Cloning In Plants

Question 1

What types of cloning are there?

Answer 1

1. Cuttings

2. Micropropagation/tissue culture

Question 2

What is a clone?

Answer 2

An organism that is genetically identical to its parent

Question 3

What is the micropropagation process?

Answer 3

1. Small pieces of the plant placed in agar jelly containing amino acids, growth hormones, water and minerals
2. Shoots are transferred to compost

Question 4

What are the advantages of micropropagation?

Answer 4

1. Large numbers produced rapidly
2. Easier to grow difficult species that can’t through cuttings
3. Produced all year round
4. Large numbers can be stored
5. GM is easier

Question 5

What are the disadvantages of micropropagation?

Answer 5

1. Many are vulnerable to the same diseases
2. Danger of reducing the gene pool
3. No development of any new beneficial characteristics