Question

question 1-1
farmers spray pesticides on their plants to protect the plants from being eaten by insects. some individual insects have a genetic mutation that makes them resistant to the toxin in the pesticides.
which of the following best explains how the continued use of the same pesticide could change the genetic makeup of the insect population over time?
○ the pesticide kills most insects, but those with the resistance mutation survive and pass on the trait, increasing its frequency in the population
○ the pesticide strengthens the plants, which directly alters the insect genes through environmental exposure.
○ the pesticide creates new mutations in all insects, making them resistant.
○ the pesticide causes all insects to reproduce more rapidly, which eliminates the need for genetic mutations.

Explanation:

This question is about the evolution of insect resistance to pesticides, which relates to natural selection in biology. The first option explains that pesticides kill most insects, but resistant ones survive and pass on the trait, increasing its frequency. This matches the concept of natural selection (pesticide is a selective pressure, resistant insects reproduce more). Other options are incorrect: pesticides don't directly alter insect genes (second option), don't create new mutations in all insects (third), and don't eliminate the need for mutations by increasing reproduction (fourth).

Answer:

The pesticide kills most insects, but those with the resistance mutation survive and pass on the trait, increasing its frequency in the population.