A gene is added to the genetic material of an avocado plant. This gene makes the avocado fruits stay ripe for longer before they start to decompose. What is this process an example of?
1 adaptation
2 genetic modification
3 selective breeding
A) 1, 2 and 3
B) 1 and 3 only
C) 2 only
D) 3 only
▶️ Answer/Explanation
Ans: C
This process is genetic modification (2) because a foreign gene is directly inserted into the avocado’s DNA to alter its characteristics.
It is not adaptation (1), which occurs naturally over generations, nor selective breeding (3), which involves choosing parents with desired traits. Thus, only option C (2 only) is correct.
Which row shows uses of genetic modification?
▶️ Answer/Explanation
Ans: D
Genetic modification involves directly altering an organism’s DNA. The correct pair is:
- Producing insulin – Genetically modified bacteria produce human insulin
- Creating pest-resistant crops – Genes from bacteria are inserted into plants
Other options mix genetic modification with traditional methods (selective breeding, cross-pollination) which don’t involve direct DNA manipulation.