Biological Perspectives
Edition: 3
Copyright: 2006
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$158.28
An Inquiry-Based Textbook for Non-Majors
Biological Perspectives presents active, collaborative, and inquiry-based instruction for non-majors by providing a variety of experiences that challenge students to think, discuss, and write about information they are learning.
Biological Perspectives uses innovative learning strategies. Students are actively engaged in learning from each other, encouraging joint intellectual effort. Suggested teaching strategies are provided for both in- and out-of-class assignments.
Key Features of Biological Perspectives:
- Flexible, looseleaf format promotes active student engagement.
- Three thematic units represent expanding perspectives from organism to population to biosphere levels-
The Medical Examination
Legacies of Life
Conserving the Commons - "Basics About" sections provide basic biological concepts.
- "The Commons Perspective" features guide students to consult the CD-ROM provided with each book.
- "Internet Links to Enrich Your Perspective" are provided for supplemental reference.
- "Another Perspective" paragraphs describe how the structure and function of cells, organs, and the body systems in non-humans help solve the same problems that humans face.
- "Thinking Biologically" lab manual containing 14 inquiry-oriented investigations is available.
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Unit 1 - The Medical Examination: The Functioning Organism
Chapter 1 - The Examination Begins
Symptoms as Clues
The Body as a Compartment
Basics About The Body's Organization
Basics About Cell Structure
The Medical History: Applying Scientific Inquiry to Health Issues
What Is "Normal," Anyway?
The Body's Balancing Act: Defining Homeostasis
Regulation Is the Key to Homeostasis
Basics About The Body's Systems
Expanding Your Perspective: Medicine Is Based on the Processes of Science
Chapter Summary
Chapter 2 - Interacting Systems
Interacting Systems: A First Look
Basics About The Circulatory System
Give and Take: Gas Exchange
Basics About The Gas Exchange System
Biological Exchanges: The Real Heart of the Matter
Interacting Systems: A Second Look
Interactions, Interactions, and More Interactions
Wastes from Trillions of Cells
Basics About The Urinary System
Expanding Your Perspective: The Advantages of Complexity
Chapter Summary
Chapter 3 - Coordinating and Maintaining Homeostasis
A Web of Interactions
Having the Nerve to Respond
Basics About The Nervous System
Workhorses of the Nervous System
Bridging the Gaps: Synaptic Events
The Nervous System and Homeostasis
The Power of Hormones
Basics About The Endocrine System
Preventing Internal Disruptions: The Immune System
Recognizing the Enemy
When the Immune System Needs a Helping Hand
Basics About Specific Immunity
Expanding Your Perspective: Making Choices, Evaluating Risks
Chapter Summary
Chapter 4 - Matter, Energy, and Life
The Basic Idea
Part 1: Sources of Matter and Energy
Work and Energy
Basics About Photosynthesis
Eating Smart
Basics About Macromolecules
Part 2: Using Matter and Energy
Fill 'er Up: The Mouth and Stomach
Basics About Enzymes
As the Stomach Churns
Finishing the Job: The Small and Large Intestines
Metabolism and the Nutrient Pool
Energy from Matter
Basics About Cellular Respiration
Matter from Matter
Expanding Your Perspective: Matter, Energy, and Life on the Ocean Floor
Chapter Summary
Chapter 5 - Continuity Through Reproduction and Development
A Matter of Continuity
Reproduction as a System
Basics About The Reproductive System
Understanding the Male System
Understanding the Female System
When Sperm Meets Egg: Fertilization
Adjusting the System
Pregnancy and Early Development
Basics About Early Human Development
More and Different
Basics About The Cell Cycle
Expanding Your Perspective: Development Gone Awry
Chapter Summary
Unit 2 - Legacies of Life: Connecting Genetics with Evolution
Chapter 6 - Your Genetic Self
Similar, but Not Identical
The Genetic Material,What Is It and What Does It Do?
Basics About DNA Structure
Building an Army
Basics About Protein Synthesis
Genetic Information - How Do We Get It?
Genetic Information - How Can It Change?
Basics About DNA Replication
Expanding Your Perspective: Many Differences, Inside and Out
Chapter Summary
Chapter 7 - Your Immediate Past
Simple Addition
Basics About Meiosis
The Language of Genetics
Rolling the Dice
Of Peas and Humans
Going Beyond Simple Mendelian Patterns
Basics About Mendelian Inheritance
The X Effect
The Numbers Matter, Too
Mixing Up the Pot
Expanding Your Perspective: The Influence of Genetics on Behavior
Chapter Summary
Chapter 8 - Our Distant Past
Organizing, Explaining, Predicting
Looking Closely at Natural Selection
Basics About Natural Selection
The Big Picture: Descent with Modification
How Do Species Form?
Standing on Your Own Two Feet
Basics About Humanity's Family Tree
Expanding Your Perspective: Opposition to the Theory of Evolution
Chapter Summary
Chapter 9 - Looking into the Future
What Lies Ahead?
Reaching Sexual Maturity
Seventy Years, Plus
Probing the Human Genetic Legacy
Basics About Using RFLPs
Human Genes Under a Magnifying Glass
Basics About Human DNA Profiling
Mining the Genome
Shaping the Future
Basics About Cloning Genes
Expanding Your Perspective: Humans and the Futures of Other Species
Chapter Summary
Unit 3 - Conserving the Commons: Thinking Ecologically About People and Resources
Chapter 10 - A Common Concern
Understanding Nature - Understanding Ourselves
Understanding Environmental Tragedy
Basics About The Tragedy of the Commons
To Add or Not to Add a Cow - That Is the Question
Here a Commons, There a Commons, Everywhere a Different Commons
Preventing an Environmental Tragedy
Management Strategies - Do They Work?
The Tragedy of Ocean Fisheries
Expanding Your Perspective: Common-Sense Ethics
Chapter Summary
Chapter 11 - Thinking Ecologically What Is Ecology?
Getting Acquainted with an Ecosystem
Investigating an Ecosytem
Analyzing Interactions within Ecosystems
Basics About Energy Flow
Interactions upon Interactions
Basics About Limiting Factors
Basics About Biogeochemical Cycles
Chesapeake Bay Watch: Another Tragedy of the Commons?
Expanding Your Perspective: Thinking Ecologically About Mountains
Chapter Summary
Chapter 12 - Thinking Ecologically About Biodiversity
Fascinated with Life
What Is Biodiversity and How Is It Measured?
Basics About Taxonomy
Rich in Species, Poor in Knowledge
Some Factors That Affect the Biodiversity of an Area
Species Extinction: Past and Present
Conserving the Biodiversity Commons
Strategies for Conserving Biodiversity
Expanding Your Perspective: What Value Biodiversity?
Chapter Summary
Chapter 13 - Thinking Ecologically About Behavior
Studying Behavior
Asking Questions About Behavior
Basics About The Biological Basis of Behavior
The Adaptive Value of Monarch Behaviors
Amazed About Migration
Behavior as a Broadly Adaptive Phenomenon
Basics About Categories of Behavior
Valuing a Monarch
Expanding Your Perspective: Killing Infants, An Adaptive Behavior?
Chapter Summary
Chapter 14 - Limited Resources: Growing Populations?
The Stirrings of American Environmentalism
The Tragedy of the Commons, What Does It Say?
The Argument: Point One
Basics About Population Growth
The Argument: Point Two
Basics About Earth's Carrying Capacity
The Argument: Point Three
The Argument: Point Four
The Argument: Point Five
The Argument: Point Six
Hardin's Concluding Remarks
The Time for Decision
Expanding Your Perspective: Doomsters and Boomsters Debate Earth Issues
Chapter Summary
Appendices
Resource 1 Numbers in the Natural Sciences
Resource 2 The Chemistry of Life
Appendix 1 Using the CD The Commons: An Environmental Dilemma
Appendix 2 The Tragedy of the Commons by Garrett Hardin
Glossary
References
Credits
Index
BSCS is a nonprofit organization that develops science curricula for all grade levels. Based in Colorado Springs, BSCS celebrated 50 years of service to science education in 2008.