Category: GATE Life Science 2020 Previous Year Papers with Solutions

GATE Life Science 2020 Previous Year Papers with Solutions – Complete Self-Study Guide

The GATE Life Science (XL) 2020 examination clearly demonstrated that consistent practice of previous year question papers with detailed solutions is the most effective way to master this highly conceptual and analytical exam. For aspirants preparing through coaching or self-study, GATE Life Science 2020 previous year papers provide the most authentic insight into exam patterns, difficulty level, and topic weightage.

At Let’s Talk Academy, GATE Life Science preparation is strongly driven by PYQ-based learning, ensuring aspirants focus only on exam-relevant concepts.

Why GATE Life Science 2020 Previous Year Papers Are Important

GATE Life Science evaluates a candidate’s ability to apply biological concepts rather than memorize facts. The 2020 paper tested:

Core Life Science fundamentals
Application-based biological reasoning
Numerical and analytical problem solving
Interpretation of experimental data

By solving GATE Life Science 2020 PYQs, aspirants can:

Understand the actual difficulty level of the exam
Identify repeated and high-weightage topics
Learn the pattern of NATs, MSQs, and conceptual MCQs
Improve speed, accuracy, and confidence
Align preparation with the real GATE exam mindset

Previous year papers act as the most reliable benchmark for self-assessment.

Subjects Covered in GATE Life Science 2020 PYQs

The GATE Life Science 2020 question paper included questions from all major domains, such as:

Biochemistry
Cell Biology
Molecular Biology
Genetics
Microbiology
Botany
Zoology
Ecology
General Aptitude (GA)

Practicing PYQs subject-wise enables targeted improvement, while year-wise papers help simulate actual exam conditions.

Importance of Solved GATE Life Science 2020 Papers with Detailed Solutions

Simply attempting questions is not enough. Solved GATE Life Science 2020 PYQs with detailed explanations help aspirants to:

Understand why a particular option is correct or incorrect
Strengthen weak concepts immediately
Learn exam-oriented numerical solving techniques
Avoid common conceptual traps
Improve long-term retention of key concepts

Each well-analyzed PYQ reinforces multiple chapters at once.

How to Access Free GATE Life Science Previous Year Question Papers for Self-Study?

This is one of the most frequently asked questions by GATE aspirants.

How to access free GATE Life Science previous year question papers for self-study?

Let’s Talk Academy provides multiple free and structured resources to support self-study aspirants:

1. Free PYQ PDFs by Let’s Talk Academy

Let’s Talk Academy offers free GATE Life Science previous year question papers in PDF format, allowing aspirants to:

Practice authentic GATE-level questions
Download papers for offline study
Attempt PYQs in exam-like conditions

2. Free Solved PYQ Discussions

Selected GATE Life Science PYQs with detailed explanations are available through:

Free concept-based solution videos
Topic-wise PYQ explanation sessions
Revision-oriented discussion classes

These resources help self-study aspirants understand both concepts and exam logic.

3. Self-Study Strategy Using Free PYQs

Aspirants can effectively use free PYQs by:

Solving papers within a fixed time limit
Analyzing mistakes on the same day
Revising weak topics immediately
Maintaining a PYQ mistake notebook

This structured approach maximizes learning even without paid enrollment.

How to Use GATE Life Science 2020 PYQs Effectively

To extract maximum benefit from previous year papers:

Start with topic-wise PYQs during concept building
Progress to full-length GATE 2020 paper practice
Analyze every incorrect or guessed question thoroughly
Reattempt difficult questions after revision
Focus on accuracy rather than speed initially

Consistency and analysis are the keys to improvement.

Who Should Practice GATE Life Science 2020 PYQs?

BSc and MSc Life Science / Biotechnology students
GATE aspirants targeting IITs, IISc, IISERs, and PSUs
CSIR NET, DBT BET JRF, and ICMR JRF aspirants
Research and PhD-oriented candidates

PYQs help build a strong conceptual foundation useful across multiple national-level exams.

Why Let’s Talk Academy Recommends PYQ-Based Learning

Let’s Talk Academy emphasizes previous year paper–driven preparation because it:

Filters out unnecessary syllabus content
Improves conceptual clarity and exam accuracy
Builds confidence through real exam exposure
Aligns preparation with actual GATE expectations

This approach has consistently helped Life Science aspirants improve performance and rank.

Final Conclusion

For GATE Life Science 2020, previous year question papers with detailed solutions are indispensable for self-study aspirants. With free PYQ resources from Let’s Talk Academy and a disciplined preparation strategy, aspirants can significantly enhance their conceptual clarity, accuracy, and overall GATE performance.

Make PYQs the backbone of your preparation—and let real GATE questions guide your success.

Q.105. In Drosophila, the red eye phenotype ( W ) is dominant over the recessive white eye mutant (w). In a mixed population of red and white eye flies of 10,000 individuals, 3,600 flies were white eyed. The percentage of the heterozygous red eye flies in this population is ____ .

Drosophila Eye Color Genetics

Q.104. The graph below shows the activity of enzyme pepsin in the presence of inhibitors aliphatic alcohols (P) or N-acetyl-1-phenylalanine (Q). Which ONE of the following represents the nature of inhibition by P and Q , respectively? (A) Non-competitive and competitive (B) Competitive and non-competitive (C) Non-competitive and uncompetitive (D) Competitive and uncompetitive

Pepsin Enzyme Inhibition

Q.103. Match the proteins in Column I with the organs in which they are maximally expressed in Column II. Column I P. Keratin Q. Surfactants R. Pro-carboxypeptidase S. Albumin Column II (i) Liver (ii) Pancreas (iii) Lung (iv) Skin (A) P-(iv), Q-(i), R-(iii), S-(ii) (B) P-(iii), Q-(iv), R-(ii), S-(i) (C) P-(iv), Q-(iii), R-(ii), S-(i) (D) P-(i), Q-(ii), R-(iii), S-(iv)

Keratin Surfactants Pro-Carboxypeptidase Albumin Organ Expression Matching

Q.102. Match the household insect vectors in Column I with their associated diseases in Column II. Column I P. Kissing bug (Hemiptera) Q. Sand fly (Diptera) R. Deer fly (Diptera) S. Oriental rat flea (Siphoneptera) Column II (i) Bubonic plague (ii) Tularemia (iii) Chagas disease (iv) Kala azar (A) P-(iv), Q-(iii), R-(ii), S-(i) (B) P-(iii), Q-(ii), R-(i), S-(iv) (C) P-(i), Q-(iv), R-(iii), S-(ii) (D) P-(iii), Q-(iv), R-(ii), S-(i)

Household Insect Vectors and Diseases

Q.101. Which ONE of the following graphs represents the relationship between ventricular enddiastolic volume and cardiac output in a healthy adult individual at rest (solid line) and upon exercise (dotted line)?

Cardiac Output vs Ventricular End-Diastolic Volume

Q.100. Match the following digestive enzymes in Column I with their respective functions in Column II. Column I P. Erepsin R. Pepsin Q. Steapsin S. Enterokinase Column II (i) converts proteins to peptides (ii) activates trypsinogen to trypsin (iii) converts fat into fatty acid and glycerol (iv) converts polypeptides to amino acids (A) P-(iv), Q-(iii), R-(ii), S-(i) (B) P-(iv), Q-(iii), R-(i), S-(ii) (C) P-(iii), Q-(iv), R-(i), S-(ii) (D) P-(iii), Q-(iv), R-(ii), S-(i)

Digestive Enzymes Matching

Q.99. Match the following components listed in Column I with their respective organs in Column II Column I P. Endolymph Q. Vitreous humour R. Vas deferens S. Corpus luteum Column II (i) Testes (ii) Ear (iii) Ovary (iv) Eye (A) P-(ii), Q-(iv), R-(i), S-(iii) (B) P-(ii), Q-(i), R-(iv), S-(iii) (C) P-(iii), Q-(iv), R-(i), S-(ii) (D) P-(iii), Q-(iv), R-(ii), S-(i)

Endolymph Vitreous Humour Vas Deferens Corpus Luteum

Q.98. Match the following genetic disorders in Column I with associated typical chromosomal changes mentioned in Column II Column I P. Klinefelter syndrome Q. Down syndrome R. Turner syndrome S. Cri du chat syndrome Column II (i) 45, XO (ii) 5 p minus (iii) 47, XXY (iv) Trisomy 21 (A) P-(iv), Q-(iii), R-(ii), S-(i) (B) P-(iv), Q-(ii), R-(i), S-(iii) (C) P-(iii), Q-(iv), R-(ii), S-(i) (D) P-(iii), Q-(iv), R-(i), S-(ii)

Klinefelter Syndrome to Cri du Chat

Q.97. Match the following subcellular organelles in Column I with associated functions in Column II Column I P. Nucleolus Q. Peroxisomes R. Endoplasmic reticulum S. Golgi bodies Column II (i) Glycoprotein biosynthesis (ii) Oxidation of fatty acids and amino acids (iii) Protein trafficking (iv) Ribosome biogenesis (A) P-(iii), Q-(ii), R-(i), S-(iv) (B) P-(i), Q-(ii), R-(iii), S-(iv) (C) P-(iv), Q-(ii), R-(i), S-(iii) (D) P-(ii), Q-(iii), R-(i), S-(iv)

Subcellular Organelles Match

Q.96. Tarantulas and mosquitoes both belong to the phylum Arthropoda. Which ONE of the following represents the correct number of legs in them respectively? (A) 6 and 6 (B) 6 and 8 (C) 8 and 8 (D) 8 and 6

Tarantulas and Mosquitoes Legs

Q.95. Which ONE of the following glial cells is NOT derived from the ectoderm? (A) Astrocytes (B) Microglial cells (C) Oligodendrocytes (D) Ependyma

Which Glial Cell Is Not Ectoderm-Derived?

Q.94. Which ONE of the following phyla have choanocytes? (A) Ctenophora (B) Nematoda (C) Cnidaria (D) Porifera

Which Phylum Has Choanocytes?

Q.93. "Round dance" is performed by forager bees to indicate the distance between a food source and their colony. Which ONE of the following best represents this distance? (A) 45 meters (B) 450 meters (C) 1000 meters (D) More than 2000 meters

Honey Bee Round Dance Distance

Q.92. The genomes of both human and Drosophila code for an amylase that acts on the same substrate. However, the sequence of nucleotides in the genes encoding the two is dissimilar. This is an example of which ONE of the following types of evolution? (A) Neutral (B) Directional (C) Convergent (D) Divergent

Convergent Evolution Example

Visual Signal Transduction

Q.90.Transitional epithelia is found in which ONE of the following organs? (A) Liver (B) Lung (C) Brain (D) Urinary bladder

Where is Transitional Epithelium Found?

Precursor Molecule for Corticosteroids

In Situ Conservation

Q.87. Which ONE of the following techniques can be used for detecting the subcellular localization of serotonin receptor in intact cells? (A) Immunoelectron microscopy (B) SDS-PAGE (C) Fluorescence in-situ hybridization (D) Differential centrifugation

Serotonin Receptor Localization in Intact Cells

Q.86. Which ONE of following leucocytes is phagocytic and has clear cytoplasm? (A) Eosinophil (B) Monocyte (C) TH-lymphocyte (D) Basophil

Phagocytic Leukocytes with Clear Cytoplasm

Q.85. A continuous bacterial culture carried out in a chemostat is set to a flow rate of 𝟒𝟎𝐦𝐥/𝐡𝐫. The culture volume is equivalent to that of a cubical container having 10 cm sides. The dilution rate (in 𝐡𝐫−𝟏, rounded off to two decimal places) of this system is ____ .

Calculate Chemostat Dilution Rate

Bacterial Stock Concentration

Q.83. A bacterial culture has a generation time of 34 minutes. The time taken (in minutes, rounded off to two decimal places) for the 𝐎𝐃𝟓𝟓𝟎 of this exponentially growing culture to increase from 0.25 to 0.85 is ____ . Assume that 𝐎𝐃𝟓𝟓𝟎 has a linear relationship with the cell density.

Bacterial Culture Growth

Q.82. A bacterial culture containing 𝟑 × 𝟏𝟎𝟓 live cells was exposed to a newly developed sterilizing agent. After 30 minutes of exposure, 3 live cells remained in culture. The decimal reduction time (in minutes) for the new agent is ____ .

Decimal Reduction Time in Bacterial Sterilization

Q.81. Which one of the following is an example of substrate level phosphorylation? (A) Glucose to Glucose 6-phosphate (B) Fructose 6-phosphate to Fructose 1,6-bisphosphate (C) 1,3-bisphosphoglycerate to 3-phosphoglycerate (D) 2-phosphoglycerate to Phosphoenolpyruvate

Substrate Level Phosphorylation Example

Q.80. An example of a differential and selective medium in which colonies of Gram-negative bacteria produce large amounts of acidic products and appear green with a metallic sheen is (A) Blood agar (B) EMB agar (C) MacConkey agar (D) Mannitol salt agar

Differential and Selective Media in Microbiology

Control of Microbial Growth

Q.78. Determine the correctness or otherwise of the following Assertion [a] and the Reason [r]. Assertion [a]: Diphtheria exotoxin is an example of A-B type toxin. Reason [r]: The A component of the toxin is released from the host cell while the B component inhibits protein synthesis and kills the host cell. (A) Both [a] and [r] are true and [r] is the correct reason for [a] (B) Both [a] and [r] are true but [r] is not the correct reason for [a] (C) Both [a] and [r] are false (D) [a] is true but [r] is false

Diphtheria Exotoxin A-B Toxin

Q.77. Match the process involved in nitrogen or sulfur cycle in Group I with the corresponding microbe in Group II. Group I P. Denitrification Q. Nitrogen fixation by free-living microbe R. Oxidation of H2 S to sulfur S. Nitrogen fixation by a symbiotic microbe (A) P− 2, Q − 3, R− 4, S − 1 (B) P-2, Q-1, R-3, S-4 (C) P − 3, Q − 4, R− 1, S − 2 (D) P − 3, Q −1, R− 2, S −4 Group II 1. Azotobacter 2. Beggiatoa 3. Pseudomonas 4. Rhizobium

Nitrogen Sulfur Cycle Microbes Matching

Q.76. Digestion of an immunoglobulin G (IgG) molecule with pepsin will NOT (A) generate a bivalent antigen binding fragment (B) generate monovalent antigen binding fragments (C) destroy the complement binding site (D) cleave the heavy chain of IgG molecule

Pepsin Digestion of IgG

Q.75. A 𝟐𝟓𝟎𝝁𝐥 of bacteriophage stock containing 𝟖 × 𝟏𝟎𝟖 phages /𝐦𝐥 is added to 𝟓𝟎𝟎𝝁𝐥 of E. coli culture containing 𝟒 × 𝟏𝟎𝟖 cells /𝐦𝐥. The multiplicity of infection is ____ .

Bacteriophage MOI Calculation

Q.74. Match the cellular organelle in Group I with its function in Group II Group I P. Golgi apparatus Q. Nucleolus R. Peroxisome S. Proteasome (A) P− 3, Q − 2, R− 1, S − 4 (B) P − 3, Q − 4, R− 1, S −2 (C) P − 1, Q − 2, R− 4, S − 3 (D) P − 3, Q −1, R− 4, S −2 Group II 1. Lipid degradation 2. Protein degradation 3. Protein sorting 4. Ribosomal RNA synthesis

Cellular Organelles Functions Matching

Q.73. Which one of the following conditions favors maximum expression of lac operon genes in E. coli? (A) Glucose-low, lactose-low, cAMP-high (B) Glucose-high, lactose-low, cAMP-high (C) Glucose-low, lactose-high, cAMP-high (D) Glucose-high, lactose-high, cAMP-low

Lac Operon Maximum Expression

$Q.72. Which one of the following will increase the resolution of a light microscope? (A) Decreasing the numerical aperture of the objective lens (B) Using an objective lens with a longer working distance (C) Using a medium of higher refractive index (D) Increasing the wavelength of light$