Cloning and biotechnology

What is a clone?

• Genes, cells or whole organisms that carry the same identical genetic material because they are derived from the same original DNA.

What is vegetative propagation?

• Natural cloning

• A structure forms from an area such as the leaf, root or stem of the parent plant.

• The structure develops into a fully differentiated new plant.

• Form of asexual reproduction, so is a genetic clone of the parent plant.

How does vegetative propagation allow a plant to survive from one growing season to the next?

• Nutrients can be stored in vegetative structures like bulbs, tubers, rhizomes and runners which can survive harsh conditions then sprout into new plants when the conditions become favorable again.

• Even if above ground parts die, underground structures like potatoes can survive and sprout rapidly when the conditions are nice again.

Where does natural plant cloning take place?

• Bulbs

• Stem tubers

• Leaves

• Rhizomes

• Runners

• Suckers

What is horticulture?

• Branch of agriculture that deals with the business, art, technology and science of growing plants.

How do you take a cutting of a plant?

1. Cut a stem from the plant just above/below a node.

2. Plant this stem in moist soil.

3. Treat the cut end with rooting hormone.