Corn borers are insects that eat maize plants.
Scientists have produced genetically modified (GM) maize. The GM maize contains a gene from a bacterium. The gene makes a protein that kills corn borers.
The Table shows information about GM maize and non-GM maize grown on the same farm.
Table
| Type of maize | Yield in tonnes per hectare | Number of times sprayed with insecticide each year |
|---|---|---|
| non-GM maize | 8.4 | 4 |
| GM maize | 9.8 | 1 |
Calculate the difference in yield between the GM maize and the non-GM maize.
Use the Table to give two benefits of growing the GM maize.
Explain why the GM maize has a higher yield than the non-GM maize.
Suggest two risks of growing GM maize.
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.