Memory Anchor:

• Super Challenge:

  Stretch:

  Challenge:

Key Questions:

1. How does the technique of tissue culturing enable cloning? Why is this important for plants?
   • Tissue culture: using small groups of Cells from part of a plant to grow identical new plants. This is important for preserving rare plant species or commercially in nurseries.
2. What way, other than tissue culture, can plants be cloned by gardeners?
   • Through using cuttings to produce many identical new plants from a parent plant.
3. How is embryo transplant cloning carried out?
   • Embryo transplant cloning happens by splitting apart Cells from a developing animal embryo before they become specialised, then transplanting the identical embryos into host mothers.
4. What are the steps involved in adult cell cloning?
   • 1. The nucleus is removed from an unfertilised egg Cell. 2. The nucleus from an adult body Cell, such as a skin Cell, is inserted into the egg Cell. 3. An electric shock stimulates the egg Cell to divide to form an embryo. 4. These embryo Cells contain the same genetic information as the adult skin Cell. 5. When the embryo has developed into a ball of Cells, it is inserted into the womb of an adult female to continue its development.
5. What are the potential benefits and risks involved in cloning and why do some people object?
   • Benefits: All the new plants are genetically identical ? they will all have the desired characteristics. Organisms that are difficult or slow to breed normally can be reproduced quickly. Some plant varieties do not produce seeds, others have seeds that are dormant for long periods. Risks: If a clone is susceptible to disease or changes in environment, then all the clones will be susceptible. It will lead to less variation, and less opportunity to create new varieties in the future. Some people object to cloning as they feel it is unethical and unatural to clone. Some people object on religious grounds as well.