The genetic variation shown by medicinal plant Rauwolfia vomitoria growing in Himalayan ranges, is an example of ________.
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 4
The correct answer is Option (4) → Genetic Diversity
Biodiversity is studied at three levels: genetic, species and ecological. Genetic diversity is the variety within one species.
Option (1) Ecosystem Diversity — Incorrect. This is the variety of ecosystems in a region, such as deserts, forests and wetlands. It concerns many species living together, not one plant.
Option (2) Ecological Diversity — Incorrect. Ecological diversity is another name for diversity at the ecosystem level, so it fails for the same reason.
Option (3) Species Diversity — Incorrect. Species diversity is the number of different species in an area, for example the amphibians of the Western Ghats. Here only one species is involved.
Option (4) Genetic Diversity — Correct. Rauwolfia vomitoria plants from different Himalayan ranges differ in the potency and amount of reserpine they make. This variation within one species is genetic diversity.
Note: A similar question was also asked in CUET (UG) 2023 on 11-06-2023 (Slot 3).
NCERT Extract:
Biodiversity – “… (i) Genetic diversity : A single species might show high diversity at the genetic level over its distributional range. The genetic variation shown by the medicinal plant Rauwolfia vomitoria growing in different Himalayan ranges might be in terms of the potency and concentration of the active chemical (reserpine) that the plant produces.”