Molecular Biotechnology: Principles and Applications - Glick B., Pasternak J. 2002

From the Translation Editor

The book you are holding is an outstanding guide to molecular biotechnology, offering a detailed exposition of its principles, Methods, and Applications. It synthesizes years of experience in lecturing on this subject to students across various disciplines at one of Canada's leading universities. Until now, there has been a notable lack of domestic or translated publications that comprehensively cover all branches of biotechnology alongside every biological entity to which biotechnological methods can be applied: microorganisms, plants, animals, and humans alike. Meanwhile, the demand for such a textbook is exceptionally high, as biotechnology increasingly intersects with the interests of professionals from diverse educational backgrounds.

The textbook is structured and written in such a way that it is equally accessible to biology and chemistry students, as well as future medical professionals. Each topic includes References to literature outlining optimal methodologies for engineering recombinant organisms, studying their function, and quantifying target products. The text is punctuated by inset boxes entitled "Milestone." These feature summaries of pivotal scientific papers that have truly shaped The history of modern biotechnology.

The book comprises four parts. The first clearly and concisely lays out the fundamentals of molecular biology; the second focuses on the molecular biotechnology of microorganisms; and the third addresses the biotechnology of eukaryotic systems, including humans (Human Molecular Genetics and Gene Therapy). Of particular interest to readers is the fourth part, dedicated to regulation and patenting in molecular biotechnology. These issues are rarely addressed in textbooks or academic curricula, even though, as in any applied science, new developments in biotechnology yield returns only when properly protected by patents. The authors discuss the legal framework governing The Use of Introduction/32.html">Genetic Engineering products in the food and pharmaceutical industries, the agricultural application of recombinant organisms, regulatory acts pertaining to preliminary testing, and requirements for their large-scale deployment. The rules for patenting newly sequenced DNA sequences and biotechnological innovations involving Multicellular Organisms are examined in detail. The concluding section explores the LEGAL ASPECTS OF Somatic and Germline gene therapy, the cloning of whole organisms—including humans—and provides invaluable insights into the nuances of patent practices across different countries, which is essential for bringing domestic engineered products to the global market.

This book will be immensely useful both to students across various disciplines taking a course in biotechnology and to practicing professionals.

N. K. Yankovsky