This book was written to help researchers, teachers, and students to properly understand and use the major techniques and methods employed in cellular and molecular biology. Protocols for some of the experiments are no doubt present dispersed in various books and scientific journals, but these are not always accessible to a scientific worker. My objective was to bring all related protocols together within a framework of six chapters (and of course the appendix) so that they are readily available and accessible to the average scientific worker. This material should be useful to the under-graduate as well as post-graduate students in colleges and universities who deal with Cell Biology and Biochemistry as well as Genetics and Molecular Genetics as parts of their courses. This book extensively deals with the Plant Sciences and the experiments can be easily tailored to suit individual conditions, hence should be of general interest to researchers and teachers who frame the syllabi.

Each chapter covers an outline of theoretical concepts and principles of various protocols followed by a detailed practical methodology. Aspects on General Laboratory Principles together with a brief description of various instruments and methods are dealt with in the first chapter followed by the second chapter on qualitative and quantitative estimations in Plant Biochemistry and physiology. The chapter on Cytology concerns crisp methods for cytological study, followed by the chapter on Genetics, which includes theory and problems besides statistical analysis. The chapter concerning Plant Molecular Genetics includes a sizeable collection of protocols dealing with various aspects of recombinant DNA technology and gene cloning. The sixth chapter deals with Plant Genetic Engineering, which includes tissue culture methods followed by protocols of gene transfer and molecular analysis of the putative transformants.

General Practices

1. General Laboratory Practices 

Biochemistry and Physiology

2. Plant Biochemistry and Physiology

Cytology

3. Cytology

Genetics

4. Plant Genetics

5. Plant Molecular Genetics

Biotechnology

6. Plant Tissue Culture and Genetic Engineering

Appendix

1. Guidelines for the Preparation of a Scientific Research Article

2. Electronically Accessible Data for Biotechnologists and Molecular Biologists

3. Cell and Tissue Culture Requirements

4. Some other Common Buffer Solutions used in Laboratory

5. Preparation of Phenol

6. Preparation of Fixatives

7. Composition of Enzyme Solutions Used*

8. Murashiqe and Skoog Stocks

9. Sterilisation Times and Pressures

10. Labelling

11. Washing Up

12. Suggested Reading