Question

Children everywhere wonder about the world around them. The questions they ask are the beginning of scientific inquiry. Given below are some questions that children in India have asked Professor Yash Pal and Dr Rahul Pal as reported in their book, Discovered Questions (NCERT, 2006).

1. What is DNA fingerprinting? What are its uses?
2. How do honeybees identify their own honeycombs?
3. Why does rain fall in drops?

Can you answer these questions?

Answer 1

1. DNA fingerprinting is a forensic technique used to identify individuals by their DNA characteristics. It is used in parentage testing. It is also used in criminal investigation to identify a person or to place him at the scene of the crime.
2. Honeybees have signalling chemicals. They leave trails for fellow honeybees so that they can reach their honeycomb.
3. The only solid thing in the air is dust particles. Water vapour uses it as a centre of attraction when it becomes too heavy. Water vapour condenses on a dust particle into a drop and falls to Earth.