Eldon Enger,
Delta College Frederick Ross,
Delta College
ISBN: 0072346949 Copyright year: 2003
Book Preface
Purpose
The origin of this book is deeply rooted in our concern for the education of college students in the field of biology. We believe that large, thick books intimidate introductory-level students who are already anxious about taking science courses. We have worked hard to write a book that is useful, interesting, and user-friendly.
Organization Concepts in Biology is arranged in a traditional manner, progressing from the basic to the complex. It begins with a discussion of the meaning, purpose, and future of biology as a scientific endeavor. It then covers biological concepts as an expanding spiral of knowledge. Thus, chemistry is followed by cell biology, cell division, genetics, ecology, evolution, anatomy and physiology, and the diversity of classification of living things.
The Tenth Edition
As with all previous edition, we have updated the entire text. We have carefully considered all comments by reviewers and have made many changes and additions that will make the text more readable, current, and accurate.
Since the last edition, the concept that there are three major categories of life known as Domains has become generally accepted by the scientific community. This concept is introduced in Chapter 4 on cells and has been incorporated throughout the text whenever appropriate.
The material on the scientific method has been rewritten to better describe how the process of science really works and includes new discussions of dependent and independent variables, deductive and inductive reasoning, and the nature of laws and theories.
Sections of the text that deal with evolution, classification, and taxonomy have been changed substantially. New sections deal with common misconceptions about natural selection, the difference between the biological and morphological species concepts, evidence for evolution, evolutionary time lines, and cladistics. Cladograms have been included in several places in the text where they are appropriate. The section on human evolution has been rewritten to include recent changes in thinking about human origins.
The section on photosynthesis has been rewritten to present photosynthesis as including three distinct stages: light-capturing processes, chemical reactions that are dependent on light, and chemical reactions that are light independent. As with the section on respiration, the section on photosynthesis is divided into basic, intermediate, and detailed presentations that can be tailored to the needs of the instructor and students.
A new section on the phosphorus cycle has been added to the part on ecology. In addition, Chapter 17 on behavioral ecology has been substantially reorganized. There is new material on the adaptive nature of behavior, including human behavior.
Several new tables have been added, including (1) tables on the sources and functions of vitamins and minerals; (2) summary tables of the nature of mitosis and meiosis; (3) a table that describes different levels of organization from atoms to ecosystems; (4) one that shows the biological and evolutionary significance of different kinds of behaviors; and (5) a summary table that compares the structure of plant and animal cell structure.
To obtain an instructor login to the Online Learning Centers, ask your local sales representative.
If you're an instructor thinking about adopting this textbook, request a free copy for review.
2003 McGraw-Hill Higher Education