Introduction to DNA Science

Author: David A. Micklos
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-05-01
Features: In 1988, Jim Watson proposed the term "DNA Science" during a lunch at Cold Spring Harbor. For Jim, it was merely an everyday, unintentional comment—he had been engaged in DNA research for nearly 40 years by then. But for us, it was a deliberate remark, as the term perfectly captured the new DNA world we wanted to introduce to students—a science built on the foundation of life molecules and a book that vividly introduces this science to students. In the second edition of this book, we continue to use the clear and accessible explanations from the first edition to describe the successful protocols of well-validated experimental techniques. We have retained the basic experimental sequence from the first edition, introducing DNA restriction enzymes, transformation, isolation, and analysis first, and then explaining how to apply these techniques to construct and analyze a simple DNA recombinant molecule. We have avoided excessive modifications to the experimental techniques in the new edition because these techniques have been proven to be the best and are widely used in teaching laboratory experiments. While the new edition retains some classic experimental methods from the first edition, we have significantly adjusted the text ratio, adding over 200 pages of new content to showcase the forefront of current research. This book is not just a list of facts but also delves deeper into the current experimental techniques, introduces important figures in the field and the significant experiments they conducted. David Crotty, a molecular biologist and developmental biologist, also provided many valuable insights and contributions for the new edition. Although biology has advanced significantly since the publication of the first edition, the ideas and techniques included in this book are essential and fundamental concepts and techniques in DNA experimental operations. Although current molecular biology research increasingly relies on sequencers and gene chips, gel electrophoresis remains a necessary path for beginners to enter the world of DNA. Although experiments with higher biological materials are gaining more attention, simple equipment like incubators and a few hours of time can still be beneficial for biological research using lower organisms like E. coli. Like the original edition, we hope that the second edition of Introduction to DNA Science can accurately predict and interpret the mainstream trends of scientific development in the coming years. We hope that Introduction to DNA Science will become a simple map for those.
—David A. Micklos, Executive Director, Dolan DNA Learning Center, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
—Greg A. Freyer, Associate Professor of Environmental Medicine, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University
—Associate Professor of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons
DNA Science is a science built on the foundation of life molecules. This book is a Chinese translation of the second edition of DNA Science: A First Course published by Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press. It introduces important figures in the field and the significant experiments they conducted, explains experimental techniques in an accessible manner, and showcases the forefront of current research, allowing readers to gain a deeper understanding of today's experimental techniques. The main content includes: fundamental principles of genetics, the structure and function of DNA, gene regulation; small-scale and large-scale DNA analysis techniques, modern techniques for studying single genes, modern methods for whole-genome analysis; the DNA science principles of cancer, the application of DNA science in human genetics and evolution, the problem of human speciation, and more. The ideas and techniques included in this book are essential and fundamental concepts and techniques in DNA experimental operations, and it can help accurately predict and interpret the mainstream trends of scientific development in the coming years. This book is also a simple map for those.
This book is suitable for teachers, graduate students, researchers, and R&D personnel and decision-makers in biotechnology companies in research institutions, universities, and laboratories related to biochemistry, molecular biology, cell biology, genetics, immunology, proteomics, functional genomics, and other life science fields.