Final answer:
To assess the impact of a nuclear power plant meltdown on organisms, biologists would find it useful to examine the mutation rate of species in the area and use a molecular clock for genetic comparison within the species, but not radiometric dating or measuring continental drift.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the event of a disaster like a meltdown in a nuclear power plant, biologists would be most interested in examining the potential impacts on organisms living in the area. Among the options provided, the most useful would be to:
- Examine the mutation rate of species in the area. This could help determine if the radiation has increased the mutation rate, potentially leading to genetic disorders or a faster rate of evolution.
- Use a molecular clock to compare the genes of a species that lives near the nuclear plant with those of the same species thousands of miles away. This can provide information on whether the radiation has caused significant genetic changes compared to populations not affected by the radiation.
Options C and D are not directly related to assess the immediate biological impact of radiation on living organisms. Radiometric dating is used to date geological formations and fossils, not to detect biology changes in living organisms. Measuring continental drift would not provide relevant information regarding the impact on organisms due to a nuclear disaster.