Facts and more facts

Academic Press, 1998. (Vol. I) US$59.95 hbk (xxvii + 377 pages)ISBN 0 12 136055 5(Vol. II) US$59.95 hbk (xxix + 255 pages)ISBN 0 12 136110 1The first two volumes in this series, presenting facts relevant to recombinant DNA and molecular-biology analytical procedures, are prefaced by an explanation of their purpose, which is to provide a ready source of difficult-to-find information. As such, they are intended to complement the popular manuals found in most molecular-biology labs.Chapters 1 and 2 of Vol. I feature lists of commonly used Escherichia coli and bacteriophage λ strains with their phenotypes and a useful explanation of each mutation in the different strains, and a list of restriction enzymes, their specificities and the conditions for their use.Chapter 3 describes a wide variety of enzymes used in nucleic acid manipulations. Each enzyme is accompanied by a simple diagram illustrating its activity. Most are referenced, and contain a note of their use. In some cases, however, the application is stated to be ‘as permitted by the supplier’. Although this chapter is interesting to peruse, it contains some inaccuracies: for example, RNA polymerase II does not by itself recognize gene promoters.Chapter 4 contains a list of genome sizes for several organisms, as well as genetic-code tables and estimates of the G–C richness of various genomes. Although it is always of interest to be reminded of the extremes of genome sizes that occur in nature, the value of this information is rather limited, from a practical point of view.Chapter 5 describes a large number of cloning vectors, with maps mostly taken from commercial sources, and a brief note concerning the applications of each; there is, unfortunately, no guide as to which vector might be most suited to a given purpose. Similarly, it is somewhat disappointing that some of the most carefully and elegantly designed vectors, such as the pUC and pET series, are given the same emphasis as simple derivatives. Also contained within this chapter are maps of several bacteriophage λ genomes but, again, there is no guide to the choice of one strain over another in specific circumstances.Volume II continues along the same lines as Vol. I but takes a more procedural approach, almost like a lab manual. Chapter 1 discusses nucleic acid hybridization, with an emphasis on the types of membrane and solution available, and the strengths and weaknesses of each. This chapter is a useful reference given the huge number of available products.Chapter 2 provides an account of DNA-sequencing methods, emphasizing dideoxy and chemical approaches, and includes a trouble-shooting guide adapted from Ausubel et al.’s Current Protocols in Molecular Biology. There is also a list of internet databases, which might be useful to those starting to search the net.Chapter 3 provides a useful but incomplete discussion of PCR, including a trouble-shooting guide and a very handy table showing the sensitivity of restriction enzymes to oligonucleotide length. A variety of PCR-based methods are omitted, leaving the reader to consult the more detailed texts cited in the references. Methods for isotopically labelling nucleic acids are discussed in some length in Chapter 4 and an introduction to methods of isotopic detection is included, as is a useful section on safety.Chapter 5 is an elaborate treatment of agarose-gel electrophoresis, providing comparisons of agarose variants, and a 26-page list of plasmid digests that can be used as markers. Curiously, there is no mention of native polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis of nucleic acids.Chapter 7 is a list of the molecular weights and structures of a wide variety of reagents used in molecular biology and, in this chapter, the author adheres more closely to the stated purpose of the book. The final chapter concerns laboratory safety and some of the hazards associated with various chemicals.Lab Fax does fulfil its stated purpose of providing numerous pieces of information. The question is whether reading these volumes will enable a person in the molecular biology lab either to choose better techniques or to be able to apply more effectively the techniques described in the numerous lab manuals and the primary literature. Regrettably, these volumes fall short in both regards.