Understanding DNA

Chris R. Calladine , Dept. of Engineering, University of Cambridge, U.K. Horace Drew , CSIRO Division of Biotechnology, Sydney, Australia Ben Luisi , Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, U.K. Andrew Travers , MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, University of Cambridge, U.K. The functional properties of any molecule are directly related to, and affected by, its structure. This is especially true for DNA, the molecular that carries the code for all life on earth. The third edition of Understanding DNA has been entirely revised and updated, and expanded to cover new advances in our understanding. It explains, step by step, how DNA forms specific structures, the nature of these structures and how they fundamentally affect the biological processes of transcription and replication. Written in a clear, concise and lively fashion, Understanding DNA is essential reading for all molecular biology, biochemistry and genetics students, to newcomers to the field from other areas such as chemistry or physics, and even for seasoned researchers, who really want to understand DNA. Contents An Introduction to Molecular Biology for Non-Scientists; Why a Helix?; Different Kinds of Double Helix; Twisting and Curving; Curving in Three Dimensions; DNA Supercoiling; The Assembly of DNA intor Chromosomes; Specific DNA-Protein Interactions; Methods Used to Study the Structure of DNA; DNA in Disease, Diagnostics and Medicine; Cytosine Methylation and DNA Epigenetics; Appendix 1: Notes on the Derivation of Some Technical Terms; Appendix 2: The Chemical Theory of Base-stacking Interactions in DNA; Appendix 3: How to modify Gene Expression by means of Anti-sense Oligonucleotides, Ribozymes or si-RNA