The basic philosophy governing the first edition of this text was to present the principles of gene manipulation, and their associated techniques, in sufficient detail to enable the non-specialist reader to understand them. It was also intended that the scope of this technology, and its potential impact on virtually all areas of biology, would be evident. The second and third editions were enlarged to cope with advances in the field as it had become apparent that, around a core of fundamental techniques concerning the manipulation of DNA in vitro, there was developing an ever-expanding repertoire of transformation techniques, library construction and screening methods, expression systems and host-vector systems. In this, the fourth edition, the authors keep to their basic philosophy in providing an introduction to the subject, identifying and explaining basic principles. Completely updated this edition provides an overview for researchers and students who already have some knowledge of recombinant DNA work.
From the fifth edition: "This book perpetuates the quality and utility which have made its previous editions probably the best introductory text on gene manipulation of the past decade and a half: a generation of our students have relied on it."
Journal for the Society for General Microbiology,1995 "The authors are to be congratulated for their courageous effort to bring the new edition up–to–date in an area that is a technological hallmark of the 21st century[...]The starting level is still well suited to advanced undergraduates, but it quickly leads to specialized sophisticated technologies and applications[...]overall, the scientific content of this book is seriously impressive, its coverage comprehensive and it will undoubtedly become an important resource to students, course organizers and young scientists" Irina R. Tsaneva MICROBIOLOGY TODAY August 2002
"Now in its sixth edition, Principles of Gene Manipulation is obviously quite well–honed and serves the needs of its traditional target readership – advanced undergraduates or early postgraduates – extremely well. It is clear that it would be equally useful to other types of reader requiring lucid and well–balanced descriptions of what can now be done with genes." C David O′Connor, University of Southampton, Heredity, November 2003