Question 23M.3.SL.TZ2.11
| Date | May 2023 | Marks available | [Maximum mark: 4] | Reference code | 23M.3.SL.TZ2.11 |
| Level | SL | Paper | 3 | Time zone | TZ2 |
| Command term | Comment, Outline | Question number | 11 | Adapted from | N/A |
Genetically modified, glyphosate-resistant soybeans have been used in agriculture for several decades.
Outline one benefit of using genetically modified, glyphosate-resistant soybeans.
[1]
- use less herbicide;
- higher crop yields;
- prevents soil erosion/no-till farming;
- due to genetic modifications of the soybeans, glyphosate kills weeds/is a herbicide but does not affect the soybeans/ OWTTE;
The benefits of glyphosate resistant plants were well known.
The graph shows the number of glyphosate-resistant weed species in the world over the past three decades.
[Source: Heap, I. The International Herbicide-Resistant Weed Database. [online].
Available at: www.weedscience.org [Accessed 6 July 2023].]
The use of glyphosate-resistant crops has increased greatly in the world in the last decades. Comment on the environmental impact of using glyphosate-resistant crops.
[3]
- as use of glyphosate increases, the number of glyphosate-resistant weeds increases;
- the gene for resistance must have passed from the soybean to the weeds
OR
the weeds have developed resistance by natural selection; - the effect of the herbicide/glyphosate is reduced if there are increased numbers of resistant weeds;
- the number of resistant weeds may continue to increase;
- increased use of glyphosate related to increased cancer/malformations
OR
impact on other organisms/disrupts the gut bacteria in animals;
Usually, only one mark was achieved in (b) due to vague descriptions of the impact of herbicide-resistant crops. Few mentioned the possible harmful effects of glyphosate on humans or other organisms. Herbicides were often confused with pesticides.
