Tissue Culture and Aseptic Techniques

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Questions and Answers

What is the primary purpose of tissue culture?

To create genetically modified organisms directly in the field

To grow cells, organs, or tissues in a controlled laboratory environment (correct)

To examine large-scale agricultural growth techniques

To grow entire plants in soil environments

Which of the following best describes a culture medium?

Any substance that supports the growth of a tissue, cell, or organ (correct)

A method for organic waste disposal in laboratories

A mixture of water and soil used for plant growth

Materials used exclusively for solid-state fermentation

What is the significance of aseptic techniques in tissue culture?

They increase the size of plant specimens grown

They enhance the nutrient content of the culture medium

They prevent contamination in the culture process (correct)

They reduce the need for light exposure

What is a callus in the context of tissue culture?

A mass of unorganized proliferated cells Signup and view all the answers

Why might liquid media be used in bacterial cell culture?

To isolate or extract DNA from the cells Signup and view all the answers

What does the term 'recalcitrant' refer to in plant tissue culture?

An explant that is resistant to responding to any media Signup and view all the answers

Why is subculturing important in plant tissue culture?

It helps refresh media and eliminates harmful metabolites Signup and view all the answers

What is totipotency in the context of plant cells?

The capacity of a plant cell to differentiate into all types of cells and form an entire organism Signup and view all the answers

How does ploidy relate to plant genetics?

It shows the number of sets of chromosomes present in the plant Signup and view all the answers

What are somaclones?

Variants produced through somaclonal variation Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary goal of clonal propagation in plants?

To produce asexually from a single source plant Signup and view all the answers

What does the term 'explant' refer to in the context of plant micropropagation?

A piece of tissue excised from a plant Signup and view all the answers

What do growth regulators such as Cytokinins and Auxins do?

Impose cells to regenerate Signup and view all the answers

Which statement best describes somaclonal variation?

It occurs unintentionally and affects the phenotype of the plant. Signup and view all the answers

What distinguishes in vitro from in vivo plant growth?

In vitro occurs in a controlled environment, in vivo occurs naturally. Signup and view all the answers

What is the definition of 'sterile' in the context of micropropagation?

Free of viable microorganisms. Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary purpose of sterile techniques in plant micropropagation?

To prevent contamination from microorganisms. Signup and view all the answers

In natural regeneration processes, what is primarily needed for restoration or replacement of damaged cells?

Natural biological mechanisms. Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of the shoot apical meristem?

To produce leaves, buds, and stems Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements about polyploidy is correct?

It can enhance taste and nutritional value of plants. Signup and view all the answers

What characterizes meristematic cells?

They are actively dividing cells. Signup and view all the answers

What occurs during dedifferentiation?

A specialized cell becomes unspecialized. Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of meristemoid cells?

To serve as a localized group of meristematic cells. Signup and view all the answers

Which process is the opposite of differentiation?

Dedifferentiation Signup and view all the answers

What is a key outcome of redifferentiation?

Development of new differentiated cells from a dedifferentiated callus Signup and view all the answers

How does differentiation contribute to plant development?

It provides specialization of immature cells. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Tissue Culture

A laboratory technique for growing cells, organs, or tissues in a controlled environment.
Grown under specific conditions including sterility, light, pH, temperature, nutrients, humidity.
Requires a nutrient-rich medium tailored to the specific needs of the tissue, cell, or organ being grown.

Culture

The process of growing microorganisms, tissues, cells, or organs on a growth medium.
The type of growth medium depends on the experiment's objective.
Liquid media is used for isolating or extracting DNA from bacterial cells.
Solid media is used for growing bacterial colonies.

Contaminant

Any unwanted substance or microorganism that hinders the growth of the desired culture.

Aseptic Techniques

Procedures designed to prevent contamination of a culture.
Examples include laminar flow hoods, biosafety cabinets, and ethanol solutions.

Callus

A mass of undifferentiated cells that can proliferate.
It is a key component of tissue culture and can be induced to differentiate into different types of plant tissues.

Micropropagation

Producing a large number of plants from a small piece of plant material in a short period of time.
Requires less space than traditional methods of plant propagation.
Example of aseptic techniques used in plant biotechnology.

Pathogen

A disease-causing organism.

Pathogenic

Capable of causing disease.

Sterile

A culture free of viable microorganisms.

Sterile Techniques

Procedures used to make something sterile.

Clone

A plant that is produced asexually from a single parent plant.
All clones are genetically identical to the parent plant.

Clonal Propagation

Asexual reproduction of plants, producing genetically identical offspring.

Explant

A piece of tissue, cell, or organ excised from a plant and transferred to a growth medium to be cultivated in vitro.

In Vitro

Growth of an organism in a controlled artificial environment, such as a test tube or petri dish.

In Vivo

Growth of an organism in its natural habitat, such as a field.

Regeneration

The ability of an organism to restore or replace damaged cells or tissues.
Natural Regeneration: The process occurs naturally without any external intervention.
Artificial Regeneration: Guided regeneration of cells or tissues in a laboratory environment.

Growth Regulators

Hormones that help to regulate plant growth and development.
Used in tissue culture to induce cell division, differentiation, and regeneration.

Somaclonal Variation

Unintentional variations that occur in plants during tissue culture.
These variations are often observed in the phenotype.
The exact cause of somaclonal variation remains unknown.

Somaclones

Plants with somaclonal variation.

Recalcitrant

An explant that is difficult to culture, resists growth despite optimized conditions.

Subculture

Transfer of a culture from one growth medium to another.
Used to refresh the medium, remove toxic metabolites, and promote the growth of specific tissues.

Totipotency

The ability of a cell to give rise to all other cell types, ultimately developing into an entire organism.
Cells retain the potential to differentiate into any cell type.

Ploidy

The number of sets of chromosomes a plant possesses.
Different ploidy levels can affect plant traits, like appearance and nutritional value.

Shoot Apical Meristem

Located at the tip of the shoot, it is an area of actively dividing cells that produce leaves, buds, and stems.

Meristem

A region of actively dividing cells in plants.

Apical Meristem

Located at the tips of roots and shoots, and at the origin of lateral branches.

Meristematic

Having the characteristics of a meristem, capable of growing.
Meristematic cells have high mitotic activity.

Meristemoid

A localized group of meristematic cells that arise in callus and give rise to roots or shoots.

Undifferentiated

Cells that do not have a specialized or mature structure or function.

Dedifferentiation

Artificial process in tissue culture.
Specialized cells revert to an undifferentiated state.

Redifferentiation

Shifting a dedifferentiated callus into a new differentiated cell type.

Differentiation

The process of unspecialized cells becoming specialized for different functions.
An essential part of plant development and growth.

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Description

This quiz covers essential concepts related to tissue culture, including growth conditions, types of culture media, and aseptic techniques. It explores the importance of maintaining sterility and the role of contaminants in laboratory practices. Test your knowledge on the fundamentals of cell and tissue growth.