Includes bibliographical references and index.

Methodology -- Basic methodology -- Manipulation of DNA by PCR / Kenshi Hayashi -- Cloning PCR products / Michael A. Frohman -- Optimization of multiplex PCRs / Jeffrey S. Chamberlain and Joel R. Chamberlain -- Preparation of nucleic acids for archival material / Darryl Shibata -- PCR amplification of viral DNA and viral host cell mRNAs in situ / Janet Embretson ... {et al.} -- Quantitation -- Quantitative PCR: an overview / F. Ferre ... {et al.} -- Quantification of DNAs by the polymerase chain reaction using an internal control / Donald M. Coen -- RT-PCR and mRNA quantitation / Jamel Chelly and Axel Kahn -- Analysis of human T-cell repertoires by PCR / Dominic G. Spinella and James M. Robertson -- Nonisotopic detection -- Ultrasensitive nonradioactive detection of PCR reactions: an overview / Richard H. Tullis -- Fluorescent detection methods for PCR analysis / Michael J. Heller -- Enzyme-labeled oligonucleotides / Eugene Tu and Edward Jablonski -- Application of the hybridization protection assay (HPA) to PCR / Norman C. Nelson and Sherrol H. McDonough. (cont) Instrumentation -- PCR instrumentation: where do we stand? / Christian C. Oste -- Rapid cycle DNA amplification / Carl T. Wittwer, Gudrun B. Reed and Kirk M. Ririe -- Automating the PCR process / H.R. Garner -- Sequencing -- PCR and DNA sequencing / Bjorn Andersson and Richard A. Gibbs -- Phage promoter-based methods for sequencing and screening for mutations / Steve S. Sommer and Erica L. Vielhaber -- Capture PCR: an efficient method for walking along chromosomal DNA and cDNA / Andre Rosenthal, Matthias Platzer and D. Stephen Charnock-Jones -- Applications -- General applications -- In vitro evolution of functional nucleic acids: high-affinity RNA ligands of the HIV-1 rev protein / Craig Tuerk ... {et al.} -- Application of PCR to forensic science / Bruce Budowle ... {et al.} -- Recreating the past by PCR / Matthias Hoss, Oliva Handt and Svante Paabo -- Nonbiological applications / Gavin Dollinger -- Genetic analysis -- RT-PCR and gene expression / Didier Montarras ... {et al.}.