Genetic Variation

Cell: The basic unit of all living things

Chromosone: A long, coiled up length of DNA that contains many genes

DNA: a type of acidic chemical that contains genes

Gamete: A cell that only contains half the normal amount of DNA (23 chromosones)

Gene: A short length of DNA that stores the information for a particular gene

Nucleus: Contains the DNA

Asexual:

• Only one parent, Identical offspring
• Can be done alone, Good genes are passed on
• All offspring are identical, No adaption
• Uses mitosis (One cell splits into 2)
• Bacteria, Daffodils, Strawberries

Sexual:

• 2 Parents, Variation in offspring
• Organisms can adapt to new surroundings
• Must find a mate, Uses meiosis (2 sex cells)
• Humans and animals

Cuttings: 

• Can be done quickly
• Needs rooting hormone
• Can be grown by anyone
• Grown in soil
• Not as many cuttings can be taken from one plant
• Needs watering
• Need to cut off a large part of the plant

Tissue cloning:

• Can be left to grow
• Only a few cells needed
• Many cells can be taken from one plant
• Needs growth medium
• Needs sterile conditions & tools

Embryo Cloning:

• Original embryo is produced from sexual reproduction
• Cells of embryo seperated (up to 4)
• Cells develop into indentical individual embryos
• Implanted into different surrogate mothers
• All offspring are identical (up to 4 offspring)

Adult Cell Cloning:

• A normal cell is taken from animal A and the nucleus is removed
• An egg cell is taken from animal B and the nucleus is removed
• The normal nucleus is inserted into the egg cell
• The egg cell develops
• The embryo is implanted into a surrogate mother of the same species
• The offspring is a clone of animal A

GM:

• Identify desired gene
• Cut out using enzymes
• Transfer gene to other organism (usually bacteria)
• Can be used to create insulin
• Genes can be transferred to different species- herbicide resistant plants transfer genes so that insects are also resistant