Energy & Environment Management Multiple Choice Questions on “Genetic Diversity”.
1. Into how many types of biodiversity are classified?
a) One
b) Two
c) Three
d) Four
Answer: c
Clarification: Biodiversity is defined as “The variety and variability among all groups living organisms and the ecosystems in which they occur”. Biodiversity is classified into three types, a) Genetic diversity, b) Species diversity and c) Ecosystem diversity.
2. What is called for a species with different genetic characteristics?
a) Up-species
b) Sub-species
c) Down-species
d) By-species
Answer: b
Clarification: A species with different genetic characteristics is known as a sub-species or genera. Within individual species, there are varieties, which are slightly different from one other. These differences are mainly due to the difference in the combination of genes.
3. Which are the basic units of hereditary information transmitter from one generation to other?
a) Cells
b) Bones
c) Bloods
d) Genes
Answer: d
Clarification: Genes are the basic units of hereditary information transmitted from one generation to the other. Due to the difference in the combination of genes, individual species are slightly varieties from one another within individual species.
4. Rice variety is an example for which of the following biodiversity?
a) Genetic diversity
b) Species diversity
c) Ecosystem diversity
d) Community diversity
Answer: a
Clarification: Rive varieties is an example for genetic diversity. All rice varieties belong to the species “oryzasativa”. However there are thousands of rice varieties that show variation at the genetic level in the form of different shape, size, nutrient content and color.
5. Which foundation in 2007 found that genetic diversity and biodiversity are dependent upon each other?
a) National Geographical Foundation
b) National Animal Foundation
c) National Ecosystem foundation
d) National Science Foundation
Answer: d
Clarification: A study conducted by the National Science Foundation in 2007 found that genetic diversity and biodiversity are dependent upon each other that diversity within a species is necessary to maintain diversity among species.
6. Genetic diversity serves as a way for populations to adapt to changing environments.
a) True
b) False
Answer: a
Clarification: Genetic diversity with more variation, it is likely that some individuals in a population will possess variations of alleles that are perfectly suited for the environment. Those individuals are more likely to survive to produce offspring bearing that allele.
7. What happens if there is a change in genetic diversity?
a) It leads to the loss of biological diversity
b) It leads to the loss of only human species
c) It leads to the pollution
d) It leads to more population
Answer: a
Clarification: The interdependence between genetic and species diversity is very delicate. Change in genetic diversity, such as in loss of species leads to a loss of biological diversity. Thus genetic diversity plays an important role.
8. In how many fold we can divide the importance of genetic diversity?
a) One
b) Two
c) Three
d) Four
Answer: b
Clarification: We can divide the importance of genetic diversity into two fold. First, increased genetic diversity is directly attributed to the adaptive ability of a species and second, a population’s fitness is closely related to its common measure of genetic diversity.
9. Why genetic diversity plays an important role in the survival and adaptability of a species?
a) Ability of the population to adapt to the changing environment
b) Any population must remain same irrespective of the outer change in the environment
c) Environment remains same even if the population changes
d) Population inability to adapt to the changing environment
Answer: a
Clarification: When a population’s habitat changes, the population may have to adapt to survive the ability of the population to adapt to the changing environment will determine their ability to cope with an environmental challenge.
10. How genetic diversity helps in agriculture?
a) It makes crops to monocultures
b) It avoids monocultures of crops
c) It provides less yield
d) It provides diseases to crops
Answer: b
Clarification: Genetic diversity helps the crops to avoid the monocultures which are caused by the selective breeding of plants in the crop field. Little to no genetic diversity makes crops extremely susceptible to widespread diseases for crops.
11. When did the Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture established?
a) 2007
b) 2008
c) 2009
d) 2010
Answer: a
Clarification: Commission of Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture was established in 2007. It provides a framework and guidelines for the management of animal genetic resources. Global Plan of Action for Animal Genetic Resources comes under Commission of Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture.
12. If there is a threatened species in forest, what may be the reason for that?
a) Mutation
b) Diseases
c) Low genetic diversity
d) High genetic diversity
Answer: c
Clarification: Low genetic diversity is one of the reasons for the reason for threatened species. The natural world has several ways of preserving or increasing genetic diversity. Low genetic diversity and resulting poor sperm quality has made breeding and survivorship difficult for threatened species.
13. Which one of the following is a measure of genetic diversity?
a) Population
b) Environmental condition
c) Pollution
d) Nucleotide diversity
Answer: d
Clarification: Nucleotide diversity is the extent of nucleotide polymorphisms within a population. It is one of the measures for genetic diversity. It is commonly measured through molecular markers such as micro and mini satellite sequences.
14. Genetic diversity is not essential for a species to evolve.
a) True
b) False
Answer: b
Clarification: Genetic diversity is essential for a species to evolve. With very little genetic diversity within the species, healthy reproduction becomes increasingly difficult and offspring are more likely to have problems resulting from inbreeding.