Cloning and biotechnology

genetically identical organisms or cells

reproduction from vegetative parts of a plant (parts of a plant that do not reproduce sexually)

pieces of leaf, stem, root or bud

asexual reproduction in which the nucleus divides by mitosis

budding

• good conditions for growth for parent will be good for offspring • rapid - population size can increase rapidly • reproduction can occur with only one parent, also quicker

• overcrowding - more competition • no genetic diversity (except those caused by mutation) • little variation • if environment changes to be less advantageous, whole population is susceptible • difference between genetic diversity and genetic variation is that the latter refers to how different two alleles of the same gene are, while the former refers to how many genes there are in a population

meristematic tissue

• runners/ stolons • rhizomes • suckers • bulbs • corms • leaves • tubers

horizontal stems that come from roots on surface of ground

underground horizontal stems that come from roots

underground stem with scaly leaves and buds

new stems that grow from the roots

• underground food stores

underground structures that act as food storage, covered in “eyes”- each eye is able to sprout new plants- potato

clones grow on leaf margins (edges)

• identical twins ( zygote splits into two cells) • water flea and greenfly

• growing large numbers of new plants from meristem tissue from plant • takes place after tissue culture

• growing new tissues, organs or plants from certain tissues cut from any part of sample plant • first step in micropropagartion

• choose stem with no leaves to reduce transpiration and no flowers to encourage growth of roots as it takes a lot of energy to grow flowers • stem cut between two nodes • may need to dip cut end in rooting hormone or remove bark to encourage plant to produce a callus • cut end placed in moist soil • don’t overwater compost to allow air to reach roots

• soft tissue that forms over a wounded or cut plant surface, leading to healing. A callus arises from cells of the cambium • (a mass of totipotent cells)

• root cuttings • scion cuttings • leaf cuttings

dormant woody twigs

• taking cuttings is time consuming and takes up lots of space. Also some plants don’t respond well to taking cuttings