The Biotechnology Annual Review covers the various developments in biotechnology in the form of comprehensive, illustrated and well referenced reviews. With the expansion of the field of biotechnology, coupled with the vast increase in the number of new journals reporting recent results in this field, the need for a publication that is continuously providing reviews is urgent. Hence, each volume of the Biotechnology Annual Review will have a number of reviews covering different aspects of biotechnology. Reviewed topics will include biotechnology applications in medicine, agriculture, marine biology, industry, bioremedation and the environment. Fundamental problems dealing with enhancing the technical knowledge encountering biotechnology utilization regardless of the field of application will be particularly emphasized. This series will help both students and teachers, researchers as well as administrators to remain knowledgeable on all relevant issues in biotechnology.Proposals for contributions and/or suggestions for topics for future volumes in this series should be sent to the Editor:professor M.R. El-GewelyDepartment of BiotechnologyUniversity of TromsløIMB, MH-ByggetN-9037 TromsøNorwayTel: (+47) 77 644000Fax: (+47) 77 645350