Protocol describes a method for assembling aggregates between diploid embryos. If embryos from a heterozygous mutant intercross are aggregated with wild-type embryos, the resulting chimeras can be used for analyzing mutant phenotypes. - [Read Assembling Aggregates between Diploid Embryos Protocol]
Protocol describes a method for assembling aggregates between ES cells and diploid embryos. The resulting chimeras are useful for separating certain extraembryonic phenotypes from phenotypes in the embryo proper, since the diploid embryo contributes to all parts of the conceptus, but the ES cell component does not contribute to the trophoblast or yolk sac endoderm. - [Read Assembling Aggregates between Embryonic Stem (ES) Cells and Diploid Embryos Protocol]
Forward genetics is used to identify genes that are involved in particular biological processes. For example, genes required for disease resistance can be found by identifying mutants with reduced or increased disease resistance, genes that control flower development can be identified by searching for mutants with altered flower morphology, and genes encoding enzymes for tryptophan biosynthesis can be identified by searching for mutants that require exogenous tryptophan for growth. - [Read Forward Genetics in Arabidopsis: Finding Mutations that Cause Particular Phenotypes Protocol]
A powerful way to identify a mutation in the gene of interest and to test mutant plants for phenotypes that are predicted to result from loss of function of that gene is by PCR screening. Pools of insertion lines are screened using one primer corresponding to the gene of interest and one primer corresponding to the end of the insertion element. The synthesis of a product indicates the presence of an insertion in the gene of interest. - [Read Screening DNA Pools for T-DNA Insertions in Arabidopsis Genes Protocol]