RNA Interference: Methods for Plants and Animals

The Principles & Protocols Series is designed for upper level undergraduates, postgraduates and researchers, particularly those new to a field. Books in the series outline the theoretical background to experimental approaches, followed by bullet-point protocols, which are generic and can be adapted for particular systems. RNA interference (RNAi) has been one of the most exciting and significant new methodologies to appear in the past decade, and it now finds widespread application. This methods manual provides an introduction to the phenomenon to RNA Interference and specific protocols for RNAi, in organisms from plants and C.elegans to Drosophila and mammals. Also included are chapters covering small hairpin RNAs and viral-induced gene silencing.

Tim Doran has worked for his entire career in the field of animal health. He completed his PhD in 1993 at CSIRO Division of Animal Health working on the eradication of bovine tuberculosis in Australia. He then took on a Post-Doctoral Fellowship at St. George's Hospital Medical School in London, where he was awarded the Richard Merkal Fellowship for his outstanding research on paratuberculosis and Johne's disease in cattle.
In 1996 Tim returned to CSIRO Livestock Industries and was the inaugural winner of the 2001 AFFA Science Award for Young People. He is currently project leader of RNAi Technologies at the Australian Animal Health Laboratory. His research team is applying RNAi gene silencing technology to control viral infection in a range of livestock species.