Molecular beacon, molecular break lights, Scorpion primers, TaqMan probes, etc. are examples of fluorescent energy transfer nucleic acid probes that signal detection of various DNA and RNA reactions by changing their the intensity or color of their fluorescence. Didenko (Baylor College of Medicine) presents 22 chapters detailing laboratory protocols for using fluorescent nucleic acid probes for hybridization detection, DNA breaks and cleavage monitoring, synthesis and amplification visualization, sequence analysis and mutation detection, and determination of distances and DNA folding. Also included are a number of chapters that deal with design and application of molecular devices that use energy transfer, such as biosensors, nanomachines, and logic gates for molecular-scale computation. For each protocol, step-by-step instructions, principles underlying the technique, necessary equipment, and troubleshooting tips are described. The CD-ROM contains all the illustrations from the text, presumably for lecture purposes. Annotation ©2006 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)