This book should be of particular interest to all who, through the nature of their research, are required to maintain cultures of micro-organisms and other cells in a healthy and stable state. It is based on papers and discussion at the Specialists' Conference on Culture Collections, Ottawa, Canada, August 1962, sponsored by the Canadian Committee on Culture Collections of Micro-organisms. This first international Specialists' Conference was organized with several aims. It was hoped that a discussion of the role of culture collections would make clear their importance in science and in industry. Secondly, a consideration of the organization of collections was planned not only to aid workers actively concerned with culture collections but also to give administrators a clear pictures of organizational problems. Thirdly, it was hoped to make an examination of the fundamental and technical aspects of the reservation of micro-organisms and other cells, with special emphasis on the maintenance of physiological, morphological and genetic characteristics. The speakers of the Conference strove to elucidate what is known of the subject-matter, and also to draw attention to areas of ignorance, with the hope of stimulating research in these areas. The symposium speakers included authorities from many countries: J.F. Morgan (Canada); R. Wahl (France); H.P.R. Seeliger (Germany); T. Nei (Japan); A.L. van Beverwijk. T.O. Wikén (the Netherlands); B.L. Brady, S.T. Cowan, E.A. George, H. Proom, J.M. Shewan, R.E.O. Williams (United Kingdoms); S.G. Bradley, D.H. Braendle, W.E. Brown, R.E. Buchanan, W.A. Clark, R. Donovick, R.E. Gordon, W.C. Haynes, R.J. Heckly, N.D. Levine, P. Mazur, K.B. Raper, E.G. Simmons, E.O. Stapley, M.P. Starr, R.C. Starr, R.E. Stevenson, C.S. Stulberg, R.L. Thompson (U.S.A.); and N.A. Krasilnikov (U.S.S.R.). In addition to the symposium papers, eight research communications are presented.