Includes index.

Contents: Introduction -- 1. Principles of cellular life: Life's chemical basis -- Molecules of life -- Cell structure and function -- Ground rules of metabolism-- Where it starts-photosynthesis -- How cells release chemical energy -- 2. Genetics: DNA structure and function -- From DNA to protein -- Gene control -- How cells reproduce -- Meiosis and sexual reproduction -- Observing patterns in inherited traits -- Chromosomes and human inheritance -- Studying and manipulating genomes -- 3. Principles of evolution: Evidence of evolution -- Processes of evolution -- Organizing information about species -- Life's origin and early evolution -- 4. Evolution and biodiversity: Viruses, bacteria and archaea -- Protists-the simplest eukaryotes -- The land plants -- Fungi -- Animal evolution-the invertebrates -- Animal evolution-the chordates -- Human evolution -- 5. How plants work: Plant tissues -- Plant nutrition and transport -- Life cycles of flowering plants -- Communication strategies in plants -- 6. How animals work: Animal tissues and organ systems -- Neural control -- Sensory perception -- Endocrine control -- Structural support and movement -- Circulation -- Immunity -- Respiration -- Digestion and nutrition -- Maintaining the internal environment -- Animal reproductive systems -- Animal development -- Animal behavior -- 7. Principles of ecology: Population ecology -- Community ecology -- Ecosystems -- The Biosphere -- Human impacts on the biosphere --