It is said that 'a clone is immortal'. It means-
Show Hint
- A clone does not die.
- A clone can't be eliminated.
- The genotype of a clone does not change over time.
- The performance of a clone does not change with time.
The Correct Option is C
Solution and Explanation
A clone is a group of genetically identical individuals derived from a single ancestral plant through vegetative (asexual) propagation.
Because vegetative reproduction bypasses meiosis and fertilization, genetic stability is maintained across generations.
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
Let us analyze the options to find the true genetic meaning of clonal "immortality":
- Option (A): "A clone does not die." This is biologically false. Individual plants belonging to a clone definitely age, suffer from physical senescence, and die.
- Option (B): "A clone can't be eliminated." This is false, as clones can easily be wiped out by diseases, pests, or environmental changes.
- Option (C): "The genotype of a clone does not change over time." This is genetically correct.
Clonal propagation is based entirely on mitotic cell divisions.
Without meiosis, chromosomal crossover, and random fertilization, there is no genetic recombination.
Thus, the identical genetic constitution (genotype) is preserved indefinitely across generations of vegetative reproduction.
This stability allows breeders to maintain and propagate elite genotypes (such as specific potato, apple, or sugarcane varieties) unchanged for centuries, making the genotype "immortal."
- Option (D): "The performance of a clone does not change with time." This is false. Clonal performance can decline due to environmental variations, aging, and the progressive accumulation of systemic viruses (a process called clonal degeneration).
Step 3: Final Answer:
Clonal immortality refers to the constant preservation of its genetic constitution. Thus, the correct option is (C).
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