- A. (a) Studying the evolutionary relationships among various species of fauna
- B. (b) Stimulating 'stem cells' to transform into diverse functional tissues
- C. (c) Promoting clonal propagation of horticultural plants
- D. (d) Assessing the efficacy of drugs by conducting series of drug trials in a population
Answer: A
Explanation
Microsatellite DNA, also known as Short Tandem Repeats (STRs), consists of short, repeating sequences of DNA. These sequences are highly polymorphic, meaning the number of repeats varies significantly between individuals and even within populations of a species. This variability makes microsatellites excellent genetic markers for studying genetic diversity, population structure, parentage, and evolutionary relationships among different species or populations of fauna. They are widely used in population genetics and phylogenetics. The other options describe different biological processes or applications unrelated to microsatellite DNA’s primary use. This question tests knowledge of molecular biology and its applications, relevant for UPSC Science & Technology and Environment.