Modern Microbial Genetics

In accordance with its predecessor, the completely revised and expanded Second Edition of Modern Microbial Genetics focuses on how bacteria and bacteriophage arrange and rearrange their genetic material through mutation, evolution, and genetic exchange to take optimal advantage of their environment. The text is divided into three sections: DNA Metabolism, Genetic Response, and Genetic Exchange. The first addresses how DNA replicates, repairs itself, and recombines, as well as how it may be manipulated. The second section is devoted to how microorganisms interact with their environment, including chapters on sporulation and stress shock, and the final section contains the latest information on classic exchange mechanisms such as transformation and conjugation. Chapters include: * Gene Expression and Its Regulation * Single-Stranded DNA Phages * Genetic Tools for Dissecting Motility and Development of Myxococcus xanthus * Molecular Mechanism of Quorum Sensing * Transduction in Gram-Negative Bacteria * Genetic Approaches in Bacteria with No Natural Genetic Systems The editors also cultivate an attention to global regulatory systems throughout the book, elucidating how certain genes and operons in bacteria, defined as regulons, network and cooperate to suit the needs of the bacterial cell. With clear appreciation for the impact of molecular genomics, this completely revised and updated edition proves that Modern Microbial Genetics remains the benchmark text in its field.

The single most comprehensive and authoritative textbook on bacterial molecular genetics Snyder & Champness Molecular Genetics of Bacteria is a new edition of a classic text, updated to address the massive advances in the field of bacterial molecular genetics and retitled as homage to the founding authors. In an era experiencing an avalanche of new genetic sequence information, this updated edition presents important experiments and advanced material relevant to current applications of molecular genetics, including conclusions from and applications of genomics; the relationships among recombination, replication, and repair and the importance of organizing sequences in DNA; the mechanisms of regulation of gene expression; the newest advances in bacterial cell biology; and the coordination of cellular processes during the bacterial cell cycle. The topics are integrated throughout with biochemical, genomic, and structural information, allowing readers to gain a deeper understanding of modern bacterial molecular genetics and its relationship to other fields of modern biology. Although the text is centered on the most-studied bacteria, Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis, many examples are drawn from other bacteria of experimental, medical, ecological, and biotechnological importance. The book's many useful features include Text boxes to help students make connections to relevant topics related to other organisms, including humans A summary of main points at the end of each chapter Questions for discussion and independent thought A list of suggested readings for background and further investigation in each chapter Fully illustrated with detailed diagrams and photos in full color A glossary of terms highlighted in the text While intended as an undergraduate or beginning graduate textbook, Molecular Genetics of Bacteria is an invaluable reference for anyone working in the fields of microbiology, genetics, biochemistry, bioengineering, medicine, molecular biology, and biotechnology. "This is a marvelous textbook that is completely up-to-date and comprehensive, but not overwhelming. The clear prose and excellent figures make it ideal for use in teaching bacterial molecular genetics." —Caroline Harwood, University of Washington

Bacterial genetics has become one of the cornerstones of basic and applied microbiology and has contributed key knowledge for many of the fundamental advances of modern biology. The second edition of this comprehensive yet concise text, first published in 1981, has been thoroughly updated and redesigned to account for new developments in this rapidly expanding field. All of the major topics in modern bacterial and bacteriophage genetics are presented, among them mutations and mutagenesis, genetics of T4 bacteriophage and other intemperate and temperate phages, transduction, transformation, conjugation and plasmids, recombination and repair, probability laws for prokaryote cultures, as well as applied bacterial genetics.

In recent decades we have come to realize that the microbial world is hugely diverse, and can be found in the most extreme environments. Fungi, single-celled protists, bacteria, archaea, and the vast array of viruses and sub-viral particles far outnumber plants and animals. Microbes, we now know, play a critical role in ecosystems, in the chemistry of atmosphere and oceans, and within our bodies. The field of microbiology, armed with new techniques from molecular biology, is now one of the most vibrant in the life sciences. In this Very Short Introduction Nicholas P. Money explores not only the traditional methods of microscopy and laboratory culture but also the modern techniques of genetic detection and DNA sequencing, genomic analysis, and genetic manipulation. In turn he demonstrates how advances in microbiology have had a tremendous impact on the areas of medicine, agriculture, and biotechnology. ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.

This book describes techniques of microbial genetics and how they may be applied to biotechnology. The text is concerned largely with the application of these techniques to microbial technology. We have therefore utilised illustrative material that is given in our own courses in applied micro biology. The book assumes in the reader a basic knowledge of microbial will prove useful to under genetics and industrial microbiology. We hope it graduates, postgraduates and others taking courses in applied micro biology. We would like to thank various colleagues, including John Carter, Julian Davies, Gordon Dougan, David Hopwood, Gwyn Humphreys, Alan McCarthy, David O'Connor, Tony Hart, Steve Oliver, Roger Pickup, Hilary Richards, Bob Rowlands, David Sherratt, Peter Strike, Richard Sykes and Liz Wellington, all of whom provided information at various stages during the writing of this book. Many thanks are also due to Linda Marsh for patiently typing the many drafts of the manuscript. 1 Introduction Natural genetic variation has always been exploited by man to improve the properties of microbial strains. Spontaneous mutations that arise in micro bial populations and that have properties advantageous to man have been gradually selected over centuries of use. However, it is only since the development of modem genetic techniques that more rational approaches have been possible. Such newer technologies have permitted the tailoring of microorganisms, plant or animal cells to manufacture specific products of commercial or social benefit and to manage the environment.

A comprehensive introduction to this rapidly advancing subject. This fourth edition has been extensively revised and reorganized to reflect advances in the field. All of the major topics in modern bacterial and bacteriophage genetics are presented, including mutations and mutagenesis; genetics of lytic and temperate bacterial viruses; transduction; genetic transformation; conjugation and plasmids; regulatory systems; recombination and repair; probability analysis in bacterial genetic experiments; applied basic genetics; evolutionary genetics. This new edition includes a greater discussion of evolutionary issues and contains problem sets at the ends of each chapter to test students'understanding.

Molecular Genetics of Bacteria fulfills the need for a comprehensive, primary textbook in bacterial and microbial genetics. Ideally suited as a textbook for advanced undergraduate level courses and as background reading for graduate level courses, this book presents an interesting, modern perspective of the subject and offers descriptive background information, descriptions of experimental methods and data interpretation, examples of genetic analysis, and advanced material relevant to current applications of molecular genetics in biotechnology.

Fundamental Bacterial Genetics presents a conciseintroduction to microbial genetics. The text focuses on onebacterial species, Escherichia coli, but draws examples fromother microbial systems at appropriate points to support thefundamental concepts of molecular genetics. A solid balance ofconcepts, techniques and applications makes this book anaccessible, essential introduction to the theory and practice offundamental microbial genetics. FYI boxes - feature key experiments that lead to what we nowknow, biographies of key scientists, comparisons with other speciesand more. Study questions - at the end of each chapter, review and teststudents' knowledge of key chapter concepts. Key references - included both at chapter end and in a fullreference list at the end of the book. Full Chapter on Genomics, Bioinformatics and Proteomics -includes coverage of functional genomics and microarrays. Dedicated website – animations, study resources, webresearch questions and illustrations downloadable for powerpointfiles provide students and instructors with an enhanced,interactive experience.