22 - Cloning and Biotechnology Flashcards
Which type of reproduction is a type of cloning?
Asexual reproduction
What is cloning?
The production of offspring genetically identical to each other and to the parent
What is vegetative propagation also known as?
Natural cloning in plants
What happens in vegetative propagation?
A structure forms from a part of the parent plant which is genetically identical to the parent
What are 3 parts of a plant which vegetative propagation can occur from?
Leaves, roots, stem
What is vegetative propagation a means of except asexual reproduction?
Surviving from one growing season to the next
What do perennating organs enable a plant to do?
Survive adverse conditions
What are 4 examples of plant parts where natural cloning occurs?
- Rhizomes 2. Bulbs 3. Runners 4. Tubers
What is a rhizome?
A specialised underground stem which is often used as a food store
What is natural cloning used for in horticulture?
Producing new plants
What are 2 advantages of using natural cloning in horticulture?
- Increases plant numbers cheaply 2. Gives many genetically identical plants
What is often applied to cuttings to promote root growth?
Rooting powders
What can be taken from a plant for use in natural cloning?
Cuttings
What are 2 advantages of using cuttings instead of seeds to grow new plants?
- Much faster 2. Guarantees good quality of plants if the parent plant is of good stock
What is the main disadvantage of growing new plants using cuttings?
Lack of genetic variation in offspring can have negative impact if a new disease or pest appears
What are 4 plants commonly grown using cuttings?
- Bananas 2. Cassava 3. Sugar cane 4. Sweet potatoes
What is the most commonly used technique to artificially clone plants?
Micropropagation using tissue culture
What is micropropagation?
The process of making large numbers of genetically identical offspring from a single parent plant using tissue culture techniques
In what 5 situations would micropropagation be used to grow new plants?
“1. When the parent plant doesn’t readily produce seeds 2. When the plant doesn’t respond well to natural cloning 3. When the plant is very rare 4. When the plant has been genetically modified or selectively bred with difficulty 5. When the plant is required to be pathogen-free “
What can scientists in the field use to keep plant tissues sterile during micropropagation?
The sterilising tablets used to sterilise drinking water
What is used to sterilise plant tissue in industrial micropropagation?
Large sterilising units
What is the material removed from the plant in micropropagation called?
The explant
Why is a plant sterilised using water sterilisation tablets more likely to remain sterile?
The chemical doesn’t have to be washed off
What are 2 plant hormones found in the mixture used in micropropagation?
Auxins and cytokinins