Chromosome Staining Kit

This kit is designed to complement the book Investigating Chromosomes by Dr. A. F. Dyer of the Department of Botany, University of Edinburgh, by providing the necessary basic chemicals and equipment for ten students (or ten pairs of students) to make their own preparations from living organisms. The technique described is straightforward and has been evolved by Dr. Dyer to provide good results ‘first-time’. Although onion seeds are provided with the kit, students will benefit from investigating other material.

The kit contents include:

• Onion Seeds
• Glycerol Albumen
• Lactopropionic orecin solution
• Chromosome Fixative

Additional items required are as follows (not included):

• 10 x petri dishes
• Filter paper (to line petri dishes)
• Access to a waterbath at 60°C