Describe how scientists can use plant breeding programmes to produce maize plants with larger cobs.
- Edexcel - GCSE Biology - Question 3 - 2015 - Paper 1
Question 3
Describe how scientists can use plant breeding programmes to produce maize plants with larger cobs.
Worked Solution & Example Answer:Describe how scientists can use plant breeding programmes to produce maize plants with larger cobs.
- Edexcel - GCSE Biology - Question 3 - 2015 - Paper 1
Step 1
Selection of individuals with favourable characteristics
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Answer
Scientists begin by identifying and selecting maize plants that exhibit desirable traits, specifically those with larger cobs. This selection ensures that only the best genetic material is utilized for breeding.
Step 2
Cross breeding of selected individuals
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Answer
Next, scientists perform cross-breeding by planting seeds from the selected maize varieties together. This process encourages the mixing of genes from the selected plants, potentially leading to offspring with larger cobs.
Step 3
Selection of offspring
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After the plants have matured, the scientists assess the resulting offspring to identify any that display the desired trait of larger cobs. This allows for the continued refinement of the traits in the population.
