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A-LevelBiologySelection and evolutionOct/Nov 2021Paper 4 Q85 Marks

Twenty million years ago, an ocean covered the area where the country of Panama is now located. There was a gap between the continents of North America and South America through which the waters of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans flowed freely. The porkfish, Anisotremus sp, lived in this area between North America and South America. Fig. 8.1 shows a porkfish. [Figure 8.1] About 3 million years ago, volcanic activity and sedimentation formed a narrow strip of land, Panama, joining North America and South America. Fig. 8.2 shows the area 20 million years ago and now. [Figure 8.2] Twenty million years ago, porkfish in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans were able to breed successfully and produce fertile offspring. Explain why Atlantic porkfish and Pacific porkfish are now not able to breed successfully to produce fertile offspring.

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The correct answer is . This question tests the candidate's understanding of selection and evolution within the Biologysyllabus. The examiner's mark scheme requires...

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About This A-Level Biology Question

This structured question appeared in the Cambridge A-Level Biology (9700) Oct/Nov 2021 examination, Paper 4 Variant 2. It tests the topic of Selection and evolution and is worth 5 marks.

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