Analysis of single protoplasts and regenerated plants by PCR and RAPD technology

Summary We investigated the use of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and the associated random amplification of polymorphic DNA (RAPD) technique in the analysis of DNA and specific genes in plant cells at different stages of regeneration in in vitro cultures. We demonstrate that both procedures can be used to differentiate reproducibly between closely related species as well as to reveal levels of DNA polymorphism in regenerated plants. We also demonstrate that both procedures, using protocols that we have developed, are applicable at all tissue culture stages, from single isolated protoplasts to regenerated plants. Possible explanations for the variation levels detected in regenerated wheat plants are advanced.     

Electrodecantation of serum proteins.

The sedimentation of albumin under the action of the electric and gravitational fields was determined as a function of time in discontinuous experiments in a rectangular cell, using serum with the albumin fraction stained blue. It was shown that even under the influence of strong electric fields, the upper boundary of the albumin layer fell no further than the mid-point of the cell. In continuous single-stage separation of gamma-globulin from other serum proteins, only about half the gamma-globulins can be obtained from the solution because it remains homogeneously distributed throughout the solution and is only free from albumin and other proteins in the upper half of the cell. In experiments with continuously operated triangular cells, the process was optimized to give gamma-globulin of 97.5% purity in a yield of 80%, at serum flow-through rates of up to 0.5 l/h in a block composed of 40 cells.     

Book reviews

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Book reviews

     

Mother-young relationships in captive ungulates: Spatial and temporal patterns

Ungulates are often divided into two groups—the followers and the hiders—characterized by differing spatial and temporal patterns of mother-young behavior. We assessed the relative roles of mother and young in maintaining these patterns by recording standardized quantitative measures on 37 mother-young pairs representing eight species. We found no differences between followers and hiders on any of our measures. The mother was largely responsible for maintaining the species characteristic spacing distances between mother and young, although young sometimes contributed. The mother usually initiated activity bouts of the young. Activity bouts of young were longer and more frequent when the mother was active than when she was lying down. Young often stood when their mother was lying, but these activity bouts were brief. Young usually terminated their own activity bouts. Hinde's measure, a measure designed to quantify the relative roles of primate mother and young in maintaining proximity, proved less satisfactory for ungulates, due to the multiple interpretations possible for low values of the measure and the difficulty of adequately defining approaches and departures.