This topic summary covers Knowledge Organiser within Cloning for GCSE Biology. Cloning techniques, applications, and ethical considerations It is section 11 of 12 in this topic. Use this topic summary to connect the idea to the wider topic before moving on to questions and flashcards.
Topic position
Section 11 of 12
Practice
25 questions
Recall
20 flashcards
Knowledge Organiser
Key Terms
- Clone — genetically identical organism
- Adult cell cloning — nucleus from body cell into enucleated egg
- Tissue culture — growing cells in sterile medium
- Surrogate mother — carries the cloned embryo
- Therapeutic cloning — cloning for stem cells, not reproduction
- Dolly the sheep — first mammal cloned from adult body cell (1996)
Dolly Steps (NINES)
- Nucleus taken from donor body cell
- Into enucleated egg cell (nucleus removed)
- Nucleus inserted into egg
- Electric shock triggers cell division
- Surrogate mother carries embryo to term
Natural Clones
- Identical twins — fertilised egg splits
- Plant runners — strawberries
- Bulbs — tulips, daffodils
- Tubers — potatoes
- Binary fission — bacteria
Advantages and Concerns
- Advantages: preserving rare species, rapid production, medical applications
- Concerns: low success rate, health issues in clones, ethical debate
- Therapeutic cloning: immune-compatible stem cells for treatment
- Reproductive cloning of humans: illegal in UK