The Molecular Biology of Insect Disease Vectors : A Methods Manual

J. M. Crampton

ISBN 10: 0412736608 / ISBN 13: 9780412736605

Editore: Springer Netherlands, Springer Netherlands, 1996

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Druck auf Anfrage Neuware - Printed after ordering - Only one generation ago, entomology was a proudly isolated discipline. In Comstock Hall, the building of the Department of Entomology at Cornell University where I was first introduced to experimental science in the laboratory of Tom Eisner, those of us interested in the chemistry of life felt like interlopers. In the 35 years that have elapsed since then, all of biology has changed, and entomology with it. Arrogant molecular biologists and resentful classical biologists might think that what has happened is a hostile take-over of biology by molecular biology. But they are wrong. More and more we now understand that the events were happier and much more exciting, amounting to a new synthesis. Molecular Biology, which was initially focused on the simplest of organisms, bacteria and viruses, broke out of its confines after the initial fundamental questions were answered - the structure of DNA, the genetic code, the nature of regulatory genes - and, importantly, as its methods became more and more generally applicable. The recombinant DNA revo lution of the 1970s, the development of techniques for sequencing macromolecules, the polymerase chain reaction, new molecular methods of genetic analysis, all brought molecular biology face to face with the infinite complexity and the exuber ant diversity of life. Molecular biology itself stopped being an isolated diScipline, pre occupied with the universal laws of life, and became an approach to addressing fas cinating specific problems from every field of biology.

Codice articolo 9780412736605

Dati bibliografici

• Titolo: The Molecular Biology of Insect Disease Vectors : A Methods Manual
• Editore: Springer Netherlands, Springer Netherlands
• Data di pubblicazione: 1996
• Lingua: Inglese
• ISBN 10: 0412736608
• ISBN 13: 9780412736605
• Rilegatura: Buch
• Condizione: Neu
• Dimensioni: 260 L x 183 A x 38 P (millimetri) 260 millimetri di larghezza per 183 millimetri di altezza per 38 millimetri di profondità
• Peso: 1328 grammi

Descrizione articolo

Riassunto

This handbook of laboratory methods covers all aspects of molecular entomology. The molecular sciences have great potential to further our understanding of insects, how they interact with the environment, and the pathogens they transmit. Advances in molecular biology may also provide novel strategies for controlling insect populations. In the case of disease-carrying insects, this may involve altering their ability to transmit pathogens to human or animal populations. The field of molecular entomology (as distinct from Drosophila molecular biology) was virtually non-existent. A major initiative from the World Health Organization (Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases) has sought to rectify this, and this volume is a part of the particular methodology. Each chapter is written in such a way that a competent scientist who is unfamiliar with the method described can carry out the technique. Methods are described in a simple, yet detailed, step-by-step manner incorporating lists of materials and explanatory notes. This volume covers insect maintenance and infection through to basic molecular biology and specialized techniques in molecular entomology. As such, it is intended for entomologists wishing to apply molecular techniques to their own work, and also to molecular biologists who are moving into the field of insect disease vector biology. This book should be of interest to all level of academics in insect vector biology, molecular biology, vector ecology, parasitology, entomology. Also academics in agricultural entomology and academics in tropical countries or in tropical medicine departments.

Contenuti

Section 1: Care and maintenance of insect colonies. Section 2: Experimental infection of insect vectors. Section 3: Basic methods in isolating, cloning and characterising nucleic acids and their products. Section 4: Genome mapping techniques. Section 5: Insect identification techniques. Section 6: Transformation techniques and viral systems. Section 7: Cell and organ culture. Section 8: Insect symbionts. Index.