Biology 2e is designed to cover the scope and sequence requirements of a typical two-semester biology course for science majors. The text provides comprehensive coverage of foundational research and core biology concepts through an evolutionary lens. Biology includes rich features that engage students in scientific inquiry, highlight careers in the biological sciences, and offer everyday applications. The book also includes various types of practice and homework questions that help students understand—and apply—key concepts. The 2nd edition has been revised to incorporate clearer, more current, and more dynamic explanations, while maintaining the same organization as the first edition. Art and illustrations have been substantially improved, and the textbook features additional assessments and related resources.

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

An overview of the nitrogen cycle, covering nitrogen fixation, decay, nitrification, denitrification, and more.

Anusuya Willis explains how cyanobacteria, simple organisms that don't even have nuclei or any other organelles, wrote a pivotal chapter in the story of life on Earth. [4:14]

General information on the cyanobacteria, the blue-green algae and the features that make them different from prokaryotic bacteria. Also included are pages that point to more specific info, like life history and fossil records.