# Selective breeding is used by farmers to improve crop plants. Explain how a farmer could use selective breeding to produce a wheat crop that consistently gives a high yield over several generations.

> Pearson Edexcel A-Level Biology A (9BI0) — Topic 8 Use of Biological Resources · Explain · 5 marks

> Farmers have been using selective breeding for thousands of years to improve the characteristics of crop plants. A farmer wants to develop a variety of wheat that reliably produces a high yield of grain each harvest.

## Mark scheme (5 marks)

1. Identify plants from the existing population that show the desired characteristic (high yield)
2. Allow only these selected plants to breed together / cross-pollinate
3. Select offspring that show the highest yield from the next generation
4. Repeat the process over many generations
5. Over time the desired characteristic (high yield) becomes more common / the plants consistently produce a high yield because the alleles for high yield are passed on to offspring

## Key terms

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

## Related

- [Revision notes for Pearson Edexcel A-Level Biology A (9BI0)](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/selective-breeding-is-used-by-farmers-414089df) · Published by Druglandscape Ltd.