Recent Progress of Life Science Technology in Japan

Recent Progress of Life Science Technology in Japan discusses developments in cancer research technologies in Japan. In June 1983 an intra-cabinet panel of the Japanese Government drafted a 10-year strategy for cancer control, recognizing the importance of this field of research. A scientific research group was organized to comprise two sections—the first concerning the development and evaluation of DNA technologies, and the second on protein-related technologies. In the promotion of fundamental cancer research, the development and refinement of basic technologies for each component of the ""triangle of bio-sciences""—DNA, protein, and antibody—are essential, particularly in the elucidation of tumor-inducing and tumor-suppressing genes, tumor-specific antigens, and so forth. Part I of the book details the achievements of the first group in developing automated instrumentations for DNA sequencing. The second scientific research group worked on three major subareas: (1) gene transfer and expression technologies; (2) technologies for extraction, purification, and structural analysis of cancer-related proteins; and (3) technologies for analysis and synthesis of saccharide chains. Reports from these areas are respectively grouped in Part II, Part III, and Part IV of this monograph.