Biology for Dummies - Softcover

René Fester Kratz; Donna Rae Siegfried

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0470598751 ISBN 13: 9780470598757

Publisher: John Wiley &Sons, 2010

Synopsis

An updated edition of the ultimate guide to understanding biology

Ever wondered how the food you eat becomes the energy your body needs to keep going? The theory of evolution says that humans and chimps descended from a common ancestor, but does it tell us how and why? We humans are insatiably curious creatures who can't help wondering how things work — starting with our own bodies. Wouldn't it be great to have a single source of quick answers to all our questions about how living things work? Now there is.

From molecules to animals, cells to ecosystems, Biology For Dummies, 2nd Edition answers all your questions about how living things work.

• Written in plain English and packed with dozens of illustrations, quick-reference
• Cheat Sheets, and helpful tables and diagrams, it cuts right to the chase with fast-paced, easy-to-absorb explanations of the life processes common to all organisms.
• More than 20% new and updated content, including a substantial overhaul to the organization of topics to make it a friendly classroom supplement
• Coverage of the most recent developments and discoveries in evolutionary, reproductive, and ecological biology
• Includes practical, up-to-date examples

Whether you're currently enrolled in a biology class or just want to know more about this fascinating and ever-evolving field of study, this engaging guide will give you a grip on complex biology concepts and unlock the mysteries of how life works in no time.

About this title

From the Back Cover:

The fast and easy way to understand biology

From molecules to animals, cells to ecosystems, this friendly guide answers all your questions about how living things work. Written in plain English and packed with helpful illustrations, tables, and diagrams, it cuts right to the chase with easy-to-absorb explanations of the life processes common to all organisms.

• Biology 101 — get the lowdown on how life is studied and open a window on the world's organisms

• Jump into the gene pool — discover how cell reproduction and genetics work, from making sense of Mendel's Law of Segregation to dealing with DNA

• Explore the living world — find out how ecology and evolution are the glue that holds everything together

• Let's get physical — peruse the principles of physiology to get a handle on animal structure and function

• Go green — take a look at the life of plants and understand how they acquire energy, reproduce, and so much more

Open the book and find:

• Plain-English explanations of how living matter works

• The parts and functions of cells

• How food works as a source of energy

• The 411 on reproduction and genetics

• Fascinating facts about DNA technology

• The biology of bacteria and viruses

• How humans affect the circle of life

• An overview of human anatomy

• Innate human defenses (and adaptive ones, too!)

Learn to:

• Identify and dissect the many structures and functions of plants and animals

• Grasp the latest discoveries in evolutionary, reproductive, and ecological biology

• Think like a biologist and use scientific methods

About the Author:

Rene Fester Kratz, PhD, is a Biology Instructor at Everett Community College and a member of the North Cascades and Olympic Science Partnership.

Donna Rae Siegfried has been published in Prevention, Runner's World, Men's Health, and Organic Gardening.

About this edition

• Publisher: John Wiley &Sons
• Publication date: 2010
• ISBN 10: 0470598751
• ISBN 13: 9780470598757
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 2
• Number of pages: 366