In one region, cassava is a major part of the diet, but the diet contains too little vitamin A. Scientists insert genes into cassava cells so that the roots make beta-carotene.
How could growing this GM cassava improve food security in the region?
People can convert the beta-carotene into vitamin A, making the diet more nutritious.
People who eat the cassava take up the inserted genes and start making beta-carotene.
Cassava cells absorb vitamin A from the soil and store it as beta-carotene.
The inserted genes keep the cassava roots firm for longer after they are harvested.
127 exam-style questions on OCR GCSE Biology 6.2 Feeding the human race, covering 6.2.1 Biological factors affecting food security, 6.2.2 Agricultural solutions to growing demand, 6.2.3 Selective breeding, 6.2.4 Genetic engineering, 6.2.5 Steps in genetic engineering, 6.2.6 Benefits and risks of gene technology in agriculture, and 6.2.7 Biotechnological solutions to growing demand. Each one has a worked solution and a mark scheme showing where the marks go.