Railway Science (Biology – Miscellaneous) (Part-II)

Creeper plants are small, vine-like plants that grow close to the ground. The plant grows in tropical and warm temperate regions of Europe, Asia and Oceania. Many of them are vines whose stems twine round trees and branches. Examples: Cucumber, Grape, Honeysuckle. Rose is called the King of flowers.

Lactose - A disaccharide that breaks down into two saccharides, glucose and galactose on hydrolysis. Glucose - A sugar with the molecular formula C₆H₁₂O₆.
Maltose - A malt component, a substance obtained when the grain is softened in water and germinates.
Fructose (fruit sugar) - A ketonic simple sugar found in many plants. Sucrose - The end product of photosynthesis and is found naturally in many food plants.

Dendrimers - The three-dimensional, hyperbranched and monodispersed structures containing a central core surrounded by peripheral groups. Applications - Dendrimers in the biomedical field, anti-cancer drugs, Transdermal drug delivery.
Properties of dendrimers: When comparing dendrimers with other nanoscale synthetic structures, these are either highly non-defined or have limited structural diversity.

Phototropism - The ability of the plant to reorient the shoot growth towards a direction of the light source. Positive phototropism is the response of a plant toward a light source, while negative phototropism causes growth in the opposite direction.

Example - Ginger, Poison Oak, and Hops. Tuber - Plant that mainly grows underground. Examples - Potatoes and Sweet Potato. Bulb - Structurally a short stem with fleshy leaves or leaf bases that function as food storage organs during dormancy. Examples - onion, garlic, allium and daffodil.
Suckers - Plant stems that arise from buds on the base of parent plant stems or on roots. Examples - Apple and banana trees.

A prune is obtained from the European plum (Prunus domestica) species. It helps in digestion, high in potassium, vitamins and iron, and has bone-protective effects.
Dried strawberries: A rich source of fiber, vitamin C, potassium and antioxidants. It helps prevent - esophageal cancer, cardiovascular diseases, constipation, diabetes, depression.
Dried apricots: Contain potassium and antioxidants that have been known to lower cholesterol and improve digestion.
Dried apples: A good source of iron, vitamin C and vitamin K, which our body needs for healthy skin and bones.

Eutrophic - High level of nutrient enrichment (Nitrogen and phosphorus), increasing the growth of plants and algae, resulting in the depletion of dissolved oxygen, which is harmful for aquatic life.
Oligotrophic - Young lakes, clear water, high proportion of oxygen, low productivity due to low nutrient (Nitrogen and phosphorus) content in lakes. Mesotrophic - Middle aged lakes, intermediate level of productivity, clear water with submerged aquatic plants.

Epicarp - The outer skin (outer layer) of a fruit. Mesocarp - The middle layer of a fruit, the usually fleshy plump part.
Endocarp - It is the fruit's innermost layer, and it contains the seeds. Banana (scientific name - Musa Paradisiaca, Family - Musaceae).
Monocarpic Plants bear flowers and fruits only once in their lifetime. They are mostly biennial, very few are perennial. Example - Bamboo, wheat, rice, Carrot, Radish, banana.
Polycarpic plants - flower every year during their particular season, usually perennials. Example - Mango, orange, Apple, Peach, Guava.

Ectoparasites - An ectoparasite lives on the outside of its host. Example - Parasite like flea. Endoparasites - Parasites that live in the tissues and organs of their hosts, such as tapeworms, flukes, and protozoans of vertebrates. Bacteria - Small single celled organisms. Example - Campylobacter, Clostridium perfringens, E. coli.

Glucose is a six - carbon compound that contains hydrogen and oxygen. Sucrose - Naturally occurring sugar found in various amounts in plants like fruits, vegetables and nuts.
Maltose - A sugar made out of two glucose molecules bound together. Fructose - A monosaccharide, also known as fruit sugar because it primarily occurs naturally in many fruits.
Trehalose - A nonreducing Disaccharide sugar commonly found in bacteria, fungi, yeast, insects, and plants.