Question map
'Microsatellite DNA' is used in the case of which one of the following?
Explanation
The correct answer is Option 1: Studying the evolutionary relationships among various species of fauna.
Microsatellites, also known as Simple Sequence Repeats (SSRs), are short, repetitive sequences of DNA (typically 1–6 base pairs) found throughout an organism's genome. They are highly polymorphic, meaning the number of repeats varies significantly between individuals and species. This high rate of mutation makes them excellent molecular markers for genetic studies.
In evolutionary biology, scientists use microsatellite DNA to:
- Trace lineage and kinship within and between populations.
- Measure genetic diversity and population structure.
- Reconstruct phylogenetic relationships to understand how different species of fauna evolved from common ancestors.
Options 2, 3, and 4 are incorrect because microsatellites are diagnostic tools for identification and mapping, not active agents for cellular transformation, plant propagation, or clinical drug metabolism testing.
PROVENANCE & STUDY PATTERN
Guest previewThis question bridges NCERT Class 12 Biology (Molecular Basis of Inheritance) and Environment Current Affairs (Tiger Census). While 'Microsatellite' sounds technical, it is the fundamental basis of 'DNA Fingerprinting' mentioned in every standard text. The strategy is to link the 'tool' (DNA profiling) with its 'component' (Microsatellites/STRs).
This question can be broken into the following sub-statements. Tap a statement sentence to jump into its detailed analysis.
- Statement 1: Is microsatellite DNA used to study evolutionary relationships among various species of fauna?
- Statement 2: Is microsatellite DNA used to stimulate stem cells to transform into diverse functional tissues?
- Statement 3: Is microsatellite DNA used to promote clonal propagation of horticultural plants?
- Statement 4: Is microsatellite DNA used to assess the efficacy of drugs when conducting drug trials in a population?
- Directly states microsatellite DNA analysis is useful to study genetic relationships between populations.
- Links microsatellite analysis to genetic/phylogenetic work in fish (fauna) contexts.
- Shows microsatellite DNA analyses being used to determine stock origin and population structure in Atlantic sturgeon (a faunal species).
- Compares microsatellite and mitochondrial DNA for estimating population structure and gene flow, indicating use in evolutionary/relationship studies.
- Describes molecular markers (a category that includes microsatellites) as tools for estimating population histories and genetic relationships within and between animal breeds.
- Links molecular markers to molecular characterization and determination of relationships in animals, supporting their use in evolutionary studies of fauna.
States that mitochondrial DNA studies provide information on prehistoric migrations and human dispersals, showing DNA markers are used to infer historical/evolutionary relationships.
A student can generalize that other genetic markers (e.g., microsatellites) may likewise be used to study evolutionary or population relationships among animals and check specialized literature on microsatellite applications.
Calls for DNA barcoding, a program to sequence standard gene regions and build reference libraries for species identification — an example of using DNA sequences to study species-level relationships.
A student could infer that different types of genetic markers (including short repetitive markers like microsatellites) are part of the toolbox for studying species relationships and population structure.
Describes DNA fingerprinting for individual identification of tigers from scats, demonstrating practical use of genetic markers in fauna studies and conservation.
From this, a student might extend that microsatellites — commonly used in DNA fingerprinting and population genetics — can be applied to study relationships and population structure in other animal species.
Explains DNA barcoding as sequencing standardized gene regions and comparing to a reference database to identify species — an explicit example of sequencing-based methods applied to biodiversity studies.
A student could reason that beyond barcoding loci, other genetic markers (such as microsatellites) serve complementary roles in resolving evolutionary and population-level questions.
Defines biodiversity to include genetic variation among organisms, highlighting that genetic data are central to understanding relationships among species and populations.
A student can use this principle to justify why molecular markers (including microsatellites) are relevant tools for studying evolutionary relationships among fauna.
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