Molecular Analyses

Abstract

DNA and RNA extraction methods from a variety of tissues and samples are now routine, including extraction from single cells. Many methods are now automated. Sequencing efficiency has reached the point where it is now possible to obtain gigabases of data, both quickly and inexpensively. Such methods permit the identification of gene versions, including those associated with disease (e.g. small nucleotide polymorphism analyses, or SNPs). The general public as well as clinicians can now access a wide variety of literature on the molecular bases of diseases, allowing them to better assess disease risks and treatments. This volume concentrates on medically-focused methods, and therefore the major audience will be medical professionals, students, and those involved in medically-related research endeavors. There are also papers in this volume dealing specifically with methods developed to analyze large sequence data sets. Many methods reviewed herein are more broadly applicable to other fields in biology, chemistry, bioinformatics, and bioengineering, and are intended for a broad readership