Question 19M.2.SL.TZ2.j
| Date | May 2019 | Marks available | [Maximum mark: 2] | Reference code | 19M.2.SL.TZ2.j |
| Level | SL | Paper | 2 | Time zone | TZ2 |
| Command term | Discuss | Question number | j | Adapted from | N/A |
Discuss whether natural selection would favour the transgenic EBF-producing thale cress plants if they were released into the wild.
[2]
a. mutant aphids/varieties may be indifferent to/attracted to transgenic plants as these do not present a hazard «not favour» ✔
b. initially/for limited time the plants would thrive as the aphids would be «largely»repelled and thus not eat the plants «so natural selection would favour them» ✔
c. over time/in a few generations, the aphids population become more resistant/more attracted/less repelled to EBF and return to feed on the plants so long-term benefit very limited «so natural selection would not favour them» ✔
d. the aphids resistant to EBF would not respond to other aphid alarms and «likely»be more readily eaten by predators «so the long-term benefit to plants could be supported by natural selection» ✔
The answers must indicate whether natural selection would support or not for each statement.
There was some discussion in the G2 forms about the amount of reading before points h, I and j. Good candidates could be seen to have read it carefully, underling the key words. Weaker candidates not so. Very few candidates scored both marks in j as they just wrote about one possibility. Perhaps the answer box should have been larger.
