AIPMT MAINS 2012 Botany Protozoan Diseases MCQ Question

To determine which organism is correctly named and described according to the International Rules of Nomenclature, let’s analyze each option provided.

Correct Answer: B) Plasmodium falciparum

Explanation:

1. Scientific Naming: The name "Plasmodium falciparum" is correctly written in binomial nomenclature, where the genus name "Plasmodium" is capitalized and italicized, and the species name "falciparum" is in lowercase and also italicized.
2. Description: Plasmodium falciparum is indeed a protozoan pathogen and is known to cause the most severe form of malaria, known as falciparum malaria. This is a well-established fact in microbiology and is accurately described in this option.

Why Other Options Are Incorrect:

A) Musca domestica - The common house lizard, a reptile

• Incorrect Naming: While "Musca domestica" is correctly named (it refers to the common house fly, not a lizard), the description is completely wrong as it describes a reptile instead of an insect.
• Correct Description: The common house fly is an insect, not a lizard.

C) Felis tigris - The Indian tiger, well protected in Gir forests.

• Incorrect Naming: The correct scientific name for the tiger is Panthera tigris, not Felis tigris. While the description of the Indian tiger being well protected in Gir forests is accurate, the naming is not.

D) E.coli - Full name Entamoeba coli, a commonly occurring bacterium in human intestine

• Incorrect Naming and Description: The correct scientific name is Escherichia coli, not "Entamoeba coli". Entamoeba refers to a different genus of protozoa that can cause intestinal infections. Additionally, Escherichia coli is a bacterium, while Entamoeba is a protozoan.

Summary

The correct answer is B) Plasmodium falciparum because it is the only option that combines correct scientific naming conventions with an accurate description of the organism's role as a protozoan pathogen causing malaria. Options A, C, and D fail either in proper nomenclature or in the accuracy of their descriptions.

This analysis emphasizes the importance of both correct naming and accurate biological classification in scientific communication, which is a fundamental principle in the field of microbiology.