An outstanding panel of hands-on experts and developers of CE equipment describe in step-by-step fashion their best cutting-edge methods for the detection and analysis of DNA mutations and modifications, ranging from precise DNA loci to entire genomes of organisms. This first volume of the set, Introduction to the Capillary Electrophoresis of Nucleic Acids, covers the practical and theoretical considerations behind the use of capillary electrophoresis for the analysis of small oligonucleotides and modified nucleotides. Along with detailed instructions ensuring ready reproducibility, these protocols offer time-tested advice on instrumentation, signal detection, the capillary environment, and the integration of mass spectrometry with CE. Several chapters are devoted to the analysis of small therapeutic oligonucleotides, nucleosides, and ribonucleotides by CE. The companion volume, Practical Applications of Capillary Electrophoresis, addresses techniques for high-throughput analysis of DNA fragments using SNP detection, mutation detection, DNA sequencing methods, and DNA-ligand interactions. Comprehensive and up-to-date, the paired volumes of Capillary Electrophoresis of Nucleic Acids offer an authoritative guide with easy access to fast, versatile, reliable, and powerful technologies for all those basic and clinical investigators analyzing DNA variation today.