Studying plant biology at the molecular level requires different techniques from those employed in the study of animals and bacteria, because of the different structure of plant cells and the different mechanisms they employ. Interest in crop research and the genetic modification of food plants means it is an expanding discipline, and the editors have assembled distinguished contributors to give it comprehensive coverage. Volume 1 covers gene identification, gene organization, library screening and cDNA isolation, while volume 2 focuses on gene expression and gene product analysis.