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 cytoskeleton
Compare the roles of microfilaments, intermediate filaments, and microtubules
Compare and contrast cilia and flagella
Summarize the differences among the components of prokaryotic cells, animal cells, and plant cells

By the end of this section, you will be able to do the following:

List the components of the endomembrane system
Recognize the relationship between the endomembrane system and its functions

Paul Andersen describes the structure and function of the major organelles in a eukaryotic cell. The endoplasmic reticulum, ribosomes, and golgi complex produce and store proteins in the cell. Lysosomes dissolve broken and invasive material. Vacuole store material in plant cells. [9:38]

This pathway explores the different types of cells, including eukaryotic, prokaryotic and plant cells, and their structures.

This pathway provides an introduction to cells as the basic unit of life and their structure and function. Prokaryotic, eukaryotic and plant cells are compared and the structure and function of different organelles is discussed. For a deeper look at this topic, we recommend the pathway Cell Structure from the OpenStax textbook Biology for AP® Courses.

This is a thorough site which contains a glossary of plant/animal cell anatomy terms. Diagrams of both cells are included along with worksheets to label.

This resource provides a detailed diagram of animal, bacterial and plant cells and viral structure. Also included are detailed drawings, with definitions, of each of the cellular organelles.

In this video segment from An Introduction to the Living Cell, explore the inner workings of a cell, including some of its most important organelles. [3:47]