Book excerpt: Methods in Plant Molecular Biology is a lab manual that introduces students to a diversity of molecular techniques needed for experiments with plant cells. Those included have been perfected and are now presented for the first time in a usable and teachable form. Because the manual integrates protein, RNA, and DNA techniques, it will serve students, teachers, and researchers in plant physiology, biophysics, and animal molecular biology who have no previous experience handling recombinant DNA or purified proteins. It can also be used by the established molecular biologist who wishes to utilize the powerful techniques of recombinant DNA to explore the mysteries of the plant kingdom. Eight basic experiments which can be used collectively or individually cover Recombinant Cloning and Screening in E. coli; DNA Sequencing Plant RNA Isolation and in Vitro Translations Plant DNA Isolations and Genomic DNA Southern AnalysisChloroplast Isolation and Protein SynthesisPlant Tissue Culture and Agrobacterium Transformations Experiments that have been student tested for three years Blueprints for setting up gel rigs Comprehensive course schedule outlining individual procedures to be finished in each lab segment Course can be tailored to suit the needs of the individual instructor