What is the purpose of marker-assisted selection in plant breeding?
Practice Questions
Q1
What is the purpose of marker-assisted selection in plant breeding?
To identify plants with desirable traits
To increase genetic diversity
To enhance photosynthetic efficiency
To reduce water requirements
Questions & Step-by-Step Solutions
What is the purpose of marker-assisted selection in plant breeding?
Correct Answer: Marker-assisted selection helps breeders identify plants that carry desirable traits based on genetic markers.
Step 1: Understand that plant breeding is the process of developing new plant varieties with specific traits.
Step 2: Learn that traits can include things like disease resistance, better yield, or improved taste.
Step 3: Know that genetic markers are specific sequences in a plant's DNA that are linked to these desirable traits.
Step 4: Realize that marker-assisted selection is a technique that uses these genetic markers to help breeders find plants that have the traits they want.
Step 5: Understand that by using genetic markers, breeders can save time and resources by selecting the best plants early in the breeding process.
