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 how changes to gene expression can cause cancer
Explain how changes to gene expression at different levels can disrupt the cell cycle
Discuss how understanding regulation of gene expression can lead to better drug design

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

Discuss the role of transcription factors in gene regulation
Explain how enhancers and repressors regulate gene expression

College-level course focusing on the principles of genetics. Course topics include structure and function of genes, chromosomes and genomes, biological variation, population genetics, use of genetic methods to analyze protein function, gene regulation, and inherited disease. Course features include lecture notes, assignments and solutions, and exams and solutions.

College-level online biology course highlighting the fundamental principles of biochemistry, genetics, molecular biology, and cell biology. Course features include video lectures, audio lectures, subtitles/transcripts, lecture notes, assignments and solutions, and exams and solutions.

Explore the relationship between the genetic code on the DNA strand and the resulting protein and rudimentary shape it forms. Through models of transcription and translation, you will discover this relationship and the resilience to mutations built into our genetic code. Start by exploring DNA's double helix with an interactive 3D model. Highlight base pairs, look at one or both strands, and turn hydrogen bonds on or off. Next, watch an animation of transcription, which creates RNA from DNA, and translation, which 'reads' the RNA codons to create a protein.

Join us for a talk on gene cloning by Richard Sherwood, Assistant Professor of Medicine at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. Molecular cloning is essential to research in genetics and cell biology. Dr. Sherwood will share how his lab uses molecular cloning to power their work in genetics and CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing. Recorded live July 28, 2020.

This pathway includes an introduction to the ways that gene expression is regulated in both prokaryotes and eukaryotes. For a deeper look at this topic, we recommend the pathway Gene Regulation from the OpenStax textbook Biology for AP® Courses.

Build a gene network. The lac operon is a set of genes which are responsible for the metabolism of lactose in some bacterial cells. Explore the effects of mutations within the lac operon by adding or removing genes from the DNA.