Lipps (biochemistry, U. of Bayreuth, Germany) presents eight survey papers reviewing various areas in the research of plasmids (extra-chromosomal DNA molecules capable of replicating independently of chromosomal DNA), which he notes presents a "field of research with ramification in synthetic biology, medicine, ecology and evolution as well as basic research in molecular and structural biology." The chapters address E. coli cloning and expression vectors, archaeal plasmids, plasmid-based expression systems for mammalian cells, bioinformatics tools and methods for plasmid sequence analysis and annotation, horizontal gene transfer mediated by plasmids, molecular machinery for DNA translocation in bacterial conjugation, plasmids for gene therapy, and plasmid DNA as prophylactic and therapeutic vaccines for cancer and infectious diseases. Distributed in the US by ISBS. Annotation 2008 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)
