Q69. ‘Aerial metagenomics’ best refers to which one of the following situations?
- Collecting DNA samples from air in a habitat at one go
- Understanding the genetic makeup of avian species of a habitat
- Using air-borne devices to collect blood samples from moving animals
- Sending drones to inaccessible areas to collect plant and animal samples from land surfaces and water bodies
Correct Answer: Option (a)
- Metagenomics is the study of the structure and function of entire nucleotide sequences isolated and analyzed from all the organisms (typically microbes) in a bulk sample. Aerial metagenomics is a scientific field that involves studying the genetic material present in the air, specifically the DNA and RNA of microorganisms suspended in the atmosphere. It focuses on the analysis of the microbial communities or microbiomes found in the air samples collected from various environments such as outdoor air, indoor air, and airborne particles. Hence, option (a) is correct.
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