This book review series presents current trends in modern biotechnology. The aim is to cover all aspects of this interdisciplinary technology where knowledge, methods and expertise are required from chemistry, biochemistry, microbiology, genetics, chemical engineering and computer science. Volumes are organized topically and provide a comprehensive discussion of developments in the respective field over the past 3-5 years. The series also discusses new discoveries and applications. Special volumes are dedicated to selected topics which focus on new biotechnological products and new processes for their synthesis and purification. In general, special volumes are edited by well-known guest editors. The series editor and publisher will however always be pleased to receive suggestions and supplementary information. Manuscripts are accepted in English.

This book review series presents current trends in modern biotechnology. The aim is to cover all aspects of this interdisciplinary technology where knowledge, methods and expertise are required from chemistry, biochemistry, microbiology, genetics, chemical engineering and computer science. Volumes are organized topically and provide a comprehensive discussion of developments in the respective field over the past 3-5 years. The series also discusses new discoveries and applications. Special volumes are dedicated to selected topics which focus on new biotechnological products and new processes for their synthesis and purification. In general, special volumes are edited by well-known guest editors. The series editor and publisher will however always be pleased to receive suggestions and supplementary information. Manuscripts are accepted in English.

Hardly any other term in the ?eld of biotechnologyhas been the subject of so muchdiscussionamongexpertsaswhitebiotechnologyatpresent.Thistermis an alias for "industrial biotechnology," an already established "heavyweight" that focuses on the production of the most diverse products (bulk and ?ne chemicals, enzymes, food and animal feed additives, pharmaceutically active substances and agrochemicals, auxiliary agents for processindustries, etc.). Insomesegments, whitebiotechnologyhasalreadycapturedleadingmarket positions: - In recent years the annual biotechnological production of amino acids exceeded one million tons. - Invitaminproductiontherehavebeen several recent casesofachangeover from a chemical to a biotechnological synthesis process, a trend that is expected to increase. - During the last 10 years the market volume for enzymes has increased by 50%. - The successful launch of polylactide marked white biotechnology's bre- throughinto the ?eld ofpolymers and synthetics. Today crude oil is the most important energy source and the most widely used chemical raw material. Both primary industry and polymer chemistry currently depend to a great extent on oil. However, it is only a matter of time beforetheworld'soilreservesaredepleted.Almostallstudiespresentedtodate agreethatpeakoil, i.e.thepointintimewhenoilextractionreachesitshighest level, will take place in the ?rst half of the present century. The increasingly dif?cultdevelopmentofnewsourcesofoilhavetriggeredinitiativesworldwide to reduce national dependence on oil imports.

This review series covers trends in modern biotechnology, including all aspects of this interdisciplinary technology, requiring knowledge, methods, and expertise from chemistry, biochemistry, microbiology, genetics, chemical engineering and computer science.

1 G. Liebezeit: Aquaculture of "Non-Food Organisms" for Natural Substance Production.- 2 S. Lang, M. Huners, V. Lurtz: Bioprocess Engineering Data on the Cultivation of Marine Prokaryotes and Fungi.- 3 K. Muffler, R. Ulber: Downstream Processing in Marine Biotechnology.- 4 M.-L. Bourguet-Kondracki, J.-M. Kornprobst: Marine Pharmacology: Potentialities in the Treatment of Infectious Diseases, Osteoporosis and Alzheimers Disease.- 5 J. Hassfeld, M. Kalesse, T. Stellfeld, M. Christmann: Asymmetric Total Synthesis of Complex Marine Natural Products.- 6 K.H. Chu, C.Y. Tang, A. Wu, P.S.C. Leung: Seafood Allergy: Lessons from Clinical Symptoms, Immunological Mechanisms and Molecular Biology.-

Hardly any other term in the ?eld of biotechnologyhas been the subject of so muchdiscussionamongexpertsaswhitebiotechnologyatpresent.Thistermis an alias for "industrial biotechnology," an already established "heavyweight" that focuses on the production of the most diverse products (bulk and ?ne chemicals, enzymes, food and animal feed additives, pharmaceutically active substances and agrochemicals, auxiliary agents for processindustries, etc.). Insomesegments, whitebiotechnologyhasalreadycapturedleadingmarket positions: - In recent years the annual biotechnological production of amino acids exceeded one million tons. - Invitaminproductiontherehavebeen several recent casesofachangeover from a chemical to a biotechnological synthesis process, a trend that is expected to increase. - During the last 10 years the market volume for enzymes has increased by 50%. - The successful launch of polylactide marked white biotechnology's bre- throughinto the ?eld ofpolymers and synthetics. Today crude oil is the most important energy source and the most widely used chemical raw material. Both primary industry and polymer chemistry currently depend to a great extent on oil. However, it is only a matter of time beforetheworld'soilreservesaredepleted.Almostallstudiespresentedtodate agreethatpeakoil, i.e.thepointintimewhenoilextractionreachesitshighest level, will take place in the ?rst half of the present century. The increasingly dif?cultdevelopmentofnewsourcesofoilhavetriggeredinitiativesworldwide to reduce national dependence on oil imports.

This review series covers trends in modern biotechnology, including all aspects of this interdisciplinary technology, requiring knowledge, methods, and expertise from chemistry, biochemistry, microbiology, genetics, chemical engineering and computer science.