1. What is the primary goal of animal conservation genetics?
A) To increase genetic diversity in populations
B) To decrease genetic diversity in populations
C) To prevent inbreeding depression
D) To promote genetic mutations
Answer: A) To increase genetic diversity in populations
2. Which of the following is a major threat to genetic diversity in animal populations?
A) Habitat destruction
B) Invasive species
C) Pollution
D) Overhunting
Answer: A) Habitat destruction
3. Which genetic approach involves breeding individuals with no known relatives?
A) Inbreeding
B) Outbreeding
C) Hybridization
D) Translocation
Answer: B) Outbreeding
4. What is the term for the loss of genetic variation that occurs when a new population is established by a very small number of individuals?
A) Inbreeding depression
B) Genetic bottleneck
C) Founder effect
D) Gene flow
Answer: C) Founder effect
5. Which of the following techniques can be used to assess genetic diversity in animal populations?
A) Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)
B) DNA sequencing
C) Microsatellite analysis
D) All of the above
Answer: D) All of the above
6. What is the purpose of captive breeding programs in animal conservation genetics?
A) To increase genetic diversity in wild populations
B) To prevent extinction of endangered species
C) To decrease genetic diversity in wild populations
D) To create genetically modified organisms
Answer: B) To prevent extinction of endangered species
7. Which of the following is an example of a conservation genetic technique used to restore genetic diversity in small populations?
A) Artificial selection
B) Genetic engineering
C) Genetic rescue
D) Gene therapy
Answer: C) Genetic rescue
8. Which of the following factors can contribute to inbreeding depression in animal populations?
A) Reduced fertility
B) Increased susceptibility to disease
C) Decreased survival rates of offspring
D) All of the above
Answer: D) All of the above
9. What is the main goal of translocation in animal conservation genetics?
A) To introduce invasive species into new habitats
B) To relocate animals from one area to another
C) To clone endangered species
D) To artificially inseminate animals
Answer: B) To relocate animals from one area to another
10. Which of the following is a potential consequence of genetic drift in small animal populations?
A) Increased genetic diversity
B) Reduced genetic diversity
C) Higher mutation rates
D) Enhanced gene flow
Answer: B) Reduced genetic diversity
11. Which of the following best describes the role of molecular markers in animal conservation genetics?
A) They provide information about individual behavior
B) They track changes in the environment
C) They help identify genetic variation within populations
D) They control genetic mutations
Answer: C) They help identify genetic variation within populations
12. What is the primary purpose of population viability analysis (PVA) in animal conservation genetics?
A) To predict changes in population size over time
B) To study the behavior of individual animals
C) To assess habitat quality
D) To calculate genetic diversity indices
Answer: A) To predict changes in population size over time
13. Which of the following is NOT a method used to estimate effective population size (Ne)?
A) Census count
B) Molecular markers
C) Demographic models
D) Pedigree analysis
Answer: A) Census count
14. What is the main purpose of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List?
A) To promote hunting of endangered species
B) To assess the conservation status of species
C) To regulate wildlife trade
D) To establish protected areas
Answer: B) To assess the conservation status of species
15. Which of the following is an example of an ex situ conservation method?
A) Habitat restoration
B) Wildlife corridors
C) Captive breeding programs
D) Ecotourism
Answer: C) Captive breeding programs
16. Which of the following is NOT a factor influencing the success of captive breeding programs?
A) Genetic diversity of the captive population
B) Reproductive behavior of the species
C) Availability of suitable habitat in the wild
D) Diet and nutrition of captive animals
Answer: C) Availability of suitable habitat in the wild
17. Which of the following is NOT a limitation of using molecular markers in conservation genetics?
A) Limited applicability to non-model species
B) High cost of analysis
C) Inability to capture historical genetic information
D) Difficulty in interpreting results
Answer: B) High cost of analysis
18. Which of the following statements about gene flow is true?
A) Gene flow increases genetic differentiation between populations
B) Gene flow decreases genetic diversity within populations
C) Gene flow promotes adaptation to local environmental conditions
D) Gene flow occurs only between closely related species
Answer: C) Gene flow promotes adaptation to local environmental conditions
19. Which of the following best describes the concept of genetic rescue?
A) Introducing genetic mutations into a population
B) Enhancing genetic diversity in small, isolated populations
C) Decreasing genetic diversity in large, diverse populations
D) Preventing inbreeding depression through artificial selection
Answer: B) Enhancing genetic diversity in small, isolated populations
20. What is the main purpose of conservation genetics?
A) To manipulate the genomes of endangered species
B) To preserve genetic diversity within and between populations
C) To eliminate genetic variation in wild populations
D) To create genetically modified organisms for conservation purposes
Answer: B) To preserve genetic diversity within and between populations
21. Which of the following is NOT a method used to assess genetic diversity in animal populations?
A) DNA fingerprinting
B) Microsatellite analysis
C) Pedigree analysis
D) Habitat destruction
Answer: D) Habitat destruction
22. What is the primary objective of genetic translocation in conservation genetics?
A) To introduce new species into ecosystems
B) To relocate individuals to areas with better habitat
C) To increase genetic diversity in populations
D) To eliminate genetic variation within populations
Answer: C) To increase genetic diversity in populations
23. Which of the following factors contributes to the loss of genetic diversity in small, isolated populations?
A) Gene flow
B) Genetic drift
C) Habitat connectivity
D) Hybridization
Answer: B) Genetic drift
24. Which term refers to the movement of individuals between populations, resulting in the exchange of genes?
A) Genetic bottleneck
B) Genetic rescue
C) Gene flow
D) Genetic diversity
Answer: C) Gene flow
25. What is the primary concern regarding the genetic health of small, isolated populations?
A) Inbreeding depression
B) Hybrid vigor
C) Genetic heterogeneity
D) Genetic stability
Answer: A) Inbreeding depression
26. Which genetic approach involves the deliberate crossing of individuals from different populations or species?
A) Genetic rescue
B) Hybridization
C) Genetic bottlenecking
D) Gene editing
Answer: B) Hybridization
27. What is the main goal of using molecular markers in conservation genetics?
A) To track individual movement patterns
B) To identify specific gene sequences
C) To measure environmental parameters
D) To assess habitat quality
Answer: B) To identify specific gene sequences
28. What is the term for a group of individuals that can interbreed and produce fertile offspring in nature?
A) Species
B) Population
C) Genus
D) Ecosystem
Answer: B) Population
29. Which of the following is NOT a factor influencing effective population size (Ne)?
A) Breeding patterns
B) Genetic mutations
C) Population structure
D) Sex ratio
Answer: B) Genetic mutations
30. Which of the following is an example of ex situ conservation?
A) Wildlife corridors
B) Habitat restoration
C) Captive breeding programs
D) Protected areas
Answer: C) Captive breeding programs
31. What is the primary purpose of a captive breeding program?
A) To domesticate wild animals
B) To increase genetic diversity in wild populations
C) To exploit animals for commercial purposes
D) To study animal behavior in controlled environments
Answer: B) To increase genetic diversity in wild populations
32. What is the main advantage of using pedigree analysis in conservation genetics?
A) It provides information about individual behavior
B) It helps trace ancestry and genetic relationships
C) It measures genetic diversity within populations
D) It identifies mutations in specific genes
Answer: B) It helps trace ancestry and genetic relationships
33. Which of the following is NOT a threat to genetic diversity in animal populations?
A) Habitat fragmentation
B) Overexploitation
C) Genetic rescue
D) Climate change
Answer: C) Genetic rescue
34. Which conservation strategy aims to establish corridors to connect fragmented habitats?
A) Ex situ conservation
B) In situ conservation
C) Landscape genetics
D) Genetic translocation
Answer: C) Landscape genetics
35. Which of the following genetic techniques is used to determine the parentage of offspring?
A) Microsatellite analysis
B) Gene editing
C) DNA barcoding
D) Restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP)
Answer: A) Microsatellite analysis
36. What is the primary objective of population viability analysis (PVA)?
A) To study the behavior of individual animals
B) To assess the conservation status of species
C) To predict changes in population size over time
D) To measure habitat quality
Answer: C) To predict changes in population size over time
37. Which of the following is a limitation of using molecular markers in conservation genetics?
A) Limited applicability to non-model species
B) High cost of analysis
C) Inability to capture historical genetic information
D) Difficulty in interpreting results
Answer: B) High cost of analysis
38. What is the term for the accidental loss of alleles from a population due to random events?
A) Genetic drift
B) Gene flow
C) Hybridization
D) Genetic bottleneck
Answer: A) Genetic drift
39. Which of the following factors can lead to inbreeding depression in animal populations?
A) Increased genetic diversity
B) Reduced fertility
C) Greater resistance to disease
D) Enhanced adaptability to environmental changes
Answer: B) Reduced fertility