Cloning and biotechnology

Created by

Sophie Barker

Cards (55)

Cloning is the the production of genetically identical individuals.
Explain the process of propagation by taking cuttings ?
Using a non-flowering stem and make an oblique cut in the stem at a node.
Dip the stem in rooting powdering which contains hormones to allow the roots to differentiate from the stem.
Reduce the number of leaves and cover with a plastic bag to reduce the rate of transpiration.
Vegetative propagation is asexual reproduction in plants.
How to potato propagate ?
Base of the stem underground form a tuber with stored food, buds develop on the tubular.
How do strawberry plants propagate ?
They produce runners that grow sideways across the ground. At points along the runner new shoots and roots grow, eventually becoming new genetically identical plants.
What are the disadvantages to vegetative propagation ?
Lack of genetic variation in population could lead to disease susceptibility.
Plants cannot colonise new areas
No new alleles introduced that may be beneficial
What are the advantages to vegetative propagation ?
No genetic variation introduced expect by mutation, so crop will keep its successful traits.
If the parent plant is suitably adapted to the environment and conditions, the offspring shall be too.
Offspring stay close to the plant in suitable conditions.
What are the benefits to tissue culture ?
Can produce a large number of plants
Relatively cheap
Can be used at any time of year
Which industry uses tissue culture ?
Agriculture and horticulture
When is tissue culture needed ?
To produce plants when the desirable plant does not readily produce seeds, doesn't respond to natural cloning or is very rare.
How do marram grass plants propagate ?
Rhizomes is a specialised horizontal stem running underground, swollen with stores food. Buds and shoots form from this rhizome and become new plants.
Describe the process of micropropagation using tissue culture ?
Explants are removed from organism and dipped in disinfectant.
Explant is submerged in a solution of nutrients and plant growth substances such as auxin and cytokinins
The undifferentiated cells in the explants undergo mitosis to form a callus
These calluses are placed on a sterile agar gel containing growth hormones that will stimulate the differentiation into shoot and root cells.
When the plant is large enough it will be transported inot sterile soil to continue growing.
When cloning plants by micropropagation what is the most important thing to ensure ?
To keep everything sterile.
What are the advantages of plant cloning ?
Rapid production of plant with known genetic makeup.
Produce disease free plants
Large number of seedless varieties can be produced like grapes and bananas
Increase the number of rare plants
Grow plants that are difficult to grow from a seed.
Name a plant that is difficult to grow from a seed ?
Orchid
What are the disadvantages of plant cloning ?
Genetically identical so more susceptible to disease.
Expensive and require skilled workers
Explants can go mouldy
Large number of new plants can be lost with one error.
Explant = meristematic cells
Advantages of plant cloning in agriculture ?
New plants are genetically identical so it is clear what produce to expect.
Supermarkets are more likely to trade with farmers as quality of produce is more reliable
Plants mature and can be processed at the same time.
Disadvantages of plant cloning in agriculture ?
Lack of genetic variation
Most crops that are annuals are cheaper to plant rather than propagate.
Describe the process of natural cloning ?
When a fertilised egg splits in two in the uterus.
Describe the process of artificial twinning ?
Desirable embryos are removed and then split into several smaller embryos.
These are then implanted into surrogate mothers to form genetically identical offspring.
Name uses of reproductive cloning ?
Drug testing or research
Maximise profits in agriculture
potentially save endangered species
Describe the process of somatic nuclear transfer ?
Somatic cell is extracted from organism and the nucleus is extracted.
An oocyte is taken from another organism and its nucleus is removed forming an enucleated oocyte.
Nucleus from organism 1 is inserted into the enucleated oocyte, so organism 2 now contains the genetic information from organism 1.
The nucleus and enucleated are fused together and stimulated to divide by electrofusion producing an embryo.
The embryo is implanted into a surrogate mother and a clone of organism 1 is born.
Reasons for animal cloning ?
Desirable genetic characteristics are always passed on.
Preserve biodiversity
Infertile animals can be reproduced
Reasons against animal cloning ?
Destruction of embryo can be seen as ending a life.
Difficult, time consuming and expensive
No genetic variety so susceptible to disease.
Clones may not live as long as natural offspring.
What is biotechnology ?
All technological processes that make use of living things in order to manufacture useful products for humans use.
Give some examples of applications of biotechnology ?
Industry, enzymes
Medical, gene therapy
Agriculture, genetically modified crops
Food science, food with greater nutrition
Why are microorganisms used in biotechnology ?
Ideal growth conditions can be easily replicated.
Growth rate is rapid due to short generation time
Can be grown at any time of year and on a range of inexpensive materials
Give some examples of use of biotechnology in indirect food production ?
cheese
yogurt
baking
brewing
Give an example of the use of microbes in direct food production ?
Fungus is fermented to make quorn.
What are the advantages of using microorganisms to produce human food?
Microorganisms reproduce fast and produce protein faster than plants and animals.
High protein and little fat content
no welfare issues
production is not weather dependant
What are the disadvantages of using microorganisms to produce human food ?
Toxins may be produced is optimal conditions not maintained
Need sterile conditions that are carefully controlled, increasing costs
People may have concerns eating genetically modified food
Needs additives for flavour.
What is Bioremediation ?
Where microorganisms are used to break down pollutants and contaminants in soil or water.
In biotechnology why might cultures be grown ?
Obtain lots of the microorganism
Collect lots of useful products that the microorganism makes.
A culture is a population of one type of microorganism that's been under controlled conditions.
Name the 2 methods of culturing microorganisms ?
Batch fermentation
Continuous fermentation
What factors must be controlled during fermentation ?
oxygen supply
pH
temperature
nutrient concentration
contamination
What is a closed culture?
A culture that takes place in a vessel that's isolated from the external environment.
Name an example of a closed culture ?
Batch fermentation.
Name the 4 phases of a standard growth curve ?
Lag phase
Exponential phase
stationary phase
decline phase