Guidance for ‘Uninitiated’ Readers

Abstract

Quite wide coverage of principles and approaches in the molecular biology field is to be found in a techniques book [1] that can be afforded as a paperback desk companion. It explains, for example, plasmid mystique and a conventional nomenclature: ‘pAZ123’ signifies plasmid no. 123 developed by the investigator or group ‘AZ’. There is good attention to sequencing, and to electrophoretic techniques including blotting although ‘Immunoblotting’ is not indexed — nor is ‘Hybridoma’ to be found, even in the valuable Glossary. ‘Blind spots’ such as the latter call for recourse to an account — suitably an elementary book [e.g. 2, 3] - or sketch such as a pair of diagnostically slanted reviews [4], the first of which has the title Hybridoma — An Immunochemical Laser. For general back-up the book Antibody as a Tool [5] may be helpful, or an immunology textbook notwithstanding shortcomings such as, in [6], non-mention of ‘hybridoma’ and ‘monoclonal’. The routine use of MAb’s is exemplified by articles on diagnosis in bacteriology and virology [7] and on freeze-drying in immunocytochemistry [8].