DNA Markers

Book excerpt: In the four decades since the discovery of DNA, molecular genetics and biotechnology have undergone a revolution in the research and application of genetic testing techniques. As a result, these fields have witnessed an explosion of both information and controversy, and the focus of public awareness of the significance of molecular biotechnology in everyday life has leaped from journal abstracts to front-page news. Molecular biotechnology provides important tools for the identification of specific nucleic acid sequences, some of them linked to important traits such as those conferring resistance to disease. Such DNA markers are used commonly in genetic research and in other applications, such as DNA fingerprinting. Researchers can use DNA markers to follow individual traits in different environments and hosts, increasing our understanding of the constitution, diversity, and evolution of genetic material. DNA Markers: Protocols, Applications, and Overviews offers valuable new information on this rapidly growing field. This compendium of research highlights the most recently discovered DNA markers and their application to the analyses of genomes of low and high complexity, with a focus on recently developed DNA marker systems as tools for DNA fingerprinting, genome analysis, molecular systematics, taxonomy, and phylogenetic analysis. The Protocols section of the book contains detailed, step-by-step instructions on how to perform selected DNA marker experiments, providing a useful laboratory tool. Subjects covered by top specialists include: Designed as a bench-top reference for the laboratory as well as a complete guide to the latest research, DNA Markers: Protocols, Applications, and Overviews is a vital resource for both novices and experienced practitioners involved in research in molecular genetics or biotechnology. A global overview of DNA markers * Molecular hybridization * RAPD, AP-PCR, DAF and AFLP analysis * Microbial Genomic fingerprinting * Simple sequence repeat DNA markers * Genetic BIT analysis * Differential display of RNA * The status of DNA fingerprinting: population databases * Arbitrarily amplified DNA in ecology and evolution