Biology 9700 · AS & A Level · Natural and artificial selection
Natural and artificial selection — practice question
Artificial selection has been practised for thousands of years. One example is the Santa Gertrudis breed of cattle, which grow quickly and can tolerate high temperatures and high humidity. This breed was developed from the following two breeds: English shorthorn cattle, which grow quickly but do not tolerate high temperatures and high humidity; Brahman cattle from India, which tolerate high temperatures and high humidity.
(a)[3]
Explain how artificial selection was used to produce Santa Gertrudis cattle.
(b)[2]
Suggest two other characteristics that could be selected during artificial selection in cattle.
(c)[3]
Artificial selection may lead to inbreeding. Suggest problems that may arise from inbreeding.
Worked solution & mark scheme
This 8-mark question has a full step-by-step worked solution and mark scheme. One marking point: “humans serve as the selective agent” …