Essential Biology

Hailed for its clear writing, scientific accuracy, and real-world examples, Essential Biology is a brief non-majors biology text that focuses on the core concepts students need to make scientifically informed decisions throughout their lives. The book covers four major topics–cells, genetics, evolution/diversity, and ecology–and uses evolution as an overarching theme to tie all 20 chapters together. Human applications and the most up-to-date information on important issues show students how biology relates to their own lives.  New Process of Science sections within the text draw students into the material and provide real-world examples of how the scientific method is applied.

The Third Edition features dynamic new resources designed to focus students’ study time and help them master the most challenging topics in the course. New state-of-the-art eTutor animations and audio MP3 Tutor Sessions guide students through the most challenging topics in biology. A customized Study Plan on the accompanying website pinpoints exactly where students have trouble, and directs them to relevant sections of the text and media for help.

The Third Edition also includes the new Media Manager, which organizes all the instructor and student media in one convenient location, allowing instructors to easily and efficiently create engaging lectures. Three new types of assessment questions that test visual, quantitative, and critical-thinking skills offer new and creative ways to test student understanding.

Neil A. Campbell combined the investigative nature of a research scientist with the soul of an experienced and caring teacher. He earned his M.A. in Zoology from UCLA and his Ph.D. in Plant Biology from the University of California, Riverside, where he received the Distinguished Alumnus Award in 2001. Dr. Campbell published numerous research articles on how certain desert plants thrive in salty soil and how sensitive plant (Mimosa) and other legumes move their leaves. His 30 years of teaching in diverse environments included general biology courses at Cornell University, Pomona College, and San Bernardino Valley College, where he received the college's first Outstanding Professor Award in 1986. Most recently Dr. Campbell was a visiting scholar in the Department of Botany and Plant Sciences at the University of California, Riverside. In addition to his authorship of this book, he coauthored Biology: Concepts & Connections and BIOLOGY with Jane Reece. Each year, over 600,000 students worldwide use Campbell/Reece biology textbooks.

Jane B. Reece has worked in biology publishing since 1978, when she joined the editorial staff of Benjamin Cummings. Her education includes an A.B. in Biology from Harvard University, an M.S. in Microbiology from Rutgers University, and a Ph.D. in Bacteriology from the University of California, Berkeley. At UC Berkeley and later as a post-doctoral fellow in genetics at Stanford University, her research focused on genetic recombination in bacteria. Dr. Reece taught biology at Middlesex County College (New Jersey) and Queensborough Community College (New York). As an editor at  Benjamin Cummings, Dr. Reece played major roles in a number of successful textbooks. In addition to being a coauthor with Neil Campbell on Biology: Concepts & Connections, and BIOLOGY, she coauthored The World of the Cell, Third Edition, with W.M. Becker and M.F. Poenie.

Eric J. Simon is an Assistant Professor of Biology at New England College in Henniker, New Hampshire. He teaches introductory biology to both biology majors and non-biology majors, as well as upper-level biology courses in genetics, microbiology, and molecular biology. Dr. Simon received a B.A. in Biology and Computer Science and an M.A. in Biology from Wesleyan University, and a Ph.D. in Biochemistry at Harvard University. Currently, he is working toward an M.S.Ed. in Educational Psychology. Dr. Simon's diverse classroom experience includes teaching both biology majors and non-biology majors at numerous institutions, including St. John's University (Minnesota), Minneapolis Community and Technical College-where he earned an Outstanding Teacher Award–and Fordham College at Lincoln Center in New York City. Dr. Simon's research focuses on innovative ways for using technology to improve teaching and learning in the science classroom, particularly among non-biology major students.