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Farmers selectively breed chickens to produce larger chickens - Edexcel - GCSE Biology - Question 5 - 2020 - Paper 1
Question 5
Farmers selectively breed chickens to produce larger chickens. Figure 9 shows how the size of chickens has changed over time. (i) Explain how farmers have used sel... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:Farmers selectively breed chickens to produce larger chickens - Edexcel - GCSE Biology - Question 5 - 2020 - Paper 1
Step 1
Explain how farmers have used selective breeding to produce larger chickens.
Answer
Farmers utilize selective breeding by choosing parent chickens with desirable traits, such as size. These selected chickens are then mated to produce offspring that inherit those traits. Over time, by continually selecting the largest chickens for breeding, the average size of the chicken population increases. This process is called artificial selection, where human intervention impacts the genetic traits that are passed on to future generations.
Step 2
Describe one benefit and one risk of selectively breeding chickens.
Answer
Benefit: One major benefit of selectively breeding chickens is the increased size and productivity of the birds, resulting in greater meat or egg production, which can improve food supply and farming profitability.
Risk: One risk associated with selective breeding is reduced genetic diversity, which can lead to increased vulnerability to diseases. If a large population shares the same genetic makeup, an outbreak of a disease could potentially wipe out a significant portion of the flock.
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Step 6
State two benefits of discovering the sequence of bases for all plants and animals.
Answer
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Understanding genetic sequences can help in identifying specific genes responsible for traits, which facilitates advances in agriculture and medicine by improving crop yields or developing targeted therapies.
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Sequencing DNA can aid in conservation efforts by identifying genetic diversity within endangered species, thus providing crucial information for effective management and preservation.