Aerial metagenomics — what does it best refer to
Question
'Aerial metagenomics' best refers to which one of the following situations?
Options
Collecting DNA samples from air in a habitat at one go
Understanding the genetic makeup of avian species of a habitat
Using air-borne devices to collect blood samples from moving animals
Sending drones to inaccessible areas to collect plant and animal samples from land surfaces and water bodies
Explanation
Metagenomics is the study of genetic material recovered directly from environmental samples (eDNA). 'Aerial metagenomics' specifically involves vacuuming or filtering air in a habitat to capture and sequence the suspended DNA fragments shed by local flora and fauna, creating a genetic census without touching a single organism.
Answer: (a).
Question details
Year
2023
Paper
GS Paper 1
Question
Q69
Subject
Science & Technology
Sub-topic
Biotechnology & Genetics
Type
Factual single
Difficulty
Hard
Nature
Current-affairs-linked
Source hint
Environmental eDNA Surveillance / Airborne Metagenomics Wildlife
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