Question

Select the statement(s) that accurately describe cloning.


Using cells from an organ to grow a new organ that is genetically identical.


Gathering offspring from cows in a field.


Recreating plastics in order to have an identical product for multiple manufacturers.


Using a cutting from plants to create genetically identical crops.


Copying a piece of DNA to create an identical trait in other organisms.

Answer 1

The statements that accurately describe cloning are:

- Using cells from an organ to grow a new organ that is genetically identical. (Yes — growing tissue/organs from a donor’s somatic cells produces genetically identical tissue; this is a form of cloning/therapeutic cloning or tissue engineering using the donor’s genome.)
- Using a cutting from plants to create genetically identical crops. (Yes — vegetative propagation produces genetically identical plants and is commonly called cloning in horticulture.)
- Copying a piece of DNA to create an identical trait in other organisms. (Yes — molecular or gene cloning copies DNA sequences and can be used to transfer traits; this is gene cloning/recombinant DNA work.)

The other two are not cloning:
- Gathering offspring from cows in a field. (No — that’s breeding/collecting animals, not cloning.)
- Recreating plastics for identical products. (No — manufacturing replication, not biological cloning.)