A population of an annual plant species contains early-flowering and late-flowering plants. Flowering time is inherited.
Scientists grew 100 plants of each phenotype under two patterns of rainfall.
| Rainfall pattern | Phenotype | Plants that produced seeds out of 100 | Mean number of viable seeds per plant that produced seeds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Short rainy season | Early-flowering | 68 | 24 |
| Short rainy season | Late-flowering | 31 | 30 |
| Long rainy season | Early-flowering | 82 | 20 |
| Long rainy season | Late-flowering | 76 | 32 |
Explain why the proportion of early-flowering plants is likely to increase over several generations when the rainy season is short. Use the data.
The rainy season becomes longer. Suggest how the proportion of late-flowering plants is likely to change over several generations. Use the data.
122 exam-style questions on OCR GCSE Biology 5.2 Natural selection and evolution, covering 5.2.1 Genetic variation within a population, 5.2.2 Developments in classification systems, 5.2.3 How evolution occurs through natural selection, 5.2.4 Evolution as change over time, 5.2.5 Evidence for evolution, and 5.2.6 Darwin and Wallace. Each one has a worked solution and a mark scheme showing where the marks go.