Q) Discuss the benefits and limitations of using microprogation techniques in cloning plants
Main points | |
Key idea: | Use of micropropagation for plant cloning |
· Able to introduce desirable genes (e.g. for improving nutritional quality or yield) into plant cells, then mass propagated to form large no. of plantlets | |
Key idea: | Process of micropropagation |
· Cells or small pieces of plant tissues (explants) isolated from desired plant mass propagated under sterile laboratory conditions · Introduce desirable genes into cells, then selection of genetically modified (GM) cells · Culture isolated GM cells in special nutrient media containing nutrients (e.g. sucrose, vitamins, amino acids, inorganic ions, etc) + plant growth regulators (e.g. auxin, gibberellins and cytokinin) to form calluses · Adjusting rel conc of plant growth regulators to form genetically identical plantlets | |
Key idea: | Advantages |
· Explants can be obtained from meristematic regions of original plant – produce clones free from virus and other diseases · Able to control environmental cond (e.g. temp, light intensity, etc) in lab, for standardized + optimal growing cond, for consistently high quality plants · Plantlets or explants – small + light; can be transported in large no by air freight when they are still small and light · Ref to lower cost + meet consumer demands, any time of the year | |
Key idea: | Disadvantages |
· Requires aseptic conditions · Ref to growth of micro-organisms in culture media nutrients (i.e. contamination) - high losses in a short time · Require trained personnel + equipment + facilities (e.g. laminar flow cabinet) to maintain the aseptic conditions | |
Comments: (i) Visualize the answer through use of labelled diagram / photo (ii) Verbalize the answer + write down the main points w/o referring to the answer (use abbreviations) (iii) Read again within the next 24h & once more within 72h (do not spend more than 10min) (iv) Do not merely describe the process of micropropagation | |
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