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CAIE A-Level Biology A2 17.2 Natural and Artificial Selection Questions

Practise selection questions by tracing selection pressures, allele-frequency changes, Hardy-Weinberg calculations and selective-breeding decisions in populations.

Syllabus
2028–2030
Course
Biology 9700
Level
A2

Exam points

  • trace selection pressure to differential survival, reproduction and allele-frequency change
  • interpret drift, founder effects or Hardy-Weinberg calculations from population data
  • outline selective breeding using selection, inbreeding, hybridisation and uniform F1 crops

Covered syllabus points

17.2.1—Natural selection mechanism17.2.2—Stabilising, disruptive and directional selection17.2.3—Effects on allele frequencies17.2.4—Antibiotic resistance and selection17.2.5—Hardy-Weinberg principle17.2.6—Selective breeding principles17.2.7—Selective breeding examples

Question 1

[Maximum number: 5]

Natural selection occurs in populations, such as in populations of sea blush plants.

Explain why natural selection occurs in populations.

Question 2

[Maximum number: 9]

Question (a)

(a)

Humans use selective breeding to improve the features of crop plants and domestic animals.

[ 6 ]

Question (i)

(i)

State another term for selective breeding.

[ 1 ]

Question (ii)

(ii)

Describe how selective breeding can be used to improve the milk yield of dairy cattle.

[ 5 ]

Question (b)

(b)

Explain what is meant by disruptive selection.

[ 3 ]

Question 3

[Maximum number: 2]

Myosotis is a genus of small flowering plants. Many different Myosotis species grow on the islands of New Zealand, which are an important site of Myosotis evolution. Lowland Myosotis species grow at low altitude while alpine Myosotis species grow at high altitude at the tops of mountains.

State two factors, other than natural selection, that could drive genetic changes in populations of Myosotis.

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