Table of Contents

Unit 1: Science, Chemistry, andCells
1. The Scientific Study of Life
2. The Chemistry of Life
3. Cells
4. The Energy of Life
5. Photosynthesis
6. Respiration and Fermentation
Unit 2: DNA, Inheritance, and Biotechnology
7. DNA Structure and Gene Function
8. DNA Replication, Binary Fission, and Mitosis
9. Sexual Reproduction and Meiosis
10. Patterns of Inheritance
11. DNA Technology
Unit 3: The Evolution of Life 
12. The Forces of Evolutionary Change
13. Evidence of Evolution 
14. Speciation and Extinction
15. The Origin and History of Life
Unit 4: The Diversity of Life
16. Viruses
17. Bacteria and Archaea
18. Protists
19. Plants
20. Fungi
21. Animals
Unit 5: Plant Life
22. Plant Form and Function 
23. Plant Nutrition and Transport
24. Reproduction and Development of Flowering Plants
Unit 6: Animal Life
25. Animal Tissues and Organ Systems 
26. The Nervous System
27. The Senses
28. The Endocrine System
29. The Skeletal and Muscular Systems
30. The Circulatory System
31. The Respiratory System
32. Digestion and Nutrition
33. Regulation of Temperature and Body Fluids
34. The Immune System 
35. Animal Reproduction and Development
Unit 7: The Ecology of Life
36. Animal Behavior
37. Populations 
38. Communities and Ecosystems
39. Biomes
40. Preserving Biodiversity

About the Author

Mariï¿lle Hoefnagels is Professor Emerita in the School of Life Sciences at the University of Oklahoma, where she taught courses in introductory biology, mycology, and science writing. She also frequently gave presentations on study skills and related topics to student groups across campus. She received the University of Oklahoma General Education Teaching Award, the Longmire Prize (the Teaching Scholars Award from the College of Arts and Sciences), and the Holden Faculty Award (to recognize outstanding faculty who teach freshmen and sophomores). She was also awarded honorary memberships in several student honor societies. Dr. Hoefnagels received her BS in environmental science from the University of California at Riverside, her MS in soil science from North Carolina State University, and her PhD in plant pathology from Oregon State University. Her dissertation work focused on the use of bacterial biological control agents to reduce the spread of fungal pathogens on seeds. In addition to authoring Biology: The Essentials and Biology: Concepts and Investigations, her scholarly publications focused on creating investigative teaching laboratories and integrating technology into introductory biology classes. She also maintains a blog on teaching nonmajors biology.