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The Hindu Speaks On Scientific Facts

Life Sciences: Botany

What is terminator gene technology? How is it used to help our farmers? 46 Why does the kurinji flower only once in 12 years? 47 Why and how does the sunflower always face the Sun? 48 Why does jasmine bloom only in the night? 49 Why do flowers have different colours? 49 Why does the lotus leaf not get wet? 51 Why do drops of lemon create white spots on the floor? 52 Why does an apple turn brown on being cut? 52 How do fruits ripen? 53 How does temperature affect ripening bananas? 54 Why do raw fruits such as mango ripen faster when kept in rice tins? 55 Fruits were supposed to attract animals. So what is the point of lemons tasting, so sour? Are there any animals which actually like the taste? Did we breed lemons from ones that were sweeter? Or do animals have a different sense of taste. 56 How can we identify poisonous and non-poisonous mushroom? 57 How do plants survive during certain seasons inspite of shedding leaves? 58 What is plant tissue culture? 59 What makes Venus fly-trap plant insectivorous? 60 Why are leaves of crotons coloured? 61 Why does the touch-me-not plant shrink when touched? 62 What imparts fragrance to flowers, fruits and spices? 63 Why are some portions of sugarcane red? 64 How do trees reduce air pollution? 65 Why do some trees hold onto their leaves longer than others? 66 Normally the bark of trees turn brown but in some the stem remains green even after a few years. Why? 67 Beetroot contains a red colour pigment called betacyanin. Does it aid in the formation of blood cells in any way? 68 Why do vegetables such as cucumber, snakegourd and bottlegourd sometimes taste bitter? 69



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