James A. Birchler – författare

Plant cytogenetics comprises a topic of broad interest and increasing importance in plant science. In keeping with the exciting advances in plant genetics and genomics, we believe that a comprehensive and up-to-date reference on plant cytogenetics would be of great interest and value for researchers, instructors, and students with interests in genetics, plant biology, and plant genomics. The field of cytogenetics is currently expanding at the same fast pace that genome technologies are moving but no reliable reference exists that captures the current state of progress. The goal then of the proposed reference is to provide a scholarly and timely review of plant cytogenetics that covers traditional aspects of plant cytogenetics together with the emerging and exciting new areas of genomics, epigenetics, evolution, and chromosome engineering. Advances in plant genetics and genomics are driving major changes in how we view fundamental concepts such as gene regulation, genome organization, and plant evolution. Plant Cytogenetics: Genome Structure and Chromosome Function provides a unique and critical perspective on these precepts.Our proposed new reference on cytogenetics will be offered in two separate and individual but complementary volumes.This volume will consist of 16 chapters and a glossary, and collectively present a must-have reference for researchers, instructors, students, or breeders whose work on plants can be described as genetics, structural or functional genomics, evolution, or epigenetics. The genome revolution has opened new avenues for understanding and modifying plant genomes. A modern reference book on plant cytogenetics will be a major asset as plant geneticists move from engineering genes and pathways to engineering more complex genetic elements such as whole chromosomes and composite genomes. We expect that this definitive reference would serve just such a role covering the fundamentals of plant cytogenetics on this topic of great historic and contemporary importance.

Polyploidy plays an important role in biological diversity, trait improvement, and plant species survival. Understanding the evolutionary phenomenon of polyploidy is a key challenge for plant and crop scientists. This book is made up of contributions from leading researchers in the field from around the world, providing a truly global review of the subject. Providing broad-ranging coverage, and up-to-date information from some of the world’s leading researchers, this book is an invaluable resource for geneticists, plant and crop scientists, and evolutionary biologists.

Plant Centromere Biology is dedicated to plant centromere research. Chapters cover the structure of centromeres from several plant species including Arabidopsis thaliana, rice, maize, wheat and beet, while other sections cover several unique characteristics associated with plant centromeres, including classical and modern neocentromeres, centromere drive and centromere misdivision.  Additional chapters are dedicated to epigenetic modification and evolution of plant centromeres, and development and application of plant artificial chromosomes. Written by an international group of experts in the field, Plant Centromere Biology is a valuable handbook for all plant scientists working on plant genome research.  Beyond the bench, it can also serve as a helpful reference tool or textbook for upper level college classes on cytogenetics or genome analysis.

This reference book provides information on plant cytogenetics for students, instructors, and researchers. Topics covered by international experts include classical cytogenetics of plant genomes; plant chromosome structure; functional, molecular cytology; and genome dynamics. In addition, chapters are included on several methods in plant cytogenetics, informatics, and even laboratory exercises for aspiring or practiced instructors. The book provides a unique combination of historical and modern subject matter, revealing the central role of plant cytogenetics in plant genetics and genomics as currently practiced. This breadth of coverage, together with the inclusion of methods and instruction, is intended to convey a deep and useful appreciation for plant cytogenetics. We hope it will inform and inspire students, researchers, and teachers to continue to employ plant cytogenetics to address fundamental questions about the cytology of plant chromosomes and genomes for years to come.Hank W. Bass is a Professor in the Department of Biological Science at Florida State University.James A. Birchler is a Professor in the Division of Biological Sciences at the University of Missouri.

With an increasing human population and a decreasing amount of arable land, creative improvements in agriculture will be a necessity in the coming decades to maintain or improve the standard of living. In Plant Chromosome Engineering: Methods and Protocols, expert researchers present techniques for the modification of crops and other plant species in order to achieve the goal of developing the much needed novel approaches to the production of food, feed, fuel, fiber, and pharmaceuticals. This volume examines vital topics such as transformation procedures, chromosome painting, production of engineered minichromosomes, gene targeting and mutagenesis, site specific integration, gene silencing, protein expression, chromosome sorting and analysis, protocols for generating chromosomal rearrangements, enhancer trapping, and means of studying chromosomes in vivo. As a part of the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology™ series, the methodological chapters include brief introductions to their respective topics, lists of the necessary materials and reagents, step-by-step, readily reproducible laboratory protocols, and professional tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls.Authoritative and cutting-edge, Plant Chromosome Engineering: Methods and Protocols highlights the spectrum of tools currently available for modifying plant genomes and chromosomes and provides the foundation for crucial future developments.