Preface -- List of contributors -- Part I DNA analysis: current issues -- 1 Genetic analyses in health laboratories: current status and expectations -- 2 DNA analyses in food safety and quality: current status and expectations -- Part II Advanced materials for ultrasensitive analysis -- 3 Engineered nanostructures for ultrasensitive DNA detection -- 4 Advanced molecular probes for sequence-specific DNA recognition -- 5 Charged conjugated polymers -- 6 Optical detection of non-amplified genomic DNA -- 7 Electrochemical detection of DNA using nanomaterials-based sensors -- 8 Piezoelectric sensing for sensitive detection of DNA -- 9 Surface plasmon resonance-based methods -- 10 Parallel optical and electrochemical DNA detection -- 11 Recent advances in DNA sequencing technologies -- Subject Index.

This book offers a state-of-the-art overview on non amplified DNA detection methods and provides chemists, biochemists, biotechnologists and material scientists with an introduction to these methods. In fact all these fields have dedicated resources to the problem of nucleic acid detection, each contributing with their own specific methods and concepts. This book will explain the basic principles of the different non amplified DNA detection methods available, highlighting their respective advantages and limitations. The importance of non-amplified DNA sequencing technologies will be also discussed. Non-amplified DNA detection can be achieved by adopting different techniques. Such techniques have allowed the commercialization of innovative platforms for DNA detection that are expected to break into the DNA diagnostics market. The enhanced sensitivity required for the detection of non amplified genomic DNA has prompted new strategies that can achieve ultrasensitivity by combining specific materials with specific detection tools. Advanced materials play multiple roles in ultrasensitive detection. Optical and electrochemical detection tools are among the most widely investigated to analyze non amplified nucleic acids. Biosensors based on piezoelectric crystal have been also used to detect unamplified genomic DNA. The main scientific topics related to DNA diagnostics are discussed by an outstanding set of authors with proven experience in the field.