Biology: Concepts and Investigations, 4th Edition

Mariëlle Hoefnagels is an associate professor in the Department of Biology and the Department of Microbiology and Plant Biology at the University of Oklahoma, where she teaches courses in introductory biology, mycology, and science writing. She has received the University of Oklahoma General Education Teaching Award and the Longmire Prize (the Teaching Scholars Award from the College of Arts and Sciences). She has also been 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 recent publications have focused on creating investigative teaching laboratories and integrating technology into introductory biology classes. She also maintains a blog on teaching nonmajors biology, and she frequently gives presentations on study skills and related topics to student groups across campus.

Table of Contents

UNIT 1 Science, Chemistry, and Cells
Chapter 1 The Scientific Study of Life
Chapter 2 The Chemistry of Life
Chapter 3 Cells
Chapter 4 The Energy of Life
Chapter 5 Photosynthesis
Chapter 6 Respiration and Fermentation

UNIT 2 DNA, Inheritance, and Biotechnology
Chapter 7 DNA Structure and Gene Function
Chapter 8 DNA Replication, Binary Fission, and Mitosis
Chapter 9 Sexual Reproduction and Meiosis
Chapter 10 Patterns of Inheritance
Chapter 11 DNA Technology

UNIT 3 The Evolution of Life
Chapter 12 The Forces of Evolutionary Change
Chapter 13 Evidence of Evolution
Chapter 14 Speciation and Extinction
Chapter 15 The Origin and History of Life

UNIT 4 The Diversity of Life
Chapter 16 Viruses
Chapter 17 Bacteria and Archaea
Chapter 18 Protists
Chapter 19 Plants
Chapter 20 Fungi
Chapter 21 Animals

UNIT 5 Plant Life
Chapter 22 Plant Form and Function
Chapter 23 Plant Nutrition and Transport
Chapter 24 Reproduction and Development of Flowering Plants

UNIT 6 Animal Life
Chapter 25 Animal Tissues and Organ Systems
Chapter 26 The Nervous System
Chapter 27 The Senses
Chapter 28 The Endocrine System
Chapter 29 The Skeletal and Muscular Systems
Chapter 30 The Circulatory System
Chapter 31 The Respiratory System
Chapter 32 Digestion and Nutrition
Chapter 33 Regulation of Temperature and Body Fluids
Chapter 34 The Immune System
Chapter 35 Animal Reproduction and Development

UNIT 7 The Ecology of Life
Chapter 36 Animal Behavior
Chapter 37 Populations
Chapter 38 Communities and Ecosystems
Chapter 39 Biomes
Chapter 40 Preserving Biodiversity

APPENDIX A: Answers to Multiple Choice Questions
APPENDIX B: A Brief Guide to Statistical Significance
APPENDIX C: Units of Measurement
APPENDIX D: Periodic Table of the Elements
APPENDIX E: Amino Acid Structures
APPENDIX F: Learn How to Learn