This comprehensive and well-written text provides thorough understanding of the principles and applications of cytogenetics and genetics in an easy-to-understand style. The text is divided into Four parts. Part I on Principles of Cytogenetics deals with evolution and structure of cell, cell division and change, and structure of genetic material. Part II on Principles of Genetics provides detailed discussions on transmission, distribution and arrangement of genetic material, and evolution of species. Part III which is on Molecular Genetics discusses functions of genetic material including biotechnology and genetic engineering, and the last Part IV on Quantitative Genetics deliberates on the course of genetic material in populations. A historical approach to the subject has also been presented to show the continuity and progress. KEY FEATURES: Incorporates latest and up-to-date information on the subjects covered. Provides review questions at the end of each chapter to test the understanding of the concepts discussed. Gives ample references to explore further. Includes a glossary of important terms. The book is eminently suitable for undergraduate and postgraduate students of botany, agriculture, zoology and biotechnology for courses in genetics/genetics and cytogenetics. In addition, the book would also be useful to students appearing in different competitive examinations.

In the summer of 1989, one of us (SLG), along with his mentor, Dorothy Warb- ton, attended the Tenth International Workshop on Human Gene Mapping. The me- ing was held at Yale University in celebration of the first such event, which also took place there. This meeting was not open to the general public; one had to have contributed to mapping a gene to be permitted to attend. The posters, of course, were therefore all related to gene mapping, and many were covered with pretty, colorful pictures of a novel, fluorescent application of an old technology, in situ hybridization. Walking through the room, Dorothy remarked that, because of this new FISH technique, ch- mosomes, which had become yesterday’s news, were once again “back in style. ” Approximately three years later, a commercial genetics company launched a FISH assay for prenatal ploidy detection. A substantial number of cytogeneticists across the country reacted with a combination of outrage and panic. Many were concerned that physicians would be quick to adopt this newfangled upstart test and put us all on the unemployment line. They did not at the time realize what Dorothy instinctively already knew—that FISH would not spell the doom of the cytogenetics laboratory, but it would, rather, take it to new heights.

The book is basically intended to accompany a course in cytogenetics students of Genetics and Plant Breeding . Students are presumed to have knowledge of basics in genetics, cytology and plant breeding but in the present book with the help of diagrams and explanations it has been attempted that even a beginner could grasp the core elements of the subject. The book has been strictly organized on the basis of course curriculum being taught in Universities. All the topics covered in the book have been ordered in a crisp and comprehensible manner avoiding complexities of a traditional textbook since it is a simply a guide book to supplement but not supplant the main texts.

The Foundations of Genetics describes the historical development of genetics with emphasis on the contributions to advancing genetical knowledge and the various applications of genetics. The book reviews the work of Gregor Mendel, his Law of Segregation, and of Ernst Haeckel who suggested that the nucleus is that part of the cell that is responsible for heredity. The text also describes the studies of W. Johannsen on "pure lines," and his introduction of the terms gene, genotype, and phenotype. The book explains the theory of the gene and the notion that hereditary particles are borne by the chromosomes (Sutton-Boveri hypothesis). Of the constituent parts of the nucleus only the chromatin material divides at mitosis and segregates during maturation. Following studies confirm that the chromatin material, present in the form of chromosomes with a constant and characteristic number and appearance for each species, is indeed the hereditary material. The book describes how Muller in 1927, showed that high precision energy radiation is the external cause to mutation in the gene itself if one allele can mutate without affecting its partner. The superstructure of genetics built upon the foundations of Mendelism has many applications including cytogenetics, polyploidy, human genetics, eugenics, plant breeding, radiation genetics, and the evolution theory. The book can be useful to academicians and investigators in the fields of genetics such as biochemical, biometrical, microbial, and pharmacogenetics. Students in agriculture, anthropology, botany, medicine, sociology, veterinary medicine, and zoology should add this text to their list of primary reading materials.

An introductory discussion of basic chromosome structure and function preceeds the main text on the application of cytogenetic approaches to the analysis of the manipulation of both the genetic make-up and the genetic transmission system of plant breeding material. Analysis using light and electron microscopy, segregations and molecular techniques, yields information for assessing the material before and after manipulation. Much attention is given to quantitative methods. Manipulation not only involves the construction of specific genotypes, but also chromosomal transmission systems. Although analysis and manipulation in the somatic cycle are considered, the focus is on the generative cycle, with emphasis on analysis and subsequent segregation of specifically constructed material. The book is intended for plant breeders and other scientists interested in the analysis and manipulation of breeding material at the chromosomal level. Comparisons with molecular and cell biological approaches are made, and the potential of the various methods is evaluated.

Earlier books on the handling of plant chromosomes have not included many of the innovations in cytological techniques for many important crops that have become available in recent years, including information on associating genes with chromosomes. The aim of this book is to compile all the plant cytogenetic techniques, previously published in earlier books, into a laboratory manual. The first part of the book describes standard cytological techniques that are routinely used by students. The second part covers methods used for specific crops for which common cytological methods do not work satisfactorily. The third part discusses cytogenetic techniques (cytology and genetics) for physically locating genes on specific chromosomes. This novel book will be highly useful to students, teachers, and researchers as it is a convenient and comprehensive reference for all plant cytogenetic techniques and protocols.