This manual encompasses an integrated series of molecular biology laboratory exercises that involve the cloning and analysis of the bioluminescence (lux) genes from the marine bacterium Vibrio fischeri. The manual is divided into discrete units with each demonstrating one or more aspects of the cloning project. The manual is based on one of nature's most fascinating biological phenomenon: the biological production of light. This results in a recurrent theme of interest and makes the project very relevant to interdisciplinary topics such as fish symbiosis, biochemistry, biophysics, etc. Includes instruction in the basic techniques of modern molecular biology: DNA isolation and analysis, DNA restriction, agarose gel electrophoresis, ligations, transformation of recombinant DNA, preparation and screening a genomic library, restriction mapping, Southern blotting, hybridization, DNA sequencing, pulsed field gel electrophoresis. Designed for a one semester course in Molecular Biology. Also appropriate for a molecular biology component of Microbial Genetics, Genetics, Biochemistry, or Advanced Microbiology courses.