Topic 9 - Cloning (Paper 2)

Question 1

what is micropropagation?

Answer 1

1. a plant with desirable characteristics is selected. explants are taken from the tips of the stems
2. explants are sterilised to kill microorganisms
3. explants are grown in vitro (placed in a petri dish containing a nutrient medium)
4. cells in the explants divide and grow into a small plant
5. these plants are taken out of the medium and planted

Question 2

how would you clone a mammal (e.g a sheep)?

Answer 2

1. remove the nucleus from a sheep’s egg cell to create an enucleated cell
2. insert a diploid nucleus from another sheeps udder cell into the enucleated cell
3. stimulate them with an electric shock so the cell starts to divide
4. implant the dividing cell into another sheeps uterus

Question 3

how can cloned animals be useful?

Answer 3

genetically engineered cows and sheep produce human proteins in their milk, which can be used in therapy for illnesses like arthritis and cancer