Biology 9700 · AS & A Level · Natural and artificial selection

Natural and artificial selection — practice question

Maize is a major food crop that has been improved through both selective breeding and genetic modification.
(a)[4]

Outline how selective breeding has been applied to improve maize.

(b)[3]

Fig. 4.1 shows part of a maize cob. A cob is made up of many individual seeds called kernels. Each kernel is produced by a separate fertilisation between a male and a female gamete. Some kernels are yellow and some are purple. Name the type of variation shown in Fig. 4.1. Suggest a genetic explanation for this colour pattern.

(c(i))[4]

Describe and suggest an explanation for the link between the area of Bt crops grown and the number of resistant pest species.

(c(ii))[2]

Suggest one social advantage and one environmental advantage of growing this Bt maize.

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