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Q68 (IAS/2022) Science & Technology › Biotechnology & Health › Human nutrition and health Official Key

Consider the following statements in respect of probiotics : 1. Probiotics are made of both bacteria and yeast. 2. The organisms in probiotics are found in foods we ingest but they do not naturally occur in our gut. 3. Probiotics help in the digestion of milk sugars. Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?

Result
Your answer: —  ·  Correct: C
Explanation

The correct answer is Option 3 (1 and 3) because of the following reasons:

  • Statement 1 is correct: Probiotics are live microorganisms intended to provide health benefits. While bacteria (like Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium) are the most common, certain types of yeast, such as Saccharomyces boulardii, are also widely recognized and used as probiotics.
  • Statement 2 is incorrect: Probiotics are not foreign to the human body. Many of the organisms found in probiotic supplements and fermented foods already occur naturally in the human gut microbiota. They are part of the existing internal ecosystem that maintains digestive health.
  • Statement 3 is correct: Probiotics, particularly lactic acid bacteria, produce the enzyme lactase. This enzyme helps break down lactose (milk sugar), thereby assisting in the digestion of dairy products and reducing symptoms for individuals with lactose intolerance.

Since statements 1 and 3 are scientifically accurate and statement 2 is factually wrong, Option 3 is the right choice.

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Don’t just practise – reverse-engineer the question. This panel shows where this PYQ came from (books / web), how the examiner broke it into hidden statements, and which nearby micro-concepts you were supposed to learn from it. Treat it like an autopsy of the question: what might have triggered it, which exact lines in the book matter, and what linked ideas you should carry forward to future questions.
Q. Consider the following statements in respect of probiotics : 1. Probiotics are made of both bacteria and yeast. 2. The organisms in pro…
At a glance
Origin: From standard books Fairness: High fairness Books / CA: 10/10 · 0/10
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This is a classic 'Science in Everyday Life' question derived directly from lower-standard NCERTs (Class 7 & 8). The strategy is simple: Do not ignore the 'Activity' boxes and 'Did You Know' sections in basic science books. The question tests fundamental biological literacy (gut flora, fermentation) rather than advanced biotechnology.

How this question is built

This question can be broken into the following sub-statements. Tap a statement sentence to jump into its detailed analysis.

Statement 1
Are probiotics composed of both bacteria and yeast?
Origin: Direct from books Fairness: Straightforward Book-answerable
From standard books
Science ,Class VIII . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 2: The Invisible Living World: Beyond Our Naked Eye > Activity 2.8: Let us perform > p. 21
Presence: 4/5
“In addition to yeast, some bacteria, such as Lactobacillus, help in fermentation of batter for making idli and dosa, and dough for making bhatura.”
Why this source?
  • Explicitly names yeast and bacteria (Lactobacillus) as separate microbes that both assist fermentation of food.
  • Shows both groups perform beneficial fermentation roles in similar food contexts (idli, dosa, dough).
Science ,Class VIII . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 2: The Invisible Living World: Beyond Our Naked Eye > Table 2.4: Testing for curd formation using milk in different conditions > p. 22
Presence: 4/5
“Fig. 2.12: Root nodules of Cowpea plant which contain Rhizobium You will observe that in bowl A, the milk has turned into curd after a few hours and has become little sour. Whereas in bowl B, the milk has not curdled, but it might be a little sour. Do you know why this happens? The curd contains several types of bacteria. One of them is Lactobacillus. This bacterium feeds on the sugar in the milk (lactose), multiplies, and ferments the milk to form curd. Instead of producing alcohol (like yeast), these bacteria produce lactic acid, which makes curd sour. These bacteria grow well in warm conditions.”
Why this source?
  • Describes Lactobacillus as a bacterium used in curd formation (a beneficial microbial process).
  • Contrasts bacterial lactic acid production with yeast alcohol production, demonstrating both types have distinct useful roles.
Science ,Class VIII . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 2: The Invisible Living World: Beyond Our Naked Eye > Snapshots > p. 25
Presence: 4/5
“• Microorganisms can be beneficial or harmful to us.• Some microorganisms decompose the plant and animal waste into simple substances and clean up the environment.• Some microorganisms reside in the root nodules of legumes, such as peas, beans, and lentils. They trap nitrogen from the air and increase the soil fertility.• Yeasts are fungi which are used in the process of making breads, cakes, pastries, idlis, dosas, and bhaturas.• Lactobacillus is used in the curd formation at home and fermentation process in food industry.”
Why this source?
  • States yeasts are used in making breads and similar foods and separately names Lactobacillus for curd formation, showing both are used beneficially in food.
  • Affirms microorganisms can be beneficial, linking both yeast and bacteria to beneficial uses.
Statement analysis

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Statement analysis

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Statement analysis

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SIMILAR QUESTIONS

IAS · 2008 · Q42 Relevance score: 3.98

Consider the following statements about probiotic food: 1. Probiotic food contains live bacteria which are considered beneficial to humans. 2. Probiotic food helps in maintaining gut flora. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

CDS-I · 2013 · Q63 Relevance score: 1.37

Consider the following statements regarding antibiotics: 1, They are used to destroy disease causing bacteria. 2. They can be applied to the skin, swallowed or injected to fight micro-organisms inside the body, 3. They are effective against disease-causing viruses. 4. The first antibiotic to be discovered was tetracycline. Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?

CDS-I · 2003 · Q113 Relevance score: 0.46

With reference to the digestion of food in human beings, consider the following statements: I. Digestion of the milk protein, casein is initiated in the duodenum with its coagulation. II. Trypsin hydrolyses casein into paracasein and whey proteins Which of these statements is/are correct?

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Which one of the following statements is correct?

IAS · 2004 · Q12 Relevance score: -0.21

Consider the following statements: 1. Toothless mammals such as pangolins are not found in India. 2. Gibbon is the only ape found in India. Which of the statements given above is are correct?