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This book covers the latest developments in rolling circle amplification (RCA) technology with applications in clinical diagnostic tests and molecular medicine. Topics covered include new enzymes useful in RCA, techniques involving RCA for enhanced signal amplification, novel RCA diagnostics, sensors for expediting RCA detection, and prospective RCA-based therapeutics. This is a valuable book for university professors and students in the field of biomedical engineering and biomolecular pharmacology as well as R&D managers of biotechnology and biopharmaceutical companies.Specifically, this book:Reviews prospective RCA-based therapeutics, including RCA-derived DNA nanoparticles that strongly bind to cancer cellsExpands readers'understanding of sensor systems for expediting detection of RCA products by using probe-tagged magnetic nanobeadsMaximizes reader insights into novel RCA diagnostics,such as PNA openers-assisted RCA for detection of single target cells and in situ RCA diagnosis of cancer cells and malignant tissuesPresents innovative methods for quasi-exponential enhancement of RCA-generated signals, such as nicking enzyme-assisted cascade RCA and RCA coupled with loop-mediated amplificationAdvance Praise for Rolling Circle Amplification (RCA):“This book provides a badly needed compendium of innovative RCA methods and applications. It should help further increase the community of scientists that have employed RCA in research and diagnostic programs.”— Charles Cantor, Professor Emeritus of Biomedical Engineering, Boston University Executive Director, Retrotope Inc. (USA)“In this new book Vadim Demidov has assembled an enticing menu of articles that illustrate the evolution of the RCA field, including improved protein parts forbuilding superior DNA nanomachines, enhanced modalities of amplification and detection, diagnostic applications, and even a sampling of potential therapeutic applications. The reader will appreciate that while RCA has come of age, there is no lack of exciting surprises, turns, and twists in the continuing evolution of the technology.”— Paul Lizardi, Professor of Pathology, Yale University School of Medicine (retired) Investigator, University of Granada, Spain, President, PetaOmics, Inc., San Marcos, Texas.

Kary Mullis was awarded a Nobel Prize for inventing the PCR technique more than 15 years ago in 1993. Since its'discovery', multiple adaptations and variations of the standard PCR technique have been described, with many of these adaptations and variations currently being used in clinical, diagnostic and academic laboratories across the world. Further, these techniques are being applied at the diagnostic level (e.g. as high throughput testing methodologies to detect minimum residual disease, the presence/absence of specific pathogens etc), as well as to increase our understanding of fundamental disease processes. Frequently, PCR technicians and specialists limit their understanding of PCR to one particular methodology. However, this approach limits their appreciation of the range of versatile PCR techniques currently available, techniques that may be applicable and indeed more suitable to their own laboratory situation. This manual aims to provide thereader with a guide to the standard PCR technique and its many available modifications, with particular emphasis on the role of PCR techniques in the diagnostic laboratory (the central theme of this manual). Further, many important technical issues have been addressed, including types of PCR template material, PCR optimization, the analysis of PCR products, quality control and quality assurance, variants and adaptations of the standard PCR protocol, quantitative PCR and in situ PCR. The reader of this manual will be excellently informed about the fundamental principles of PCR and the true potential of PCR within clinical laboratory practice.

PCR is the most powerful technique currently used in molecular biology. It enables the scientist to quickly replicate DNA and RNA on the benchtop. From its discovery in the early 80's, PCR has blossomed into a method that enables everything from ready mutation of DNA/RNA to speedy analysis of tens of thousands of nucleotide sequences daily.PCR Applications examines the latest developments in this field. It is the third book in the series, building on the previous publications PCR Protocols and PCR Strategies. The manual discusses techniques that focus on gene discovery, genomics, and DNA array technology, which are contributing factors to the now-occurring bioinformatics boom.Key Features• Focuses on gene discovery, genomics, and DNA array technology• Covers quantitative PCR techniques, including the use of standards and kinetic analysisincludes statistical refinement of primer design parameters• Ilustrates techniques used in microscopic tissue samples, such as single cell PCR, whole cell PCR, laser capture microdissection, and in situ PCREntries provide information on:• Nomenclature• Expression• Sequence analysis• Structure and function• Electrophysiology• Parmacology• Information retrieval