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CAIE A Level Biology 9700 · Selection and evolution

Selection and evolution: outline question

Outline6 marksChallenge

A species of ground beetle (Carabus sp.) is widely distributed across a lowland region. A mountain range rises in the middle of its range, splitting the population into two separate groups (eastern and western). After 500,000 years, the two populations are morphologically distinct and do not interbreed when brought together.

Outline how this scenario illustrates the process of allopatric speciation, and explain how analysis of DNA sequence data could be used to show the evolutionary relationship between the two populations. Also, outline how sympatric speciation differs from allopatric speciation.

0 words · 6 marks

No account needed for your first marks. Your answer is used only to mark it.

How this question is marked

6 marks, so the mark scheme is looking for about 6 separate creditworthy points. Making the same point twice in different words earns it once.

Outline means: Give the main points briefly. Less detail than describe, but every key step has to be there. One short line per step, in order. The marks are for coverage, not depth.

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