In the post-genomic era we have, at our fingertips, an incredible array of genomic sequences from a multitude of complex organisms. There remains, however, the critical need to understand the precise roles individual genes play in complex biological milieu. Bringing together authoritative reviews by renowned international leaders, this book presents cutting-edge research on inhibitors of gene expression and nucleic acid-based drugs. With numerous charts, diagrams, and graphs, the book covers the subject from lab bench to cancer-related clinical trials, making it an up-to-date and critical resource. Coverage includes discussions of ribozyme subtypes, structure-function aspects, and therapeutic applications; DNAzymes, their various subtypes, kinetics and biochemistry, and applications in target validation. Lastly, the mechanisms and multiple therapeutic applications of double-stranded oligonucleotide decoys are described.