Laboratory Manual for Genetic Engineering

About Laboratory Manual for Genetic Engineering

Laboratory Manual for Genetic Engineering by S. John Vennison is a practical bench guide for students who are learning the techniques behind genetic engineering. Instead of discussing theory alone, it walks the reader through experiments step by step, so that a student standing at the lab bench knows what to prepare, what to do and what to observe. Lafz Bookstore in Srinagar stocks it for biotechnology, molecular biology and microbiology students across Kashmir and India. Please message us on WhatsApp at 9906523492 for details of the copy in stock.

What the manual covers

• Isolation of DNA, including genomic DNA from Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria, and plasmid DNA
• Isolation of RNA from bacteria and cultured mammalian cells
• Estimation of nucleic acids
• Electrophoresis of DNA, RNA and proteins
• Cutting DNA with restriction enzymes and joining fragments by ligation to make recombinant DNA
• PCR and the RAPD technique
• DNA transformation and molecular hybridization
• Transfer of plasmids by transduction and conjugation

The publisher describes about sixty experiments supported by figures, with appendices on preparing stock solutions, converting DNA and protein quantities, and a reference on restriction enzymes and their recognition sequences. These appendices are the kind of material students keep returning to during practicals.

Features that set it apart

Many genetic engineering textbooks focus on well-known laboratory strains and standard protocols. This manual gives special attention to DNA isolation from Gram-positive bacteria such as Bacillus, to a slot-lysis electrophoresis method used for DNA profiling of both Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria, and to plasmid transfer in Bacillus, cyanobacteria and Agrobacterium tumefaciens. A student who wants to move beyond the usual Escherichia coli exercises will find these sections a useful change of scenery.

Why a lab manual matters in genetic engineering

Genetic engineering is a hands-on subject. You can read about restriction digestion for hours, yet the concepts become clear only after you set up a digest, run a gel and see the bands. A good manual saves time and reduces avoidable errors: reagents are listed, procedures are numbered, and the reader learns to record results properly. It also builds the habits of a careful researcher, such as labelling tubes, keeping a clean workspace, using controls and writing down every observation on the day of the experiment.

Who should buy this book

• Undergraduate and postgraduate biotechnology students whose course includes a genetic engineering practical
• Students of molecular biology and molecular microbiology
• Research scholars who are new to a technique and want a clear reference at the bench
• Teachers and lab instructors preparing practical sessions
• Anyone in Kashmir preparing for a career in biotechnology who wants to understand how the work is done in practice

How to get the most from the manual

Read the whole experiment before you enter the lab, not while you are standing at the bench. Note down the reagents, the incubation times and the safety points, and ask your instructor about anything unclear. Keep a separate laboratory notebook and record your observations as they happen. After the practical, compare your results with what the manual leads you to expect, and if they differ, think about the possible reasons: a contaminated reagent, a pipetting error, an incorrect temperature. This habit of troubleshooting is what turns a student into a scientist. Always follow the safety rules of your own laboratory, particularly when handling chemicals, heat sources and electrical equipment for electrophoresis. This manual is a companion to your lab course and your instructor’s guidance, not a replacement for it.

Pairing it with a theory textbook

A manual tells you how, while a theory textbook tells you why. Students usually do best when they keep a molecular biology or genetics textbook beside the manual, so that each experiment is linked to the concept behind it. Our Higher Education section carries many such titles for science students.

Edition details

Author: S. John Vennison. Publisher: PHI Learning. Format: paperback, 140 pages, as listed by the publisher. Subject: genetic engineering laboratory techniques. For the edition and year of the copy in stock, please message us on WhatsApp at 9906523492. Same-day dispatch from Srinagar. Delivery takes about 1 day in Srinagar and 3 to 10 days across the rest of India.

Frequently asked questions

Who wrote this book? S. John Vennison.

Is it a theory book or a practical manual? It is a practical laboratory manual with experiments for genetic engineering courses.

Does it include PCR and electrophoresis? Yes, both are part of the techniques it covers.

Who is it meant for? Undergraduate and postgraduate biotechnology students, and students of molecular biology and molecular microbiology.

How fast is delivery? We dispatch the same day from Srinagar, with delivery in about 1 day in Srinagar and 3 to 10 days elsewhere in India.

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