Cloning
A clone is an individual that has the identical genetic makeup of another individual. Nature has its
own ability to produce clones, but the term cloning is used for human intervention to produce
identical individuals with desired characteristics.
The aim of cloning by human intervention is to produce two individuals with identical genetic
information.
Advantages of cloning in nature:
Quick, organisms reproduce quickly and exploit resources in their environment quickly
Can be used if sexual reproduction fails or is not possible
All offspring have the same genetic information so will be able to survive in their
environment
Disadvantages of cloning in nature:
No genetic variation
Any parental genetic weakness will be in all offspring
If the environment changes all offspring will be equally susceptible
Does not allow for natural selection
Pollen is the male sex cell
Ovule is female sex cell
Natural Cloning in Plants:
Natural cloning is called vegetative propagation
Occurs in many species of flowering plants
Usually involve perennating organs, which enable plants to survive in severe conditions:
- Runners in strawberries
- Bulbs in bluebells
- Rhizomes in marram grass
- Stem tubers in potatoes
Reproductive Cloning: produces more offspring
Many plants such as the Buttercup can naturally reproduce asexually which always produces clones
of the parent plant. The Buttercup produces stolon’s (runners) which spread horizontally over the
soil. Roots and shoots develop from buds on the stolon, and eventually new independent plants are
formed.
Suckering- the growth of new trees from the roots or meristem tissue in the trunks
- Roots from the parent tree spread out near the surface of the soil.
- Stems (suckers) grow from these roots. In time, these can form new trees
English Elm Trees called by Dutch elm disease because the trees were clones so none of them had an
adaption against the fungus
Artificial Cloning in Plants
It’s possible to artificially propagate valuable plants. For example, grafting or tissue
culture/micropropagation
Grafting- a shoot section of a woody stem is joined to a root stock
For a new plant to be propagated the meristem cells need to be isolated, meristem tissue has the
ability to differentiate into any cell type.
Micropropagation Advantages:
Can produce lots of genetically identical plants rapidly
Grower will know the genetic make-up and therefore can guarantee good quality yield
Disease free plants if meristem tissue is cultured
Can produce seedless fruit for consumer
Able to grow plants which are naturally infertile or difficult to grow
Could be used to increase number of rare or endangered species of plants
A clone is an individual that has the identical genetic makeup of another individual. Nature has its
own ability to produce clones, but the term cloning is used for human intervention to produce
identical individuals with desired characteristics.
The aim of cloning by human intervention is to produce two individuals with identical genetic
information.
Advantages of cloning in nature:
Quick, organisms reproduce quickly and exploit resources in their environment quickly
Can be used if sexual reproduction fails or is not possible
All offspring have the same genetic information so will be able to survive in their
environment
Disadvantages of cloning in nature:
No genetic variation
Any parental genetic weakness will be in all offspring
If the environment changes all offspring will be equally susceptible
Does not allow for natural selection
Pollen is the male sex cell
Ovule is female sex cell
Natural Cloning in Plants:
Natural cloning is called vegetative propagation
Occurs in many species of flowering plants
Usually involve perennating organs, which enable plants to survive in severe conditions:
- Runners in strawberries
- Bulbs in bluebells
- Rhizomes in marram grass
- Stem tubers in potatoes
Reproductive Cloning: produces more offspring
Many plants such as the Buttercup can naturally reproduce asexually which always produces clones
of the parent plant. The Buttercup produces stolon’s (runners) which spread horizontally over the
soil. Roots and shoots develop from buds on the stolon, and eventually new independent plants are
formed.
Suckering- the growth of new trees from the roots or meristem tissue in the trunks
- Roots from the parent tree spread out near the surface of the soil.
- Stems (suckers) grow from these roots. In time, these can form new trees
English Elm Trees called by Dutch elm disease because the trees were clones so none of them had an
adaption against the fungus
Artificial Cloning in Plants
It’s possible to artificially propagate valuable plants. For example, grafting or tissue
culture/micropropagation
Grafting- a shoot section of a woody stem is joined to a root stock
For a new plant to be propagated the meristem cells need to be isolated, meristem tissue has the
ability to differentiate into any cell type.
Micropropagation Advantages:
Can produce lots of genetically identical plants rapidly
Grower will know the genetic make-up and therefore can guarantee good quality yield
Disease free plants if meristem tissue is cultured
Can produce seedless fruit for consumer
Able to grow plants which are naturally infertile or difficult to grow
Could be used to increase number of rare or endangered species of plants
