RE: Mutation

From: Mellard, David (dam7@cdc.gov)
Date: Fri Sep 19 1997 - 06:49:00 PDT


Date: Fri, 19 Sep 1997 09:49:00 -0400
From: "Mellard, David" <dam7@cdc.gov>
To: cp@opus.hpl.hp.com
Message-Id: <aabcdefg3599$foo@default>
Subject: RE: Mutation


>Thank you to all that responded to my emails. Maybe I should state
>more precisely what I am interested in doing, and then hopefully
>somebody can tell me where to get what I need, if it is safe to do,
>and how to do it. :)
> I want to induce mutation in a few plants, SAFELY and without
>spending a fortune. I prefer if the offspring of the plant can
>inherit whatever mutation I can get the plant to go through, but even
>if the mutation is limited to one plant that is fine.
> Obviously I am not an expert in this field, but I want to
>experiment in my house on a few of my plants. I do not have a
>laboratory. The plants are full grown, but if I need plant material
>in tissue culture to induce mutation then I can do that.
> Is there any way that I can induce mutations in a few of my
>plants to see the results? Are there any chemicals that are safe to
>handle? Are there any other methods besides chemicals that I could
>try? Thank you.

Hi Matt,

It's a little more complicated. You'll need to induce a mutation in the
germ cells of plant, have that plant flower and produce seed, and then
grow the seed up to see if you get a phenotypic (visual) change in the
plant. X-rays are a good way to cause mutations. If you have a
university nearby or maybe even hospital, talk to them to find out if
they have x-ray equipment that you could bring your plants to for
someone to irradiate.

But first, go to a library and read all you can about the subject.

David
drake@erols.com



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