Molecular Pathology: A Primer for Laboratory Scientists

Comprehensive textbook on molecular pathology for newcomers to the field, covering history, analytics, types of cancers, and more

Molecular Pathology delivers an in-depth outline of molecular pathology appropriate for the undergraduate, postgraduate, or early-stage career lab scientist, drawing from authoritative sources such as NICE, the World Health Organisation, the Office of National Statistics, clinical guidelines, research publications and the National Genomic Test Directory. The text contains numerous tables, diagrams, and photos in each chapter to help elucidate key concepts.

The opening chapter provides a general introduction to the subject with a historical perspective of key findings that have led to our current view of molecular pathology. The introduction is followed by a look at the scope of chromosomal disease (such as Down’s syndrome) and genetic disease (such as sickle cell disease). Chapter two describes the numerous analytical tools required in molecular pathology, and how complex genetic data is interpreted – i.e., bioinformatics. The remaining three chapters review the molecular pathology of focused groups of disease, including solid tumor cancer, blood cancer, and metabolic and other genetic diseases. Each of these three chapters explains the role of molecular pathology in the etiology, diagnosis, and management of each particular condition.

Sample topics explored in Molecular Pathology include:

• Generating DNA and RNA for analysis, amplification by PCR, and DNA sequencing through micro-arrays, libraries, and Next Generation Sequencing
• Chromosome structure, covering histones and the centromere, abnormal chromosome numbers, and errors within chromosomes such as translocations and deletions
• Myelofibrosis, myelodysplasia, essential thrombocythemia, polycythaemia, leukemia, lymphoma, myeloma, and haemopoiesis and maturation arrest
• Molecular pathology of single organ/organ system disease, such as Huntington’s and cardiomyopathy, and multi-organ disease such as Barth syndrome

Molecular Pathology serves as an excellent introduction to the subject for first to third year undergraduate students. Healthcare professionals and biomedical scientists and researchers will also find it valuable.