William (Bill) Elliott was a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Sciences and Head of Biochemistry at The University of Adelaide, Australia for 23 years. In 1982 his department was awarded the Australian Government's first Centre of Excellence, for research devoted to gene technology. In 2001, he was awarded the Centenary Medal for service to Australian society and science in molecular biosciences. At The University of Adelaide, Australia, his legacy and achievements are celebrated annually by the W.H. Elliott lecture and a research fellowship in his name. Bill passed away in 2012, and the book was subsequently prepared for publication by his wife Daphne. Daphne Elliott is an Honorary Research Fellow in the School of Biological Sciences at Flinders University, Australia. She was awarded the Chancellor's Medal in 1994 for her contribution to the education of women in Science and Mathematics and served as Federal President of the Australian Federation of University Women. In 2002, she was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia for service to the promotion of women's education and as an advocate for improving the status and human rights of women.