A textbook for an undergraduate or professional training course for students with a solid background in general biology and chemistry, and hopefully some organic chemistry; does not assume any microbiology and biochemistry. Explains the laboratory techniques and skills for characterizing and purifying a protein and for cloning the associated gene, and the strategies and rationale for the research process itself. The examples use readily available materials and organisms to keep the cost down. Annotation copyright by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR