Discover Biology (Core Topics Fourth Edition)

Cover......Page 1
Copyright......Page 4
Title Page......Page 5
Welcoming Anu Singh-Cundy......Page 6
About the Authors......Page 7
Preface......Page 9
Guided Tour of the Book......Page 10
Instructor Supplements......Page 18
Student Supplements......Page 19
Acknowledgments......Page 20
Contents......Page 23
1 The Nature of Science and the Characteristics of Life......Page 30
They’re Alive! Or Are They?......Page 31
1.1 Asking Questions, Testing Answers: The Work of Science......Page 32
1.2 The Characteristics of Living Organisms......Page 35
1.3 Viruses: A Nasty Puzzle......Page 41
1.4 The Biological Hierarchy......Page 42
1.5 Energy Flow through Biological Systems......Page 46
Are Nanobes Indeed the Smallest Form of Life?......Page 47
Biology Matters: What’s for Dinner?......Page 40
Science Toolkit: Thinking outside the Box: Thinking inside the Soup......Page 44
Biology in the News: Are Nanobacteria Making Us Ill?......Page 48
2 Organizing the Diversity of Life......Page 52
The Iceman Cometh......Page 53
2.1 Evolutionary Relationships Are Depicted in Evolutionary Trees......Page 54
2.2 Using Evolutionary Trees to Predict the Biology of Organisms......Page 57
2.3 A Classification System for Organizing Life: The Linnaean Hierarchy and Beyond......Page 59
2.4 Branches on the Tree of Life......Page 61
And the True Identity of the Iceman Is......Page 65
Science Toolkit: The Guilty Dentist......Page 63
Biology in the News: Sasquatch Sighting Reported in Yukon......Page 67
3 Major Groups of Living Organisms......Page 70
Weird, Wild, and Wonderful......Page 71
3.1 Getting Oriented: How Biologists Organize and Classify the Major Groups......Page 72
3.2 The Bacteria and Archaea: Tiny, Successful, and Abundant......Page 73
3.3 The Protista: A Window into the Early Evolution of the Eukarya......Page 78
3.4 The Plantae: Pioneers of Life on Land......Page 80
3.5 The Fungi: A World of Decomposers......Page 85
3.6 The Animalia: Complex, Diverse, and Mobile......Page 88
Wonderful Life......Page 95
Biology on the Job: A Passion for Life......Page 76
Biology Matters: What’s on Your Plate?......Page 94
Biology in the News: Honeybees Vanish, Leaving Keepers in Peril......Page 96
Where Have All the Frogs Gone?......Page 100
How Many Species Are There on Earth?......Page 101
The Beginnings of a Present-Day Mass Extinction......Page 103
The Many Threats to Biodiversity......Page 106
Mass Extinctions of the Past......Page 108
The Importance of Biodiversity......Page 110
Biology Matters: Does What I Do Matter?......Page 109
4 Chemical Building Blocks......Page 114
Looking for Life in the Goldilocks Zone......Page 115
4.1 The Physical World Is Made Up of Atoms......Page 116
4.2 Covalent Bonds Are the Strongest Chemical Bonds in Nature......Page 118
4.3 Hydrogen Bonds and Ionic Bonds Are Individually Weak, but Collectively Potent......Page 119
4.4 The pH Scale Expresses the Acidity or Basicity of a Solution......Page 123
Biology Matters: Elements ‘R Us......Page 124
The Chemistry of Life on the Edge......Page 137
Biology in the News: Trans Fat Banned in N.Y. Eateries; City Health Board Cites Heart Risks......Page 138
5 Cell Structure and Internal Compartments......Page 142
The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Human Body......Page 143
5.2 The Plasma Membrane Separates a Cell from Its Surroundings......Page 144
5.3 The Structural Organization of Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic Cells......Page 147
5.4 Eukaryotic Cells Have Many Specialized Internal Compartments......Page 148
5.5 The Cytoskeleton Provides Shape and Transport......Page 156
The Prokaryotic Heritage of Eukaryotes......Page 161
Science Toolkit: Exploring Cells under the Microscope......Page 146
Biology in the News: Scientists Manipulate “Fear Gene” in Mice......Page 162
6 Cell Membranes, Transport, and Communication......Page 166
Food, Family, and Membrane Receptors......Page 167
6.1 The Plasma Membrane Is Both Gate and Gatekeeper......Page 168
8.2 An Overview of Photosynthesis and Cellular Respiration......Page 172
6.3 Membrane-Enclosed Organelles Mediate the Export and Import of Material by a Cell......Page 173
Biology Matters: Water, Water Everywhere—But Not a Drop to Drink......Page 175
6.5 Signaling Molecules and Receptor Complexes Enable Cells to Communicate......Page 176
Receptors ’R Us......Page 180
Science Toolkit: Tagging Proteins......Page 178
Biology in the News: A Spicy Sidekick That May Transform Surgery......Page 181
7 Energy and Enzymes......Page 184
"Take Two Aspirin and Call Me in the Morning"......Page 185
7.1 The Role of Energy in Living Systems......Page 186
7.2 Using Energy from the Controlled Combustion of Food......Page 189
7.3 Cells Use Enzymes to Speed Up Chemical Reactions......Page 192
7.4 Metabolic Rates and Life Span......Page 195
Making a Wonder Drug Even Better......Page 198
Science Toolkit: Counting Calories with a Bomb......Page 190
Biology Matters: Energy Is a Weighty Subject......Page 196
Biology in the News: Doctors Warned about Common Drugs for Pain; NSAIDs Tied to Risk of Heart Attack, Stroke......Page 199
8 Photosynthesis and Cellular Respiration......Page 202
Food for Thought......Page 203
8.1 Energy Carriers Power Cellular Activities......Page 204
8.3 Photosynthesis: Capturing Energy from Sunlight......Page 206
8.4 Cellular Respiration: Breaking Down Molecules for Energy......Page 212
Fueling the Brain......Page 218
Biology Matters: Our Fondness for Fermentation......Page 217
Biology in the News: Biofuels Powering Town’s Vehicles; Vegetable Oils Reduce Emissions......Page 219
9 Cell Division......Page 222
A Ray of Hope......Page 223
9.1 The Cell Cycle Consists of Two Main Stages: Interphase and Cell Division......Page 225
9.2 Interphase Is the Longest Stage in the Life Cycle of Most Cells......Page 226
9.3 Mitosis and Cytokinesis: From One Cell to Two Identical Cells......Page 227
9.4 Meiosis: Halving the Chromosome Set to Make Gametes......Page 233
The Biology of Stem Cells......Page 239
Biology in the News: New Type of Stem Cells May Help Regenerate Heart Tissues......Page 242
The Battle against Rogue Cells......Page 246
Cancer Develops When Cells Lose Normal Restraints on Cell Division and Migration......Page 248
Gene Mutations Are the Root Cause of All Cancers......Page 249
Oncogenes from Animal Viruses Revealed the Cellular Basis of Cancer......Page 253
Tumor Suppressor Genes Normally Restrain Cell Division......Page 254
Biology Matters: The Truth about Cigarette Use among Young People......Page 252
10 Patterns of Inheritance......Page 258
The Lost Princess......Page 259
10.1 Essential Terms in Genetics......Page 261
10.3 Basic Patterns of Inheritance......Page 265
10.4 Mendel’s Laws of Inheritance......Page 267
10.5 Extensions of Mendel’s Laws......Page 271
10.6 Putting It All Together: Most Phenotypes Are Shaped by Genes and the Environment......Page 276
Solving the Mystery of the Lost Princess......Page 277
Biology Matters: Know Your Type......Page 264
Science Toolkit: Tossing Coins and Crossing Plants: Probability and the Design of Experiments......Page 270
Biology in the News: Rodents May Teach Us How to Stay Married......Page 278
11 Chromosomes and Human Genetics......Page 282
A Horrible Dance......Page 283
11.1 The Role of Chromosomes in Inheritance......Page 284
11.2 Genetic Linkage and Crossing-Over......Page 286
11.3 Origins of Genetic Differences between Individuals......Page 288
11.4 Human Genetic Disorders......Page 289
11.5 Autosomal Inheritance of Single-Gene Mutations......Page 293
11.6 Sex-Linked Inheritance of Single-Gene Mutations......Page 294
11.7 Inherited Chromosomal Abnormalities......Page 295
Uncovering the Genetics of Huntington Disease......Page 298
Science Toolkit: Prenatal Genetic Screening......Page 292
Biology Matters: Many of the Most Common Diseases Have Complex Patterns of Inheritance......Page 297
Biology in the News: Genetic Tests Offer Promise, but Raise Questions, Too......Page 299
12 DNA......Page 304
The Library of Life......Page 305
12.1 The Search for the Genetic Material......Page 306
12.2 The Three-Dimensional Structure of DNA......Page 309
12.3 How DNA Is Replicated......Page 311
12.4 Repairing Replication Errors and Damaged DNA......Page 313
Errors in the Library of Life......Page 316
Biology on the Job: Helping People Cope with Genetic Disorders......Page 312
Biology in the News: Chernobyl Wildlife Baffles Biologists......Page 317
13 From Gene to Protein......Page 320
Finding the Messenger and Breaking the Code......Page 321
13.1 How Genes Work......Page 322
13.3 Gene Transcription: Information Flow from DNA to RNA......Page 324
13.4 The Genetic Code......Page 327
13.5 Translation: Information Flow from mRNA to Protein......Page 328
13.6 The Effect of Mutations on Protein Synthesis......Page 331
13.7 Putting It All Together: From Gene to Phenotype......Page 332
From Gene to Protein, to New Hope for Huntington Disease......Page 333
Biology on the Job: Investing in Biotech......Page 330
Biology in the News: Researchers Delve into “Gene for Speed”......Page 335
14.1 The Structural and Functional Organization of DNA......Page 338
14.2 DNA Packing in Eukaryotes......Page 343
14.3 Patterns of Gene Expression......Page 344
14.4 How Cells Control Gene Expression......Page 347
From Gene Expression to Cancer Treatment......Page 352
Science Toolkit: Using DNA Chips to Monitor Gene Expression......Page 350
Biology in the News: A Race for Miracle Cures—and Billions......Page 353
15 DNA Technology......Page 356
From Glowing Bunnies to Hopes for New Cures......Page 357
15.1 The Brave New World of DNA Technology......Page 359
15.2 Working with DNA: Basic Techniques......Page 361
15.3 Applications of DNA Technology......Page 367
15.4 Ethical and Social Dimensions of DNA Technology Human Gene Therapy......Page 370
Science Toolkit: Reproductive Cloning of Animals......Page 368
Biology Matters: Have You Had Your GMO Today?......Page 372
Biology in the News: Mutants? Saviors? Modified Trees Eat Poisons; Rabbit Gene Helps Poplars Neutralize Chemicals Quickly......Page 375
The Genome Projects: A Crystal Ball for Life......Page 379
A Preview of Our Blueprint......Page 381
Health Care for You Alone......Page 387
Ethical Issues Raised by Genetic Testing......Page 390
16 How Evolution Works......Page 394
A Journey Begins......Page 395
16.1 Biological Evolution: The Sum of Genetic Changes......Page 396
16.2 Mechanisms of Evolution......Page 397
16.3 Evolution Can Explain Many Characteristics of Living Things......Page 399
16.4 Strong Evidence Shows That Evolution Happens......Page 401
16.5 The Impact of Evolutionary Thought......Page 407
Evolution in Action......Page 409
Biology Matters: Can’t Live with ’Em, Can’t Live without ’Em......Page 402
Biology on the Job: Evolution’s Champion......Page 408
Biology in the News: Empty-Stomach Intelligence......Page 412
17 Evolution of Populations......Page 416
Evolution of Resistance......Page 417
17.1 Alleles and Genotypes......Page 418
17.2 Genetic Variation: The Raw Material of Evolution......Page 419
17.4 Mutation: The Source of Genetic Variation......Page 420
17.6 Genetic Drift: The Effects of Chance......Page 422
17.7 Natural Selection: The Effects of Advantageous Alleles......Page 426
17.8 Sexual Selection: Where Sex and Natural Selection Meet......Page 429
17.9 Putting It All Together: How Evolution in Populations Works......Page 430
Halting the Spread of Antibiotic Resistance......Page 431
Science Toolkit: Testing Whether Evolution Is Occurring in Natural Populations......Page 421
Biology Matters: You’ll Just Have to Tough It Out......Page 432
Biology in the News: Antibiotic Runoff......Page 434
18 Adaptation and Speciation......Page 438
Cichlid Mysteries......Page 439
18.2 Adaptation Does Not Craft Perfect Organisms......Page 443
18.3 What Are Species?......Page 445
18.4 Speciation: Generating Biodiversity......Page 447
18.5 Rates of Speciation......Page 450
Rapid Speciation in Lake Victoria Cichlids......Page 451
Biology on the Job: Dog Show Judge Extraordinaire......Page 442
Biology in the News: Study Says Bones Found in Far East Are of a Distinct Species......Page 453
19 The Evolutionary History of Life......Page 456
Puzzling Fossils in a Frozen Wasteland......Page 457
19.1 The Fossil Record: A Guide to the Past......Page 459
19.2 The History of Life on Earth......Page 461
19.3 The Effects of Continental Drift......Page 465
19.4 Mass Extinctions: Worldwide Losses of Species......Page 466
19.5 Adaptive Radiations: Increases in the Diversity of Life......Page 469
19.6 The Origin and Adaptive Radiation of Mammals......Page 470
19.7 An Overview of the Evolutionary History of Life......Page 473
When Antarctica Was Green......Page 474
Biology Matters: Is a Mass Extinction Under Way?......Page 467
Biology on the Job: Geerat Vermeij: Sight Unseen......Page 472
Biology in the News: Fossil Called Missing Link from Sea to Land Animals......Page 475
Who Are We? Where Do We Come From?......Page 479
We Are Apes......Page 480
Hominid Evolution: From Climbing Trees to Walking Upright......Page 481
The Evolutionary Future of Humans......Page 484
The Origin and Spread of Modern Humans......Page 486
The Effects of Humans on Evolution......Page 489
Biology Matters: Humans: The World’s Dominant Evolutionary Force?......Page 26
20 The Biosphere......Page 496
The Tapestry of Life......Page 497
20.1 Why Is Ecology Important?......Page 498
20.2 Interactions with the Environment......Page 499
20.3 Climate Has a Large Effect on the Biosphere......Page 500
20.4 Life on Land......Page 504
20.5 Life in Water......Page 509
The Human Impact on the Biosphere......Page 514
Biology in the News: Invasion of the Cuban Treefrogs......Page 515
21 Growth of Populations......Page 518
The Tragedy of Easter Island......Page 519
21.1 What Is a Population?......Page 520
21.2 Changes in Population Size......Page 521
21.3 Exponential Growth......Page 522
21.4 Limits to Population Growth......Page 523
21.5 Patterns of Population Growth......Page 526
21.6 Human Population Growth: Surpassing the Limits?......Page 528
What Does the Future Hold?......Page 530
Science Toolkit: Population Counts Help Save Endangered Species......Page 527
Biology in the News: Mosquitoes Bring West Nile Virus......Page 531
22 Interactions among Organisms......Page 534
Suicidal Mantises and Gruesome Parasites......Page 535
22.1 Mutualism......Page 536
22.2 Exploitation......Page 539
23.3 Recovery from Disturbance......Page 543
22.4 Interactions among Organisms Shape Communities and Ecosystems......Page 545
Parasites Often Alter Host Behavior......Page 546
Science Toolkit: Answering Ecological Questions with Experiments......Page 542
Biology in the News: River Parasite Eats at Children: Neglected Scourge in Africa Is Cheap and Easy to Treat, but the “Pennies Cannot Be Found”......Page 547
23 Communities of Organisms......Page 550
The Formation of a New Community......Page 551
23.1 The Effects of Species Interactions on Communities......Page 553
23.2 Communities Change over Time......Page 555
Introduced Species: Taking Island Communities by Stealth......Page 562
Biology on the Job: Designing with Nature......Page 560
Biology in the News: Shrinking Number of Fish Is Bad Sign......Page 563
24 Ecosystems......Page 566
Is There a Free Lunch?......Page 567
24.1 How Ecosystems Function: An Overview......Page 568
24.2 Energy Capture in Ecosystems......Page 570
24.3 Energy Flow through Ecosystems......Page 572
24.4 Nutrient Cycles......Page 575
24.5 Human Actions Can Alter Ecosystem Processes......Page 579
24.6 Ecosystem Design......Page 582
The Economic Value of Ecosystem Services......Page 583
Biology on the Job: From Corn to Cars......Page 574
Biology in the News: Hitting the Squids: Deep-Sea Squid and Octopi Full of Human-Made Chemicals......Page 585
25 Global Change......Page 588
Devastation on the High Seas......Page 589
25.1 Land and Water Transformation......Page 590
25.2 Changes in the Chemistry of Earth......Page 593
25.3 Changes in Global Nutrient Cycles......Page 595
25.4 Climate Change......Page 598
A Message of Ecology......Page 601
Science Toolkit: From Science to Public Policy and Back: Repairing the Ozone Layer......Page 594
Biology Matters: What’s the Size of Your Footprint?......Page 602
Biology in the News: Water Managers Told: Plan Now for Crisis......Page 603
The State of the World......Page 607
The Current Human Impact Is Not Sustainable......Page 608
Sources of Hope for the Future......Page 609
Appendix: The Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium......Page 619
Table of Metric-English Conversion......Page 621
Periodic Table of the Elements......Page 622
Answers to Self-Quiz Questions......Page 623
Answers to Review Questions......Page 625
Glossary......Page 645
Credits......Page 661
Index......Page 665