Gene cloning and manipulation are the basis for almost all research in molecular biology. This book aims to explain these methods to students by stressing the underlying principles of genetic manipulation in a wide range of organisms. Dr. Howe begins by describing the principles behind cloning DNA in E. coli--the enzymes used, the range of cloning vectors available, and how to screen libraries to find particular clones. The author shows how polymerase chain reaction (PCR) can be used as an alternative approach. He then details how sequences can be exploited, once they have been cloned and identified, by site-directed mutagenesis and over-expression. In the final section, he presents the genetic manipulation of other organisms, including other bacteria, yeast and other fungi, Chlamydomonas, plants, insects (including the use of baculoviruses), and mammals.
