Relatively simple to perform, yet extremely diverse in its applications, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) has become an important tool in many areas of biomedical research. It enables scientists to produce large quantities of DNA from minute amounts of starting material. This book provides a general introduction to PCR for researchers new to the area. It covers gene analysis at the level of restriction enzyme polymorphism, point mutation and sequence analysis. Methods for using different source materials - cloned DNA, genomic DNA, RNA, nucleic acid from archive material and PCR products themselves - are given. The emphasis throughout is on the practical applications of the technique and detailed experimental protocols are included at all stages, as well as valuable advice on avoiding pitfalls and optimizing results. Although other manuals exist, this is the most up-to-date work of its kind and has the advantage of being presented in the popular Practical Approach format. It will be of value to researchers and advanced students working in a wide variety of fields, from molecular biology to medicine.
