Author Description

Radioisotopes have played a vital role in many areas of research in biology and medicine but are dangerous unless handled carefully and can pose serious problems of disposal. Techniques using non-radioactive labels, which avoid these drawbacks, have become increasingly popular and very reliable in recent years. Non-Isotopic Methods in Molecular Biology: A Practical Approach is a comprehensive practical manual of non-radioactive techniques for the molecular analysis of DNA and RNA. The methods described give results comparable to, or better than, radiolabelling procedures. The book begins with an overview of non-isotopic analogues for well-established labelling techniques, and continues with step-by-step protocols for their use. Topics covered include cytogenetic analysis; in situ hybridization; use of synthetic oligonucleotides to detect RNA in situ; PCR in situ hybridization; filter hybridization assays, including colorimetric and chemiluminescent detection; PCR amplification of multi-allelic systems for genomic DNA analysis; reverse transcriptase PCR. The authors, who are all experienced researchers, give clear practical advice, plus hints and tips for success, and also provide sample results. All researchers in the biological and medical sciences who use labelled probes in their work will find this book an invaluable practical guide, whether they are experienced users or just starting work in this area.