This best-selling undergraduate textbook provides an introduction to key experimental techniques from across the biosciences. It uniquely integrates the theories and practices that drive the fields of biology and medicine, comprehensively covering both the methods students will encounter in lab classes and those that underpin recent advances and discoveries. Its problem-solving approach continues with worked examples that set a challenge and then show students how the challenge is met. New to this edition are case studies, for example, that illustrate the relevance of the principles and techniques to the diagnosis and treatment of individual patients. Coverage is expanded to include a section on stem cells, chapters on immunochemical techniques and spectroscopy techniques, and additional chapters on drug discovery and development, and clinical biochemistry. Experimental design and the statistical analysis of data are emphasised throughout to ensure students are equipped to successfully plan their own experiments and examine the results obtained.

From reviews of the previous editions:‘This book deserves a place in any modern pathology department and brings together a body of information which is traditionally scattered across several texts … it also represents excellent value for money.’

Source: Annals of Clinical Biochemistry

‘It is necessary to have a practical up to date guide to experimental techniques at hand in a laboratory. This book belongs to such kind of texts. It covers all branches of basic as well as advanced techniques. The book represents a fundamental guidebook for work in a laboratory.’

Source: Photosynthetica

‘The book is well illustrated, indexed, free of errors and most chapters have problem sets with worked answers. The book is written for ‘all bioscience undergraduate students and pre-medical students for whom practical biochemistry, molecular biology and immunology form part of the syllabus’ … it is a very good supplement for undergraduate courses in general biochemistry or a text for courses in biochemical techniques. [This book] is also recommended for graduate students and other researchers in applied sciences such as food biochemistry.’

Source: Journal of Food Biochemistry

‘… well-written and comprehensive … what truly distinguishes this text from others of its kind are the outstanding chapters on proteins, mass spectrometry and spectroscopic techniques. … a valuable resource for undergraduate or graduate students taking introductory or advanced techniques/laboratory courses in cell/molecular biology, biochemistry or biotechnology.‘

Source: Microbiology Today

‘I found this volume remarkably satisfying in that it answered all those 'why do you do it like this?' type questions. … This book has already received extensive reference value on my bookshelf.'

Source: Journal of Biological Education