Scientists have genetically modified a crop plant so that it makes a toxin. The toxin kills insects that feed on the plant. How could this help to feed a growing human population?
The toxin acts as a fertiliser, so the crop plants grow more quickly.
The toxin kills pathogens in the soil, so the roots take up more water.
Less of the crop is eaten by insects, so a larger yield is harvested.
The dead insects add extra minerals to the soil for the crop to use.
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.