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:

Explain how electromagnetic waves differ from sound waves
Trace the path of light through the eye to the point of the optic nerve
Explain tonic activity as it is manifested in photoreceptors in the retina

Students examine the structure and function of the human eye, learning some amazing features about our eyes, which provide us with sight and an understanding of our surroundings. Students also learn about some common eye problems and the biomedical devices and medical procedures that resolve or help to lessen the effects of these vision deficiencies, including vision correction surgery.

Alaskan tectonics are dominated by Pacific-North American plate interaction. This animation discusses the range of tectonic activity from megathrust earthquakes to accretion of geologic terranes. [8:40]

A video lecture that introduces a technique that can be used to make buildings earthquake-resistant. The instructor demonstrates and explains how to use simple materials to build a shear wall for a building. [9:15]

See a scientist talk about elasticity and brittle material using a yardstick as a mechanical analog for the lithosphere, and to show how stress is stored in-between tectonic plates. [1:57]

This animation shows that GPS can record the movement of the leading edge of the overlying continental plate in a subduction zone. [0:48]

Animation shows how land jumps in an earthquake and how GPS can record the movement. [0:49]

Focusing on the Gulf of California Rift Zone, this animation depicts the evolution of the spreading ridge that marks the boundary between the Pacific and North American Tectonic Plates. [3:12]

Animation explores hotspot volcanism and offers a simple illustration of how this results in chains of volcanoes such as the Hawaiian Islands. [2:14]

This animation addresses regional and local tectonics, earthquake occurrences and historic earthquakes, crustal fault earthquakes (Kobe, 1995), megathrust earthquakes (Tohoku-Oki, 2011), and tsunamis. [10:04]