Cloning and selective breeding

Cloning can be viewed as artificial asexual reproduction. It is the process by which genetically identical copies of organisms are made. The characteristics of the cloned organism are identical to that of the original natural organism as the DNA in both is the same.

Micropropagation: 

The process of growing plantlets in tissue culture then planting them out.

1. Clippings of a plant are placed in a growth medium to produce shoots.
2. The plantlets are then transferred to a root medium to encourage the growth of roots.
3. The plant will then be transferred into soil where it will grow into a plant with identical characteristics as the natural plant.

Humans have been able to clone plants for thousands of years through their own natural process of asexual reproduction. However, humans have started to clone animals. This is done by splitting an embryo into several embryos hence artificially recreating the formation of twins.

Selective breeding: 

The breeding of two organisms with the desired characteristics for human use.

Organisms with the desired characteristics are selected.
These organisms are bred.
The offspring with the desired characteristics are selected.
These specific offspring are bred.
The process is repeated over several generations.

Advantages:

A large number of organisms with the desired characteristics and domesticated organisms.

Disadvantages:

There is no variation and as a result, disease would affect all of these organisms, potentially killing all of them.

Plants:

1. Big fruits
2. Nice colour
3. Desirable scents and flavours
4. Tolerant to a specific temperature
5. Resistant to a particular disease.

Animals:

1. Large muscle mass
2. Domesticated [lack of aggression]
3. Certain animals may produce more fur or wool