Advantages and Disadvantages of cloning

Question 1

What are the advantages of cloning for both animals and plants?

Answer 1

all the offspring will be…
- genetically identical
- have desired trait/phenotype
- faster than artificial selection
- infertile organisms can be reproduced

Question 2

What are the advantages of cloning for animals?

Answer 2

• all offspring will be the same sex
  
  • female cows - milk production
• avoid mating risks
  
  • praying mantids

Question 3

What are the advantages of cloning for plants?

Answer 3

• faster than growing from seeds
• plants can be cultured indoors
  
  • any season/time of the year

Question 4

What are the disadvantages of cloning for both animals and plants?

Answer 4

• no genetic diversity in offspring
  
  • more susceptible to environmental factors e.g. disease
• cloning success rate very low
• expensive and labour intensive

Question 5

What are the disadvantages of cloning for animals?

Answer 5

• cloned animals have a shorter life span e.g. Dolly the sheep

Question 6

What are the disadvantages of cloning for plants?

Answer 6

• contamination can destroy the whole crop