Tissue culture - SB4

Question 1

What is tissue culture?

Answer 1

growing of tissues or cells in a liquid containing nutrients

Question 2

what is tissue culture useful for?

Answer 2

• to grow many identical cells which can then be treated to make them differenciate
• tissue culture is used to produce new plants of very rare species which are at risk of extinction
• Used to produce new individuals of plants that are difficult to grow from seed - also used to produce clones
• Used in medecine

Question 3

How are tissue cultures used in medecine?

Answer 3

• Culturing a thin layer of cells on a solid medium makes it easier to study how cells communicate with eachother
• Used to study viruses which cannot replicate outside of cells
• investigate how infected cells respond to new medicines without risking harm to animals/humans