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This thorough introductory volume presents the background, applications, and stepwise directions for standard DNA and RNA isolation techniques. Unlike a kit chemistry approach, this book provides a breadth of information necessary for junior or non-expert researchers to learn and apply these techniques in their work. An accessible, indispensable how-to guide for researchers in immunology, molecular biology, zoology, forensic science, genetics, botany, neuroscience, physiology, and others.

This book describes genomic uracil in evolution, as a DNA constituent in adaptive and innate immune responses and as a mutagenic lesion causing cancer. Genomic uracil is as old as life and may have been a component in self-replicating molecules in the prebiotic era. The first living cells probably contained uracil in DNA, later to be replaced by thymine. The pioneering work of Nobel Laureate, Tomas Lindahl on spontaneous deamination of DNA cytosine to uracil was followed by his discovery of uracil-DNA glycosylase, which initiates repair of genomic uracil in base excision repair (BER). Uracil-DNA glycosylases are found in all forms of life and in DNA viruses, having roles in DNA repair, replication and epigenetics. The surprising discovery of enzymatic DNA cytosine deamination by the AID/APOBEC deaminases subsequently has implicated genomic uracil in the development of human cancer. The aim of the book is to contribute a reference text for graduate students, molecular biologists, immunologists and cancer biologists.Genomic uracil has become a hot research topic of wide interest after the Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2015 was awarded for DNA repair (Paul Modrich, Aziz Sancar and Tomas Lindahl). Furthermore, genomic uracil has received wide interest among both immunologists and cancer biologists due to its unexpected and fundamental role in adaptive immunity. Genomic uracil, thus, is highly relevant to researchers in different areas of research, but to our knowledge there is no published text that treats genomic uracil in an interdisciplinary way. The authors of this book have in the last three decades worked on genomic uracil and its processing and are among the most highly cited authors in the field.

In this book, the molecular recognition of DNA using small molecules is discussed, with a study of the photochemistry of BrU-labeled DNA. The purposes of the study were to develop small molecules for regenerative medicine, to develop a method to detect the recognition site of small molecules, and to detect the most important biological phenomena using the photochemistry of BrU-labeled DNA. The study began with the design and development of small molecules that can induce pluripotency genes. To deal with the important issue of cell permeability of the original compound, a new analogue of the original with improved gene expression was designed and synthesized. Using the photochemistry of BrU-labeled DNA, crucial biological phenomena such as cooperativity between transcription factors were detected. For the first time, the cooperativity was examined by excess electron transfer assay. DNA was also studied very carefully in order to understandthe mechanism of the double-strand break in the UVA micro-irradiation technique. The mechanism of the double strand remained untouched. Nevertheless, the double-strand break mechanism was clearly demonstrated by Hoechst dye, as shown in this book.

For several years, researchers have been reporting the effects of microwave radiation/heating on both the structure and function of DNA, RNA and proteins. For the most part, favourable accelerated biological functions are observed as microwave induced heating occurs, but other not-so favourable effects are also observed, such as denaturation, fragmentation and the so called and ill-explained, non-thermal microwave effects. This volume, the first of its kind, brings researchers together from around the world to discuss their current findings and thinking on the effects of Microwaves on Biological systems, particularly DNA, RNA and proteins, in the form of contributed edited chapters.

DNA and RNA explores Friedrich Miescher's major scientific discovery in 1944 when he isolated DNA for the first time, forever changing our understanding of the building blocks of the human body. The book looks at Miescher's path to isolating DNA and the ways that his work influenced James Watson and Francis Crick, who discovered the double helix in 1957. DNA and RNA describes the many ways that these discoveries are relevant to our lives, as well as the numerous ethical implications of the discoveries.

Advanced Mechanical Models of DNA Elasticity includes coverage on 17 different DNA models and the role of elasticity in biological functions with extensive references. The novel advanced helicoidal model described reflects the direct connection between the molecule helix structure and its specific properties, including nonlinear features and transitions. It provides an introduction to the state of the field of DNA mechanics, known and widely used models with their short analysis, as well as coverage on experimental methods and data, the influence of electrical, magnetic, ionic conditions on the persistence length, and dynamics with viscosity influence. It then addresses the need to understand the nature of the non-linear overstretching transition of DNA under force and why DNA has a negative twist-stretch coupling. - Includes coverage of 17 contemporary models of DNA mechanics with analysis - Provides comparison of DNA and RNA mechanical features - Covers advances in experimental techniques including AFM, X-ray, and optical tweezers - Contains extensive references for further reading

Who Discovered DNA? explores the fascinating advances that have been made in the study of DNA and genetics.

This new volume of Methods in Cell Biology looks at methods for analyzing of biophysical methods in cell biology. Chapters cover such topics as AFM, traction force microscopy, digital holographic microscopy, single molecule imaging, video force microscopy and 3D multicolor super-resolution screening - Covers sections on model systems and functional studies, imaging-based approaches and emerging studies - Chapters are written by experts in the field - Cutting-edge material

For decades after the identification of the structure of DNA, scientists focused only on genes, the regions of the genome that contain codes for the production of proteins. Other regions that make up 98 percent of the human genome were dismissed as'junk,'sequences that serve no purpose. But researchers have recently discovered variations and modulations in this junk DNA that are involved with a number of intractable diseases. Our increasing knowledge of junk DNA has led to innovative research and treatment approaches that may finally ameliorate some of these conditions.Junk DNA can play vital and unanticipated roles in the control of gene expression, from fine-tuning individual genes to switching off entire chromosomes. These functions have forced scientists to revisit the very meaning of the word'gene'and have engendered a spirited scientific battle over whether or not this genomic'nonsense'is the source of human biological complexity. Drawing on her experience with leading scientific investigators in Europe and North America, Nessa Carey provides a clear and compelling introduction to junk DNA and its critical involvement in phenomena as diverse as genetic diseases, viral infections, sex determination in mammals, and evolution. We are only now unlocking the secrets of junk DNA, and Nessa Carey's book is an essential resource for navigating the history and controversies of this fast-growing, hotly disputed field.

Methods in Enzymology volumes provide an indispensable tool for the researcher. Each volume is carefully written and edited by experts to contain state-of-the-art reviews and step-by-step protocols. In this volume, we have brought together a number of core protocols concentrating on DNA, complementing the traditional content that is found in past, present and future Methods in Enzymology volumes. - Indispensable tool for the researcher - Carefully written and edited by experts to contain step-by-step protocols - In this volume we have brought together a number of core protocols concentrating on DNA

During the past few decades we have witnessed an era of remarkable growth in the field of molecular biology. In 1950 very little was known of the chemical constitution of biological systems, the manner in which information was trans­ mitted from one organism to another, or the extent to which the chemical basis of life is unified. The picture today is dramatically different. We have an almost bewildering variety of information detailing many different aspects of life at the molecular level. These great advances have brought with them some breath-taking insights into the molecular mechanisms used by nature for rep­ licating, distributing and modifying biological information. We have learned a great deal about the chemical and physical nature of the macromolecular nucleic acids and proteins, and the manner in which carbohydrates, lipids and smaller molecules work together to provide the molecular setting of living sys­ tems. It might be said that these few decades have replaced a near vacuum of information with a very large surplus. It is in the context of this flood of information that this series of monographs on molecular biology has been organized. The idea is to bring together in one place, between the covers of one book, a concise assessment of the state of the subject in a well-defined field. This will enable the reader to get a sense of historical perspective-what is known about the field today-and a description of the frontiers of research where our knowledge is increasing steadily.

The ability of DNA to exist in configurations other than its classical double-stranded form has been known for many years. There has been a spectacular recent surge of interest in these forms, notably in the three-stranded or triple-helical form. Triplex-like nucleic acids are now known to exist in vivo, and may well participate in significant biological processes. Interest in triple-helical nucleic acids has been greatly stimulated by their potential exploitation to control gene expression, serve as tools in genome mapping strategies, etc. The authors have written an encyclopedic introduction to nucleic acid triplexes based on many years of familiarity with the topic. The book includes information on chemistry, conformation, physical properties, applications, and hypotheses about the biological role of triplexes. It pays particular attention to the different methods for investigating these molecules, a feature which will be welcomed by those new to the field.

RNA and DNA Editing assembles a team of leading experts who present the latest discoveries in the field alongside the latest models and methodology. In addition, the authors set forth the many open questions and suggest routes for further investigation. Overall, the book serves as a practical guide for professionals in the field who need to understand the interrelationship of RNA and DNA editing with other chemical and biological processes.

Modern DNA microarray technologies have evolved over the past 25 years to the point where it is now possible to take many million measurements from a single experiment. These two volumes, Parts A & B in the Methods in Enzymology series provide methods that will shepard any molecular biologist through the process of planning, performing, and publishing microarray results. Part A starts with an overview of a number of microarray platforms, both commercial and academically produced and includes wet bench protocols for performing traditional expression analysis and derivative techniques such as detection of transcription factor occupancy and chromatin status. Wet-bench protocols and troubleshooting techniques continue into Part B. These techniques are well rooted in traditional molecular biology and while they require traditional care, a researcher that can reproducibly generate beautiful Northern or Southern blots should have no difficulty generating beautiful array hybridizations. Data management is a more recent problem for most biologists. The bulk of Part B provides a range of techniques for data handling. This includes critical issues, from normalization within and between arrays, to uploading your results to the public repositories for array data, and how to integrate data from multiple sources. There are chapters in Part B for both the debutant and the expert bioinformatician. - Provides an overview of platforms - Includes experimental design and wet bench protocols - Presents statistical and data analysis methods, array databases, data visualization and meta analysis

Modern DNA microarray technologies have evolved over the past 25 years to the point where it is now possible to take many million measurements from a single experiment. These two volumes, Parts A & B in the Methods in Enzymology series provide methods that will shepard any molecular biologist through the process of planning, performing, and publishing microarray results. Part A starts with an overview of a number of microarray platforms, both commercial and academically produced and includes wet bench protocols for performing traditional expression analysis and derivative techniques such as detection of transcription factor occupancy and chromatin status. Wet-bench protocols and troubleshooting techniques continue into Part B. These techniques are well rooted in traditional molecular biology and while they require traditional care, a researcher that can reproducibly generate beautiful Northern or Southern blots should have no difficulty generating beautiful array hybridizations. Data management is a more recent problem for most biologists. The bulk of Part B provides a range of techniques for data handling. This includes critical issues, from normalization within and between arrays, to uploading your results to the public repositories for array data, and how to integrate data from multiple sources. There are chapters in Part B for both the debutant and the expert bioinformatician. - Provides an overview of platforms - Includes experimental design and wet bench protocols - Presents statistical and data analysis methods, array databases, data visualization and meta-analysis

The past few years have witnessed intense research in this fascinating field as well as many controversial discussions. Now the time is ripe for a comprehensive book covering not only theoretical aspects, but also such mechanistic topics as principles and mechanisms of photoinduced charge injection, transport and trapping in DNA, sequence-dependent DNA dynamics, spectroscopic investigations of hole transport and much more. From the contents: • Principles and Mechanisms of Photoinduced Charge Injection, Transport and Trapping in DNA • Sequence-Dependent DNA Dynamics: The Regulator of DNA-Mediated Charge Transport • Excess Electron Transfer in DNA Probed with Flavin and Thymine Dimer Modified Oligonucleotides • Dynamics of Photoinitiated Hole and Electron Injection in Duplex DNA • Spectroscopic Investigation of Oxidative Hole Transfer via Adenine Hopping in DNA • Chemical Probing of Reductive Electron Transfer in DNA • Chemical Approach for Modulating Hole Transport in DNA • Spectroscopic Investigation of Charge Transfer in DNA • Spectroscopic Probing of Ultrafast Structural Relaxation and Electron Transfer Dynamics in DNA Edited by Hans-Achim Wagenknecht, and written by renowned international authors, this book provides an excellent overview with high quality contributions, making it a'must-have'for everyone working in the field.