Question

Why are the small numbers of surviving tigers a cause of worry from the point of view of genetics?

Answer 1

Hint: Genetics is defined as a study of heredity. it is a biological process in which parents pass their genes to their children. The small numbers of the tiger mean that there are only a few possible variations of genes available. So it is a cause of worry.

Complete Answer:
1) The small numbers of surviving tigers is a cause of worry because it can result in the loss of genetic variability. This sudden extinction of the tigers and their genes will affect the diversity of nature. The decrease in the tiger population results in a decrease in the genetic pool of the tigers. This might even lead to extinction.
2) During the long process of evolution, these tigers carry the genes which have made them adapt to the particular environment. Genes responsible for survival would not be able to contribute to future generation survival if the tigers become extinct due to any disease or by hunting.

Causes of Tiger extinction:
- Poachers or illegal hunters kill tigers and sell their parts to those people who think that they will get powerful with tiger parts.
- Due to habitat loss tigers are endangered as habitat is the environment where an animal lives.

About 97% of the Tiger population has disappeared. There were nine subspecies of tigers but three have become completely extinct and the remaining six species are critically endangered. If the tigers go extinct the system would collapse and result in loss of genetic variability as well as ecological services like air, water, temperature, etc.

Note: The government has started a number of measures. Some of these are:
- Strengthening of anti-poaching activities.
- The principal approval has been accorded by the National Tiger Conservation Authority for the creation of new Tiger Reserves.