A concise and engaging biology text for biology majors, Understanding Biology 4e partnered with Connect emphasizes fundamentals concepts to help students better understand biology and focus on developing scientific skills. This approach utilizes the Vision and Change guidelines of Core Concepts and Core Skills while helping students begin the process of becoming a scientist.

Part I The Molecular Basis of Life 1--The Science of Biology 2--The Nature of Moleculars and the Properties of Water 3--The Chemical Building Blocks of Life Part II The Biology of the Cell 4--Cell Structure 5--Membranes 6--Energy and Metabolism 7--How Cells Harvest Energy 8--Photosynthesis 9--Cell Communication 10--How Cells Divide Part III Genetic and Molecular Biology 11--Sexual Reproduction and Meiosis 12--Patterns of Inheritance 13--The Chromosomal Basis of Inheritance 14--DNA: The Genetic Material 15--Genes and How They Work 16--Control of Gene Expression 17--Biotechnology 18--Genomics Part IV Evolution 19--Genes Within Populations 20--The Evidence for Evolution 21--The Origin of Species Part V The Diversity of Life 22--Systematics and Phylogeny 23--Prokaryotes and Viruses 24--Protists 25--Fungi 26--Plants 27--Animal Diversity 28--Vertebrates Part VI Plant Form and Function 29--Plant Form 30--Flowering Plant Reproduction 31--The Living Plant Part VII Animal Form and Function 32--The Animal Biology and How It Moves 33--The Nervous System 34--Fueling the Body's Metabolism 35--Maintaining Homeostasis 36--Reproduction and Development Part VIII Ecology and Behavior 37--Behavioral Biology 38--Ecology of Individuals and Populations 39--Community Ecology and Ecosystem Dynamics 40--The Living World