6.4 Cloning and Biotechnology

Question 1

what’s a clone ? 1

Answer 1

Genetically identical organisms or cells

Question 2

give 2 examples of clones in fungus and bacteria ? 2

Answer 2

• bacteria = binary fission

- fungi=Budding

Question 3

advantages of natural cloning ?2

Answer 3

1- if growing conditions are good = rapid

2-reproduce to increase the population when sexual reproduction isn’t possible

Question 4

Disadvantages of Natural cloning ?5

Answer 4

• offspring overcrowded
• loss of genetic diversity
• variation goes down
• selection not possible
• unlikely to adapt to change

Question 5

Whats vegetative propagation ? 1

Answer 5

natural cloning via cuttings

Question 6

what are the 2 methods to clone plants ?2

Answer 6

• cuttings

- micropropagation ( tissue culture )

Question 7

how would you clone a plant via cuttings ?

3

Answer 7

• take cutting from stem or leaf or roots
  -place in moist soil
  -dip in growth hormone if needed
  then roots will grow

Question 8

outline micropropagation and tissue culture?

6

Answer 8

1-take plant and cut into small pieces called EXPLANTS
2-sterilise EXPLANT with alcohol
3.place on sterile growth medium+ auxin , cytokinin to stimulate mitosis = agar gel . A CALLUS will form
4.CALLUS will divide to produce larger number of small clumps of undifferentiated cells
5.they will then grow , divide , to make different plant tissues achieved in different plant mediums
6.the plantlets are then transferred into a greenhouse

Question 9

what are the advantages of tissue culture ? 5

Answer 9

• rapid
• can happen when sexual reproduction is not possible
• offspring can display desirable characteristics
• uniform phenotype means that they’re easy to grow
• If Apical bud in meristem is used as explains it means that will be free from virus’
• unusual combo of characteristics can be retained !

Question 10

what are the disadvantages of tissue culture ? 5

Answer 10

• expensive
• requires skill so its labour intensive
• can fail easily due to contamination
• cant select so variation goes down
• diseases spread quickly

Question 11

why do plants grow suckers after main stem is damaged ?
what does the main stem contain ? 4
2 points

Answer 11

• Main stem releases plant hormones and growth substances so if production is changed then the roots are stimulated to grow suckers.
• changing conditions i.e.: less shade stimulate growth for suckers on roots.

Question 12

why does vegetative cloning use meristematic tissue ?

2

Answer 12

-The meristem is the region of stem cells. These are cells that divide by mitosis and are capable of differentiating into all types of cell.

Question 13

why do farmers who want a large number of plants with unusual characteristics need to use cloning ?
4

Answer 13

• Sexual reproduction introduces genetic variation.
• Meiosis recombines the alleles and fertilisation is random. -Therefore using sexual reproduction could mean that the unusual combination of characteristics is lost.
• Cloning the plant will maintain the genetic combinations and so maintain the characteristics.

Question 14

why does tissue culture require sterile conditions ?

2

Answer 14

• microorganisms can grow

- they cause the decay of explants

Question 15

whats a callus ? 1

Answer 15

• A group of stem cells that forms an undifferentiated mass.

Question 16

what are the advantages of using an injection of cloned cells to repair a damaged heart rather than surgery ?
4

Answer 16

• no chance of rejection
• no donor needed
• no surgery which could have serious complications =less trauma .
• less chance of infection

Question 17

what are the advantages of sexual reproduction ?

4

Answer 17

+ keeps genetic variation
+ can select so evolution can happen
+ hence less vulnerable to disease
+ meiosis recombines the alleles and fertilisation is random

Question 18

whats biotechnology ? 2

Answer 18

the use of living organisms or parts of living organisms in industrial processes .

Question 19

name some examples of biotechnology within food ?
name 3 and what organism they use ?
6

Answer 19

1) ethanol in beer and wine uses yeast
2) CO2 in bread used to make it rise (yeast)
3) lactic acid used to make yoghurt and cheese (Lactobacillus bacteria)
4) Mycoprotein used to make vegetarian food =quorn (Fusarium Venenatum fungus )
5) Soya used to make soya sauce( used yeast of Aspergillus )

Question 20

Name some drugs that used biotechnology
name two examples and what they use
4

Answer 20

1) Penicillin =Pencillium Fungus
2) antibiotics = streptomyces bacteria and some other fungi
3) insulin =GM bacteria

Question 21

Name some genetically engineered enzymes ? what are they made from ?
name 3 examples ?

Answer 21

1) protease , lipase in washing powders =bacteria
2) Sucrase =sweetner = Yeasts and Aspergillus spp
3) Amylase =syrup and sweeter =A.oryzae

Question 22

What are the advantages of using microorganism in Biotechnology ?
name 4
4
8 examples to choose from

Answer 22

1) Microorganisms = cheap and easy to grow
2) lower Temperature required = lower energy cost , saves fuel
3) normal atm pressure
4) production cost is not dependent on climate = can happen anywhere
5) microorganisms reproduce quickly
6) microorganism can be Genetically modified easily
7) fewer ethical considerations to take into account
8) products -= purer and also released into surrounding medium so easy to harvest

Question 23

why does penicillium make antibiotics ?

4

Answer 23

• Penicillium is a fungus
• When fungus and Bacteria are together and resources are limited then the fungus secretes Antibiotic to kill the surrounding bacteria
• this means that more food is available for the fungus
• so this is a defence mechanism for the fungus

Question 24

how can cows produce human antibodies ?

2

Answer 24

• insert the human gene for human antibody into cow

- the cow genome will express this precise protein