Biology 101 / Genetics

PLANT CLONING

2007

The normal sexual reproduction of organisms , including plants , involves the passing on of half the number of chromosomes of one parent and the corresponding half by the other parent so that the offspring still ends up with the same number of chromosomes as with its parents . However during the process of meiosis , i .e . cell division which occurs in preparation for reproduction , segments from one chromosome cross over to their corresponding segment in the homologous chromosome . In addition chromosomes from each parent are aligned randomly . Such processes lead

br to genetic diversity , in that offsprings are not genetically identical to their parents but rather possess different combinations of their parents ' genetic makeup (Krogh , 2003

In terms of evolution , diversity is greatly advantageous because it ensures the survival of the organism with the most ideal combination of characteristics so that it can reach reproductive age and thus have the chance to pass on its ideal traits (Krogh , 2003 . However , such diversity is generally unwanted when it comes to commercial industries which on the contrary , seek to maximize the production only of commercially-viable products (British Broadcasting Corporation , n .d In growing crops for instance , if one variety is particularly successful , then it is but natural that growers would want to propagate that specific variety without the risk of introducing unwanted characteristics - something which can 't be avoided using natural sexual reproduction methods . Thus growers use plant cloning techniques instead to produce plants that are genetically identical to that of the desired variety (Commonwealth of Australia , 2005

Bananas , in particular , are susceptible to several viral diseases like the Panama , Cucumber Mosaic and Banana Streak Virus , as well as pests like worms which naturally are a bane to commercial production Therefore , cloning is greatly advantageous in that it allows the mass production of sturdy varieties which are more resistant to diseases or pests (Commonwealth of Australia , 2005

References

British Broadcasting Corporation (n .d . Biology , Variation and Inheritance

Retrieved Dec . 31 , 2007 , from http /www .bbc .co .uk /schools /gcsebitesize /biology /variationandinheritanc e /4cloningandgenengrev3 .shtml

Commonwealth of Australia (2005 . Biotechnology Online : Cloning Plants .Retrieved Dec . 31 , 2007 , from http /www .biotechnologyonline .gov .au /biotec /cloneplant .cfm

Krogh , D (2003 . Biology : A Guide to the Natural World , 3rd ed Companion Website

Retrieved Dec . 31 , 2007 , from HYPERLINK "http /wps .prenhall .com /esm_krogh_biology_3 http /wps .prenhall .com /esm_krogh_biology_3

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