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 what must occur for plant fertilization
Explain cross-pollination and the ways in which it takes place
Describe the process that leads to the development of a seed
Define double fertilization

Nikki is learning about plant seed dispersal methods. Join in and learn how this is important to plant reproduction.

How are prairie plants able to survive fires? This site will explain how seed germination takes place after a prairie fire.

Investigate propagation systems in plants, and explain the ways some animals disperse seeds through their digestive processes. Role-play and map the daily travels of one seed-bearing animal to explore the migration of seeds.

All about plants has information on plant parts--seeds, flowers, fruits, roots, and spores--and plant processes--seed dispersal, germination, pollination, and photosynthesis. You can also take a tour of this Los Angeles-based conservatory, access a database of its plants, and add a plant to its digital garden.

This collection of images shows several types of plant seeds, each with a different mechanism for dispersing from the parent plant.