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Biology: The Unity and Diversity of Life

By Cecie Starr, Ralph Taggart, Christine Evers, Lisa Starr

15th Edition © 2019
Discipline:Biology
Course:Introductory Biology
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BIOLOGY: THE UNITY AND DIVERSITY OF LIFE, 15th Edition, reveals the biological world in wondrous detail. Packed with eye-catching photos and images, this best-selling text engages students with applications and activities that encourage critical thinking. Chapter-opening Core Concepts help students focus on the topics that matter most in every chapter. Each section within a chapter begins with clear Learning Objectives and section-ending Take Home Messages reinforce these key concepts. Links to Earlier Concepts help students make important connections and appreciate how living systems are interconnected and interacting. Available with MindTap for Biology, the platform that gives instructors complete control of their course and powers students from memorization to mastery.

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AboutTable of contentsResourcesPricing & formatsRelated products

About this product

BIOLOGY: THE UNITY AND DIVERSITY OF LIFE, 15th Edition, reveals the biological world in wondrous detail. Packed with eye-catching photos and images, this best-selling text engages students with applications and activities that encourage critical thinking. Chapter-opening Core Concepts help students focus on the topics that matter most in every chapter. Each section within a chapter begins with clear Learning Objectives and section-ending Take Home Messages reinforce these key concepts. Links to Earlier Concepts help students make important connections and appreciate how living systems are interconnected and interacting. Available with MindTap for Biology, the platform that gives instructors complete control of their course and powers students from memorization to mastery.

Unmatched Clarity: BIOLOGY: THE UNITY AND DIVERSITY OF LIFE, 15th Edition, makes subjects accessible without glossing over the science--even for the most complex topics.

Data Analysis: Analytical activities using real data give students the opportunity to hone their critical thinking skills and gain insight into contemporary research.

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Human Impacts: Engaging, up-to-date content focuses on real-world applications and the many ways human activities affect the environment.

Table of contents

Chapters

Cover Page
Title Page
Copyright Page
Preface
Acknowledgments
Class Testers and Reviewers
1. Invitation to Biology*Preview this chapter
2. Life’s Chemical Basis
3. Molecules of Life
4. Cell Structure
5. Ground Rules of Metabolism
6. Where It Starts—Photosynthesis
7. Releasing Chemical Energy
8. DNA Structure and Function
9. From DNA to Protein
10. Control of Gene Expression
11. How Cells Reproduce
12. Meiosis and Sexual Reproduction
13. Observing Patterns in Inherited Traits
14. Chromosomes and Human Inheritance
15. Studying and Manipulating Genomes
16. Evidence of Evolution
17. Processes of Evolution
18. Organizing Information About Species
19. Life’s Origin and Early Evolution
20. Viruses, Bacteria, and Archaea
21. Protists—The Simplest Eukaryotes
22. The Land Plants
23. Fungi
24. Animal Evolution—The Invertebrates
25. Animal Evolution—The Vertebrates
26. Human Evolution
27. Plant Tissues
28. Plant Nutrition and Transport
29. Life Cycles of Flowering Plants
30. Communication Strategies in Plants
31. Animal Tissues and Organ Systems
32. Neural Control
33. Sensory Perception
34. Endocrine Control
35. Structural Support and Movement
36. Circulation
37. Immunity
38. Respiration
39. Digestion and Nutrition
40. Maintaining the Internal Environment
41. Animal Reproduction
42. Animal Development
43. Animal Behavior
44. Population Ecology
45. Community Ecology
46. Ecosystems
47. The Biosphere
48. Human Impacts on the Biosphere
Study Guides
Appendix I. Periodic Table of the Elements
Appendix II. The Amino Acids
Appendix III. A Closer Look at Some Major Metabolic Pathways
Appendix IV. A Plain English Map of the Human Chromosomes
Appendix V. Restless Earth—Life’s Changing Geologic Stage
Appendix VI. Units of Measure
Show more

1. Invitation to BiologyPreview this chapter ↗

1.1
Application: Secret Life of Earth ↗
1.2
Life Is More than the Sum of Its Parts
Preview this section ↗
Life’s Organization ↗
1.3
How Living Things Are Alike
Preview this section ↗
Organisms Require Energy and Nutrients ↗
Homeostasis ↗
DNA Is Hereditary Material ↗
1.4
How Living Things Differ ↗
1.5
Organizing Information About Species
Preview this section ↗
A Rose by Any Other Name . . . ↗
Distinguishing Species ↗
1.6
The Science of Nature
Preview this section ↗
Thinking About Thinking ↗
The Scientific Method ↗
Research in the Real World ↗
Data Analysis Activities ↗
1.7
Analyzing Experimental Results
Preview this section ↗
Sampling Error ↗
Bias in Interpreting Results ↗
1.8
The Nature of Science
Preview this section ↗
What Science Is ↗
What Is Not Science ↗
What Science Is Not ↗
Application: Secret Life of Earth (revisited) ↗
Study Guide ↗
Self-Quiz ↗
Critical Thinking ↗
Show more

Resources

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6 months

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