csi wildlife: tracking poachers part i
go to the “csi wildlife click and learn” link on canvas.
csi wildlife
1. define keystone species.
2. according to dr. wasser, ~50,000 african elephants are killed yearly. with an estimated population of 470,000, calculate the percentage lost per year. (show your work)
3. summarize dr. wasser’s research and how it is being used to conserve elephants.
case one - the crime scene
4. describe the goal of the case.
5. identify the major regions or countries where most african elephants live according to the map provided.
how profiling works
6. background: identify what “str” stands for.
7. identify characteristics of an str can vary, or be different, between individuals — circle all that apply.
a. made of nucleotides
b. the repeating unit (set of letters like cta)
c. the flanking sequence
d. the number of times the repeating unit
8. identify what the bands, or lines, on electrophoresis gels represent.
9. technique: list three sources of elephant dna for analysis.
10. describe the role of flanking sequences and primers in pcr.
11. explain why different elephants produce bands representing str fragments of different lengths.
12. explain how scientists can amplify multiple str fragments from an individual in a single

Question

Accepted Answer

### Question 1
# Brief Explanations:
A keystone species is a species that has a disproportionately large effect on its natural environment relative to its abundance. It plays a crucial - role in maintaining the structure of an ecological community, affecting many other organisms in an ecosystem and helping to determine the types and numbers of various other species in the community.
# Answer:
A keystone species is a species that has a disproportionately large impact on its ecosystem relative to its abundance, playing a crucial role in maintaining the structure and function of the ecological community.

### Question 2
# Explanation:
## Step1: Recall the percentage - calculation formula
The formula for calculating the percentage is $	ext{Percentage}=\frac{	ext{Number of elephants killed}}{	ext{Total elephant population}}	imes100\%$.
## Step2: Substitute the given values
We are given that the number of elephants killed per year is $n = 50000$ and the total population is $N=470000$. So, $	ext{Percentage}=\frac{50000}{470000}	imes 100\%$.
## Step3: Calculate the result
$\frac{50000}{470000}	imes 100\%=\frac{5000000}{470000}\% \approx 10.64\%$.
# Answer:
Approximately $10.64\%$

### Question 3
# Brief Explanations:
Dr. Wasser's research likely involves using genetic techniques such as DNA analysis of elephant samples (e.g., from dung, tissue). By analyzing short - tandem repeats (STRs) in elephant DNA, he can identify individual elephants, track populations, and determine the origin of ivory. This information can be used to combat poaching by identifying poaching hotspots, tracking illegal ivory trade routes, and working with law - enforcement to stop poaching activities.
# Answer:
Dr. Wasser's research uses genetic analysis (e.g., STR analysis of elephant DNA) to identify individuals and populations. This information is used to combat poaching by identifying poaching areas, tracking ivory trade, and assisting law - enforcement in conservation efforts.

### Question 4
# Brief Explanations:
The goal of the case is likely to track down poachers who are killing African elephants, using genetic and other forensic techniques to identify the origin of ivory and the individuals involved in the illegal poaching and trade activities, in order to protect elephant populations.
# Answer:
The goal of the case is to use forensic and genetic techniques to track down poachers, identify the origin of illegal ivory, and protect African elephant populations from poaching.

### Question 5
# Brief Explanations:
African elephants are mainly found in countries such as Botswana, Zimbabwe, Tanzania, Kenya, and South Africa. These countries have large savanna and forested areas that provide suitable habitats for elephants.
# Answer:
Some of the major countries where most African elephants live include Botswana, Zimbabwe, Tanzania, Kenya, and South Africa.

### Question 6
# Brief Explanations:
STR stands for Short Tandem Repeat. These are short sequences of DNA where a pattern of two - to - six nucleotides is repeated several times in a row at a particular genomic locus.
# Answer:
STR stands for Short Tandem Repeat.

### Question 7
# Brief Explanations:
The characteristics of an STR that can vary between individuals are the repeating unit (set of letters like CTA) and the number of times the repeating unit repeats. While STRs are made of nucleotides and have flanking sequences, these are not the variable characteristics between individuals in the context of identification.
# Answer:
b. the repeating unit (set of letters like CTA); d. the number of times the repeating unit repeats

### Question 8
# Brief Explanations:
The bands or lines on electrophoresis gels represent DNA fragments of different lengths. In the context of elephant DNA analysis, these fragments are often STR fragments, and the position of the band indicates the length of the DNA fragment.
# Answer:
The bands or lines on electrophoresis gels represent DNA fragments of different lengths, often STR fragments in elephant DNA analysis.

### Question 9
# Brief Explanations:
Three sources of elephant DNA for analysis can be dung (which contains cells from the digestive tract), tissue samples (e.g., from a dead elephant or a non - invasive biopsy), and blood (if available, for example, from a tranquilized or injured elephant).
# Answer:
Dung, tissue samples, blood

### Question 10
# Brief Explanations:
Flanking sequences are the non - repeating DNA sequences on either side of an STR. Primers are short single - stranded DNA sequences that are complementary to the flanking sequences. In PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction), primers bind to the flanking sequences, and DNA polymerase uses them as starting points to amplify the region containing the STR.
# Answer:
Flanking sequences are the non - repeating DNA regions around an STR. Primers are complementary to these flanking sequences and serve as starting points for DNA polymerase to amplify the STR - containing region in PCR.

### Question 11
# Brief Explanations:
Different elephants produce bands representing STR fragments of different lengths because the number of times the repeating unit is repeated in the STR varies between individuals. This variation in repeat number results in different lengths of STR fragments, which are separated by electrophoresis and appear as different bands.
# Answer:
Different elephants have different numbers of repeats in their STRs. This variation in repeat number leads to STR fragments of different lengths, which are separated by electrophoresis and appear as distinct bands.

### Question 12
# Brief Explanations:
Scientists can use multiple primer sets, each specific to a different STR locus, in a single PCR reaction. These primers will bind to the flanking sequences of different STRs, and DNA polymerase will amplify all of the targeted STR fragments simultaneously.
# Answer:
Scientists use multiple primer sets, each specific to a different STR locus, in a single PCR reaction. The primers bind to the flanking sequences of different STRs, allowing DNA polymerase to amplify multiple STR fragments at once.

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QUESTION IMAGE

Question

Explanation:

Question 1

Step1: Recall the percentage - calculation formula

Step2: Substitute the given values

Step3: Calculate the result

Answer:

Question 2