Question

The most likely reason for the development of resistance to pesticides in insects, damaging a crop, is

• A. Direct mutation
• B. Acquired heritable changes
• C. Random mutation
• D. Genetic recombination

Answer 1

The correct option is C Random mutation

Insect populations become resistant to the insecticides. This is a typical evolutionary process driven by survival of the fittest individuals. Initially, resistant insects result from random mutations caused by some internal (e.g., various molecules bumping against DNA in their chromosomes) or external (e.g., solar radiation) factors. Pesticides will promote the generation of resistant organisms or that resistance to one compound will increase the rate of mutation to a second compound.