这是一本适用于生物科学高年级本科生和研究生课程的优秀教材，书中有一系列专家撰写的章节，介绍了质粒生物学基础知识的最新进展，质粒赋予宿主细胞的特殊功能，以及质粒在发现、医学和农业上的实际利用。

An excellent textbook for upper-level undergraduate and graduate courses in the biosciences that features a series of expertly written chapters describing the latest advances in the basic knowledge of plasmid biology, the specialized functions plasmids confer to the host cell, and the practical utilization of plasmids for discovery, medicine, and agriculture.