The basis of genetic engineering -- Introducing molecular biology -- The flow of genetic information -- The structure of DNA and RNA -- Gene organisation -- Gene structure in prokaryotes -- Gene structure in eukaryotes -- Gene expression -- Genes and genomes -- Genome size and complexity -- Genome organisation -- Working with nucleic acids -- Isolation of DNA and RNA -- Handling and quantification of nucleic acids -- Radiolabelling of nucleic acids -- End labelling -- Nick translation -- Labelling by primer extension -- Nucleic acid hybridisation -- Gel electrophoresis -- DNA sequencing -- Maxam--Gilbert (chemical) sequencing -- Sanger--Coulson (dideoxy or enzymatic) sequencing -- Electrophoresis and reading of sequences -- The tools of the trade -- Restriction enzymes--cutting DNA -- Type II restriction endonucleases -- Use of restriction endonucleases -- Restriction mapping -- DNA modifying enzymes -- Nucleases -- Polymerases -- Enzymes that modify the ends of DNA molecules -- DNA ligase--joining DNA molecules -- The methodology of gene manipulation -- Host cells and vectors -- Host cell types -- Prokaryotic hosts -- Eukaryotic hosts -- Plasmid vectors for use in E. coli -- What are plasmids? -- Basic cloning plasmids -- Slightly more exotic plasmid vectors -- Bacteriophage vectors for use in E. coli -- What are bacteriophages? -- Vectors based on bacteriophage [lambda] -- Vectors based on bacteriophage M13 -- Other vectors -- Hybrid plasmid/phage rectors -- Vectors for use in eukaryotic cells -- Artificial chromosomes.

However, the book is now divided into three main sections: the first introduces students to basic molecular biology, the second section explains the methods used to manipulate genes, and the third deals with modern applications of genetic