Lab Manual is intended to be a handy reference for undergraduate and postgraduate students in life science and allied fields. The book covers fundamental exercises as well as advanced protocols, along with authentic explanation of various techniques and precautions pertaining to common errors in the laboratory. It is a complete instruction manual that imparts knowledge on principles, protocols and applications on techniques of biochemistry, immunology and biotechnology accurately in a user-friendly style.
Phage-display technology has begun to make critical contributions to the study of molecular recognition. DNA sequences are cloned into phage, which then present on their surface the proteins encoded by the DNA. Individual phage are rescued through interaction of the displayed protein with a ligand, and the specific phage is amplified by infection of bacteria. Phage-display technology is powerful but challenging and the aim of this manual is to provide comprehensive instruction in its theoretical and applied so that any scientist with even modest molecular biology experience can effectively employ it. The manual reflects nearly a decade of experience with students of greatly varying technical expertise andexperience who attended a course on the technology at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory. Phage-display technology is growing in importance and power. This manual is an unrivalled source of expertise in its execution and application.
Amphibian embryos are supremely valuable in studies of early vertebrate development because they are large, handle easily, and can be obtained at many interesting stages. And of all the amphibians available for study, the most valuable is Xenopus laevis,which is easy to keep and ovulates at any time of year in response to simple hormone injections. Xenopusembryos have been studied for years but this is a particularly exciting time for the field. Techniques have become available very recently that permit a previously impossible degree of manipulation of gene expression in intact embryos, as well as the ability to visualize the results of such manipulation. As a result, a sophisticated new understanding of Xenopusdevelopment has emerged, which ensures the species’ continued prominent position among the organisms favored for biological investigation. This manual contains a comprehensive collection of protocols for the study of early development in Xenopusembryos. It is written by several of the field’s most prominent investigators in the light of the experience they gained as instructors in an intensive laboratory course taught at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory since 1991. As a result it contains pointers, hints, and other technical knowledge not readily available elsewhere. This volume is essential reading for all investigators interested in the developmental and cell biology of Xenopusand vertebrates generally. Many of the techniques described here are illustrated in an accompanying set of videotapeswhich are cross-referenced to the appropriate section of the manual.
"The first Lab Ref volume compiled recipes and reference data drawn from a selection of our manuals and was intended to save time and spare frustration." ... "In the same spirit, Lab Ref 2 again assembles in one place a new selection of reference information that should maximize the volume's value in a crowded laboratory environment."--Note.
Bringing this best-selling textbook right up to date, the new edition uniquely integrates the theories and methods that drive the fields of biology, biotechnology and medicine, comprehensively covering both the techniques students will encounter in lab classes and those that underpin current key advances and discoveries. The contents have been updated to include both traditional and cutting-edge techniques most commonly used in current life science research. Emphasis is placed on understanding the theory behind the techniques, as well as analysis of the resulting data. New chapters cover proteomics, genomics, metabolomics, bioinformatics, as well as data analysis and visualisation. Using accessible language to describe concepts and methods, and with a wealth of new in-text worked examples to challenge students' understanding, this textbook provides an essential guide to the key techniques used in current bioscience research.
A wide variety of powerful molecular techniques have been applied to biology in recent decades, ranging from recombinant DNA technologies to state-of-the-art imaging methods. But the plethora of techniques available combined with the complexities of neurobiological systems can make it difficult for neuroscientists to select and carry out an experimental procedure to effectively address the question at hand. This laboratory manual serves as a comprehensive practical guide to molecular and cellular methods for neuroscientists. It consists of five major sections: Working with Cells, Working with DNA, Working with RNA, Gene Transfer, and Imaging. Each includes step-by-step protocols and discussions of basic and cutting-edge procedures for working in that area. Fundamental techniques include maintaining a sterile working environment, purifying and culturing neural cells, isolating and manipulating DNA and RNA, and understanding and using a microscope. Advanced topics include single-neuron isolation and analysis, in vivo gene delivery and imaging, optogenetics, RNA interference, transgenic technologies, high-throughput analysis of gene expression (e.g., RNA-Seq), and constructing and imaging fluorescent proteins. The manual includes protocols developed in the Advanced Techniques in Molecular Neuroscience course offered annually at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, as well as protocols drawn from its best-selling lab manuals. It is an essential resource for all neuroscientists, from graduate students upward, who seek to use molecular techniques to probe the complexities of the nervous system.
Recent advances in imaging technology reveal, in real time and great detail, critical changes in living cells and organisms. This manual is a compendium of emerging techniques, organized into two parts: specific methods such as fluorescent labeling, and delivery and detection of labeled molecules in cells; and experimental approaches ranging from the detection of single molecules to the study of dynamic processes in organelles, organs, and whole animals. Although presented primarily as a laboratory manual, the book includes introductory and background material and could be used as a textbook in advanced courses. It also includes a DVD containing movies of living cells in action, created by investigators using the imaging techniques discussed in the book. The editors, David Spector and Robert Goldman, whose previous book was Cells: A Laboratory Manual,are highly respected investigators who have taught microscopy courses at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, the Marine Biology Laboratory at Woods Hole, and Northwestern University.
This manual is an indispensable tool for introducing advanced undergraduates and beginning graduate students to the techniques of recombinant DNA technology, or gene cloning and expression. The techniques used in basic research and biotechnology laboratories are covered in detail. Students gain hands-on experience from start to finish in subcloning a gene into an expression vector, through purification of the recombinant protein. The third edition has been completely re-written, with new laboratory exercises and all new illustrations and text, designed for a typical 15-week semester, rather than a 4-week intensive course. The "project approach to experiments was maintained: students still follow a cloning project through to completion, culminating in the purification of recombinant protein. It takes advantage of the enhanced green fluorescent protein - students can actually visualize positive clones following IPTG induction. - Cover basic concepts and techniques used in molecular biology research labs - Student-tested labs proven successful in a real classroom laboratories - Exercises simulate a cloning project that would be performed in a real research lab - "Project" approach to experiments gives students an overview of the entire process - Prep-list appendix contains necessary recipes and catalog numbers, providing staff with detailed instructions
