ABSTRACT
In recent times giant strides have been taken in harnessing our knowledge of the molecular basis of many biological phenomena. Many new techniques such as the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and DNA sequencing have arrived on the scene. In addition major projects involving many countries such as the human genome project have taken place. Coupled with all these exciting technological developments, new vocabulary such as genomics has arisen. All this has transformed the approaches used in industrial microbiology. New approaches anchored on developments in molecular biology have been followed in many industrial microbiology processes and products such as vaccines, the search for new antibiotics, and the physiology of microorganisms. It therefore now appears imperative that any discussion of industrial microbiology and biotechnology must take these developments into account. This chapter will discuss only selected aspects of molecular biology in order to provide a background for understanding some of the newer directions of industrial microbiology and biotechnology. The discussion will be kept as simplified and as brief as possible, just enough in complexity and length needed to achieve the purpose of the chapter. The student is encouraged to look at many excellent texts in this field. In addition a glossary of some terms used in molecular biology is included at the end of the book.
