Question

In vitro clonal propagation in plants is characterized by
A. PCR and RAPD
B. Northern blotting
C. Electrophoresis and HPLC
D. Microscopy

Answer 1

Hint: Clonal propagation is a method to reproduce genetically identical copies of a plant. The gene amplification method is a very fast and accurate method for cloning now, which is performed by PCR technique.

Complete Answer:
- As we know, cloning is nothing but forming a genetically identical copy of an organism. The technique of clonal propagation in plants used to form multiple copies of desired plants. This technique is the part of sexual reproduction in plants but it is an artificial method performed by human interference.
- In vitro clonal propagation requires the desired DNA copies of plants which can be further amplified by gene amplification method so that exact copies of desired DNA samples can be produced. In vitro clonal propagation is also called micro propagation which began commercially for the first time in the USA in 1965.
- PCR: Polymer chain reaction is the important method by which multiple copies of DNA can be formed.
- RAPD: Random amplified polymorphic DNA is a PCR based technique which can be used to identify the genetic changes in desired DNA samples of a plant.
- So, for clonal propagation of plants, PCR and RAPD are the most suitable techniques and so in vitro clonal propagation is characterized by PCR and RAPD.

Hence the answer is (A) PCR and RAPD.

Note: Gene amplification is the most commonly used technique in DNA fingerprinting and cloning.
- Northern blotting is a technique used to transfer isolated RNA to a membrane.
- Electrophoresis and HPLC is a test of hemoglobin level.
- Microscopy is a method to diagnose pulmonary tuberculosis.