Probably the most ubiquitous biochemical method used today for examining the genetics of individuals, populations, or phylogenetic relationships between taxa is electrophoresis. This book has been created to offer a viewpoint regarding current electrophoretic separation methodologies of macromolecules and their major applications to fisheries management. The chapters in this book have been selected and organized into three sections to create a carefully blended mixture of methodologies and applications designed to educate the novice, as well as stimulate interest in professional researchers currently using electrophoresis for their work. The first section includes chapters that discuss the principles that explain the genetic basis of multiple molecular forms of proteins, the theory and practice of DNA analyses, and the methodology of electrophoretic separation of these macromolecules; starch gel electrophoresis as the predominant electrophoretic tool for fisheries genetics; and protein isoelectric focusing and DNA analysis. The second section describes a variety of applications for electrophoretic techniques. The third section presents a discussion and results of experiments conducted by Dennis Powers and his associates regarding the physiological significance of multiple forms of enzymes using the fish Fundulus heteroclitus as a model system. The book features a catalog of nearly 100 enzyme staining recipes and covers new areas in electrophoretic work, such as DNA fingerprinting, genetic tags, mitochondrial DNA methodologies, and genomic manipulation of fish stocks. This book will provide a useful reference resource for fisheries biologists at federal, state, and local levels; fisheries researchers at universities; and students pursuing degrees involving research in fish genetics.

The basic principle of all molecular genetic methods is to employ inherited, discrete and stable markers to identify genotypes that characterize individuals, populations or species. Such genetic data can provide information ori the levels and distribution of genetic variability in relation to mating patterns, life history, population size, migration and environment. Although molecular tools have long been employed to address various questions in fisheries biology and management, their contributions to the field are sometimes unclear, and often controversial. Much of the initial impetus for the deployment of molecular markers arose from the desire to assess fish stock structure based on various interpretations of the stock concept. Although such studies have met with varying success, they continue to provide an impetus for the development of increasingly sensitive population discriminators, yielding information that can be valuable for both sustainable exploitation and the conservation of fish populations. In the last major synthesis of the subject, Ryman and Utter (1987) summarized progress and applications, though this was prior to the wide-scale adoption of DNA methodology. New sources of genetic markers and protocols are now available, in particular those that exploit the widely distributed and highly variable repeat sequences of DNA, and the amplification technique of the polymerase chain reaction.

Still widely used as gene markers, isozymes detected by zymogram techniques have proven valuable in a range of other biological applications over the last few years. Along with these new applications, many new techniques have also emerged. Yet more than eight years since the Handbook of Detection of Enzymes on Electrophoretic Gels was first publish

Methods enabling the direct study of genetic variation in natural populations have improved considerably. The new edition explores these updated techniques in DNA analysis and provides a revised and refined laboratory guide to investigating variation in DNA molecules.

This new edition of Gel Electrophoresis of Proteins is a completely new text, with eight of the ten chapters written by new authors. It presents the best methods, hints and tips for core procedures such as one- dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, isoelectric focusing, two-dimensional gel electrophoresis, preparative gel electrophoresis, and peptide mapping, complete with the latest refinements and updates of the procedures. In addition, it describes major new techniques which have come to the fore since the previous edition. Thus there are chapters on capillary gel electrophoresis, sequence analysis of gel-resolved proteins, fluorophore-labelled saccharide electrophoresis, and analysis of protein:protein interactions by gel electrophoresis. One thing has not changed. The emphasis is still on describing the best methods, in step-by-step detail, with copious advice to ensure that each method works first time in the reader's hands. The first two editions of Gel Electrophoresis of Proteins: A Practical Approach each gained a strong reputation as easy-to-follow laboratory manuals written by experienced researchers for researchers. The methods were presented in a clear accessible format and had been fully tested to ensure success in the lab. This new edition will strengthen the reputation of the book still further. It is a 'must have' for all those who currently use gel electrophoresis or who plan to do so.

This book provides a concise synthesis of how toxic chemical pollutants affect physiological processes in teleost fish. This Second Edition of the well-received Water Pollution and Fish Physiology has been completely updated, and chapters have been added on immunology and acid toxicity. The emphasis, as in the first edition, is on understanding mechanisms of sublethal effects on fish and their responses to these environmental stressors. The first chapter covers the basic principles involved in understanding how fish respond, in general, to environmental alterations. Each subsequent chapter is devoted to a particular organ system or physiological function and begins with a short overview of normal physiology of that system/function. This is followed by a review of how various toxic chemicals may alter normal conditions in fish. Chapters covering environmental hypoxia, behavior, cellular enzymes, and acid toxicity are also included. The book closes with a discussion on the practical application of physiological and biochemical measurements of fish in water pollution control in research and regulatory settings.

Two of the recent books in the Methods in Molecular Biology series, Yeast Protocols and Pichia Protocols, have been narrowly focused on yeasts and, in the latter case, particular species of yeasts. Food Microbiology Pro- cols, of necessity, covers a very wide range of microorganisms. Our book treats four categories of microorganisms affecting foods: (1) Spoilage organisms; (2) pathogens; (3) microorganisms in fermented foods; and (4) microorganisms p- ducing metabolites that affect the flavor or nutritive value of foods. Detailed information is given on each of these categories. There are several chapters devoted to the microorganisms associated with fermented foods: these are of increasing importance in food microbiology, and include one bacteriophage that kills the lactic acid bacteria involved in the manufacture of different foods—cottage cheese, yogurt, sauerkraut, and many others. The other nine chapters give procedures for the maintenance of lactic acid bacteria, the isolation of plasmid and genomic DNA from species of Lac- bacillus, determination of the proteolytic activity of lactic acid bacteria, det- mination of bacteriocins, and other important topics.