The relevance of genetic analysis and the need of its automation have rapidly increased during the last years not only in molecular biology and medicine but particularly in fields outside these ''classical'' areas of application. In forensic medicine and criminology, e.g., DNA analysis has become a routine method - and a similar development is just ongoing in fields like anthropology, paleontology, plant and animal breeding, and food production. This book provides a comprehensive and practical overview of the methods - from biological material and analytical processes to the analysis and processing of data - and provides insights into various important applications. Clearly written and nicely illustrated with color figures the book will serve as a useful source of information for a broad spectrum of (potential) users of DNA analysis.

The relevance of genetic analysis and the need of its automation have rapidly increased during the last years not only in molecular biology and medicine but particularly in fields outside these ''classical'' areas of application. In forensic medicine and criminology, e.g., DNA analysis has become a routine method - and a similar development is just ongoing in fields like anthropology, paleontology, plant and animal breeding, and food production. This book provides a comprehensive and practical overview of the methods - from biological material and analytical processes to the analysis and processing of data - and provides insights into various important applications. Clearly written and nicely illustrated with color figures the book will serve as a useful source of information for a broad spectrum of (potential) users of DNA analysis.