Biology Workbook For Dummies (E-Book) von Rene Fester Kratz

Introduction 1

About This Book 1

Conventions Used in This Book 2

Foolish Assumptions 2

How This Book Is Organized 3

Part I: Getting the Basics 3

Part II: Creating the Future with Cell Division and Genetics 3

Part III: Making Connections with Ecology and Evolution 4

Part IV: Getting to Know the Human Body 4

Part V: Going Green with Plant Biology 4

Part VI: The Part of Tens 4

Icons Used in This Book 5

Where to Go from Here 5

Part I: Getting the Basics 7

Chapter 1: Figuring Out the Scientific Method 9

Developing Hypotheses 9

Practicing the Scientific Method 10

Designing Experiments 12

Making an Experiment Count 16

Building Theories 17

Answers to Questions on the Scientific Method 19

Chapter 2: Solving Problems in the Chemistry of Life 21

Mapping Atoms 21

Elemental Thinking 23

Figuring Out Molecules 25

Recognizing Macromolecules 28

Staying sweet with carbohydrates 29

Getting things done with proteins 31

Making plans with nucleic acids 33

Storing energy and building boundaries with lipids 36

Answers to Questions on the Chemistry of Life 40

Chapter 3: Identifying Cell Parts and Understanding Their Functions 43

Introducing Cells 43

Holding it all together: The plasma membrane 45

Getting in and out of cells 46

Creating proteins: Ribosomes 48

Taking a Tour of Animal Cells 48

Checking Out Plant Cells 50

Peeking at Prokaryotes 52

Answers to Questions on Cells 53

Chapter 4: Tracking the Flow of Energy and Matter 55

Figuring Out the Role of Food 55

Make it or break it 56

Feeling energized about energy 57

Getting a reaction 58

Transferring energy with ATP 60

Moving your metabolism with enzymes 61

Reduce, reuse, recycle 63

Photosynthesis: Cooking Up Carbohydrates 64

Light reactions of photosynthesis: Transforming energy from the ultimate energy source 66

Light-independent reactions of photosynthesis: Putting matter and energy together 67

Cellular Respiration: Extracting Energy from Food 69

Glycolysis and the Krebs cycle: Breaking down glucose to carbon dioxide 70

Oxidative Phosphorylation: Transferring energy to ATP 72

Answers to Questions on Tracking the Flow of Energy and Matter 75

Part II: Creating the Future with Cell Division and Genetics 79

Chapter 5: Divide and Conquer: Recognizing the Phases of Cell Division 81

Talking bout the Generations 81

Duplicating and Dividing Your DNA 82

Riding the Cell Cycle 86

Marching Through Mitosis 87

Getting Ready for Sexual Reproduction 91

Making Gametes by Meiosis 93

Contrasting Mitosis and Meiosis 96

Answers to Questions on Cell Division 98

Chapter 6: Predicting Future Generations with Mendelian Genetics 101

Getting Acquainted with the Lingo of Genetics 101

Discovering the Laws of Inheritance 103

Figuring Out Genetic Puzzles 106

Climbing the Branches of Your Family Tree 107

Answers to Questions on Genetics 111

Chapter 7: Taking Genetics to the DNA Level 113

Going with the Flow of Genetic Information 113

Making a Copy of the Genetic Code: Transcription 114

Locating genes within a chromosome 116

Doing transcription one step at a time 116

Putting on the finishing touches: RNA processing 117

Decoding the Message in mRNA: Translation 118

Deciphering mRNA codes with tRNA 120

Doing translation one step at a time 121

Measuring the Impact of Mutations 125

Answers to Questions on the Genetic Code 128

Chapter 8: Going Straight to the Source with DNA Technology 131

Discovering the Power of DNA Technology 131

Cutting DNA with Restriction Enzymes 132

Separating Molecules with Gel Electrophoresis 135

Copying DNA with PCR 137

Reading a Gene with DNA Sequencing 138

Answers to Questions on DNA Technology 141

Part III: Making Connections with Ecology and Evolution 143

Chapter 9: Organizing the Living World 145

Examining Relationships 145

Classifying Life 147

Figuring Out Relationships from Phylogenetic Trees 149

Answers to Questions on Classification and Phylogeny 152

Chapter 10: Connecting Organisms in Ecosystems 153

Ecosystems: Bringing It All Together 153

Describing Populations 155

Tracking Changes in Populations 157

Getting Along with Other Species 160

Discovering the Job Descriptions of Organisms 161

Following the Flow of Energy through Ecosystems 162

Recycling Matter within Ecosystems 164

Answers to Questions on Ecosystems 166

Chapter 11: Evaluating the Effects of Evolution 169

Defining Evolution 169

Predicting the Outcome of Natural Selection 171

Supporting the Theory of Evolution 172

Answers to Questions on Evolution 175

Part IV: Getting to Know the Human Body 177

Chapter 12: Building Bodies with the Skeletal and Muscular Systems 179

Moving Around with Friction and Gravity 179

Getting Support from Skeletons and Bones 180

This Joint Is Jumpin 184

Flexing Your Knowledge of Muscles 185

Answers to Questions on the Skeletal and Muscular Systems 187

Chapter 13: Giving Your Body What It Needs: The Respiratory and Circulatory Systems 189

Catching Your Breath: Animal Respiration 189

Taking a Breath with the Human Respiratory System 191

In with the Good, Out with the Bad: Animal Circulatory Systems 192

Navigating the Human Heart and Circulatory System 193

Entering the cardiac cycle 195

Oxygenating the blood: Pulmonary circulation 196

Spreading oxygenated blood around: Systemic circulation 197

Answers to Questions on the Respiratory and Circulatory Systems 199

Chapter 14: Processing Food with the Digestive and Excretory Systems 201

Got Food? Understanding What Happens When Animals Eat 201

Moving Along the Human Digestive System 203

Filtering Fluids through the Urinary System 206

Exploring the Inner Workings of the Human Kidney 207

Answers to Questions on the Digestive and Excretory Systems 209

Chapter 15: Fighting Enemies with the Immune System 211

Microbial Encounters of the Best and Worst Kinds 211

Investigating Your Built-In Defenses 214

Fighting Back with Adaptive Immunity 216

Answers to Questions on the Immune System 219

Chapter 16: Sending Messages with the Nervous and Endocrine Systems 221

Mapping out Nervous Systems 221

Getting on Your Nerves 223

Getting in on the Action Potential 225

Regulating the Body with Glands and Hormones 228

Answers to Questions on the Nervous and Endocrine Systems 230

Chapter 17: Making Babies with the Reproductive System 231

Identifying the Parts of the Male Reproductive System 231

Identifying the Parts of the Female Reproductive System 233

Following the Female Ovarian and Menstrual Cycles 235

Fertilization through Birth: Developing New Humans 237

Answers to Questions on the Human Reproductive System 241

Part V: Going Green with Plant Biology 243

Chapter 18: Studying Plant Structures 245

Peering at the Parts and Types of Plants 245

Taking a Look at Plant Tissues 250

Growing Like a Weed: Plant Reproduction 254

Answers to Questions on Plant Structures 259

Chapter 19: Pondering Problems in Plant Physiology 261

Taking Minerals from the Soil 261

Pulling Water Through Plants 263

Sending Sugars from Sources to Sinks 264

Sending Signals with Plant Hormones 267

Answers to Questions on Plant Physiology 269

Part VI: The Part of Tens 271

Chapter 20: Ten Tips for Getting an A in Biology 273

Put in Your Time 273

Make Vocabulary Flashcards 273

Pace Yourself 274

Study Actively, Not Passively 274

Phone a Friend 275

Test Yourself Before Your Instructor Tests You 275

Maximize the Easy Points 275

Ask for Help Upfront 276

Use Your Resources 276

Dont Leave It in the Classroom 276

Chapter 21: Ten (Plus One) Great Biology Websites 277

Dummies.com 277

The Biology Project at the University of Arizona 278

Genetic Science Learning Center 278

DNA from the Beginning 278

Life: The Science of Biology 278

The Biology Corner 278

Cells Alive! 279

The Virtual Cell 279

The Virtual Plant Cell 279

Quia.com 279

HHMI BioInteractive Holiday Lectures 279

Index 281

Are you a student baffled by biology? You're not alone. With the help ofBiology Workbook For Dummies you'll quickly and painlessly get a grip on complex biology concepts and unlock the mysteries of this fascinating and ever-evolving field of study.

Whether used as a complement toBiology For Dummies or on its own,Biology Workbook For Dummies aids you in grasping the fundamental aspects of Biology. In plain English, it helps you understand the concepts you'll come across in your biology class, such as physiology, ecology, evolution, genetics, cell biology, and more. Throughout the book, you get plenty of practice exercises to reinforce learning and help you on your goal of scoring higher in biology.

• Grasp the fundamental concepts of biology
• Step-by-step answer sets clearly identify where you went wrong (or right) with a problem
• Hundreds of study questions and exercises give you the skills and confidence to ace your biology course

If you're intimidated by biology, utilize the friendly, hands-on information and activities inBiology Workbook For Dummies to build your skills in and out of the science lab.

Rene Fester Kratz, PhD, is a biology instructor at Everett Community College in Everett, Washington.