DNA Topology

The existence and biological importance of deformations of the double helix structure of DNA have become known and are generally termed "topology". This book explains the concepts of DNA topology and discusses their relevance to biology.

---

The structure of the DNA double helix has been recognized for many years but, more recently, the existence and biological importance of different conformations of DNA have become known, the most prominent being the "topological" deformations such as supercoiling and catenation. Almost all biological processes involving DNA, such as replication, recombination, and transcription, have effects on, and are affected by, the topological state of the DNA. This book provides explanations of these concepts in their biological contexts, making it a useful text for students of molecular biology, biochemistry and related disciplines, and for researchers in the field.