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Figure 6 shows a faulty form of meiosis that can occur in some plants - AQA - A-Level Biology - Question 6 - 2018 - Paper 1

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Figure 6 shows a faulty form of meiosis that can occur in some plants. Figure 6 Chromosome content of a diploid parent cell 1st division of meiosis Two daughter ... show full transcript

Worked Solution & Example Answer:Figure 6 shows a faulty form of meiosis that can occur in some plants - AQA - A-Level Biology - Question 6 - 2018 - Paper 1

Step 1

Complete Figure 7 to show the chromosome content of the cells that would result from a normal meiotic division of the diploid parent cell shown in Figure 6.

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Answer

In Figure 7, after the 1st division of meiosis, each of the two daughter cells will contain one long and one short chromosome. The chromosome content will then be:

  • After 1st division: 1 long and 1 short chromosome in each cell (1n).
  • After 2nd division: Four daughter cells, each containing either a long or a short chromosome, resulting in two cells with long chromosomes (1n) and two cells with short chromosomes (1n).

Step 2

Complete Table 3 to show the expected number of plants that did not produce 2n gametes and the expected number of plants that did produce 2n gametes after 1 cycle.

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Answer

For each observed value in Table 3, we calculate the expected values based on the null hypothesis. At breeding cycle 1, if 14 plants produced 2n gametes, the remaining expected plants that did not produce them would be:

  • Expected number that did not produce 2n gametes: 42 - 14 = 28

For the first breeding cycle, the expected numbers are:

  • Plants that produced 2n gametes: 14
  • Plants that did not produce 2n gametes: 28

Step 3

What does this result suggest about the difference between the observed and expected results and what can the scientists therefore conclude?

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Answer

The calculated chi-squared value of 350 is much greater than the critical value of 3.841. This suggests a significant difference between observed and expected frequencies.

Consequently, the null hypothesis can be rejected, indicating that the proportion of plants producing 2n gametes has changed from one breeding cycle to the next.

Step 4

Use your knowledge of directional selection to explain the results shown in Table 3.

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Answer

Directional selection may have occurred as the breeding cycles progressed, favoring traits that promote the production of 2n gametes. As plants that produced 2n gametes are selected over others, their frequency in the population increases, possibly leading to an overall increase in plants that exhibit this trait in subsequent cycles. This could explain the observed changes in the numbers of plants yielding 2n gametes across breeding cycles.

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