Micro propagation is Used to Clone Plants

Question 1

How can plants be cloned from existing plants?

Answer 1

By a technique called micropropagation

Question 2

1) what is taken from the planted selected to be cloned?

Answer 2

Small pieces (explants) takes from the tips of stems and the side shoot

Question 3

2) what is done to the explants and why?

Answer 3

They are sterilised to kill any microorganisms

Question 4

3) the explants are then grown ‘in vitro’ - what does this mean?

Answer 4

They’re placed in a petri dish containing a nutrient medium

Question 5

3) what does the medium have/contain?

Answer 5

Has all the nutrients the explants need to grow

Contains growth hormones

Question 6

4) what do the cells in the explants do?

Answer 6

Divide and grow into a small plant

Question 7

4) what can be done if large quantities of plants are required?

Answer 7

Further explains can be taken from these small plants, and so on until enough small plants are produced

Question 8

5) what is done to the explants last?

Answer 8

They are taken out of the medium, planted in soil and put in greenhouses

Question 9

5) what will the explants develop into?

Answer 9

Plants that are genetically identical to the original plants - share the same characteristics