Biology Multiple Choice Questions on “Food Production Strategies – Single Cell Protein”.
1. SCP stands for __________
a) Single Cell Protein
b) Stress Cultivated Plant
c) Somatic Cultivated Plantlet
d) Soma Clonal Plants
Answer: a
Clarification: SCP stands for Single Cell Protein. Single-cell protein is protein-rich cell biomass of unicellular or multicellular organisms which is used as food or feed.
2. How much per cent of the human population is suffering from hunger and malnutrition?
a) 75 per cent
b) 5 per cent
c) 25 per cent
d) 50 per cent
Answer: c
Clarification: More than 25 per cent of the human population is suffering from hunger and malnutrition. One of the alternate sources of proteins for animal and human nutrition is SCP.
3. Which of the following algae can be grown on wastewater?
a) Spirogyra
b) Volvox
c) Spirulina
d) Chlamydomonas
Answer: c
Clarification: Microbes are being grown on an industrial scale as a source of good protein. Blue-green algae like Spirulina can be grown easily on materials like wastewater from potato processing plants that contain starch.
4. On which of the following material, Spirulina cannot grow?
a) Straw
b) Molasses
c) Animal manure
d) Lava
Answer: d
Clarification: Spirulina can be easily grown on materials like straw, molasses, animal manure and even sewage, to produce large quantities and can serve as food rich in protein, minerals, fats and carbohydrates and vitamins. Incidentally, such utilisation also reduces environmental pollution.
5. Which of the following bacterial species is known for its high rate of biomass production?
a) Methylophilus methylotrophus
b) Xanthomonas
c) Clostridium
d) Rhizomonas
Answer: a
Clarification: Certain bacterial species like Methylophilus methylotrophus have a high rate of biomass production and growth and are known to produce 25 tonnes of protein.
6. The shift from grain to meat diets also creates more demand for cereals.
a) True
b) False
Answer: a
Clarification: The shift from grain to meat diets also creates more demand for cereals as it takes 3-10 kg of grain to produce 1 kg of meat by animal farming. For example, a 250 kg cow produces only 200 grams of protein per day while it eats 10-30 kg of food.
7. Which of the following is the most common source of SCP?
a) Multicellular yeast
b) Single-celled yeast
c) Unicellular algae
d) Unicellular bacteria
Answer: b
Clarification: The most common source of single-cell protein is single-celled yeasts (e.g., Candida utilis) and filamentous fungus-like Fusarium graminearum. Single-cell protein is rich in good quality protein.
8. Which of the following is not an organic matter on which microorganisms are raised for SCP?
a) Sawdust
b) Paddy straw
c) Acids
d) Whey
Answer: c
Clarification: Microbial biomass can be raised using low-cost organic matter like that of sawdust, paddy straw, paddy husk and industrial organic wastes and effluents like whey. However, care has to be taken to remove excess nucleic acids and heavy metals or toxins present in organic wastes.
9. Low protein and high fat are desirable features of human food.
a) True
b) False
Answer: b
Clarification: Single Cell Protein is rich in good quality protein but poor in fats because high protein and low-fat contents are desirable features of human food. Therefore, SCP can be used as food or feed.
10. Which of the following is not an advantage of SCP?
a) Used as a protein-rich diet
b) Reduce environmental pollution
c) Increase in supply of protein
d) Increases water pollution
Answer: d
Clarification: SCP can be used as a protein-rich supplement of human diet and can take off the pressure from the agricultural system for increasing the protein content of food articles. It also increases the protein supply and use of organic wastes and industrial effluents helps in reducing environmental pollution.