Cloning (biology only) — AQA GCSE Biology
Test yourself on Cloning (biology only) with AQA GCSE practice questions.
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Cloning (biology only) explained
Cuttings are a traditional form of asexual reproduction used by gardeners to make many genetically identical copies of a chosen parent plant.
Read the full explanation
A healthy shoot is cut from the parent, lower leaves are removed, and the cut end may be dipped in rooting powder before being planted in damp compost. Because no gametes fuse, the new plant is a clone and inherits the parent's desirable features, such as flower colour or fruit yield. The method is simple, cheap and needs no specialist laboratory, but it relies on the parent being healthy and can spread a viral disease to every cutting. Large numbers of uniform plants can be raised quickly from one parent, which is why growers use cuttings for many ornamental shrubs and houseplants.
Your focus
- Describe how a cutting is taken from a parent plant and grown into a new plant.
- Explain why plants grown from cuttings are genetically identical clones.
- Evaluate the advantages and limitations of using cuttings to propagate plants.
Cloning (biology only) exam tips
Marking Points
- Cuttings are a form of asexual reproduction, so no gametes fuse and no fertilisation occurs.
- A shoot or piece of stem is cut from the parent plant and planted so that it grows into a new plant.
- The offspring are genetically identical clones of the parent because all cells arise by mitosis from the parent tissue.
- Gardeners use cuttings because the method is simple, inexpensive and produces many identical plants quickly.
- Removing lower leaves and keeping the cutting in warm, damp conditions encourages root growth.
- A limitation is that any disease present in the parent can be passed to all the cuttings.
Examiner Tips
- 💡State clearly that the offspring are genetically identical to the parent, using the term clone.
- 💡Link the method to a practical step, such as cutting a shoot and planting it in damp compost.
- 💡If asked to compare with sexual reproduction, mention the absence of gametes and fertilisation.
Common Mistakes
- Thinking cuttings involve seeds or fertilisation; correct this by stressing that cuttings are asexual and produce clones.
- Believing the new plant is only partly like the parent; correct this by explaining that all its cells come from the parent by mitosis, so it is genetically identical.
- Assuming cuttings always succeed; correct this by noting that they need suitable warmth, moisture and rooting conditions.