‘Microsatellite DNA’ is used in the case of which one of the following?

1. Studying the evolutionary relationships among various species of fauna
2. Stimulating ‘stem cells’ to transform into diverse functional tissues
3. Promoting clonal propagation of horticultural plants
4. Assessing the efficacy of drugs by conducting series of drug trials in a population

Explanation

Option (a) is correct

• Microsatellite DNA analysis is a powerful tool for studying the evolutionary relationships among various fauna (animals) and assessing genetic diversity within and between populations. Also known as short tandem repeats (STRs), it is a specific type of repetitive DNA sequence found in the genome of organisms.
• By analysing microsatellite markers, researchers can gain insights into the genetic structure, gene flow, and evolutionary history of species.

Answer: (a) Studying the evolutionary relationships among various species of fauna; Difficulty Level: Medium