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Pre AP Biology -ECO 2.3 Food Webs and Transfer of Energy in Ecosystems- MCQ Exam Style Questions -New Syllabus

Pre AP Biology -ECO 2.3 Food Webs and Transfer of Energy in Ecosystems- FRQ Exam Style Questions – New Syllabus 2025-2026

Pre AP Biology -ECO 2.3 Food Webs and Transfer of Energy in Ecosystems- FRQ Exam Style Questions – Pre AP Biology – per latest Pre AP Biology Syllabus.

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Question

Malaria, a mosquito-borne disease, is traditionally controlled using insecticide-treated bed nets, vaccination, insect repellant and pesticides. However, due to threats of insecticide resistance and climate change, advancements in genetic technologies have allow engineering of the mosquito vectors to reduce the prevalence of mosquito borne diseases like Malaria.
These biotechnologies aim to reduce mosquito population, or replace wild populations with genetically modified mosquitoes without the ability to carry the pathogen.
Evaluate the environmental and social impacts of using this biotechnology to reduce the prevalence of mosquito-borne diseases.

Most-appropriate topic codes:

• TOPIC: GEN 6.1 – Biotechnology: Explain potential benefits and/or consequences of manipulating DNA of organisms.
• TOPIC: ECO 5.2 – Human-Induced Changes in Biodiversity: Predict the potential biological consequences for an ecosystem’s biodiversity.
• TOPIC: ECO 2.3 – Food Webs and Transfer of Energy in Ecosystems: Energy availability helps shape ecological communities.
▶️ Answer/Explanation
Detailed solution

An evaluation of the use of genetically modified (GM) mosquitoes involves weighing the benefits against potential risks in both environmental and social contexts:

Environmental Impacts:

(+) Reduced Chemical Pollution:
Unlike traditional pesticides which can persist in the environment and harm non-target species (such as bees and butterflies), genetic technologies are species-specific. This reduces the overall use of harmful insecticides.

(-) Disruption of Food Webs:
Mosquito larvae and adults serve as a food source for various aquatic animals, birds, and bats. Drastically reducing the mosquito population could negatively impact these predators and disrupt the local food chain.

(-) Niche Replacement:
Eliminating one species of mosquito might create an empty ecological niche. This could allow other, potentially more dangerous or invasive insect vectors to move in and occupy that space.

Social Impacts:

(+) Improved Public Health:
The primary benefit is a significant reduction in the transmission of Malaria. This leads to reduced mortality rates and less chronic illness, particularly benefiting vulnerable groups like children and the elderly.

(+) Economic Benefits:
A healthier population is more productive. Reducing the disease burden lowers healthcare costs for families and governments and prevents loss of income due to illness.

(-) Ethical and Consent Issues:
Releasing GM organisms into the wild raises ethical concerns regarding informed consent. Residents in the release areas often cannot “opt-out” of the experiment, leading to concerns about bodily autonomy and exposure to unknown risks.

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