Dr. Griffith and his group focus their research on the use of a combination of molecular biology and electron microscopy to probe central questions in HIV, transcription, and recombination. The ability to directly visualize DNA-protein interactions has greatly enhanced our ability to understand basic mechanisms involved in DNA metabolism. Using modern molecular tools including sequencing and site directed mutagenesis, and EM we are focusing on understanding the basic structures involved in these processes, in particular as it relates to the replication of the HIV virus. See Bortner et. al., 1993; J. Mol. Biol. 231, 241; Wang, Murphy, Cech, and Griffith, J. Mol. Biol., 1994; Zawel et. al., 1994, Nature.