Question 1: Define natural selection and describe its basic mechanism.

Answer: Natural selection is the process where individuals with advantageous genetic traits are more likely to survive and reproduce, passing those traits to offspring. Its mechanism involves variation, selection pressure, and inheritance.

Question 2: Explain how nanotechnology can alter genetic variation in organisms.

Answer: Nanotechnology can modify genetic material at a molecular level, introduce new genetic variations, or repair mutations, thereby influencing the natural selection process.

Question 1: A population of bacteria has a mutation rate of 2 x 10^-8 mutations per gene per generation. If a gene has 1000 base pairs, how many mutations would you expect per generation in a population of 10^6 bacteria? (Use the formula: mutations = mutation rate x number of base pairs x population size)

Answer: Mutations = 2 x 10^-8 x 1000 x 10^6 = 20 mutations per generation.

Question 1: Design a hypothetical experiment using nanotechnology to increase genetic variation in a plant species. Identify the variables involved and safety precautions to consider.

Answer: Students should describe how nanotech tools like nanoparticle gene delivery systems could be used to introduce new genetic material into plants. Variables include type of nanomaterials, gene sequences, environmental conditions. Safety precautions involve avoiding nanoparticle release into ecosystems, handling nanomaterials with protective gear, and following regulatory guidelines.

Question 1: In a study, a population of insects exposed to a nanotech-based pesticide shows a 15% survival advantage in genetically modified individuals compared to unmodified ones over 10 generations. Describe how this data illustrates the principles of natural selection.

Answer: The data shows that the genetically modified insects with advantageous traits survive and reproduce more successfully, leading to increased frequency of these traits over generations, exemplifying natural selection.

Question 1: Discuss how nanotechnology might accelerate natural selection in microbial populations, considering both benefits and potential risks. (6 marks)

Answer: Nanotechnology can rapidly introduce beneficial genetic variations in microbes, potentially speeding up adaptation to environments or antibiotics. Benefits include improved industrial applications and medicine. Risks involve unintended ecological impacts, development of resistant strains, and ethical concerns about modifying organisms at a molecular level.

Question 1: Explain how nanotechnology could be used to develop crops that are more resistant to pests through natural selection principles. Include potential ethical considerations.

Answer: Nanotech can deliver genes that confer pest resistance, increasing survival rates in plants. Over time, natural selection could favour these traits. Ethical considerations include ecological impacts, gene flow to wild populations, and long-term sustainability.