This self-teaching guide explains the basic concepts and fundamentals in all the major subtopics of biotechnology. The content advances logically from the basics of molecular and cellular biology to more complex topics such as DNA, reproductive cloning, experimental procedures, infectious diseases, immunology, the Human Genome Project, new drug discoveries, and genetic disorders.

Part 1: Fundamental Topics in Molecular and Cellular Biology
Chapter 1: The Molecules of Life: The stuff you are made of
Chapter 2: The Cellular Basis of Life: What cells look like and what they do
Chapter 3: Information Flow within the Cell: Going from gene to protein
Chapter 4: DNA Replication and Cell Division: How life continues
Chapter 5: Regulation of gene expression: cells don't express every gene they have
Chapter 6: Signal Transduction: How cells interact with what is outside

Part 2: Essential Experimental Techniques in Biotechnology
Chapter 7: Genetic Engineering: How you do something with DNA
Chapter 8: Assays for Gene Function: I made this DNA, now what?

Part 3: Advanced Topics in Biotechnology
Chapter 9: Cancer and the Cell Cycle: When good cells go bad
Chapter 10: Infectious Disease: Bacteria and viruses and prions, oh my!
Chapter 11: Immunology: How the body protects itself from invasion
Chapter 12: Genetic Disease: When good genes go bad

Part 4: Applications of Biotechnology
Chapter 13: The Human Genome Project: What it is and what it's used for
Chapter 14: Reproductive Cloning: Understanding the controversy
Chapter 15: Genetically Modified (GM) Crops: The new way to make a better tomato
Chapter 16: Drug Discovery: The accelerated pace of finding new drugs
Chapter 17: Future Prospects for Biotechnology: Is it bright or a lack of foresight?