Real-Time PCR

Since its introduction in the mid-1990s, the real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique has been applied to an increasingly large number of purposes across a broad range of disciplines. In this manual, the editors (all involved with applied and functional genomics at the Centre for Infections, Health Protection Agency, UK) present 17 papers that provide the novice and the experienced user with guidance on the technology, its instrumentation, and its applications. Basic information is provided in chapters on choosing instrumentation and probe systems, controls, validation, and data analysis. Important methodologies are then reviewed, including quantitation, expression analysis, and mutation detection. Finally, examples of application of real-time PCR are described for the diagnosis of infectious diseases, biodefense, food authenticity, and molecular haplotyping. Distributed in the US by ISBS. Annotation 穢2009 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)