Biology is designed for multi-semester biology courses for science majors. It is grounded on an evolutionary basis and includes exciting features that highlight careers in the biological sciences and everyday applications of the concepts at hand. To meet the needs of today’s instructors and students, some content has been strategically condensed while maintaining the overall scope and coverage of traditional texts for this course. Instructors can customize the book, adapting it to the approach that works best in their classroom. Biology also includes an innovative art program that incorporates critical thinking and clicker questions to help students understand—and apply—key concepts.

A systematic study of the structure, function, ecology and evolution or organisms including bacteria, protists, fungi, plants and animals.
Chapter I. Evolution and the Origin of Species
Chapter II. The Evolution of Populations
Chapter III. Viruses
Chapter IV. Prokaryotes: Bacteria and Archaea
Chapter V. Protists
Chapter VI. Fungi
Chapter VII. Introduction to Animal Diversity
Chapter VIII. Invertebrates
Chapter IX. Vertebrates
Chapter X. Plant Form and Physiology
Chapter XI. Plant Reproduction
Chapter XII. The Animal Body: Basic Form and Function
Chapter XIII. Animal Nutrition and the Digestive System
Chapter XIV. The Nervous System
Chapter XV. Sensory Systems
Chapter XVI. The Endocrine System
Chapter XVII. The Musculoskeletal System
Chapter XVIII. The Respiratory System
Chapter XIX. The Circulatory System
Chapter XX. Osmotic Regulation and Excretion
Chapter XXI. The Immune System
Chapter XXII. Animal Reproduction and Development
Chapter XXIII. Ecology and the Biosphere
Chapter XXIV. Population and Community Ecology
Chapter XXV. Ecosystems
Chapter XXVI. Conservation Biology and Biodiversity

By the end of this section, you will be able to:Describe the process of digestionDetail the steps involved in digestion and absorptionDefine eliminationExplain the role of both the small and large intestines in absorption

By the end of this section, you will be able to:Discuss the role of neural regulation in digestive processesExplain how hormones regulate digestion

By the end of this section, you will be able to:Explain the processes of digestion and absorptionCompare and contrast different types of digestive systemsExplain the specialized functions of the organs involved in processing food in the bodyDescribe the ways in which organs work together to digest food and absorb nutrients

By the end of this section, you will be able to:Explain why an animal’s diet should be balanced and meet the needs of the bodyDefine the primary components of foodDescribe the essential nutrients required for cellular function that cannot be synthesized by the animal bodyExplain how energy is produced through diet and digestionDescribe how excess carbohydrates and energy are stored in the body

By the end of this section, you will be able to:List the characteristics of fungiDescribe the composition of the myceliumDescribe the mode of nutrition of fungiExplain sexual and asexual reproduction in fungi

By the end of this section, you will be able to:Identify chemical diversity benefits to humansIdentify biodiversity components that support human agricultureDescribe ecosystem services

By the end of this section, you will be able to:Describe gel electrophoresisExplain molecular and reproductive cloningDescribe uses of biotechnology in medicine and agriculture

This 7-minute video looks at the introduction of agriculture into human prehistory. [Biology playlist: Lesson 66 of 71]

This resource provides a lab procedure and fillable form pdf lab answer sheet for use in an online biology or nutrition course. Students will need access to a computer and a scale for taking their body weight.

Attributions are provided at the end of the laboratory write-up.

Please refer to the "Completing Lab Reports in Canvas Orientation Exercise" in OER Commons also authored by me (Tina B. Jones) for student instructions on downloading, completing, and uploading the fillable form answer sheets in Canvas.

*Lab answer sheet created by instructor using Adobe Acrobat DC Pro.

By the end of this section, you will be able to:Understand the nutritional adaptations of plantsDescribe mycorrhizaeExplain nitrogen fixation