Biology Answers

QUESTION SEVEN: GENETICSCloning involves making an exact copy of an organism. Selectivebreeding involves the breeding together of organisms that possesseshighly desirable characteristics.Compare and contrast selective breeding and cloning.Your answer should include How the offspring compare to their parents Their relative advantages and disadvantagesANSWER SEVEN: GENETICSFor Achievement your answer should talk about 3 – 4 points from:Cloned offspring have the same DNA as the parent (No variation)Selective breeding means that the offspring have differences to their parents(variation)Advantages of selective breeding: All offspring are slightly different so there is anincreased chance that some will survive changes in the environment / diseasesIt more likely that wanted characteristics will be passed onSelective breeding can enhance a particular characteristic (I.e. make cowsbigger)Disadvantages of selective breeding: There is no guarantee that the desiredfeatures will be passed on (random process);If the breeding group is too small inbreeding may occur with undesirablecharacteristics being passed onAdvantages of cloning: Unlike selective breeding, which is a random process,with cloning you know exactly what you will getThere is a 100% chance that any desired feature will be passed onDisadvantages of cloning:As there is no variation (change) you cannot improve on the originalAs there is no variation a disease that will affect one will affect allThe cloned organism may develop “old age conditions” earlier than they shouldFor Merit you need to give a definition of what cloning and selectivebreeding are and at least 2 advantages or disadvantages explained in detailSelective breeding involves the breeding together of organisms that possesshighly desirable characteristics. This increases the chances of the desiredcharacteristics being passed onto the offspring. It is a random process and theoutcome / offspring are not guaranteed to possess the desired characteristic.Therefore a number of the offspring will not have the desired characteristic.Offspring will have a range of characteristics, inherited from both parents (I.e.there is genetic variation) and will be different in multiple ways (Possibly superioror inferior).Cloning is also about getting desired characteristics in offspring. However,cloning produces offspring that carry the DNA of only one parent, makingoffspring genetically identical to that parent. This means there is a 100% chancethat the offspring will have the desired features. (No variation) This means thatthere is no chance the offspring will be superior or inferior to the parent in someway.In summary while both methods are about increasing the chances of offspringhaving desired characteristics; selective breeding gives variation but no certainty,while cloning gives certainty but no variation.For Excellence as for Merit but 3 advantages / disadvantages explained