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Gregor Mendel investigated the genetics of peas - Edexcel - GCSE Biology - Question 4 - 2016 - Paper 1
Question 4
Gregor Mendel investigated the genetics of peas. He did not know about genes but showed that inherited characteristics can be dominant or recessive. (a) Explain how... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:Gregor Mendel investigated the genetics of peas - Edexcel - GCSE Biology - Question 4 - 2016 - Paper 1
Step 1
Explain how Mendel used homozygous tall and homozygous short pea plants to show that the tall allele is dominant to the short allele.
Answer
Mendel conducted experiments by crossing homozygous tall pea plants (TT) with homozygous short pea plants (tt). All offspring from this cross displayed the tall phenotype, indicating they had a heterozygous genotype (Tt). This consistent observation demonstrated that the tall allele (T) is dominant over the short allele (t).
Step 2
Explain why asexual reproduction in strawberries is beneficial to strawberry farmers.
Answer
Asexual reproduction in strawberries allows for rapid production of new plants, leading to increased yield. This method does not require pollination and can result in many plantlets from a single parent, ensuring a steady supply of strawberries and minimizing reliance on variable environmental conditions, thus enhancing profit for farmers.
Step 3
Explain why seed production is an advantage to the strawberry plant.
Answer
Seed production following fertilisation allows for genetic diversity among offspring, which is crucial for adaptation to changing environmental conditions. Additionally, seeds enable the spread of the strawberry plant over larger areas, increase the chances of survival, and promote natural selection, allowing fitter plants to thrive and propagate.