Description
Book SynopsisAdvances in molecular and cell biology have led to the development of a whole range of techniques for manipulating genomes, collectively termed biotechnology. Although much of the focus in the plant sciences has been on the direct manipulation of plant genomes, biotechnology has also catalyzed a renewed emphasis on the importance of biological and genetic diversity and its conservation. The methods of biotechnology now permit a greater understanding of both species and genetic diversity in plants, the mechanisms by which that variation is generated in nature, and the significance of that variation in the adaptation of plants to their environment. They allow the development of rapid methods for screening germplasm for specific characters and promote more effective conservation strategies by defining the extent of genetic diversity. Tissue culture-based techniques are available for conserving germplasm that cannot be maintained by more traditional methods. Also sophisticated informatics
Table of Contents1: An Overview J A Callow, B V Ford-Lloyd and H J Newbury 2: Use of molecular marker techniques for description of plant genetic variation A L Westman and S Kresovich 3: Genetic diversity - population structure and conservation M D Hayward and N R Sackville Hamilton 4: Genenomic relationships, conserved synteny and wide-hybrids D A Laurie, G J Bryan and J W Snape 5: Molecular markers and the management of genetic resources in seed genebanks: a case study of rice B V Ford-Lloyd, M T Jackson and H J Newbury 6: In vitro conservation methods F Engelmenn 7: Conservation of DNA: DNA banking R P Adams 8: Genetic resources and plant breeding M J Kearsey 9: Gene identification, isolation and transfer I D Godwin 10: Importance of biotechnology for germplasm health and quarantine H Barker and L Torrance 11: Biodiversity for bioindustries G Tamayo, W F Naider and A Sittenfeld 12: Internet resources for the biologist M L Anderson and S W Cartinhour
