Anthony Killeen, MD, PhD, offers a comprehensive yet concise introduction to molecular pathology that encompasses both applied and theoretical knowledge. Writing in a very readable style, the author reviews the basic concepts of human molecular biology, explains the principles of the most commonly used analytical methods, and discusses the molecular principles that underlie both inherited diseases and acquired genetic abnormalities that lead to cancer. Using common viral infections as examples, the book applies these molecular methods to the detection of microbial pathogens. The growing importance of pharmacogenetics and identity testing in the clinical laboratory is also highlighted