Gene transfer is an essential technology for improving our under- standing of gene structure and function. Although there are many meth- ods by which DNA may be introduced into cells-including heat and chemical treatments, and microinjection-electroporation has been found to be the most versatile gene transfer technique. Electroporation is effective with a wide variety of cell types, including those that are difficult to transform by other means. For many cell types, electroporation is either the most efficient or the only means known to effect gene transfer. The early and broad success of...

Cutting edge reviews by leading researchers illuminate key aspects of DNA repair in mammalian systems and its relationship to human genetic disease and cancer. Major topics include UV and X-Ray repair, repair of chemical damage, recombinational repair, mismatch repair, transcription-repair coupling, and the role of DNA repair in disease prevention. Extensive up-to-date references and rigorous peer-review of each chapter make this volume definitive and bring it to the active frontiers of research.

The ability to introduce macromolecules into animal cells, includ- ing DNA, RNA, proteins, and other bioactive compounds has facili- tated a broad range of biological studies, from biochemistry and biophysics to molecular biology, cell biology, and whole animal stud- ies. Gene transfer technology in particular will continue to play an essential role in studies aimed at improving our understanding of the relationships between the gene structure and function, and it has impor- tant practical applications in both biotechnology and biomedicine, as evidenced by the current intense interest in gene...