| In the brief period after the introduction of the GCSE examination in England and Wales, but before the National Curriculum came fully into force, biotechnology education flourished. Practical experience of plant tissue culture was called for in many biology and some science syllabuses - notably in Suffolk Science in its first incarnation. The plant most commonly-used for such work in schools and colleges was cauliflower. Carrots were sometimes tried, but it was difficult to isolate the meristematic tissue from the tap root as suggested. Cauliflower, in contrast, proved ideal for plant tissue culture, because it is readily-available, robust enough to withstand the rigours of being handled by students and grows rapidly. Growth can be seen after 10 days and plantlets ready for transplantation are formed within 12 weeks. | | |
