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:

Identify bacterial diseases that caused historically important plagues and epidemics
Describe the link between biofilms and foodborne diseases
Explain how overuse of antibiotics may be creating “super bugs”
Explain the importance of MRSA with respect to the problems of antibiotic resistance

What do bats have to do with coronaviruses? As it turns out, the adaptation to flight may be what turned bats into perfect virus reservoirs. One of these viruses, the new coronavirus, likely jumped the species barrier to humans causing the initial 2019 outbreak in China. This pathway explores the outbreak from the perspective of medical professionals working to accurately diagnose and treat patients, scientists racing to understand the source of the outbreak, and public health officials implementing solutions to control its spread.