biotech and cloning Flashcards
what is a clone?
genetically identical organism or cell
Describe natural cloning/ vegetative cloning?
-vegetative propagation
-involves perennating organs which enable plant to survive in adverse conditions.
-perennating organs contain food from photosynthesis and can remain dormant in the soil. They help plants survive through changing seasons.
Natural plant cloning occurs in?
-bulbs
-runners
-rhizomes
-stem tubers
Describe bulbs
e.g daffodil, leaf base swells with stored food from photosynthesis. Buds form internally which develop into new shoots and new plants in the next growing season.
Describe runners
e.g strawberry or spider plant. A lateral stem grows away from the parent plant and roots develop where the runner touches the ground. A new plant develops- the runner eventually withers away leaving the new individual independent.
Describe Rhizomes
e.g marram grass. A rhizome is a specialised horizontal stem running underground, often swollen with stored food. Buds develop and form new vertical shoots which become independent plants.
Describe stem tubers
e.g potato. The tip of an underground stem becomes swollen with stored food to form a tuber or storage organ. Buds on the storage organ develop to produce new shoots.
Why is a rooting hormone often applied to the base of the cutting?
to encourage growth of new roots
What are the advantages of using propagation instead of seeds?
-faster: time for planting and cropping is reduced
-guarantees the quality of the plant as genetically identical
Disadvantages of propagation?
lack of genetic variation which is not helpful during climate change and new disease
what is micropropagation?
process of making large numbers of genetically identical offspring from a single parent plant using tissue culture techniques.
Micropropagation is used when a desirable plant…
-does not readily produce seeds
-doesn’t respond well to natural cloning
-is very rare
-has been genetically modified or selectively bred with difficulty
-is required to be ‘pathogen free’ by growers
Explain the process of micropropagation and tissue culture?
-take sample of tissue from plant (meristem tissue and axial buds) in sterile conditions to avoid contamination
-sample is sterilised by immersing it in sterile agents (e.g bleach, ethanol)
-explant is placed in sterile culture medium containing plant hormones (auxins and cytokinins) which stimulate mitosis. Cells proliferate forming callus.
-callus is divided and separate clumps are transferred to a new culture medium contains a different mixture of hormones which stimulate development of genetically identical platelets
-plantlets are potted into compost which grow to produce a crop
Arguments for propagation?
-rapid production of large number of genetically identical crops which yield good crops
-culturing meristem tissue produces disease free plants
-large production of sterile and seedless plants
-enables growth of infertile plants
-can increase rare or endangered plants
Arguments against propagation
-monoculture, genetically identical
-expensive process
-explants and platelets are vulnerable to infection
-if source of material is infected with virus, so will all the clones
large numbers of new plants can be lost in the process
what is the main form of cloning in vertebrates?
monozygotic twins (identical twins)- the early embryo splits
Describe cloning in invertebrates?
many animals can regenerate from fragments of the original
what are the two methods used in the production of cloning vertebrates?
artificial twinning and somatic nuclear transfer
Describe artificial twinning process (in cows)
-cow with desirable traits is treated with hormones to super-ovulate
-ova can be fertilised naturally or by artificial insemination
-mature eggs are removed and fertilised by top-quality semen
-embryo is split manually
-each embryo is grown in a lab then each embryo is implanted into a surrogate mother
why is one embryo implanted into one surrogate mother?
there are fewer risks but in pigs, more are implanted as they naturally produce litters. The body might reject and reabsorb a single foetus.
what is an enucleated egg cell?
an oocyte which has had its nucleus removed
Describe the process of somatic cell nuclear transfer?
1) the nucleus is removed from an adult somatic cell
2)nucleus is removed from a mature ovum from same species
3) The nucleus from the adult somatic cell is placed into the enucleated ovum and given a mild electric shock so it fuses and begins to divide
4)embryo develops and is implanted into a third animal
Arguments for animal cloning
-fast production of high yielding farm animals
-genetically modified animals can be produced at a large scale
-production of rare, endangered animals
Arguments against animal cloning
-inefficient: takes many eggs to produce one offspring
-many cloned animals fail to develop
-cloned animals have a short lifespan
-no animal welfare
-lack of genetic diversity
what is reproductive cloning?
production of genetically identical individuals
What is biotechnology?
using living organisms or parts of living organisms in an industrial process
biotechnology often involves use of what?
enzymes (biological catalysts)
why are microorganisms ideal in biotechnology?
-no welfare issues
-there is a large range of microorganisms capable of carrying out many different chemical syntheses or degradations that can be used
-genetically engineering allows us to artificially manipulate microorganisms
-microorganisms have a short life cycle and rapid growth rate- large quantities can be made in a short time.
-nutrient requirements or microorganisms are often very simple and cheap.
-bioprocess is relatively cheap as high temp and pressure is not needed
Disadvantages of using microorganisms in biotechnology?
-if conditions are not ideal, microorganisms won’t grow properly and work efficiently
-processes have to be sterile to prevent growth of other microorganisms which may cause disease
-ethical issues worth the use of GM organisms
Describe bread as a product of biotechnology (indirect food production)
-microbe used is Saccharomyces cerevisiae (species of yeast)
-yeast respires anaerobically (glucose-> ethanol + CO2)
-ethanol evaporates and CO2 makes bread rise