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

Natural and artificial selection — practice question

An investigation was undertaken into natural selection in the plant evening primrose, Oenothera biennis.
(a)[4]

Explain how natural selection operated in the non-sprayed populations so that the mean concentration of natural insect-deterring chemicals increased.

(b(i))[1]

Identify the type of natural selection that made the mean concentration of insect-deterring chemicals rise in the non-sprayed populations.

(b(ii))[1]

Identify the type of natural selection that kept the flowering period unchanged in the non-sprayed populations.

(c)[2]

All of the non-sprayed populations showed the same pattern in the results. Explain how this supports the researchers’ conclusion that natural selection caused the patterns and not genetic drift.

Worked solution & mark scheme

This 8-mark question has a full step-by-step worked solution and mark scheme. One marking point: A mutation generated an allele for the insect deterrent

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