Molecular Structure of Human Chromosomes is an authoritative guide to genetics, focusing on human genome. This reference compiles contributions covering available knowledge on human genome structure and organization, which the previous researches fail to encompass. This text provides a comprehensive discussion of cytogenetic techniques, emphasizing their application to human genome studies and examinations. The book is divided into nine chapters. It explains the molecular organization and function of the human genome and the DNA sequences in man. It also discusses the localization of human gene by in situ hybridization and the approaches to gene mapping. The book describes the structure of the chromosomes and the trends in chromosome techniques; banding and polymorphism; and repetitive DNA and primate evolution. Various practitioners in genetics and biology will find this book a good reference. Students and novices in these fields will also find this book an excellent guide.

Proceedings of the NATO Advanced Study Institute on Genome Structure and Function, held in Marciana Marina, Elba, Italy, 13-23 June 1996

There is growing enthusiasm in the scientific community about the prospect of mapping and sequencing the human genome, a monumental project that will have far-reaching consequences for medicine, biology, technology, and other fields. But how will such an effort be organized and funded? How will we develop the new technologies that are needed? What new legal, social, and ethical questions will be raised? Mapping and Sequencing the Human Genome is a blueprint for this proposed project. The authors offer a highly readable explanation of the technical aspects of genetic mapping and sequencing, and they recommend specific interim and long-range research goals, organizational strategies, and funding levels. They also outline some of the legal and social questions that might arise and urge their early consideration by policymakers.

A Historical Perspective on the Study of Chromosome Structure and Function R. Appels Division of Plant Industry CSIRO P.O. Box 1600 A.C.T. AUSTRALIA "Modern physical science gives us no model to explain the re duplication of the gene-string in each cell generation, or to ex plain the production of effective quantities of specific enzymes or other agents by specific genes. The precise pairing and inter change of segments by homologous gene-strings at meiosis also suggest novel physical properties of this form of matter". Stadler (1954) The very strong influence of reductionism in the history of understanding chromosome structure and function is evident in the above quotation from Stadler's 1954 paper, "The gene". Earlyob servations on the constancy of the cytological appearance of chromo somes and their regular behaviour in cell division led to specula tion on their biological importance. As genetics became more refined in the early decades of the 20th century the genes-on-a string model of chromosomes developed and greater emphasis was placed on the further dissection of these structures. As a result, in the 1980's the reductionist approach is reaching a crest as extensive regions of the genetic material are being sequenced.