The property of a genetic marker

Options

A. Polymorphism
B. Monomorphism
C. Always with a known function
D. Always a repertitive sequence

Answer

**Step-by-Step Solution:**

1. **Understanding Genetic Markers:**
- A genetic marker is a specific DNA sequence that has a known physical location on a chromosome. It can be used to identify individuals or species and to link genetic traits or diseases to specific genes.

2. **Properties of Genetic Markers:**
- Genetic markers have several properties that make them useful in genetics. These properties include:
- **Polymorphism:** This refers to the presence of two or more variants (alleles) at a particular DNA location within a population. Polymorphic markers are useful for studying genetic diversity and inheritance.
- **Monomorphism:** This indicates that there is only one allele present at a specific location in a population, which is not typical for genetic markers.
- **Repetitive Sequences:** Many genetic markers consist of repetitive DNA sequences, which can be useful for certain types of genetic analysis.
- **Known Function:** While some markers may have known functions, many do not, making them less useful for certain applications.

3. **Linking Genetic Markers to Inherited Traits:**
- Genetic markers help in linking inherited diseases to specific genes. This is because markers that are physically close to a gene on a chromosome are likely to be inherited together with that gene.

4. **Conclusion:**
- Among the options provided, the property that best describes a genetic marker is **polymorphism**. This is because genetic markers are typically polymorphic, meaning they exhibit variation within a population.

5. **Final Answer:**
- The correct answer is **polymorphism**.

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