Cloning
- Clones are groups of genetically identical organisms, derived from a single original parent cell
- A cloned cell is a cell that is genetically identical to the cell that it originated from
- Sexual reproduction produces a zygote when gametes fuse
- In a single birth, this zygote is not cloned and will itself reproduce sexually as an adult
- Identical twins are clones of each other as they are formed from one zygote splitting into two parts, which each develops into an embryo
- Clones form naturally and artificially
- The simple gardening technique of taking plant cuttings relies on cloning
- Other organisms are manipulated to form multiple clones when grown commercially eg. large-scale growth of crop plants, to ensure a uniform crop and good crop yields
- This ensures that desirable characteristics appear in the phenotypes of every organism