A plant breeder is investigating whether tolerance to low water availability is inherited.
Offspring from parent plants R and S were grown in identical small pots for six weeks. The offspring from each parent were divided between two watering treatments. All other conditions were kept the same.
| Parent of offspring | Water added per day in cm³ | Offspring surviving after six weeks in % |
|---|---|---|
| R | 10 | 84 |
| R | 30 | 96 |
| S | 10 | 51 |
| S | 30 | 95 |
Calculate the percentage decrease in survival when the daily volume of water was reduced from 30 cm³ to 10 cm³ for the offspring of each parent.
Give both answers to one decimal place.
Which group of surviving offspring should the breeder select for breeding the next generation?
Explain how the results provide evidence that tolerance to low water availability is inherited.
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.