Breaking Through Biology

Biology is a subject of great relevance to society nowadays. Many complex public issues and problems—infectious diseases, genetic basis of cancer, effective drug therapies, shortage of food supply, conservation of biodiversity, and pollution of our natural environment—can be addressed by understanding first the basic ideas and concepts of modern biology. Young as you are, you need to be knowledgeable to participate in intelligent discussion of these issues, and possibly in the near future, propose and implement workable solutions. This book concisely but comprehensively covers the topics required by a basic or an enriched biology curriculum. As arranged, the units follow a levels-of-organization approach, that is, from cells to organ systems to organisms and to the biosphere. All the 32 chapters focus on key concepts that must be remembered, rather than on discrete items or detailed information. We are more interested in discussing how and why things happen as they do. To further explain and illustrate the concepts, we have carefully drawn examples from your everyday experiences and selected materials that you have probably seen on TV, or have read about in a magazine or in the Internet.