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 basic structure of a typical prokaryote
Describe important differences in structure between Archaea and Bacteria

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

Name examples of prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms
Compare and contrast prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells
Describe the relative sizes of different cells
Explain why cells must be small

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.

An introduction to the structure of two different types of cells: eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells. [2:14]