Cloning in Plants and Animals

Reproductive cloning is the production of a new individual with the genotype of an existing one. Non-reproductive cloning supplies replacement cells whose genotype matches that of an exisiting organism. 

Vegetative Propagation

Plant vegetative propagation is a form of natural cloning e.g. english elm trees can have their suckers removed and replanted. 

Tissue Culture (Micropropagation)

Used for plants that:

• are difficult to grow from seed
• do not have a natural method of asexual reproduction
• are desirable hybrids and do not breed true
• have been genetically engineered

Orchids:

• Explants of tissue are taken from developing stems that have been surface sterilised.
• In aseptic conditions they are placed in a growth medium containing sucrose as energy, other nutrients such as amino acids and inorganic ions and plant hormones to stimulate mitosis
• Undifferentiated cells in the explant divide to produce a callus. 
• This can be subdivided many times to increase the number of plants eventually produced.
• Small pieces are transferred to a new growth medium with plant hormones to trigger differentiation into shoots and…