Understanding PCR

Sarah Maddocks, PhD, is a lecturer in Microbiology at Cardiff Metropolitan University, UK. Her research focuses on understanding the interactions between pathogens and their host during the infection process. The overarching aim of these studies is to understand how pathogens utilise or disrupt host processes and to explore and exploit novel ways of impairing these host-pathogen interactions to facilitate clearance of infection. Dr. Maddocks’ research also includes biofilm and co-culture models, genomic and molecular analysis of gene expression to prove clinically relevant hypotheses. Rowena Jenkins, PhD, is currently a medical writer at Health Economics and Outcomes Research Ltd, UK. Prior to this she served as lecturer in Microbiology and Infectious Disease in the College of Medicine at Swansea University, UK. Her research team are focused on the effect of novel antimicrobial agents on pathogenic bacteria found in clinical infections, particularly chronic infections such as those seen in diabetic foot ulcers and cystic fibrosis lungs infection, and the impact on the microbiome within those conditions. Dr. Jenkins also has an interest in the potential for natural antimicrobial agents to improve the efficacy of conventional antibiotics against antibiotic resistant bacteria and biofilms. Dr. Jenkins serves as a section editor for the Journal of Medical Microbiology, and has co-authored two books with Elsevier, including the first edition of "Understanding PCR".

• Chapter 1. Things to Consider Before Preparing to Undertake Your First Polymerase Chain ReactionChapter 2. Designing and Ordering Your Polymerase Chain Reaction PrimersChapter 3. Analyzing Your Template DNA and/or PCR ProductChapter 4. Quantitative PCR: Things to ConsiderChapter 5. Carrying Out Q-PCRChapter 6. Using PCR for Cloning and Protein ExpressionChapter 7. Polymerase Chain Reaction for Knocking Out Genes