Environmental Applications of Nucleic Acid Amplification Technology

Name: Environmental Applications of Nucleic Acid Amplification Technology
Brand: CRC Press

CRC Press

From the PrefaceAntibody techniques have allowed us to study microorganisms in situ > From the PrefaceAntibody techniques have allowed us to study microorganisms in situ. However, until recently all methodology lacked the sensitivity necessary for environmental work where microorganisms are in most cases present at very low concentrations or where microbial ecosystems contain a myriad of different organisms. Gene probes have been used successfully for a variety of samples, but this method was still not sensitive enough. The next logical step was the application of the recently developed DNA amplification technique known as the polymerase chain reaction, or PCR. Since then, many laboratories around the world have adopted PCR for environmental work.Samples obtained from soils, water and air are enormously complex because they are unknown mixtures of DNA and other compounds. Thus, procedures for target DNA amplification from the environment require special attention. The PCR has alloo