A plant nursery has produced one genetically modified strawberry plant. The plant contains a gene from another species. When the gene is expressed, the plant makes a protein that allows it to grow in salty soil.
The nursery uses tissue culture to produce many new strawberry plants. The new plants may be grown in fields near wild strawberry plants.
Explain why the plants produced by tissue culture are all expected to contain the inserted gene.
State one reason why genetic engineering can introduce salt tolerance more quickly than selective breeding.
The technician has sterilised the equipment and a small sample of tissue from the genetically modified plant. The tissue is grown on sterile agar until it forms a mass of cells.
Describe how the mass of cells can be used to produce strawberry plants growing in compost.
Suggest one possible environmental consequence of growing these plants near the wild strawberries.
100 exam-style questions on Edexcel GCSE Biology 4.3 Selective breeding and genetic modification, covering 4.3.1 Selective breeding and its impact, 4.3.2 Tissue culture, 4.3.3 Genetic engineering overview, 4.3.4 Main stages of genetic engineering, 4.3.5 Advantages and disadvantages of GM organisms, 4.3.6 Agricultural solutions for a growing population, and 4.3.7 Evaluating genetic engineering and breeding. Each one has a worked solution and a mark scheme showing where the marks go.