RNA Viruses: A Practical Approach is wide ranging in scope, from emerging technology such as reverse genetics and retrovirus vectors, to money saving tips - how to make your own silica particles for high efficiency RNA extraction and liposomes for cell transfection! Chapter one covers the fundamentals of investigating RNA virus genome structure at a molecular level. Chapters two and three describe techniques for mutagenesis of RNA genomes and analysis of transcription. Chapter four deals with RNA virus-encoded proteinases, an important aspect of the control of RNA virus gene expression. Chapter five considers retrovirus oncogenesis and chapter six analysis of RNA virus quasispecies. Chapter seven describes systems for investigation of in vitro replication of positive-stranded viruses and chapter eight the packaging of RNA virus genomes. In addition to the technical aspects of reverse genetics and retrovirus vectors, both of the final two chapters also consider ethical aspects of these new technologies.