Biology 9700 · AS & A Level · Genetically modified organisms in agriculture

Genetically modified organisms in agriculture — practice question

Maize, Zea mays, is a major crop used both as food for people and as feed for animals. Two maize varieties are MON810 and Justina. Justina has been produced by selective breeding (artificial selection), whereas MON810 is a genetically modified (GM) organism.
(a)[4]

MON810 makes a chemical that is poisonous to insect pests, so it is called insect-resistant. Outline how genetic engineering produced the insect-resistance characteristic in MON810.

(b)[4]

Countries differ in how much they grow GM varieties such as MON810 rather than traditional varieties such as Justina. Scientists used computer models to predict what would happen to maize crop yields under two different changes in farming practice: a worldwide ban that cuts GM maize cultivation to $0\%$ everywhere; and every country raising GM maize cultivation to the $88\%$ level of the USA. Table 6.1 presents the outcomes of this modelling for four countries. Explain what the data in Table 6.1 indicates about the social and ethical implications of growing GM maize.

Worked solution & mark scheme

This 8-mark question has a full step-by-step worked solution and mark scheme. One marking point: a gene taken from another species (e.g. $Bacillus\ thuringiensis$)

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