Species Diagnostics Protocols

From The Critics

Reviewer: Mark A. Jandreski, PhD(Loyola University Medical Center)
Description: This new book deals with the identification of various species using molecular techniques such as PCR and RFLP analysis. It gives detailed instructions and notes for these types of protocols.
Purpose: According to the author, "It is hoped that the techniques presented will allow new researchers needing a diagnostic application to choose a method that will fit their requirements. Indeed, each technique has the potential of being applied to organisms other than those for which it was designed...." A book that will help researchers use molecular biology techniques for taxonomy and pathological identification of species is needed. The author's objectives are met for the most part; however, some chapters lack a good explanation and illustration of data analysis, and overall the book lacks a clear explanation of DNA quantitation after extraction.
Audience: The book is meant to help the new researcher as well as those familiar with the molecular biology field deal with species identification at the molecular level. In my opinion, the book is well written for both new researchers and those who are more familiar with the molecular biology field. The book is geared toward microbiologists, entomologists, parasitologists, and mycologists. The contributors represent a wide variety of authorities from around the world.
Features: The book contains too few illustrations. The references are current and pertinent. The table of contents is adequately laid out, although the index is too short, and it is difficult to find information on specific topics such as contamination problems.
Assessment: A flaw in many of the chapters is that too little fundamental material is presented by the authors, and practical information that should be in this book is only referenced. These problems are not unique to method books that deal with PCR. The use of isopsoralen or unconventional nucleotide procedures to limit product carryover problems are not explained. In the chapters on DNA extraction, the extraction procedures are usually given in great detail; however, there is little or no explanation about the quantitation of the DNA once the extraction is complete. This book does offer many diverse and interesting chapters on the analysis of species using PCR and other molecular biology techniques. University libraries and bookstores will want to carry this useful and informative book.

Mark A. Jandreski

This new book deals with the identification of various species using molecular techniques such as PCR and RFLP analysis. It gives detailed instructions and notes for these types of protocols. According to the author, It is hoped that the techniques presented will allow new researchers needing a diagnostic application to choose a method that will fit their requirements. Indeed, each technique has the potential of being applied to organisms other than those for which it was designed.... A book that will help researchers use molecular biology techniques for taxonomy and pathological identification of species is needed. The author's objectives are met for the most part; however, some chapters lack a good explanation and illustration of data analysis, and overall the book lacks a clear explanation of DNA quantitation after extraction. The book is meant to help the new researcher as well as those familiar with the molecular biology field deal with species identification at the molecular level. In my opinion, the book is well written for both new researchers and those who are more familiar with the molecular biology field. The book is geared toward microbiologists, entomologists, parasitologists, and mycologists. The contributors represent a wide variety of authorities from around the world. The book contains too few illustrations. The references are current and pertinent. The table of contents is adequately laid out, although the index is too short, and it is difficult to find information on specific topics such as contamination problems. A flaw in many of the chapters is that too little fundamental material is presented by the authors, and practical information that should be in thisbook is only referenced. These problems are not unique to method books that deal with PCR. The use of isopsoralen or unconventional nucleotide procedures to limit product carryover problems are not explained. In the chapters on DNA extraction, the extraction procedures are usually given in great detail; however, there is little or no explanation about the quantitation of the DNA once the extraction is complete. This book does offer many diverse and interesting chapters on the analysis of species using PCR and other molecular biology techniques. University libraries and bookstores will want to carry this useful and informative book.

Booknews

Practitioners describe in detail numerous methods for identifying many organisms by means of nucleic acid analysis. The applications range from medical diagnosis and plant pathology to medical entomology, mycology, and molecular ecology. The organisms identified include plant, insect, and vertebrate DNA; viruses (phytopathogenic, HIV, human papilloma, dengue); bacteria; fungi; protozoans; parasites; and mosquitoes. The techniques can be modified for use with many other and novel species. Plastic comb-binding. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

3 Stars from Doody