Investigating Gentic Diversity

Question 1

Some populations of animals that have never been hunted show very low levels of genetic diversity.

Other than hunting, suggest two reasons why populations might show very low levels of genetic diversity.
2 marks

Answer 1

1. Population might have been very small/ genetic bottleneck
2. Population might have started with a small number of individuals/ by one pregnant female / founder effect
3. Inbreeding

Allow any two

Question 2

The genetic diversity of species is measured by comparing differences in the base sequence of DNA or differences in the base sequence of mRNA.

Give two other ways in which genetic diversity between species is measured.
2 marks

Answer 2

1. Comparing (measurable/observable) features/characteristics;
2. Comparing amino acid sequences/primary structures (of a/named/the same protein);
   Must have idea of comparison/ differences/similarities

Ignore courtship/ behaviour/mutations/number of chromosomes/alleles frequency/ species richness/ index of diversity

Accept comparing amount of antibody bound to antigen/ protein (in different species)