A2 3.5 Unit F215: 5.2.1 Cloning in plants and animals

Context and exemplification

Farmers and growers exploit "natural" vegetative propagation in the production of uniform crops.
Artificial clones of plants and animals can now be produced.

Assessable learning outcomes

Candidates should be able to:
(a) outline the differences between reproductive and non-reproductive cloning;
(b) describe the production of natural clones in plants using the example of vegetative propagation in elm trees;
(c) describe the production of artificial clones of plants from tissue culture;
(d) discuss the advantages and disadvantages of plant cloning in agriculture (HSW6a, 6b, 7c);
(e) describe how artificial clones of animals can be produced;
(f) discuss the advantages and disadvantages of cloning animals (HSW4, 6a, 6b, 7c)

A2 3.5 Unit F215: 5.2.3 Genomes and gene technologies

Context and exemplification

The capacity to manipulate genes has many potential benefits, but the implications of genetic techniques are subject to much public debate

Assessable learning outcomes

Candidates should be able to:
(c) define the term recombinant DNA;
(d) explain that genetic engineering involves the extraction of genes from one organism, or the manufacture of genes, in order to place them in another organism (often of a different species) such that the receiving organism expresses the gene product (HSW6a);
(n) outline the process involved in the genetic engineering of bacteria to produce human insulin;
(p) outline how animals can be genetically engineered for Xenotransplantation (HSW6a, 6b);
(s) discuss the ethical concerns raised by the genetic manipulation of animals (including humans), plants and microorganisms (HSW4, 6a, 6b, 7c)