This document discusses tracer techniques used to study biosynthetic pathways in plants. Tracer techniques involve incorporating radioactive isotopes or stable isotopes into presumed precursors of plant metabolites. This allows researchers to trace intermediates and steps in pathways over time. Various techniques are described such as precursor-product sequence, double labeling, competitive feeding, and sequential analysis. Tracer techniques provide high sensitivity and can be applied to all living organisms to study topics like terpenoid biosynthesis, formation of secondary metabolites, and nutrient uptake in plants.