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The concept of whole genome amplification is something that has arisen in the past few years as the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) has been adapted to replicate regions of genomes that are of biological interest. The applications are many — forensic science, embryonic disease diagnosis, bioterrorism genome detection, ‘immortalization’ of clinical samples, microbial diversity, and genotyping. Several recent papers suggest that whole genomes can be replicated without bias or non-random distribution of the target, these findings open up a new avenue to molecular biology.

Automation Technologies for Genome Characterization edited by Tony J. Beugelsdijk, John Wiley and Sons, 1997. UK£55.00 hbk (xvi +306 pages) ISBN 0 471 12806 6

A method of separating polynucleotides, such as DNA, RNA and PNA, from a solution containing polynucleotides by reversibly and non-specifically binding the polynucleotides to a solid surface, such as a magnetic microparticle, having a functional group-coated surface is disclosed. The salt and polyalkylene glycol concentration of the solution is adjusted to levels which result in polynucleotide binding to the magnetic microparticles. The magnetic microparticles with bound polynucleotides are separated from the solution and the polynucleotides are eluted from the magnetic microparticles.