Reviewer’s Summary
Reviewer: Dr. Lee A. Hadwiger, Emeritus Professor of Plant Pathology, Washington State University
Professor Ming-Mei Chang has described thoroughly classroom-tested laboratory procedures covering DNA cloning, analysis of cloned sequences, gene editing, gene expression, and major technical procedures such as nucleic acid purification, Western blotting, and standard buffer-reagent preparation. These topics are interwoven with guidance on simple handling of pipettes or microbial standard techniques. Although billed as an undergraduate laboratory, this training is definitely pertinent for graduate researchers. Established research professors themselves would cherish many of these techniques as they approach additional directions in molecular biology. The DNA technologies used in Molecular Techniques are current and do not pass over the long-term entities crucial to their development.
Reviewer: Yulia Artemenko, Associate Professor, Department of Biological Sciences, SUNY Oswego
The Molecular Techniques – An Undergraduate Laboratory manual will be a valuable resource for instructors who would like to offer a new Molecular Biology Lab course or introduce new activities into their existing course. The manual includes multiple multi-week experiments that introduce students to various classical and current techniques in molecular biology (e.g., PCR, gDNA isolation, Southern blotting, CRISPR-Cas9-assisted gene editing, RT-qPCR, SDS-PAGE, etc.). Experiments in this manual utilize a variety of model systems, including bacteria (Escherichia coli), insects (Drosophila melanogaster), and plants (Arabidopsis thaliana, Vitis vinifera), ensuring students get exposure to working with a variety of organisms. In addition to providing detailed protocols for carrying out experiments, each module includes a thorough description of the necessary background information, as well as multiple post-lab discussion questions to challenge the students and deepen their understanding of the material.
Reviewer: Nina Liuta, PhD candidate, Institute of Medical Microbiology, University of Zurich
[Molecular Techniques] is a strong and well-designed lab manual that provides real-world, project-based experiences for upper-level undergraduates. It is a highly effective teaching resource with detailed step-by-step instructions and thorough coverage of key molecular techniques.
