used for cloning genes.

7. What is a Multi-Cloning Site (MCS)?

8. Explain why there will be no faithful replication of DNA due to intercalation.

9. Discuss the rationale of the procedure of bulk population breeding.

10. State the requirements for a pure line to constitute a multiline.

11. Explain why σp² is not fixable.

12. State the importance of inbreeding in the exploitation of heterosis.

---

III. Write Short Notes on the Following (Any 10 out of 15)

(Three marks each)

1. By taking an example of genes ABCDEFGH on a pair of chromosomes, if inversion takes place between D & F genes and crossing over between E & F genes, draw and show the gametes formed after meiosis.

2. Taking 2n = 4, briefly explain with diagram prophase I of meiosis.

3. Lampbrush chromosomes.

4. What should be the crossover frequency to realize a recombination of 30%? Why are recombination frequencies between adjacent loci not additive? Mention Morgan’s mapping function.

5. Discuss the genic-balance theory of sex determination considering suitable examples.

6. Explain the principle of detecting di-genic epistasis in triple test-cross (TTC) mating design.

7. Explain the method of estimating additive and dominance genetic variance using variances of basic generations (P₁, P₂, F₁, F₂, B₁, B₂).

8. What is a transgenic plant? Under what circumstances is it essential to go in for transgenic development? How can a transgenic be stabilized?

9. What is deamination? What do cytosine, adenine, and guanine yield due to deamination?

10. How does mutagenesis supplement the existing germplasm? What are the limitations of mutations?

11. Explain apomixis and its application in crop improvement.

12. Write general guidelines for the pedigree selection method.

13. Explain the exploitation of polyploids in crop improvement.

14. Discuss the bottleneck concept.

15. Explain the methods to fix heterosis.

---

IV. Answer the Following (Any 8 out of 12)

(Five marks each)

1. What are amphidiploids? Briefly explain the steps in evolution of wheat and alloteraploid species of Brassica.

2. Explain the most accepted model of chromosome structure.

3. Explain Mendel’s laws of inheritance.

4. Discuss the Jacob and Monod model of genetic control in prokaryotes.

5. Interpret different genetic parameters that could be estimated using numerical and combining ability analysis of data from the progeny obtained by diallel mating design.

6. Mention and discuss Eberhart and Russell (1966) stability parameters.

7. What is Marker-Assisted Selection (MAS)? Write its principles and advantages.

8. Write on the different objects used for irradiation along with their merits and demerits.

9. Compare and contrast male sterility and self-incompatibility. Mention and explain classification of various types of male sterility found in plants.

10. How are hybrids maintained and utilized in hybrid seed production?

11. Define heterosis, inbreeding depression, hybrid, and inbred.

12. What are the important steps involved in the development of hybrids? How are newly developed inbreds evaluated for high combining ability and high yield?