'Microsatellite DNA' is used in the case of which one of the following?
Answer & explanation
Answer: (a) Studying the evolutionary relationships among various species of fauna
Microsatellite DNA is used to study genetic variation between individuals and populations, which is why it helps in tracing evolutionary relationships among species. Microsatellites are short DNA stretches repeated many times, and the number of repeats varies from one organism to another.
- ✓ (a) Because repeat numbers in microsatellites differ so much between individuals and populations, they work as genetic markers. Comparing them shows how closely related organisms or populations are.
- ✗ (b) Turning stem cells into different tissues is done with growth signals and culture conditions. It does not use microsatellite DNA.
- ✗ (d) Drug trials in a population test how well a medicine works. Microsatellites do not assess drug efficacy.
Remember · Microsatellites are short repeated DNA stretches whose repeat number varies between individuals. They serve as genetic markers, for DNA fingerprinting and for studying relationships and diversity.
📘 Read it in NCERT: Class 12 Biology, Ch 5 (practise this chapter)
Sources
- NCERT Class 12 · Biology, Chapter 5 “These sequence show high degree of polymorphism and form the basis of DNA fingerprinting.”
- Microsatellite, Talking Glossary of Genomic and Genetic Terms (National Human Genome Research Institute, US NIH) ↗ “The number of repeated segments within a microsatellite sequence often varies among people, which makes them useful as polymorphic markers for studying inheritance patterns in families or for creating a DNA fingerprint from crime scene samples.”
Question and answer: UPSC's official GS Paper I (2023, Series A) — paper ↗ · answer key ↗. Explanation: Minimalist IAS, checked 30 Sept 2026 (how we verify). ·