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:

Define osmosis and explain its role within molecules
Explain why osmoregulation and osmotic balance are important body functions
Describe active transport mechanisms
Explain osmolarity and the way in which it is measured
Describe osmoregulators or osmoconformers and how these tools allow animals to adapt to different environments

A website giving an explanation to the process of osmosis with a PowerPoint presentation, a video of a lab, and a video of an answer to a review question. The PowerPoint presentation reviews the process by which water diffuses through a semi-permeable membrane. Also included on site is video showing a gummy bear lab that illustrates osmosis. Lab places a gummy bear in a bowl of water overnight to see that water moves into the gummy bear. [2:24] The review question poses the issue of why living off salt water could be hazardous to a person's health. [1:47]