Gene Cloning and Manipulation

This book is a "wet" approach to genetic engineering and outlines for the reader modern laboratory techniques in cloning and gene sequencing. It is well suited for a mathematician or an aspiring bioinformatics specialist who needs an overview of the experimental side of genetic engineering. The treatment is very detailed and a lot is covered given the size of the book, but it is well written and an interesting read. It does require a fair amount of background in biochemistry but even readers without such a background can follow the dialog if close attention is paid to the definitions. A little elementary physics background is required in the discussion on gel electrophoresis, and in the discussion on biolistic transformations with a particle gun. For the mathematician/bioinformaticist the most useful chapters will be the chapters on the making and screening libraries. The validation of gene sequence data is an important but tedious exercise and these chapters introduce the reader to what must lie ahead if such activities are pursued. Even if read leisurely the book is fascinating and one takes away a deeper appreciation of the tools and techniques used in this new century of biology.