Question

Gene bank is a collection of
a) Frozen germplasm
b) Spores
c)Seeds
d) All of the above

Answer 1

Hint: Gene banks are present in order to preserve the genetic material of different organisms. This preservation is done in order to revive the endangered species of plants and animals. The gene banks have materials preserved in in-vitro conditions.

Complete answer:
Gene banks are the biorepository that helps in the preservation of the genetic material of different organisms. The animals and plants have the genes stored in such banks. For plant seeds, plant cuttings of the plants are placed in in-vitro conditions. The germplasm of animals like eggs and sperms are frozen and preserved in these gene banks. The gene bank is useful in preserving the genetic material of the species especially the reproductive parts of the species. These gene banks are used for reviving the species of the organism which are endangered and can be extinct in the future. The extinction of organisms can lead to imbalance in the ecosystem which will affect the other related organism. So, it makes the installation of gene banks necessary. The seeds in the gene banks are stored by drying them and reducing their metabolic activity then, they are stored in low temperatures. Spores are also conserved in these gene banks. The asexually reproducing plants are also preserved in these gene banks by taking a cutting or reproductive part of the plant. The pollen grains can also be stored in such gene banks.

So, the answer is ‘all of the above’.

Note: The gene banks are the biorepository where the biological material is stored and preserved for future use. They ensure plant species can be conserved and revived when they are in endangered situations. This helps in maintaining the genetic diversity of the plants.