In this textbook the focus will be on the bacteria and archaea (traditionally known as the “prokaryotes,”) and the viruses and other acellular agents.
By the end of this section, you will be able to do the following:
Identify bacterial diseases that caused historically important plagues and epidemics
Describe the link between biofilms and foodborne diseases
Explain how overuse of antibiotics may be creating “super bugs”
Explain the importance of MRSA with respect to the problems of antibiotic resistance
By the end of this section, you will be able to do the following:
Explain the need for nitrogen fixation and how it is accomplished
Describe the beneficial effects of bacteria that colonize our skin and digestive tracts
Identify prokaryotes used during the processing of food
Describe the use of prokaryotes in bioremediation
By the end of this section, you will be able to do the following:
Describe the evolutionary history of prokaryotes
Discuss the distinguishing features of extremophiles
Explain why it is difficult to culture prokaryotes
By the end of this section, you will be able to do the following:
Identify the macronutrients needed by prokaryotes, and explain their importance
Describe the ways in which prokaryotes get energy and carbon for life processes
Describe the roles of prokaryotes in the carbon and nitrogen cycles
By the end of this section, you will be able to do the following:
Describe the basic structure of a typical prokaryote
Describe important differences in structure between Archaea and Bacteria
Biology is designed for multi-semester biology courses for science majors. It is grounded on an evolutionary basis and includes exciting features that highlight careers in the biological sciences and everyday applications of the concepts at hand. To meet the needs of today’s instructors and students, some content has been strategically condensed while maintaining the overall scope and coverage of traditional texts for this course. Instructors can customize the book, adapting it to the approach that works best in their classroom. Biology also includes an innovative art program that incorporates critical thinking and clicker questions to help students understand—and apply—key concepts.
