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Date May 2018 Marks available 2 Reference code 18M.3.HL.TZ1.10
Level Higher level Paper Paper 3 Time zone Time zone 1
Command term Explain Question number 10 Adapted from N/A

Question

The graph shows the trends of the use of genetically modified corn in the United States (USA) from 2000 to 2015, including herbicide tolerant varieties (HT), insect resistant varieties (Bt) and varieties with both traits combined.

Compare and contrast the use of genetically modified corn in the USA in the years 2000 and 2015.

[2]
a.

Explain how the Bt and HT combined crop was produced.

[2]
b.

Markscheme

a. large increase in (percentage of area planted with) genetically modified corn 

b. Bt and HT together hardly/not planted in the year 2000 but is majority of corn planted in 2015 

c. HT alone has slightly increased while Bt alone has decreased 

d. all 3 types of corn were planted in both 2000 and 2015

a.

a. insect-resistant crops contain genes from the soil bacterium (Bacillus thuringiensis) Bt 

b. herbicide (glyphosate) resistance gene has been introduced in plants 

c. (resistance genes introduced) by vectors / physical methods / chemical methods 

d. successfully modified plants are selected for further propagation 

b.

Examiners report

[N/A]
a.
[N/A]
b.

Syllabus sections

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

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