Science about cutting (5)
I believe the answer is:
scion
'cutting' is the definition.
(thesaurus)
'science about' is the wordplay.
'science' becomes 'sci' (eg in 'poli sci' for political science).
'about' becomes 'on' (as in a book 'on' a certain topic).
'sci'+'on'='SCION'
(Other definitions for scion that I've seen before include "Young family member" , "Plant shoot; descendant of a noble family;" , "Descendant - heir" , "Young child" , "Descendent - heir" .)