In this unique presentation of a revolutionary field of science, the first section introduces the domains of application for genomics and bioinformatics, such as sequencing and the comparative sequence analysis of model organisms, investigating genetically influenced diseases, the development of new active substances, agri-food and environmental genomics.

There then follows an overview of current topics central to DNA technologies, proteomics, metabolomics and bioinformatics, including such hot topics as DNA chip fabrication, yeast two hybrid analysis, tools for gene expression studies, metabolic networks and systems biology.

The whole is rounded off by four chapters on the ethical, legal and social aspects of this sensitive topic.