With DNA and gene cloning all over the news, readers need to understand the ongoing genetic revolution. In this highly acclaimed guide, Karl Drlica fully explains the basic science and technology readers need to understand the issues and make crucial decisions. Each step of the way he explains complex topics using easy-to-understand analogies. The new edition is now completely up-to-date.

Chapter 1. Preview: Life as Interacting Molecules.

PART I. BASIC MOLECULAR GENETICS.

Chapter 2. Structure of DNA: Two Long, Interwound Chains.
Chapter 3. Reproducing DNA: Information Transfer from One Generation to the Next.
Chapter 4. Gene Expression: Cellular use of Genetic Information.

PART II. MANIPULATION DNA.

Chapter 5. Microbial Growth: One-celled Organisms as Tools for Gene Cloning.
Chapter 6. Plasmids and Phages: Submicroscopic Parasites used to Deliver Genes to Cells.
Chapter 7. Cutting and Joining DNA: Restriction Endomucleases and Ligases used to Restructure DNA Molecules.
Chapter 8. Using Complementary Base Pairing: Hybridization, Probes, and Amplification using PCR.
Chapter 9. Cloning Genes: Isolation of a Hemoglobin Gene.
Chapter 10. Using Cloned Genes: Gene Structure, Expression Vectors, and Gene Function.

PART III. MODERN MOLECULAR GENETICS.

Chapter 11. Beyond the Central Dogma: A Sampling of Insights Derived from Gene Cloning.
Chapter 12. Retroviruses: AIDS and Gene Delivery.
Chapter 13. Cancer Genes: The Loss of Growth Contro.

PART IV: HUMAN GENETICS.

Chapter 14. Heredity: Pattern of Inheritance and Genetic Instability.
Chapter 15. Application of Human Genetics: Genetic Testing, Gene Therapy, and DNA Fingerprinting.

PART V. WHOLE GENOMES.

Chapter 16. Genomics: Using Whole Genomes to Study Life.
Additional Reading.
Glossary.
Abbreviations.
Index.