B1.7.1 Why organisms are different HIGHER a) The information that results in plants and animals having similar characteristics to their parents is carried by genes, which are passed on in the sex cells (gametes) from which the offspring develop. b) The nucleus of a cell contains chromosomes, which carry genes that control the characteristics of the body. c) Different genes control the development of different characteristics of an organism. d) Differences in the characteristics of different individuals of the same kind may be due to differences in: ■ the genes they have inherited (genetic causes) ■ the conditions in which they have developed (environmental causes) ■ or a combination of both. B1.7.2 Reproduction a) There are two forms of reproduction: ■ sexual reproduction – the joining (fusion) of male and female gametes. The mixture of the genetic information from two parents leads to variety in the offspring ■ asexual reproduction – no fusion of gametes and only one individual is needed as the parent. There is no mixing of genetic information and so no genetic variation in the offspring. Genetically identical individuals are known as clones. b) New plants can be produced quickly and cheaply by taking cuttings from older plants. These new plants are genetically identical to the parent plant. c) Modern cloning techniques include: ■ tissue culture – using small groups of cells from part of a plant ■ embryo transplants – splitting apart cells from a developing animal embryo before they become specialised, then transplanting the identical embryos into host mothers ■ adult cell cloning – the nucleus is removed from an unfertilised egg cell. The nucleus from an adult body cell, eg a skin cell, is then inserted into the egg cell. An electric shock then causes the egg cell to begin to divide to form embryo cells. These embryo cells contain the same genetic information as the adult skin cell. When the embryo has developed into a ball of cells, it is inserted into the womb of an adult female to continue its development. d) In genetic engineering, genes from the chromosomes of humans and other organisms can be ‘cut out’ using enzymes and transferred to cells of other organisms. e) Genes can also be transferred to the cells of animals, plants or microorganisms at an early stage in their development so that they develop with desired characteristics. ■ new genes can be transferred to crop plants ■ crops that have had their genes modified in this way are called genetically modified crops (GM crops) ■ examples of genetically modified crops include ones that are resistant to insect attack or to herbicides ■ genetically modified crops generally show increased yields. f) Concerns about GM crops include the effect on populations of wild flowers and insects, and uncertainty about the effects of eating GM crops on human health. Q1. Scientists are investigating how to reduce methane emissions from cattle. Most of this methane is emitted by the cows belching. Scientists have found that less methane is belched if the cows eat high-sugar rye grass. This rye grass has been produced by genetic engineering. (i) Suggest how the high-sugar rye grass might have been produced by genetic engineering. ..................................................................................................................................... ..................................................................................................................................... ..................................................................................................................................... ..................................................................................................................................... ..................................................................................................................................... ..................................................................................................................................... (3) (ii) Some people might object to the growing of genetically-engineered, high-sugar rye grass for feeding cattle. Give two reasons why. 1 .................................................................................................................................. ..................................................................................................................................... ..................................................................................................................................... 2 .................................................................................................................................. ..................................................................................................................................... ..................................................................................................................................... (2) (Total 5 marks) Q2. The bean aphid is a type of black-fly which lives on broad bean plants in summer. In the autumn, males and females mate and produce eggs. (a) Name the type of reproduction which produces the eggs. ..................................................................................................(1) (b) In spring these eggs hatch. The young aphids are all female. Explain why they are all similar but not identical to each other. .................................................................................................................................... (1) (c) These females are then able to produce offspring without needing any males. (i) Name the type of reproduction where females do not need males to produce offspring. ........................................................................................................................... (1) (ii) How will the offspring from one of these females: A compare with each other ................................................................................................................. B compare with the offspring from other females? ........................................................................ (2) (d) Some scientists investigated mutations in these aphids. They exposed the aphids to X-rays. They plotted their results. (i) What was the connection between the dose of X-rays and the percentage of mutations? ........................................................................................................................... (1) (ii) Name one other possible cause of mutations. ........................................................................................................................... (1) (Total 7 marks) Q3. The diagram shows how a frog can be cloned. (a) In the example shown, will the cells of the cloned frog be the same as those of frog 1 or frog 2? Explain your answer as fully as possible. ..................................................................................................................................... ..................................................................................................................................... ..................................................................................................................................... ..................................................................................................................................... ..................................................................................................................................... ..................................................................................................................................... (4) (b) Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of cloning compared to sexual reproduction. ..................................................................................................................................... ..................................................................................................................................... ..................................................................................................................................... ..................................................................................................................................... ..................................................................................................................................... ..................................................................................................................................... ..................................................................................................................................... (5) (Total 9 marks) Q4. Insect pests can be controlled without using chemical insecticides. For example, the bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis produces a toxin extremely poisonous to certain species of insects. The gene which produces this toxin has been introduced into tomato plants. It gives them built-in resistance to a range of insect pests, but is not poisonous to humans. (a) Explain, step-by-step, how the tomato plant is made resistant to some insect pests. ..................................................................................................................................... ..................................................................................................................................... ..................................................................................................................................... ..................................................................................................................................... ..................................................................................................................................... ..................................................................................................................................... (4) (b) Give two arguments for and two separate arguments against controlling insect pests in this way. For: 1 .................................................................................................................................. 2 .................................................................................................................................. Against: 1 .................................................................................................................................. 2 .................................................................................................................................. (4) (Total 8 marks) Q5. Cotton crops may become infested with weeds. Scientists are developing geneticallyengineered strains of cotton which resist the action of herbicides. This means that when the crop is sprayed with herbicide, only the weeds are killed. However, there are potential dangers with this procedure. Cotton plants can interbreed with some other species of plants. Evaluate the possible advantages and disadvantages of developing genetically-engineered herbicide-resistant crops. ............................................................................................................................................... ............................................................................................................................................... ............................................................................................................................................... ............................................................................................................................................... ............................................................................................................................................... ............................................................................................................................................... (Total 5 marks)