module 6: cloning and biotechnology

Question 1

how do plants produce natural clones

Answer 1

vegetation propagation

Question 2

what is vegetative propagation

Answer 2

production of plant clones from non-reproductive tissues e.g. roots, leaves, stems

Question 3

how can a plant clone be produced from a cutting

Answer 3

use scalpel to take cutting at end of stem
remove leaves from lower end of cutting
dip end in rooting powder
plants cutting in suitable pot of growth medium
moist warm environment needed with plastic bag
when cutting formed roots and strong enough, can be placed elsewhere

Question 4

how can plants be artificially cloned

Answer 4

tissue culture
cells taken from original plants root tips and stem
cells sterilised to kill microorganisms
placed on culture medium containing nutrients and growth hormones
when cells dive and grow into small plant, planted in soil and develop genetically identical

Question 5

arguments for plant cloning

Answer 5

desirable genetic characteristics passes on
plants reproduce in any season
less space required
produces lots quickly

Question 6

arguments against plant cloning

Answer 6

undesirable genetic characteristics passed on
cloning plant populations have no genetic variety, disease could kill
production cost high
contamination during culture by microorganisms could prevent culturing

Question 7

how can animals clone naturally

Answer 7

fertilised eggs can split in early stages and develop into multiple embryos with same genetic info

Question 8

how can animals produce artificially

Answer 8

artificial embryo twinning or somatic nuclear cell transfer

Question 9

artificial embryo twinning

Answer 9

egg cell extracted from female and fertilised in petri
left to divide at least once forming embryo
individual cells separated into separate petri so embryos form in each one
embryos implanted into females to act as surrogates
embryos develop inside and offspring born all genetically identical

Question 10

somatic cell nuclear transfer

Answer 10

somatic cell taken from one animal A and nucleus extracted
an unmeasured egg cell taken from another animal B and nucleus removed
nucleus from A inserted into enucleated cell from B so it contains genetic info from A
nucleus and enucleated cell fused and stimulated to divide to produce embryo
embryo implanted into surrogate and clone of A is born

Question 11

what can animal cloning be used for

Answer 11

research such as medicine as variables removed
save endangered species
increase number of desirable characteristics in farming to breed from
can use cells in disease treatment
, cloned embryonic cells from patient less likely to be rejected

Question 12

arguments for animal cloning

Answer 12

desirable characteristics passed on to clones
infertile animals can reproduce
increase population of endangered animals
cloning can happen at any time unlike breeding seasons
new treatments

Question 13

arguments against cloning

Answer 13

difficult, time consuming and expensive
no genetic variety so undesired characteristics passed on and more susceptible to disease
clones may not live as long
controversial using human embryos for stem cells some believe it destroys human life

Question 14

what is biotechnology

Answer 14

use of living organisms in industry to produce food, drugs and other products

Question 15

examples of using microorganisms in industry

Answer 15

brewing, baking, cheese, yoghurt, penicillin, insulin,

Question 16

pros of microorganisms

Answer 16

ones used to make single-cell protein can be grown using organic substrates, useful to remove waste substances
quick, easy and cheap
can be cultured anywhere with right equipment so can help to tackle malnutrition
healthy alternatives to animal protein with single cell protein

Question 17

cons of microorganisms

Answer 17

conditions of growth ideal for others microorganisms so care needs to be taken. in contamination
people may not like idea of eating waste products
single cell protein has different flavour and texture
health problems may arise

Question 18

where are microorganisms grown

Answer 18

fermentation vessels, batch fermentation or continuous

Question 19

what is batch fermentation

Answer 19

where microorganisms grown in individual b watches, one culture ends and different batch of microorganisms grown in vessel

Question 20

what is continuous fermentation

Answer 20

microorganisms continuously grown in fermentation vessel without stopping, nutrients in and waste products out constantly

Question 21

controls in fermentation

Answer 21

pH, temp, access to nutrients, volume of oxygen, vessel kept sterile

Question 22

how to grow microorganisms in lab

Answer 22

agar plate- sterile Petri dish
microorganisms transferred from sample using sterile tool like inoculation loop or spreader, incubate plates to allow growth, nutrients can be added to agar to improve growth

Question 23

aseptic techniques in culturing

Answer 23

regular disinfection of surfaces
work ear bunsen flame
sterilise instruments before and after use by passing through burner
pass neck of container through flame
minimise time agar is open sterile all glassware
wear lab coat