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 the need for nitrogen fixation and how it is accomplished
Describe the beneficial effects of bacteria that colonize our skin and digestive tracts
Identify prokaryotes used during the processing of food
Describe the use of prokaryotes in bioremediation

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

Understand the nutritional adaptations of plants
Describe mycorrhizae
Explain nitrogen fixation

If the atmosphere is about 80% Nitrogen (N2), but plants cannot use that form, how do they get nitrogen? In this unit, students plant and care for soybeans under one of five different nitrogen/microbe regimes.

As the plants grow, students analyze and maintain records of their plant’s progress. Students will become familiar with the vegetative and reproductive stages of the soybean (more information and pictures of these stages can be found at the OSU crop extensions sites). Students keep records of the dates in which they observe these reproductive transitions. This unit features 2 lessons and 7 files. Lessons are aligned to NGSS.

Learn about the Nitrogen cycle, and understand how it affects the ecosystem.

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This lesson will explain the role of plants in everyday life. It is 1 of 5 in the series titled "Plants."

This lesson explains the role plants play in the conversion of inorganic materials into organic material to support living things. It is 2 of 3 in the series titled "The Role of Plants in the Food Chain."

An overview of the impact of human activities on the environment and how those actions effect the nitrogen cycle.

A semi-technical description of the nitrogen cycle. Contains a link to an abridged version of the page along with a list of further resources on the topic.