Preface/Front Matter

Abstract

The single-stranded DNA phages are among the smallest organisms known. They have been tremendously valuable in elucidating several fundamental life processes, especially DNA replication and gene organization. Indeed, overlapping genes were discovered in single-stranded phages.

This book is based on an international meeting held at Cold Spring Harbor in August 1977 and contains a comprehensive and up-to-date account of what is known about the life process of the single-stranded phages.

The meeting was made possible by generous support from the National Science Foundation and from the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory. The tireless efforts of Nancy Ford are responsible for seeing the production of this volume through to its completion. Without the encouragement of Dr. James D. Watson the book would not have been attempted.