Subtopic

Evolution & Human Origins

Under theme: Science & Technology

2 PYQs. Learn elimination tricks first, then attempt the questions below.

Questions2

Active years2

Tricks6

Timed practice

Attempt all Evolution & Human Origins PYQs as one test

Every PYQ in this subtopic — exam mode with autosave, negative marking, and explanations after you submit.

2questions
20minutes
−33%per wrong

Practice

Elimination tricks

6 from PYQs

Common distractors and how to eliminate wrong options in this subtopic.

1
Do not confuse Denisovans with other ancient hominin species without understanding their distinct characteris…
1
Do not confuse with broad DNA functions: While all DNA is genetic material, microsatellites have specific cha…

Show 4 more tricks Hide extra tricks

1
Focus on the genetic nature: Microsatellite DNA is a genetic marker, so its applications are in genetic analy…
1
Focus on the scientific context of the term, avoiding options related to unrelated fields like geography or t…
1
Identify the core purpose: It's used for distinguishing individuals/populations and tracing relationships due…
1
Recall that UPSC often picks terms from significant scientific discoveries or ongoing research in the news.

PYQs in this subtopic

2019

2023

UPSC Prelims 2023 hard Science & Technology Open full page

'Microsatellite DNA' is used in the case of which one of the following?

Explanation

* Microsatellite DNA, also known as short tandem repeats (STRs), are highly polymorphic DNA sequences that are widely used in the case of studying the evolutionary relationships among various species of fauna. * Microsatellite DNA analysis is a powerful tool for studying genetic diversity, population structure, and evolutionary relationships among different species of animals. * The variations in the number of repeated DNA sequences in microsatellites can provide insights into the genetic similarities and differences between species, which can be used to infer their evolutionary relationships.

UPSC Prelims 2019 hard Science & Technology Open full page

The word ‘Denisovan’ is sometimes mentioned in the media in reference to -

Explanation

* The word 'Denisovan' is mentioned in the media about ancient humans (or an extinct human relative). * Denisovans were a mysterious group of archaic humans who lived in Asia tens of thousands of years ago. They are most known for being discovered through genetic analysis of fossils, rather than complete skeletal remains.

← All subtopics under Science & Technology