This book provides an exceptionally useful collection of tried and tested protocols for nucleic acid analysis that avoid the use of radioisotopes. Southern (i.e., DNA) and Northern (i.e., RNA) blotting protocols are covered in detail, from how to isolate good quality nucleic acids from plant and animal sources, to the use of the widest range of probe systems (involving digoxigenin, biotin, fluorescein, horseradish peroxidase labeling, and colorimetric and chemiluminescent detection). Other techniques treated in detail include hybridization in situ to chromosomes and transcribed RNA, newer and less conventional technologies, such as Randomly Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD), reverse dot blots, bacterial identification using magnetic bead and dipstick assays, and nucleic acid sequence-based amplification.