The book, which is primarily a teaching aid aimed at a wide target audience, provides a short introductory course to the principles of molecular biology techniques.The drab appearance and cost of this manual belittle the wealth of easily accessed information presented in it. That, which appears to be yet another turgid introduction to the basics of molecular biology is, in fact, a technical handbook covering the whole spectrum of this complex subject in a simple way. The text provides a translation of the intricate subject of DNA technology and its terminology into everyday language. Each procedure is presented as blocks of information generously illustrated with self-explanatory figures which emphasize each point. The format allows incorporation of ideas and methodology into a teaching programme leading the student to understand not only the complexities of molecular biology but also its wider applications, for example its use in plant technology and medicine.