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 nucleic acids' structure and define the two types of nucleic acids
Explain DNA's structure and role
Explain RNA's structure and roles

Chem4Kids! looks at nucleic acids and its "five easy parts": uracil, cytosine, thymine, adenine, and guanine.

Students investigate the relationship between proteins and amino acids digested in the small intestine while examining overall cell structure and function.