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Lucilia cuprina, the sheep blowfly, lays its eggs in wounds and the wet fleece of sheep - VCE - SSCE Biology - Question 23 - 2008 - Paper 1
Question 23
Lucilia cuprina, the sheep blowfly, lays its eggs in wounds and the wet fleece of sheep. The larvae hatch and burrow into the sheep’s skin, causing distress, reduced... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:Lucilia cuprina, the sheep blowfly, lays its eggs in wounds and the wet fleece of sheep - VCE - SSCE Biology - Question 23 - 2008 - Paper 1
Step 1
a chance mutation in a blowfly gene conferring a survival advantage in the chemical environment.
Answer
The most likely cause of increased resistance to the chemicals is a chance mutation in a blowfly gene that provides a survival advantage in a chemical environment. Over time, these genetic mutations can lead to a population of sheep blowflies that are less affected by the insecticides previously used to control them. This phenomenon is a classic example of natural selection, where traits that confer an advantage become more common in the population.