# Tissue culture is used to produce large numbers of genetically identical plants from small samples taken from a parent plant. Explain why plants produced in this way are genetically identical to the parent plant.

> Pearson Edexcel International GCSE Biology (4BI1) — 5.4 Cloning · Explain · 4 marks

> A horticulturalist takes small samples from a single rose plant that produces unusually large, fragrant flowers. These samples are then grown in a sterile nutrient medium under controlled conditions to produce hundreds of new plants.

## Mark scheme (4 marks)

1. The small samples (explants) contain cells from the parent plant
2. The cells divide by mitosis (to produce new cells)
3. Mitosis produces cells with the same genetic information / same number of chromosomes as the parent cell
4. Therefore all new plants have the same genetic information / genotype as the parent plant, so they are clones

## Key terms

- [tissue culture](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/glossary/tissue-culture)

## Related

- [Revision notes for Pearson Edexcel International GCSE Biology (4BI1)](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/learn)
- [How to answer "Explain" questions](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/tools/command-word-cheatsheet)
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Source: [GradeNine](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/q/tissue-culture-is-used-to-produce-41a5927c) · Published by Druglandscape Ltd.