What is the Difference Between Clone and Asexual Reproduction

The main difference between clone and asexual reproduction is that a clone is a group of genetically identical group of organisms whereas asexual reproduction is the method responsible for the production of genetically identical individuals or cells. Furthermore, cloning is the method responsible for producing clones naturally.

Clone and asexual reproduction are two related things for the production of genetically identical individuals or cells. Mitosis is the method of cell division involved in both mechanisms.

Key Areas Covered

1. What is a Clone
     – Definition, Types, Importance
2. What is Asexual Reproduction
     – Definition, Types, Importance
3. What are the Similarities Between Clone and Asexual Reproduction
     – Outline of Common Features
4. What is the Difference Between Clone and Asexual Reproduction
     – Comparison of Key Differences

Key Terms

Asexual Reproduction, Cell Culture, Clone, Fission, Genetically Identical, Offspring, Vegetative Reproduction

What is a Clone

A clone is a group of organisms or cells that are genetically identical, produced mainly through cell culture techniques. Cloning is the method which produces a clone. The main feature of cloning is the presence of the exact genetic makeup in the clone. In addition, molecular cloning is the method of cloning molecules such as DNA. Cell cloning is another method involved in cloning unicellular organisms or cells of a multicellular organism such as stem cells by means of cell culture techniques. Here, cloning unicellular organisms such as bacteria is an application with vital importance since it can produce a number of byproducts including enzymes, hormones, pharmaceutical drugs, etc. On the contrary, stem cell cloning is important to produce cells for both therapeutic and research purposes.

Figure 1: Banana Clone

Another form of cloning is the organism cloning, which produces a multicellular organism with the exact genetic makeup of the parent organism. It is done by means of asexual reproduction. In horticulture, organism cloning is performed by means of vegetative reproduction with the use of methods such as grafting. Apomixis and fragmentation are natural methods of organism cloning. Organism cloning is also known as reproductive cloning.

What is Asexual Reproduction

Asexual reproduction is a form of reproduction in which offspring arise from a single parent. Therefore, the genetic makeup of the offspring and the parent organism is identical. Nevertheless, asexual reproduction does not undergo the fusion of gametes as in sexual reproduction. It is the primary form of reproduction method in multicellular organisms including plants and fungi, and in single-celled organisms including bacteria and archaea.

Figure 2: Asexual Reproduction – Plantlets

Furthermore, binary fission is the main method of asexual reproduction in bacteria. It is responsible for the production of two daughter bacteria from a single bacterium. Multiple fission is another method which produces multiple nuclei via divisions by mitosis. Many protists including algae undergo multiple fission. In addition, budding is the main method of asexual reproduction in yeast, resulting in a daughter and a mother cell. Moreover, plants undergo a number of vegetative reproduction methods including the production of rhizomes, tubers, adventitious shoots, etc. Also, some organisms such as fungi produce spores as their asexual reproduction method. On the other hand, some of the primitive animals such as annelids, polychaetes, oligochaetes, and sea stars undergo fragmentation as their asexual reproduction method, developing a new organism from a fragment of the parent organism. Agamogenesis is also a mechanism of asexual reproduction, which proceeds without the involvement of male gametes. Parthenogenesis and apomixis are the two methods of agamogenesis.

Similarities Between Clone and Asexual Reproduction

• Clone and asexual reproduction are two methods of producing genetically identical individuals or cells.
• Both methods are mono-parental – involves a single parent.
• Also, mitosis is the type of cell division involved in both types of mechanisms.
• Besides, a large number of genetically identical individuals can be produced in both methods.

Difference Between Clone and Asexual Reproduction

Definition

A clone refers to an organism or cell, or group of organisms or cells, produced asexually from one ancestor or stock, to which they are genetically identical. Asexual reproduction refers to a type of reproduction by which offspring arises from a single organism, and inherits the genes of that parent only; it does not involve the fusion of gametes, and almost never changes the number of chromosomes. Thus, this is the main difference between clone and asexual reproduction.

Significance

A clone is a genetically and morphologically identical group of organisms while asexual reproduction is a method of the producing a genetically identical offspring.

Nature of Method

Another difference between clone and asexual reproduction is that a clone is an artificial method done by means of cell culture techniques while asexual reproduction is the natural method of producing clones.

Types

Molecular cloning, cell cloning, and organism cloning are the three types of cloning while fission, budding, fragmentation, vegetative propagation, spore formation, and agamogenesis are the types of asexual reproduction. Hence, this is one other difference between clone and asexual reproduction.

Conclusion

A clone is a large group of genetically identical individuals produced by cell culture techniques inside the laboratory. In comparison, asexual reproduction is the natural method of producing a genetically identical offspring to a single parent organism. Plants, fungi, and other primitive organisms mainly use asexual reproduction to produce their offspring. Therefore, the main difference between clone and asexual reproduction is the mechanism and nature through which a genetically identical offspring is produced.

References:

1. “Cloning Fact Sheet.” National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI), Available Here.
2. “Types of Reproduction Review.” Khan Academy, Khan Academy, Available Here.

Image Courtesy:

1. “Banana plantlets transferred to soil (with vermicompost) from plant media” By Joydeep – Own work (CC BY-SA 3.0) via Commons Wikimedia  
2. “Kalanchoe plantlets” By Lefwalter – Own work (CC BY-SA 3.0) via Commons Wikimedia