Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual, Third Edition (3 volume set) [Paperback]

Joe Sambrook (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0879695773 | ISBN-13: 978-0879695774 | Publication Date: January 15, 2001 | Edition: 3rd

The first two editions of this manual have been mainstays of molecular biology for nearly twenty years, with an unrivalled reputation for reliability, accuracy, and clarity. In this new edition, authors Joe Sambrook and David Russell have completely updated the book, revising every protocol and adding a mass of new material, to broaden its scope and maintain its unbeatable value for studies in genetics, molecular cell biology, developmental biology, microbiology, neuroscience, and immunology. Handsomely redesigned and presented in new bindings of proven durability, this three-volume work is essential for everyone using todays biomolecular techniques. The opening chapters describe essential techniques, some well-established, some new, that are used every day in the best laboratories for isolating, analyzing and cloning DNA molecules, both large and small. These are followed by chapters on cDNA cloning and exon trapping, amplification of DNA, generation and use of nucleic acid probes, mutagenesis, and DNA sequencing. The concluding chapters deal with methods to screen expression libraries, express cloned genes in both prokaryotes and eukaryotic cells, analyze transcripts and proteins, and detect protein-protein interactions. The Appendix is a compendium of reagents, vectors, media, technical suppliers, kits, electronic resources and other essential information. As in earlier editions, this is the only manual that explains how to achieve success in cloning and provides a wealth of information about why techniques work, how they were first developed, and how they have evolved.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"In every kitchen there is at least one indispensable cookbook. Sambrook and Russell's Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual fills the same niche in the laboratory. Like its kitchen counterparts (e.g. Rombeck's Joy of Cooking) Sambrook's Molecular Cloning (MC) has information to help both the inexperienced and the advanced user." --Trends in Neurosciences

Product Details

• Paperback: 2344 pages
• Publisher: Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press; 3rd edition (January 15, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0879695773
• ISBN-13: 978-0879695774
• Product Dimensions: 14 x 9.5 x 4.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #173,497 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

24 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent reference for all, March 9, 2002

By 

Dr. Lee D. Carlson (Baltimore, Maryland USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual, Third Edition (3 volume set) (Paperback)

In this 3 volume set of books the authors summarize the most important laboratory protocols for DNA analysis and cloning. As someone involved in computational biology and mathematical gene sequence analysis, I was needing such a summary to get an idea of just how genetic engineering is actually practiced in the laboratory. The book is definitely written for those readers that are very experienced in these "wet" techniques, but it still could be perused profitably by anyone who is curious about genetic engineering. There is also an excellent website that owners of the books can go to and search for protocols and obtain updates and additions to the protocols.

At the beginning of each chapter, the authors give an introduction to the protocols and this is of an enormous help to those readers with only rudimentary acquaintance with the laboratory procedures. Typically, this introduction contains an historical summary of the procedures as they were developed or discovered. One can only marvel at the ingenuity of the discoverers of these techniques. These introductions are fairly straightforward to read, even for those that are not experts in biochemistry.

At the end of each chapter, the authors include an "information panel" that gives a more in-depth view of the biochemistry or genetics behind the procedures. These are summaries and are highly specialized, and are again meant for experienced readers. A very lengthy list of references is also included at the end of each chapter.

Becuase of the size of this collection, space here does not permit a detailed review, so I will list some of the areas that I thought were particularly interesting or well-written (these coming from the introduction or the information panels only): 1. The DNA synthesis at the colE1 replicon and the interaction between RNAI and RNAII. 2. The discussion of electroporation and the physics behind this technique to introduce DNA into eukaryotic cells. 3. The discussion on the discovery of bacteriophage lambda. 4. The discussion (with diagram), of the assembly pathway of bacteriophage lambda. 5. The summary of the early analysis of DNA using electrophoresis and the different pulsed-field configurations used. 6. The anecdote on the discovery of the polymerase chain reaction. 7. The short discussion on computer-assisted design of oligonucleotide primers. 8. The discussion of oligonucleotide synthesis. 9. The flowchart detailing the preparing and screening of a cDNA library. 10. The history of the development of the methods to synthesize and clone cDNAs. 11. The detailed discussion of the molecular cloning of double-stranded cDNA. 12. The discussion on the methods to validate clones of cDNA. 13. The discussion on magnetic beads for affinity purification. 14. The discussion on the history of DNA sequencing and the different techniques to accomplish it, particularly the information panel on automated DNA sequencing. 15. The discussion of the different types of mutagenesis and the different methods for accomplishing it. 18. The fascinating discussion of how to introduce cloned genes into mammalian cells. 19. The discussion on the steps involved in DNA footprinting. 20 The discussion on green flourescent protein and its use as a fusion tag. 21. The discussion on the use of surface plasmon resonance spectroscopy.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars a formerly essential classic, November 23, 2005

By 

Doc Dave "Doc Dave" (Georgia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual, Third Edition (3 volume set) (Paperback)

For many years the previous edition of this set was an essential reference in molecular biology labs. At present however, there are too many good protocol books out there to really make this argument. The book is pretty strong in explaining theory, and answering the question of why certain procedures are either necessary, useful, or worthless, however it is not as practical as many other books, such as Short Protocols. Still a good reference overall, but no longer stands alone, and I recommend checking out as much of the competition as possible before deciding whether to make the investment in it.

10 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The bible of molecular cloning-updated, August 13, 2001

By 

Helen J. McBride (Woodland Hills, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual, Third Edition (3 volume set) (Paperback)

Molecular cloning has been a lab staple for years. Now reprinted so you can update the old lab copy worn out by years of student use! Its a must have for any lab serious about molecular biology. Its also useful for student training. Many times there are simple explanations for the lab techniques we have adopted as dogma, but are unsure why. Molecular cloning has the answers and is a great resource. I highly recommend this book for its depth and breadth of protocols and guidance in the complicated realm of cloning!