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Cover of Concepts of Biology

Concepts of Biology

by Samantha Fowler, Rebecca Roush and James Wise

Published by OpenStax

BiologyCollege

Concepts of Biology is designed for the typical introductory biology course for nonmajors, covering standard scope and sequence requirements. The text includes interesting applications and conveys the major themes of biology, with content that is meaningful and easy to understand. The book is designed to demonstrate biology concepts and to promote scientific literacy.

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Attribution

Adapted from Concepts of Biology by Samantha Fowler, Rebecca Roush, and James Wise, published by OpenStax (Rice University) under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/). Access the original for free at https://openstax.org/details/books/concepts-biology. Changes: converted to CuraCourse lessons, with interactive practice added.

Table of contents

128 pages in 23 modules. Sign up to read and adopt them.

  1. Preface1 page
    1. Preface
  2. 1Introduction to Biology4 pages
    1. Introduction
    2. 1.1Themes and Concepts of Biology
    3. 1.2The Process of Science
    4. Practice
  3. 2Chemistry of Life5 pages
    1. Introduction
    2. 2.1The Building Blocks of Molecules
    3. 2.2Water
    4. 2.3Biological Molecules
    5. Practice
  4. 3Cell Structure and Function8 pages
    1. Introduction
    2. 3.1How Cells Are Studied
    3. 3.2Comparing Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic Cells
    4. 3.3Eukaryotic Cells
    5. 3.4The Cell Membrane
    6. 3.5Passive Transport
    7. 3.6Active Transport
    8. Practice
  5. 4How Cells Obtain Energy7 pages
    1. Introduction
    2. 4.1Energy and Metabolism
    3. 4.2Glycolysis
    4. 4.3Citric Acid Cycle and Oxidative Phosphorylation
    5. 4.4Fermentation
    6. 4.5Connections to Other Metabolic Pathways
    7. Practice
  6. 5Photosynthesis5 pages
    1. Introduction
    2. 5.1Overview of Photosynthesis
    3. 5.2The Light-Dependent Reactions of Photosynthesis
    4. 5.3The Calvin Cycle
    5. Practice
  7. 6Reproduction at the Cellular Level6 pages
    1. Introduction
    2. 6.1The Genome
    3. 6.2The Cell Cycle
    4. 6.3Cancer and the Cell Cycle
    5. 6.4Prokaryotic Cell Division
    6. Practice
  8. 7The Cellular Basis of Inheritance5 pages
    1. Introduction
    2. 7.1Sexual Reproduction
    3. 7.2Meiosis
    4. 7.3Variations in Meiosis
    5. Practice
  9. 8Patterns of Inheritance5 pages
    1. Introduction
    2. 8.1Mendel’s Experiments
    3. 8.2Laws of Inheritance
    4. 8.3Extensions of the Laws of Inheritance
    5. Practice
  10. 9Molecular Biology7 pages
    1. Introduction
    2. 9.1The Structure of DNA
    3. 9.2DNA Replication
    4. 9.3Transcription
    5. 9.4Translation
    6. 9.5How Genes Are Regulated
    7. Practice
  11. 10Biotechnology5 pages
    1. Introduction
    2. 10.1Cloning and Genetic Engineering
    3. 10.2Biotechnology in Medicine and Agriculture
    4. 10.3Genomics and Proteomics
    5. Practice
  12. 11Evolution and Its Processes7 pages
    1. Introduction
    2. 11.1Discovering How Populations Change
    3. 11.2Mechanisms of Evolution
    4. 11.3Evidence of Evolution
    5. 11.4Speciation
    6. 11.5Common Misconceptions about Evolution
    7. Practice
  13. 12Diversity of Life4 pages
    1. Introduction
    2. 12.1Organizing Life on Earth
    3. 12.2Determining Evolutionary Relationships
    4. Practice
  14. 13Diversity of Microbes, Fungi, and Protists6 pages
    1. Introduction
    2. 13.1Prokaryotic Diversity
    3. 13.2Eukaryotic Origins
    4. 13.3Protists
    5. 13.4Fungi
    6. Practice
  15. 14Diversity of Plants6 pages
    1. Introduction
    2. 14.1The Plant Kingdom
    3. 14.2Seedless Plants
    4. 14.3Seed Plants: Gymnosperms
    5. 14.4Seed Plants: Angiosperms
    6. Practice
  16. 15Diversity of Animals8 pages
    1. Introduction
    2. 15.1Features of the Animal Kingdom
    3. 15.2Sponges and Cnidarians
    4. 15.3Flatworms, Nematodes, and Arthropods
    5. 15.4Mollusks and Annelids
    6. 15.5Echinoderms and Chordates
    7. 15.6Vertebrates
    8. Practice
  17. 16The Body’s Systems8 pages
    1. Introduction
    2. 16.1Homeostasis and Osmoregulation
    3. 16.2Digestive System
    4. 16.3Circulatory and Respiratory Systems
    5. 16.4Endocrine System
    6. 16.5Musculoskeletal System
    7. 16.6Nervous System
    8. Practice
  18. 17The Immune System and Disease6 pages
    1. Introduction
    2. 17.1Viruses
    3. 17.2Innate Immunity
    4. 17.3Adaptive Immunity
    5. 17.4Disruptions in the Immune System
    6. Practice
  19. 18Animal Reproduction and Development5 pages
    1. Introduction
    2. 18.1How Animals Reproduce
    3. 18.2Development and Organogenesis
    4. 18.3Human Reproduction
    5. Practice
  20. 19Population and Community Ecology6 pages
    1. Introduction
    2. 19.1Population Demographics and Dynamics
    3. 19.2Population Growth and Regulation
    4. 19.3The Human Population
    5. 19.4Community Ecology
    6. Practice
  21. 20Ecosystems and the Biosphere6 pages
    1. Introduction
    2. 20.1Energy Flow through Ecosystems
    3. 20.2Biogeochemical Cycles
    4. 20.3Terrestrial Biomes
    5. 20.4Aquatic and Marine Biomes
    6. Practice
  22. 21Conservation and Biodiversity5 pages
    1. Introduction
    2. 21.1Importance of Biodiversity
    3. 21.2Threats to Biodiversity
    4. 21.3Preserving Biodiversity
    5. Practice
  23. Appendices3 pages
    1. AThe Periodic Table of Elements
    2. BGeological Time
    3. CMeasurements and the Metric System