Principles of Biology: 2026 Release ISE

Rob Brooker (Ph.D., Yale University) received his B.A. in biology at Wittenberg University, Springfield, Ohio, in 1978. At Harvard, he studied lactose permease, the product of the lacY gene of the lac operon. He continues working on transporters at the University of Minnesota, where he is a Professor in the Department of Genetics, Cell Biology, and Development and has an active research laboratory. At the University of Minnesota, Dr. Brooker teaches undergraduate courses in biology, genetics, and cell biology. In addition to many other publications, he has written two undergraduate genetics texts published by McGraw-Hill: Genetics: Analysis & Principles, 4th edition, copyright 2012, and Concepts of Genetics, copyright 2012. Eric P. Widmaier received his Ph.D. in 1984 in Endocrinology from the University of California at San Francisco.  His postdoctoral training was in endocrinology and physiology at the Worcester Foundation for Experimental Biology, and The Salk Institute in La Jolla, CA.  He is currently Professor of Biology at Boston University. Linda Graham is Professor of Botany and Environmental Studies at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.  She received her Ph.D. in Botany from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. She has taught a nonmajors plant biology course each year for more than 20 years.  She also teaches courses on the biology of algae and bryophytes, contributes to an introductory biology course for majors, and has taught marine botany on a remote tropical island.  Peter Stiling is a professor of biology at the University of South Florida at Tampa.  He has taught classes in ecology, environmental science, and community ecology, and in 1995 he received a teaching award in recognition of classroom excellence in these areas.  Dr. Stiling obtained his Ph.D. from University College, Cardiff, Wales, and completed postdoctoral research at Florida State University.

• 1. An Introduction to BiologyUNIT I Chemistry2. The Chemical Basis of Life I: Atoms, Molecules, and Water3. The Chemical Basis of Life II: Organic MoleculesUNIT II Cells4. Origin of Cells and Their Features5. Membranes: The Interface Between Cells and Their Environment6. How Cells Utilize Energy7. How Cells Capture Light Energy via Photosynthesis8. How Cells Communicate with Each Other and with the EnvironmentUNIT III Genetics9. The Information of Life: DNA and RNA Structure, DNA Replication, and Chromosome Structure10. The Expression of Genetic Information via Genes I: Transcription and Translation11. The Expression of Genetic Information via Genes II: Non-coding RNAs12. The Control of Genetic Information via Gene Regulation13. Altering the Genetic Material: Mutation, DNA Repair, and Cancer14. How Eukaryotic Cells Sort and Transmit Chromosomes: Mitosis and Meiosis15. Transmission of Genetic Information from Parents to Offspring I: Patterns That Follow Mendel’s Laws16. Transmission of Genetic Information from Parents to Offspring II: Epigenetics, Linkage, and Extranuclear Inheritance17. The Simpler Genetic Systems of Viruses, Bacteria, and Archaea18. Genetic Technologies: How Biologists Study Genes and GenomesUNIT IV Evolution19. Evolution of Life I: How Populations Change from Generation to Generation20. Evolution of Life II: The Emergence of New Species21. How Biologists Classify Species and Study Their Evolutionary Relationships22. The History of Life on Earth and Human EvolutionUNIT V Diversity23. Diversity of Microbial Life: Archaea, Bacteria, Protists, and Fungi24. Microbiomes: Microbial Systems on and Around Us25. Plant Evolution: How Plant Diversification Changed Planet Earth26. Invertebrates: The Vast Array of Animal Life Without a Backbone27. Vertebrates: Fishes, Amphibians, Reptiles, and MammalsUnit VI Flowing Plants28. An Introduction to Flowering Plant Form and Function29. How Flowering Plants Sense and Interact with Their Environments30. How Flowering Plants Obtain and Transport Water, Mineral Nutrients, and Organic Compounds31. How Flowering Plants Reproduce and DevelopUnit VII Animals32. Animal Bodies and Homeostasis33. Neuroscience I: The Structure, Function, and Evolution of Nervous Systems34. Neuroscience II: How Sensory Systems Allow Animals to Interact with the Environment35. How Muscles and Skeletons Are Adaptations for Movement, Support, and Protection36. Circulatory and Respiratory Systems: Transporting Solutes and Exchanging Gases37. Digestive and Excretory Systems: Maintaining Nutrient, Water, and Energy Balance and Removing Waste38. How Endocrine Systems Influence the Activities of All Other Organ Systems39. The Production of Offspring: Reproduction and Development40. Immune Systems: How Animals Defend Against Pathogens and Other Dangers41. An Example of a System-Wide Response to a Challenge to HomeostasisUNIT VIII Ecology42. Behavioral Ecology: The Struggle to Find Food and Mates and to Pass on Genes43. Population Growth and Species Interactions44. Communities and Ecosystems: Ecological Organization at Large Scales45. Biomes: How Climate Affects the Distribution of Species on Earth46. The Age of Humans47. Biodiversity and Conservation Biology