Video Transcript
One method to reduce the risk of
extinction is to create gene banks. What are gene banks? (A) A payment that is made toward
the conservation of a species. (B) A secure place where the
genetic material of a species is stored. (C) Small sections of DNA that are
stored and can be genetically engineered into different species. Or (D) a store of genetic material
within an organism that can be extracted to produce new individuals.
You may remember, as this question
indicates, that gene banks can be used in the effort to avoid the extinction of a
species. Extinction refers to the end of the
existence of a species, because all of the living members of that species have died,
leaving no offspring.
We can’t avoid the fact that the
living members of any species will die at some point. So, the purpose of using a gene
bank is to address the issue of offspring. If scientists can use methods to
produce more offspring of a species, they may be able to increase the number of
living individuals and ultimately help prevent the extinction of that species.
How do gene banks help produce more
offspring? Well, gene banks store reproductive
material. For endangered plants, this might
include storing seeds or cuttings of the plants, which can be used to produce more
plants of that species. For animals, gene banks may store
sperm and egg that can likewise used to produce offspring through assisted
reproduction. So, gene banks are where
reproductive material such as seeds, cuttings, sperm, and egg are stored. And they are particularly used to
store the reproductive material of species in danger of extinction, to be used to
try to help prevent that extinction.
Therefore, the correct answer to
this question is (B). A gene bank is a secure place where
the genetic material of a species is stored.
