Animal Conservation Genetics MCQS January 8, 2026March 27, 2024 by u930973931_answers 20 min Score: 0 Attempted: 0/20 Subscribe 1. What is the primary goal of animal conservation genetics? (A) To promote genetic mutations (B) To decrease genetic diversity in populations (C) To prevent inbreeding depression (D) 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 3. Which genetic approach involves breeding individuals with no known relatives? (A) Inbreeding (B) Translocation (C) Hybridization (D) 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) Founder effect (B) Genetic bottleneck (C) Inbreeding depression (D) Gene flow 5. Which of the following techniques can be used to assess genetic diversity in animal populations? (A) Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) (B) All of the above (C) Microsatellite analysis (D) DNA sequencing 6. What is the purpose of captive breeding programs in animal conservation genetics? (A) To increase genetic diversity in wild populations (B) To create genetically modified organisms (C) To decrease genetic diversity in wild populations (D) 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) Gene therapy (D) Genetic rescue 8. Which of the following factors can contribute to inbreeding depression in animal populations? (A) All of the above (B) Increased susceptibility to disease (C) Decreased survival rates of offspring (D) Reduced fertility 9. What is the main goal of translocation in animal conservation genetics? (A) To introduce invasive species into new habitats (B) To artificially inseminate animals (C) To clone endangered species (D) 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) Enhanced gene flow (C) Higher mutation rates (D) Reduced genetic diversity 11. Which of the following best describes the role of molecular markers in animal conservation genetics? (A) They help identify genetic variation within populations (B) They track changes in the environment (C) They provide information about individual behavior (D) They control genetic mutations 12. What is the primary purpose of population viability analysis (PVA) in animal conservation genetics? (A) To study the behavior of individual animals (B) To predict changes in population size over time (C) To assess habitat quality (D) To calculate genetic diversity indices 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 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 establish protected areas (C) To regulate wildlife trade (D) 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) Captive breeding programs (C) Wildlife corridors (D) Ecotourism 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) Diet and nutrition of captive animals (D) Availability of suitable habitat in the wild 17. Which of the following is NOT a limitation of using molecular markers in conservation genetics? (A) High cost of analysis (B) Limited applicability to non-model species (C) Inability to capture historical genetic information (D) Difficulty in interpreting results 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 19. Which of the following best describes the concept of genetic rescue? (A) Enhancing genetic diversity in small, isolated populations (B) Introducing genetic mutations into a population (C) Decreasing genetic diversity in large, diverse populations (D) Preventing inbreeding depression through artificial selection 20. What is the main purpose of conservation genetics? (A) To manipulate the genomes of endangered species (B) To create genetically modified organisms for conservation purposes (C) To eliminate genetic variation in wild populations (D) To preserve genetic diversity within and between populations