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

'Microsatellite DNA' is used in the case of which one of the…

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

Answer

(a) Studying evolutionary relationships among fauna — Correct. Microsatellite DNA (short tandem repeats/SSRs) is highly polymorphic and is widely used in population genetics, DNA fingerprinting, and phylogenetic/evolutionary relationship studies.
(b) Stimulating stem cells into tissues — Incorrect. Stem-cell differentiation is driven by growth factors, signaling pathways, and gene regulation, not by microsatellite DNA as a tool.
(c) Promoting clonal propagation of horticultural plants — Incorrect. Clonal propagation is done through tissue culture/vegetative methods; microsatellite markers may help in genetic identification, not propagation itself.
(d) Assessing drug efficacy in trials — Incorrect. Drug efficacy is assessed through clinical/pharmacological trials and biostatistics; microsatellite DNA is not the standard tool for this purpose.

Answer: (a)