For microbial biodiversity studies, it is common to identify the ________ rather than the ________ as a measure of biodiversity.
A) organisms themselves / genes
B) genes / organisms themselves
C) cell types / genes
D) cell types / organisms themselves

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

For microbial biodiversity studies, it is common to identify the genes rather than the organisms themselves as a measure of biodiversity. This is because many microbial species cannot be cultured in a lab, and therefore their physical characteristics cannot be observed or their species identified. However, by analyzing their DNA or RNA, microbial genes can be identified and used to compare the diversity of microbial communities.

For Microbial Biodiversity Studies, It Is Common to Identify the ________