Reviewer: Valerie L Ng, PhD MD(Alameda County Medical Center/Highland Hospital) Description: This is the third edition of this comprehensive textbook true to its name, "Basic Laboratory Methods for Biotechnology." The previous edition was published in 2009.Purpose: The purpose of this book is to present and organize information in a "cohesive way such that students can develop a comprehensive framework." These are very worthy objectives extraordinarily well met by this book.Audience: This book is intended for students interested in biotechnology and meets this need well. In addition, it would be useful to anyone working in biotechnology today as well as anyone interested in the process of using biotechnology to bring a product to market. The authors are the most credible authorities in this field.Features: This hefty, 1,171-page, paperback book is worth its weight in gold. What a fantastic reference for the various aspects of biotechnology. I loved the emphasis on the "relationship between proper fundamental practices and reproducibility," and the authors' steadfast commitment to providing a "solid grounding in basic, quality practices" essential for success in biotechnology. The sheer size and comprehensiveness of this book reinforces their introductory statement, "..'biotechnology' is not a synonym for 'molecular biology.'" Pretty much every possible test method used in a biotechnology setting (e.g., cell culture, chromatography, immunoassay) and their essential quality components (e.g., measurements such as weight and temperature; and solutions - love the declarative statement for section 24.1.1.2: "water is not pure") are described in great detail. Case studies accompany each chapter for the learners to test their retention and understanding. A nice inclusion is the section on regulatory affairs for learners to appreciate the challenges of bringing a biotechnology product to the consumer.Assessment: This is a fabulous textbook. If you work in biotechnology, this should be on every workbench and administrative office (e.g., supervisors, regulatory, quality assurance) for easy reference and, most importantly, adherence to quality practices.
Basic Laboratory Methods for Biotechnology (2nd Edition) PDF.pdf
Presented from the perspective of the biotech industry, this laboratory handbook/textbook reference gives a systematic, understandable, and practical introduction to fundamental laboratory methods and provides a foundation upon which students can build a career in the lab. The authors balance background and theory with practical information, drawing material from many sources: analytical chemistry texts, molecular biology manuals, industry standards, government regulations, manufacturer and supplier information, and the useful laboratory "lore" that is part of the industry's oral tradition. The second edition features two new chapters covering Quality Assays and Tests (Chapters 24 and 25) and a new chapter on Culture Media for Intact Cells (Chapter 30). The authors have made revisions to update the safety chapters, the methods chapters, and have reorganized the units so that the information is presented in an order that mimics a typical class. They have also completely rewritten the Computers and Biotechnology chapters as well as the introductory chapter to more accurately reflect the evolving nature of the biotechnology industry. This new edition also reflects the changes in the field of biotechnology, how profit and other metrics affect research, the pursuit of new ideas, and the implementation of product testing and government approval. 2ff7e9595c
Comments