# Explain how selective breeding could be used to develop a new variety of wheat that produces a higher yield of grain.

> Edexcel GCSE Biology (1BI0) — 4.3 Selective breeding and genetic engineering · Explain · 4 marks

> Farmers in the UK are looking to increase food production. One approach involves selectively breeding wheat plants over several generations to obtain a variety that consistently produces more grain per plant than current varieties.

## Mark scheme (4 marks)

1. Select wheat plants that naturally produce the highest yield of grain (and use these as parents)
2. Breed the selected plants with each other (cross-breed / allow them to reproduce)
3. Select offspring with the highest grain yield and breed them again / repeat the process over many generations
4. Eventually a variety of wheat with a consistently higher yield of grain is produced / desirable phenotype is established in the population

## Key terms

- [selective breeding](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/glossary/selective-breeding)

## Related

- [Revision notes for Edexcel GCSE Biology (1BI0)](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/learn)
- [How to answer "Explain" questions](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/tools/command-word-cheatsheet)
- [Practice this with AI marking (free)](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/start)

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Source: [GradeNine](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/q/explain-how-selective-breeding-could-be-00b3325d) · Published by Druglandscape Ltd.