This book was written during a period when the technologies of genetic engineering were being applied to the study of animal viruses and when the organization and function of individual virus genes were being elucidated. This book, which uses human and animal viruses as models, aims to under stand the developments in molecular virology during the last 20 years. Al though molecular virology could also be taught by means of bacteriophages or plant viruses, the advantage of using animal viruses is in their ability to cause human and animal diseases as well as to transform cells, a primary problem in medicine. For the sake of clarity and convenience, not all the individual contributors to the various aspects of molecular virology were cited in the text. Instead, the reader is referred to review articles or key papers that list the numerous excel lent publications that have contributed to clarification of the various molecular processes. Thus the end-of-chapter bibliographies will guide the reader to the publications in which the original contributing authors are quoted. References given under the heading Recommended Reading are intended to assist those interested in pursuing a given subject further. I hope that this book will fulfill the purpose for which it is designed, and I urge readers to contact me if errors are found or updating is required.

Mobilization and Reassembly of Genetic Information documents the proceedings of the Miami Winter Symposium, sponsored by the Department of Biochemistry, University of Miami School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, January 1970. This volume is the 17th in the ""Miami Winter Symposia"" series. Topics for the Miami Winter Symposia focus on areas of biochemistry in which recent progress offers new insights into the molecular basis of biological phenomena. The manuscripts presented by researchers at the symposium cover a wide range of topics including modified gene expressions induced by transposable elements; regulation of tn3 transposition and specificity of its insertion sites; the fusion of DNA molecules and genetic recombination; and control of cell type in yeast by genetic cassettes. Subsequent chapters include studies such as stable and unstable expression of genes in DNA transformed cells; transposable elements in the Drosophila genome; the genesis of avian retrovirus oncogenes; synthesis and processing of the mouse ß globin mRNA precursor; and type C virus expression in human placenta.

Bacterial taxonomy as a specialized discipline is practised by a minority but the applications of taxonomy are important to most, if not all microbiologists. It is the implementation of taxonomic ideas and practises which gives rise to identification and typing systems, procedures for the analysis and characterization of biodiversity, hypotheses about the evolution of micro-organisms, and improved procedures for the isolation and implementation of bacteria in biotechnological processes. Without taxonomic theory providing a sound basis to these many facets of microbiology there would be severe problems faced by many scientists working with micro-organisms. Taxonomy comprises three sequential but independent processes; classification, nomenclature and identification. The first two stages are the prime concern of the specialist taxonomist but the third stage should result in identification schemes of value to all microbiologists. As the classification and identification of micro-organisms improves, largely due to the introduction of new technologies, so does its contribution to the subject as a whole. It therefore seemed timely to hold a conference in the autumn of 1993 devoted to microbial identification. Such a topic could not be addressed without some reference to the enabling discipline of classification, but the principal aims were to assess improvements in identification and typing and how these were benefiting microbiological topics ranging from ecological and biotechnological studies of extremophilic bacteria to the use of pyrolysis mass spectrometry in epidemiology. The meeting, which was held in Granada, Spain, was supported by FEMS (FEMS Symposium No.

The Ninth Biennial Polymer Symposium, sponsored by the Division of Polymer Chemistry of the American Chemical Society, was convened during November 18-22, 1978 at Key Biscayne, Florida. The symposium also marks the occasion when the Second Division of Polymer Chemistry Award was presented to Professor C. S. Marvel for his outstanding achievements in polymer chemistry. The proceedings of this Symposium are recorded in this volume. Carl Shipp Marvel, more popularly known as Speed Marvel, was born in Waynesville, Illinois in 1894. He received his A.B. and M.S. degrees at Illinois Wesleyan University, and M.A. and Ph.D. degrees at the University of Illinois. After having completed his graduate education, Professor Harvel remained at the University as a member of the Chem istry faculty. He "retired" from Illinois in 1961, and moved to the University of Arizona where he continued his research in polymer chemistry. Out of the more than 500 publications, over 100 were from Arizona during his active retirement. Speed has so far trained 176 Ph.D. students and 128 postdoctoral fellows, and inspired countless young chemists to the science of macromolecules. No doubt these numbers will increase along with his scientific productivity. Professor Harvel has been honored on numerous ocasions prior to receiving the Division of Polymer Chemistry Award.