Gene Pool Centers
Unlike the other schemes in biodiversity, the classification of gene pool centers is demarcated on the basis of the Genetic diversity of a place. Because of diversity this region must have been the place where the genes and species from the wild were first introduced into agriculture. Such centers are important to find the solution to diseases and infections in plants. Because the wild will always have genes that are resistant and Resilient to such infections.
The schemes of classification of biodiversity based on gene pool centers were given by Carl Sauer who identified 4 gene pool centers and Nikoli Vavilov identified 8 centers.
Carl Sauer's scheme of 4 gene pool centers
- Guatemala-Mexico region
- Origin of corns and Beans
- Western Indian and Mediterranean
- Home of wheat and barley
- Northern China
- Home of millets and Soybean
- Ethiopian and Abyssinian region
- Home of Jowar and coffee
- Teff millet - From which millets like Jowar have originated
- Kaffa - Ethiopia and Yemen - Source gene of coffee
The more common scheme is that of Nikoli Vavilov and the Gene centers are also referred to as Vavilov's centers.
Vavilov's 8 Gene Pool centers
- South-Mexican & Central-American
- South-American
- Mediterranean
- Middle-East
- Ethiopian
- Central-Asian
- Indian except for North-India
- The China Centre including North-India
Previous years questions
2019: Why is it necessary to conserve the genetic diversity of species? Do protected areas serve
any useful purpose in this context?