Molecular Methods Protein-Based Technique lsozyme analyses Fatty acid profiles MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry Molecular methods to characterize, identify, and classify organisms do not depend on the subjective judgment of a human being as it might occur us-ing classical methods, but are based on the objective information (molecules) deriving from the target organism. Thus, molecular methods are increasingly used to identify organisms and for taxonomy research (molecular systematic). In the 1980s, molecular methods were established for wood-decay and staining fungi. Mainly, the fungal proteins (enzymes) and nucleic acids are used. It is outside the intention of this book to describe all molecular techniques that are currently used in the field of biology. The following overview comprises only some methods and results that are related to the characterization, identifica-tion, and phylogeny of wood-inhabiting fungi, particularly wood-decay fungi. Genome sequencing (me
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