Question

The discovery of useful genes for crop improvement in wild relatives of plants is an example of which type of benefit derived from biodiversity?

Options

• A climate regulation service

• A broadly utilitarian ecological service

• A narrowly utilitarian benefit

• An ethical obligation

Answer 1

Useful genes for crop improvement found in wild relatives of plants represent a narrowly utilitarian benefit, since they are a direct resource obtained from living organisms. Traditional medicines and modern drugs derived from plants and microbes are other examples of such direct benefits.