'Aerial metagenomics' best refers to which one of the following situations?
- A.Collecting DNA samples from air in a habitat at one go
- B.Understanding the genetic makeup of avian species of a habitat
- C.Using air-borne devices to collect blood samples from moving animals
- D.Sending drones to inaccessible areas to collect plant and animal samples from land surfaces and water bodies
Correct answer
Explanation
The correct answer is A, Collecting DNA samples from air in a habitat at one go. Aerial metagenomics reads all the DNA floating in the air of a place together.
Every living thing sheds traces of DNA through skin cells, hair, pollen, spores and droppings, and this environmental DNA, or eDNA, drifts in the air. In aerial metagenomics, air is drawn through filters for some hours, the DNA trapped on them is extracted and sequenced as a whole, and the sequences are matched against reference libraries. One sample can reveal the plants, animals, fungi and microbes of a habitat at once, including shy or rare species that are hard to see. Researchers have used it to track biodiversity, plant pathogens and even disease-causing microbes in hospitals and cities.
B is wrong because studying the genes of birds is not what the word aerial means here. C is wrong because collecting blood from animals is not taking DNA from air. D is wrong because drones collecting samples from land and water is ordinary field sampling.
Exam tip: metagenomics = DNA of a whole community; aerial = sampled from air as eDNA.
Practice Questions
View allWhich one of the following is India's first indigenously designed and developed long-range subsonic cruise missile which can be deployed from multiple platforms?
- A.Astra
- B.Akash
- C.Nirbhay
- D.Shankhnaad
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Nirbhay is the long-range subsonic cruise missile designed and developed in India by the DRDO. Nirbhay was developed by DRDO's Aeronautical Development Establishment in Bengaluru.
Read the full explanation →"Million Minds Augmenting National Aspirations and Knowledge" (MANAK), a scheme under the flagship programme, Innovation in Science Pursuit for Inspired Research (INSPIRE), caters to :
- A.The college students studying in the undergraduate programme in the age group of 19 - 25 years.
- B.The research scholars in recognized research laboratories of national importance.
- C.The college teachers of the country.
- D.The school children studying in classes 6 - 10 in the age group of 10 - 15 years.
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INSPIRE-MANAK is the school-level part of INSPIRE. INSPIRE is run by the Department of Science and Technology to draw young talent into science.
Read the full explanation →Which one of the following statements is not correct?
- A.BrahMos is a supersonic cruise missile made by India and Russian Federation.
- B.The name BrahMos came from two rivers, Brahmaputra of India and Moskva of Russia.
- C.Indian military scientists were capable of integrating BrahMos cruise missile with Sukhoi-30 MKI fighter.
- D.Defence Research and Development Organization is the manufacturer of Sukhoi-30 MKI fighter.
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The Sukhoi-30 MKI is not made by DRDO; it was designed by Russia's Sukhoi bureau and is built in India under licence by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) at Nashik.
Read the full explanation →'Tejas' is the name of which one of the following?
- A.Main battle tank
- B.Nuclear submarine
- C.Light combat aircraft
- D.Aircraft carrier
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Tejas is India's indigenous single-engine light combat aircraft built for the Indian Air Force. The Light Combat Aircraft programme was started in the 1980s to replace the ageing MiG-21 fleet.
Read the full explanation →Which one of the following is an indigenous assault rifle developed by DRDO?
- A.Heckler
- B.T91
- C.Tikka
- D.Ugram
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Ugram is a 7.62 mm assault rifle designed in India by DRDO for the armed forces and police. Ugram was developed by the Armament Research and Development Establishment (ARDE), Pune, a DRDO laboratory, together with a private Hyderabad firm, Dvipa Armour India, and it was unveiled in January 2024.
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