Biotechnology: Perspectives & Prospects

The present volume entitled" Biotechnology: Perspectives  & Prospects" furnishes information on recent advances in Biotechnology. Written by leading international experts it offers the most comprehensive and up-to-date information on selected topics, most sought after by researchers and students at the graduate as well as postgraduate level. Each chapter discusses the current status. Jeff Schahczenski and Katherine Adam(USA) give laudable description of transgenic crops in a new perspective. A substantial part of the chapter is devoted to statistical figures dealing with every aspect of transgenic crops. It also highlights the importance of transgenics and evaluates the risks and fears associated with cultivation. Linig Tian (Canada) summarizes an overview of "Selected Gene Excision from Transgenic Plants". An India American scientist, Keerti Rathore at the TAMU (USA) elucidates a significant breakthrough which has opened up the door for saving millions of lives by provide plentiful nutrition in the form of high protein in cotton seeds. Rathore and co-workers have achieved the silencing of “gossypol” the toxic substance in cotton by employing RNA interference(RNAi) and a seed specific promoter. Resultantly, this toxic substance is expressed in the entire plant save the seed. The cotton seed with high protein content and devoid of gossypol is now fit for human consumption and may become an engineered savior of lives of millions of children who suffer from malnutrition. Chitra Wadhwaniand CP Malik review basic information about the advancements achieved in "Gene Therapy". The applications of this technology in correcting dreadful diseases are indeed unbelievable. The chapter is student-savvy and clearly explains both basic and advances concepts by diagrams suitably placed in the body of the text."RNA interference: Small and silent biotechnological tool" is authored by C.P.Malik, Chitra Wadhwani and Bhavneet Kuar. RNAi has been aptly nicknamed and this chapter given an extensive treatment pertinent to its varied aspects and applications. The strength of this volume is lavishly used colored images, and extensive literature citation in each chapter.  Certain to become the standard references for biotechnologists, molecular biologists, breeders, applied biologists, the book is the definitive source for those who are ken to remain updated with the recent advances in biotechnology.