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Date May 2017 Marks available 4 Reference code 17M.3.SL.TZ1.12
Level Standard level Paper Paper 3 Time zone Time zone 1
Command term Discuss Question number 12 Adapted from N/A

Question

Discuss the environmental risks of the cultivation of genetically modified crops.

Markscheme

a. antibiotic resistance «from marker genes» in the crops could be transferred to bacteria 

b. but this has never been demonstrated 

c. the precautionary principle should be applied 

d. genetically modified crops could hybridise with wild plants/other crops 

e. escape «of GM crop» could lead to outcompeting endemic species/wild plants / becoming invasive/superweed 

f. herbicide resistance could develop in wild plants
OR
pesticide resistance could develop in pests 

g. modifications can affect pollinating insects 

h. example of genetically modified crop 
eg Amflora potato / Bt maize

Examiners report

[N/A]

Syllabus sections

Option B: Biotechnology and bioinformatics » Option B: Biotechnology and bioinformatics (Core topics) » B.2 Biotechnology in agriculture
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