Almost all of the corn used for food in the world today comes from the duplication of a few selected genetic strains. Describe one benefit and one drawback of using this method.

Question

Biology

Maia Nelson

1 January, 08:57

Almost all of the corn used for food in the world today comes from the duplication of a few selected genetic strains. Describe one benefit and one drawback of using this method.

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Answers (2)

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Kallie Hancock · Answer 1

The benefit is that corn plants will always yield a consistent product because farmers selected against negative genetic characteristics. However, if there's an environmental change or the threat of a disease, there would be little genetic variation in the crop to improve its chances of survival.

Explanation:

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Cesar Yang · Answer 2

One benefit is the adaptability and survivability of the corn in a condition that favors this genetic strain.

They are all susceptible to almost the same unfavorable condition and lack adaptability.

Explanation:

Since all the corns have the same genetic strain, this means that they all are closely related and are probably progeny of the same long line of corn. Having the same genetic strain can be favorable if this strain has been selected to suit the conditions of their cultivation area and also to bolster resistance to some dangerous diseases.

In the case where a new condition or disease outbreak is the case, then this is a set back since the genetic strain has not been used to this new conditions. This can lead to extensive damage that may even be close to, if not lead to a complete extinction of this particular corn strain.