The Lure of Bacterial Genetics: a Tribute to John Roth

Over the course of his career, John Roth has inspired his students and colleagues not only with his achievements, but also with his sense of adventure and joy in solving difficult puzzles in bacterial genetics. In addition, he has instilled in them his unique, rigorous scientific approach. Endlessly curious, he is forever diagramming ideas, developing them into models, designing experiments to test those models, and then evaluating the results in order to develop new models and tests. Along the way, he encourages his colleagues' feedback, engaging them at every step of the scientific process.

This book has been written and edited by colleagues and former students of John Roth, many of whom are also leaders and pioneers in the field of bacterial genetics. It provides a complete overview of the entire field of bacterial genetics, helping the reader to understand how the field has evolved through the years. Moreover, the book enables everyone to be inspired by and to learn from John Roth's achievements and contributions to bacterial genetics.

Initial chapters introduce the reader to John Roth and his impact on science. Subsequent chapters offer valuable lessons in both the history and the science of bacterial genetics. The authors take the reader behind the scenes for a look at some of the most important triumphs and mishaps that have occurred on the path to discovery. The final chapter, written by John Roth himself, offers a fascinating look into the future. Progressing through the book, readers will gain valuable insights into how scientists think, how scientific ideas evolve, and how scientists interact.

This landmark volume provides the single most comprehensive and authoritative textbook on bacterial molecular genetics. Perfect for advanced undergraduate and graduate-level courses, the text presents the latest research on the subject in a clearly written and well-illustrated style. It provides descriptive background information, detailed experimental methods, examples of genetic analyses, and advanced material relevant to current applications of molecular genetics. While providing a deep understanding of bacterial molecular genetics, the material is integrated with biochemical, genomic, and structural information to broaden understanding.