Cloning in plants

• Variation in species can be generated by genetics
• Mutations arise spontaneously and can sometimes lead to genetic disorders or death
• Genes can be inserted into a genome through genetic engineering
• Cloning in plants allows for the production of genetically identical individuals with desirable characteristics
• Cloning of plants has important commercial implications, enabling the production of a variety of plants cheaply, quickly, and on a large scale
• Cuttings:

  • Involves taking a part of a plant stem, leaf, or root to produce a new plant
  • An old but simple technique used by gardeners
  • Plant hormones are often used to encourage new roots to develop
• Tissue culture (micropropagation):

  • Involves growing small pieces of plants (explants) in vitro using sterile agar jelly containing plant hormones and nutrients
  • More expensive and difficult than taking cuttings
  • Important for preserving rare plant species or growing commercially in larger nurseries
• Cloning expensive food crops has been carried out for many years and raises fewer ethical concerns than animal cloning