Snail Stomach Cytase, A New Reagent for Plant Cytology

A very active mixture of cytase and other enzymes is present in the stomach fluid of Helix pomatia, the edible snail. This fluid makes an ideal macerating medium for squash preparations of root-tips and other similar plant tissues. The complete separation of all cells is easily achieved, while the chromosomes remain completely unaffected. The method of using this fluid is described; it can be applied in conjunction with any of the standard