CLONING & BIOTECHNOLOGY Flashcards
state 4 clones that plants produce naturally
- tubers
- runners
- bulbs
- rhizomes
define ‘clone’
genetically identical group of cells or organisms that arise from a single parent through asexual reproduction or artificial production
state 2 examples of how plant clones can be produced artificially
- taking soft/hard wood cuttings
- tissue culture
describe the process of taking a plant cutting
- cut just below the node
- remove large leaves near the bottom and buds from the top
- dip the end in hormone powder to encourage root development
- place cutting in a pot of moist soil or in a jar of water with a plastic bag over the leaves to reduce water loss
what is micropropagation?
rapid production of many young cloned plants from stock plant material using plant tissue culture methods
describe the process of tissue culture as a form of micropropagation
- small amount of meristematic tissue eg shoot tips, is removed from parent and sterilised
- tissue divided into tiny pieces and placed on growth medium containing nutrients & plant growth factors
- when tissue samples develop roots and shoots, the platelets are transferred to a growing medium eg compost
advantages of micropropagation by tissue culture
- large numbers of quality, identical plants produced quickly
- many clones raised from GM material
- seedless & sterile varieties can be grown for consumer taste
- rare and endangered species can be propagated
disadvantages of micropropagation by tissue culture
- monoculture - susceptible to same disease
- expensive
- requires skilled technician
- plants may become infected during process
4 examples of natural clones in animals
- flatworms divide by binary fission
- hydra produce clones by budding
- starfish grow new body from detached arm (fragmentation)
- parthenogenesis where unfertilised eggs form embryos
- embryo splitting to form identical twins
describe artificial embryo twinning
- ovum is fertilised
- after a few days the embryo is split into 2 which will be identical
describe somatic cell nuclear transfer
- unfertilised ovum has nucleus removed (enucleation)
- fused with somatic body cell using electric shock
- embryo is placed in the uterus of a surrogate mother
advantages of animal cloning
- GM embryos can be replicated
- enables specific animals to be cloned
- potential to produce rare / endangered animals or clone extinct species
disadvantages of animal cloning
- inefficient, low survival rate
- cloned embryos fail to develop, miscarry or are deformed
- cloned animals have short life span
- attempts to clone extinct species have even unsuccessful so far
what is biotechnology?
industrial use of living organisms to produce food, drugs or other product
why are microorganisms used in biotechnology?
- grow rapidly at low temp
- produce extracellular chemical that can be harvested from the growth medium
- can be GM to synthesise useful products
- grown on waste or toxic materials
- can make products with less contamination than in chemical processes
- not climate dependent
- short lifespan
state 6 biotech processes which use microorganisms
- brewing
- baking
- cheese making
- yoghurt making
- bioremediation
- producing antibiotics
what is bioremediation?
using microorganisms to clear up pollution
advantages of using microorganisms to make food
- used to make dairy based foods
- used to make Quorn/ vegetarian meat substitutes
- make yeast or fungus fermented soy based foods
disadvantages of using microorganisms to make food
- personal taste
- some people feel uncomfortable eating food made by microorganisms or food grown on waste
describe culturing microorganisms
- growth of microorganisms
- in liquid broth or solid agar growth medium
- growth medium contains nutrients ideally suited to microorganisms
why must culturing of microorganisms be done in aseptic conditions?
reduce contamination from unwanted or pathogenic microorganisms
describe the aseptic techniques used in culturing microorganisms
- sterilise inoculating loop used to transfer microorganisms to agar by placing it in flame
- dip sterilised loop in suspension of bacteria and make streaks across agar surface
- replace lid on dish to avoid contamination
- seal lid of Petri dish with tape to prevent microorganisms in air contaminating culture
- don’t seal around edge so that oxygen can still enter and harmful anaerobic bacteria don’t grow
describe the growing conditions in a fermentor
- optimum temp, pH, nutrients, oxygen
- maximise yield of required product
what is a batch culture?
- microorganisms are placed in the fermenter in a nutrient medium
- no other nutrients are added
- after a set time period the fermenter is drained and products are harvested
- eg penicillin
