Principles of Biology is reflective of the shift taking place in the majors biology course from large and detail rich to short and conceptual, with a focus on new, cutting-edge science. A succinct and inviting text focused on central concepts, Principles of Biology helps students connect fundamental principles while challenging them to develop and hone critical thinking skills.

About the Author

Rob Brooker (Ph.D., Yale University) received his B.A. in biology at Wittenberg University, Springfield, Ohio, in 1978.

Contents

۱ An Introduction to Biology
۲ The Chemical Basis of Life I: Atoms, Molecules, and Water
۳ The Chemical Basis of Life II: Organic Molecules
۴ Evolutionary Origin of Cells and Their General Features
۵ Membranes: The Interface Between Cells and Their Environment
۶ How Cells Utilize Energy
۷ How Cells Capture Light Energy via Photosynthesis
۸ How Cells Communicate with Each Other and with the Environment
۹ The Information of Life: DNA and RNA Structure, DNA Replication, and Chromosome Structure
۱۰ The Expression of Genetic Information via Genes I: Transcription and Translation
۱۱ The Expression of Genetic Information via Genes II: Non-coding RNAs
۱۲ The Control of Genetic Information via Gene Regulation
۱۳ Altering the Genetic Material: Mutation, DNA Repair, and Cancer
۱۴ How Eukaryotic Cells Sort and Transmit Chromosomes: Mitosis and Meiosis
۱۵ Transmission of Genetic Information from Parents to Offspring I: Patterns That Follow Mendel’s Laws
۱۶ Transmission of Genetic Information from Parents to Offspring II: Epigenetics, Linkage, and Extranuclear Inheritance
۱۷ The Simpler Genetic Systems of Viruses, Bacteria, and Archaea
۱۸ Genetic Technologies: How Biologists Study Genes and Genomes
۱۹ Evolution of Life I: How Populations Change from Generation to Generation
۲۰ Evolution of Life II: The Emergence of New Species
۲۱ How Biologists Classify Species and Study Their Evolutionary Relationships
۲۲ The History of Life on Earth and Human Evolution
۲۳ Diversity of Microbial Life: Archaea, Bacteria, Protists, and Fungi
۲۴ Microbiomes: Microbial Systems on and Around Us
۲۵ Plant Evolution: How Plant Diversification Changed Planet Earth
۲۶ Invertebrates: The Vast Array of Animal Life Without a Backbone
۲۷ Vertebrates: Fishes, Amphibians, Reptiles, and Mammals
۲۸ An Introduction to Flowering Plant Form and Function
۲۹ How Flowering Plants Sense and Interact with Their Environments
۳۰ How Flowering Plants Obtain and Transport Water, Mineral Nutrients, and Organic Compounds
۳۱ How Flowering Plants Reproduce and Develop
۳۲ General Features of Animal Bodies, and Homeostasis as a Key Principle of Animal Biology
۳۳ Neuroscience I: The Structure, Function, and Evolution of Nervous Systems
۳۴ Neuroscience II: How Sensory Systems Allow Animals to Interact with the Environment
۳۵ How Muscles and Skeletons Are Adaptations for Movement, Support, and Protection
۳۶ Circulatory and Respiratory Systems: Transporting Solutes and Exchanging Gases
۳۷ Digestive and Excretory Systems: Maintaining Nutrient, Water, and Energy Balance and Removing Waste
۳۸ How Endocrine Systems Influence the Activities of All Other Organ Systems
۳۹ The Production of Offspring: Reproduction and Development
۴۰ Immune Systems: How Animals Defend Against Pathogens and Other Dangers
۴۱ An Example of a System-Wide Response to a Challenge to Homeostasis
۴۲ Behavioral Ecology: The Struggle to Find Food and Mates and to Pass on Genes
۴۳ Population Growth and Species Interactions
۴۴ Communities and Ecosystems: Ecological Organization at Large Scales
۴۵ Biomes: How Climate Affects the Distribution of Species on Earth
۴۶ The Age of Humans
۴۷ Biodiversity and Conservation Biology