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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 ( nT) and homozygous short ( n) pea plants. The offspring from this cross, known as the F1 generation, were all tall. This indicated that the tall allele is dominant because it expressed itself in the phenotype of all offspring. In the subsequent F2 generation, when F1 plants were self-crossed, the observed phenotypic ratio was approximately 3 tall to 1 short. This demonstrated that the tall allele (T) is dominant over the short allele (t) since the short phenotype only appeared when an individual had two recessive alleles.
Step 2
Explain why asexual reproduction in strawberries is beneficial to strawberry farmers.
Answer
Asexual reproduction in strawberries is beneficial to farmers as it allows for rapid multiplication of plants with desirable traits. Since a single strawberry plant can produce multiple runners, farmers can increase their crop yield with minimal effort. This method reduces both the time and cost associated with planting seeds, leading to a more efficient and profitable farming operation.
Step 3
Explain why seed production is an advantage to the strawberry plant.
Answer
Seed production is advantageous to the strawberry plant because it facilitates genetic diversity and population resilience. By producing seeds, the plant can propagate and spread to new areas, thus increasing its chances of survival. Furthermore, seeds allow for natural selection to take place, favoring the growth of fitter plants which can adapt better to environmental changes. This promotes a healthier and more sustainable population of strawberry plants.