bacterial) that have had their cell walls removed. This can

be done mechanically, or by enzymic digestion. The

“naked”cells are surrounded only by a cell membrane

and can be used in a variety of ways. For example, two or

more protoplasts can be fused with the help of a detergent,

polyethylene glycol, to produce hybrid cells with

characteristics from each “parent”. Infection of protoplasts with genetically-modified

Agrobacterium tumefaciens is one way of introducing new genes into plant cells. Whole plants

can be regenerated from protoplasts grown on solid or liquid media.
 
 

A mixture of carbohydrases can be used to degrade plant tissue, producing a protoplast suspension
which can easily be seen under a microscope. For school work, this procedure does not require an

aseptic environment if the protoplasts are not to be cultured.
 

 
 
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