Dynamics of the Bacterial Chromosome

Bacteria are the most abundant form of life on our planet. Since bacteria organize their DNA so differently from other organisms, there are many ways in which their genetics differ. Understanding these differences is particularly important as many bacteria cause disease. Genomics and genetics involve studying the organization, control and function of an organism's genes -- the information used to build our cells. Providing an up-to-date survey of this booming field, the book is the first to focus on the latest advances in bacterial genetics, bacterial genome projects and gene technology and their applications in biological and biomedical research and medicine. The author guides readers to the forefront of research within the different fields of bacterial genetics, based mainly on results received with Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis. From the contents: * Structure of the bacterial cell * Organization of the bacterial chromosome * The bacterial cell cycle: Replication of the chromosome, partitioning and cell division * Recombination * Origin of mutations and repair of DNA lesions * Principles of gene regulation * Protein quality control through molecular chaperones, protein folding catalysts and ATP-dependent proteases * Secretion of proteins * Stress genes and their regulation * Exchange of genes: Transformation, conjugation and transduction The result is a handy overview containing the fundamental knowledge needed to fight countless lethal human diseases.