Molecular Biology Current Innovations and Future Trends Part 1 Book Reviews
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Review by Genetical Research 66 (2): 183-184. October 1995
The book contains ten chapters, all written by experts in the particular fields and interestingly, the editors have recruited over half the authors from the commercial sector. These contributions tend to bias their chapters towards products available from their particular companies, although in general they seem to have covered their subjects fairly comprehensively. Each chapter covers a review of the technique, concentrating on recent innovations and then discusses likely future trends. Most chapters end with protocols covering recent advances or more specialised approaches. Each chapter is also accompanied by an extensive list of references, in most cases concentrating on papers published in the last five years. All chapters refer to material published last year, which is a good indication that the editors and the publisher have succeeded in bringing this book to the bookshelves without undue delay.
The first chapter covers general PCR techniques and is written by a group of authors from Stratagene. In addition to covering recent advances in PCR methodology and instrumentation, the authors describe specific techniques such as cloning PCR-generated fragments and using PCR for site-directed mutagenesis. Sadly the accompanying figures are black and white copies of coloured diagrams from the companyÕs catalogue and some of the detail has been lost during reproduction. A specific utilisation of PCR, thermal cycle sequencing, is described in the next chapter, which contains a generalised protocol for the technique. This is followed by a chapter devoted to methods for isolating plasmid DNA from mini-preps using silica-based resins. Whilst there are a profusion of commercial kits available, the author very rightly draws attention to the dangers of total reliance on these products and so presents a very extensive protocol utilising common laboratory reagents and equipment.
Electrophoresis is covered by three chapters, the first by Branko Kozulic, who provides a very readable account of recent theories which attempt to explain electrophoretic phenomena, including his own Ôdoor-corridorÕ model. He also provides a tantalizing glimpse into the world of new gel matrices and intercalating dyes. The second chapter is devoted to pulsed field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) in which the authors review the various aspects of the technique and provide protocols for the preparation of high molecular weight DNA from soya bean leaves and provide physical mapping data from PFGE combined with two dimensional electrophoresis. The other chapter describes capillary electrophoresis (CE) as applied to the isoelectric focusing of proteins and provides an extensive protocol and a troubleshooting chart.
A chapter on subtractive hybridisation describes the use of commercially available multipurpose cloning vectors to perform cDNA subtractive hybridisation between biotinylated RNA and single stranded DNA. The unhybridised product is purified by streptavidin and used for transformation. This technique should appeal to researchers involved in gene expression and developmental studies.
The widespread use of PCR in molecular biology has required the simultaneous development of reliable methods for the production of oligo primers. A chapter describes recent developments in the related field of oligoribonucleotide synthesis. The demand for synthesized RNA is likely to increase as interest in antisense RNA and the possible use of ribozymes in gene therapy intensifies.
Finally, there are two interesting chapters on instrumentation. One describes state of the art devices for automated DNA hybridization and detection and the other is devoted to a relatively new technique called matrix assisted laser desorption ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI). The authors speculate that MALDI will, in the not too distant future, replace gel electrophoresis in the analysis of DNA sequencing reactions.
This modestly priced book provides the molecular biologist with a wealth of current information on a wide variety of essential techniques. I look forward to the publication of volume 2 in this series, later this year.
Biological Abstracts/RRM 48 (7): 109816. July 1996
The Biochemist: October/November 1996 These books provide an ideal way to keep informed of recent advances in DNA and protein sciences, from gel electrophoresis of DNA and protein to isoelectric focusing of proteins. Each topic is covered, giving in-depth background theory and future trends as well as established protocols. The books represent reviews of each of the subjects covered and should prove to be an invaluable reference source for anyone seeking to understand better the topics or find solutions to experimental problems using new and improved techniques. I feel that both books are of exceptional value, particularly given that it would be difficult to research each topic individually even if excellent reference materials were close at hand. The hardest part of reading this information was stopping colleagues from borrowing the books when I left them at my desk (I suggest carefully hiding your copy)!
Molecular Biotechnology 5 (3): 296. June 1996 ...a book for the library...there is some good stuff here. The chapter on PCR (Weiner et al.) gives a good overview of the mechanics and practise of PCR...Branko Kozulic's chapter, "Gel Electrophoresis of DNA and Proteins: Recent Advances in Theory and Practical Applications," makes fascinating reading; and Paul Hengen's chapter, "Mini-Prep Plasmid DNA Isolation...," gives useful information and tips that could explain why your mini-preps didn't give you any plasmid DNA. There are many other nuggets of information in these pages, as well as a good index with which to find them.
SGM Quarterly 24(1): 39. February 1997
JOHN MAULE MRC Human Genetics Unit, Western General Hospital, Edinburgh, EH4 2XU
One could be led to believe that a molecular biologist armed with a copy of 'Maniatis', or one of the 'Current Protocols' publications, would have adequate technical support to successfully accomplish most experimental procedures. In the real laboratory world, we know that even established methodology is adapting and changing at an alarming rate and that new experimental approaches are regularly appearing on the horizon. This small book fills an important niche in the market, for it aims, and I believe succeeds, in bringing the reader up to date with recent innovations in established techniques as well as introducing us to more state of the art methodology.
Review by
BIOSIS 2100 Arch Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103-1399 USA
This book is part of a new series presenting collections of papers on recent developments in molecular biology. This volume housing ten papers elucidating new techniques and applications, is intended for advanced students and researchers. Most chapters contain both specific protocols and ample background material. Chapter topics include the following: Advances in polymerase chain reaction methodology, pulsed field gel electrophoresis, subtractive hybridization, oligonucleotide synthesis, and laser desorption ionization mass spectrometry. The text is illustrated, heavily referenced, and indexed.
Review by
DAVID CAINE Lark Technologies Inc., Hove, UK
With molecular biology technology continually advancing, keeping up-to-date with the latest techniques has become increasingly difficult and time consuming, despite the enormous potential they encompass. Just as PCR methodologies have now become an everyday part of most molecular biology laboratories, new emerging technologies show equal potential in revolutionizing the way research is conducted. Automated DNA sequencing is already having a major impact on the size and time-scale for molecular biology projects: further advances discussed in Molecular Biology: Current Innovations and Future Trends, such as sequencing by hybridization and matrix-assisted laser-desorption mass spectrometry, could provide the future standard methodologies.
Review by
D. COATES Dept. of Pure and Applied Biology, University of Leeds, UK
This is the first of (initially) three volumes aiming to provide researchers with an overview of recent advances in the theory and practise of molecular biology. As such it is a collection of chapters that, for the most part, deal with particular techniques that may be of interest to the many who stumble about the laboratory looking for the perfect approach to answering their molecular problem. Each chapter includes a short history, a short...view on what the future holds, and...a collection of protocols relevant to the theme.
Review by
HELEN O'SULLIVAN Liverpool Hope University College
These books are a valuable resource for the experienced researcher who wishes to try a new technique or learn more about a familiar one. Each chapter takes a particular technology and examines the theory behind it. There are then notes on practical details and some suggested protocols and product recommendations. The chapters finish with a comprehensive and useful literature review. By themselves, they would not enable a newcomer to the field to start work in the lab, although they would be useful additional reading. They do, however, provide short, readable and informative introductions to many basic and new molecular biology methods.