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'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.
Web source
Presence: 5/5
"Micro-satellite DNA analysis is useful to study genetic relationships between populations (Ambali and Doyle 1997) and allozymes have been studied to determine phylogenetic relationships (Agnèse et al. 1997)."
Why this source?
- Directly states microsatellite DNA analysis is useful to study genetic relationships between populations.
- Links microsatellite analysis to genetic/phylogenetic work in fish (fauna) contexts.
Web source
Presence: 5/5
"Stock origin of migratory Atlantic Sturgeon in Minas Basin, Inner Bay of Fundy, Canada, determined by microsatellite and mitochondrial DNA analyses. ... Comparison of mitochondrial DNA control region sequence and microsatellite DNA analyses in estimating population structure and gene flow rates in Atlantic sturgeon Acipenser oxyrinchus."
Why this source?
- 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.
Web source
Presence: 4/5
"Molecular markers: A DNA marker is an identifiable DNA fragment or sequence that can be used to detect DNA polymorphism. Molecular markers have a number of uses including estimation of population histories and genetic relationships within and between animal breeds (molecular characterization), as well as the determination of parentage."
Why this source?
- 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.
- 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.
History , class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 1: Early India: From the Beginnings to the Indus Civilisation > Sources > p. 1
Strength: 4/5
“The human genes also constitute an important source for understanding prehistoric migrations. The mitochondrial DNA (mt-DNA) studies provide information on pre-historic migrations. Scientists are trying to extract ancient DNA from the bones of the prehistoric era to understand human dispersals. Language is another important source of history. Indo-Aryan, Dravidian, Austro-Asiatic and Tibeto-Burman language families have flourished in India. These languages developed and evolved during the various phases of migrations in Indian history.”
Why relevant
States that mitochondrial DNA studies provide information on prehistoric migrations and human dispersals, showing DNA markers are used to infer historical/evolutionary relationships.
How to extend
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.
Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 16: Conservation Efforts > Goals: > p. 249
Strength: 4/5
“• Deliver DNA barcoding technology for 5 million species. • Develop the informatics platform and analytical protocols required for the development of a DNA barcode reference library. • Establish a core facility to provide sequencing and informatics support.
• Complete the census of all multicellular species.
• Establish a global biosurveillance program.
• Construct a 'library of life' by preserving DNA extracts from all species.”
Why relevant
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.
How to extend
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.
Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 16: Conservation Efforts > 16.r.3. Estimation of Tiger Populations > p. 229
Strength: 5/5
“5I{ANKAR
individuals. Now it is largely used as one of the indices of tiger occurrence and relative abundance.
• I Recent methods used to estimate the numbers of tigers are camera trapping and DNA fingerprinting. • In camera trapping, the photograph of the tiger is taken and individuals are differentiated on the basis of the stripes on the body. • In the latest technique of DNA fingerprinting, tigers can be identified from their scats.”
Why relevant
Describes DNA fingerprinting for individual identification of tigers from scats, demonstrating practical use of genetic markers in fauna studies and conservation.
How to extend
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.
Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 16: Conservation Efforts > 16.17. DNA BARCODING > p. 248
Strength: 3/5
“A MoU signed between Zoological Survey of India (ZSI), a subordinate organization under MoEF&CC, and International Barcode of Life (iBOL), a Canadian not-for-profit corporation. ZSI and iBOL have come together for further efforts in DNA barcoding, a methodology for rapidly and accurately identifying species by sequencing a short segment of standardized gene regions and comparing individual sequences to a reference database. iBOL is a research alliance involving nations that have committed both human and financial resources to enable expansion of the global reference database, the development of informatics platforms, and/or the analytical protocols needed to use the reference library to inventory, assess, and describe biodiversity.”
Why relevant
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.
How to extend
A student could reason that beyond barcoding loci, other genetic markers (such as microsatellites) serve complementary roles in resolving evolutionary and population-level questions.
Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 8: Biodiversity > ffiIffiffi > p. 143
Strength: 3/5
“'F' iodiversity found on Earth today consists of millions of distinct biological species, which is a product of four billion years of evolution. Biodiversity refers to the variety of life on Earth, encompassing all organisms, species, and populations; the genetic variation among these; and their complex assemblages of communities and ecosystems. It also includes the interrelatedness of genes, species, and ecosystems, along with their interactions with the environment.”
Why relevant
Defines biodiversity to include genetic variation among organisms, highlighting that genetic data are central to understanding relationships among species and populations.
How to extend
A student can use this principle to justify why molecular markers (including microsatellites) are relevant tools for studying evolutionary relationships among 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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