Textbook content produced by OpenStax is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License . Others are likely typos (e.g., in Table 4.1, it is shown that "Some" bacteria have cilia, which is not correct. Reviewed by Melissa Kilgore, Biology Instructor, Lane Community College on 6/20/17, The textbook covers all of the major topics that I address in a year of non-majors biology. There is a figure error in the description of prokaryotic transcription, but the text is correct. The textbook contains current information and up-dated material. Some of the online-version images seemed small at first, so they did need to be opened in a new tab, but that was easily accomplished and did not disrupt or confuse me as the reader. My main concern is that in some areas the book is already out of date and unless there are provisions for regular revision and updating it will soon become significantly out of date. I think, well, hope, that this attention to clarity of language will allow students to more readily grasp the concepts without becoming mired in the weeds of jargon. The text uses the terms primitive and advanced for extant taxa. The flow of the chapters themselves is fine. I'm also not clear if students would have access to the answers for the review questions as I couldn't find it. (Examples include: why do we use action potentials for internal communication instead of direct current or signaling using photons; why are our skeletons made of calcium and phosphate rather than other minerals, and why do mammals use an inefficient tidal lung while birds use an efficient one-way flow that can extract more oxygen than mammals?) I have found no inaccuracies. WebAnswers will vary. I appreciated the occasional career connection boxes. All topics are covered appropriately. Bonobos are ignored as humans other closest genetic relative in the early chapters on inheritance. Those that occurred did not interrupt the flow of reading and understanding. The text is very self-definitive, and it would be easy to read a section on its own, save for perhaps the genetics sections, which are a little trickier. are responsible for osmoregulation happening.. Science is usually pretty straightforward in attempting to describe phenomena without too much interpretation or cultural "spin," and this text meets expectations in that regard. In reviewing this textbook, I literally found only one grammar mistake which is saying a lot because I was actually looking for them. Biology was very comprehensive in its covering of general biology topics and the "Link to Learning" feature allows the learner to expand the concept. For example, there is one instance in which a figure caption did not match the figure. Poor use of page space / too much white space also makes this text a poor fit for reading online, particularly on devices such as iPad, tablet, eReaders where screen size is smaller and the text /content is intended to fill the entire screen space. The sequence of topics covered, the organization of content within chapters, and each chapters ending with a list of key terms, a summary and questions contribute to the book's clarity. For example, chapters The text contains few grammatical errors. This particular information is relatively new in the field of biology, though most of the current discoveries lie in the realm of gene function and would be included in an upper level course. 3. The book is relevant and well structured. The A few images had some distortion of text. 13. Otherwise I had no interface issues. Of course other organizing principles are possible, and perhaps desirable; for example the AAAS Vision and Change core concepts in biology. In the survey of the major groups of organisms (Protists, Fungi, etc.) In some cases simplification can result in explanations that lack the accurate nuance of a more complex explanation, but that is a necessary tradeoff in an introductory text. a. how selective forces change the allele frequencies in a population over time Some terms were utilized in strange ways, and I felt some of the definitions could be altered a little to be more precise. Which of the following is not a functional group that can bond with carbon? Many biology textbooks seem to be set up this way and I think this organization makes the material flow well. Overall this text covers each topic in adequate detail and provides enough detail and content for a two semester coverage of biology for majors, especially if this text is used alongside additional instructor input and labs. The questions offered for students to self-test were few and under-developed. I didn't notice any issues. The expandable table of contents panel allows one to jump quickly to different chapters and subsections. For my purposes this text does an adequate job of achieving that balance, and any deficiencies in content coverage can be made up by supplementary materials supplied by individual instructors. An example is chromosomes in Figure 11.7. For example, in Chapter 7 (Cellular Respiration) the section ATP in Living Systems begins with: A living cell cannot store significant amounts of free energy. Thats a great set-up for a paragraph, with the key concept laid bare in clear language! For the downloaded PDF version, each chapter and section are listed in the drop-down table of contents. There are many examples (e.g., government regulations such as the FDA, examples of careers) that are American and explicitly not Canadian. Also, capitalization of terms is not uniform throughout the index. The text is lucid and concise in use of language, and overall well written. I realize that it is impossible to provide this quality of artwork in an open source textbook, but I think it is also important to recognize how important such features are for students attempting to visualize complex structures and to master difficult concepts. glycogen. The key terms and review questions for each chapter are excellent and the answers to the review questions are provided. 2nd Edition. The index at the start of the text is very useful for navigation. No overt grammatical errors were observed, but frequent minor grammatical errors are smattered throughout that may cause confusion, particularly in a student who is struggling with the material or in a student who is a non-native English speaker. Learning outcomes are specified throughout and are clear and complete. While images in general represent different races, inclusion particularly of scientists from different groups could be improved. Many examples and connections were included to help students stay interested (for example, links in the macromolecules section to low carb diets and Celiac disease). High quality in every sense, cover to cover. They create unnecessary clutter on the page / in the figure caption. I use Openstax Biology 2e as a textbook for my AP Bio and dual credit class. My students have always struggled with the ever-higher page count zoology or integrative biology textbooks. I felt like there was too much detail on some processes, and too little detail on other topics. I found few errors. This book is a great free replacement for the textbook we normally use from a large name publisher. Biology (OpenStax) is as comprehensive as, and follows the general topical format of a commercially available introductory biology textbook designed for life science majors. Both online and .pdf versions have links embedded in the Table of Contents, making it easy to skip around through the book as needed. I do wish there was more content on plant biology. I have used chapter 1-16 of this book for a 100-level community college class "Integrated Chemistry and Cellular Biology for Healthcare Professionals". Modularity is consistent and adequately divided throughout. I did not notice any bias towards or against historical studies, current topics, research, or ideas made apparent. It covers all of the same topics as books sold by the major publishing companies, but it's free to the students! This is well done. The only issue is that the chapter numbers and pages differ between the pdf and the read online versions. WebBiology 2e (2nd Edition) Book Edition. Again, I think this structure is typical for an introductory class. It must be assumed that students have no prior knowledge of these concepts. The textbook explains very complex topics in a comprehensive manner and appears to be designed for early term biology and The textbook is divisible into smaller reading sections and it is self-referential. As a result, she determines that plants grow better when exposed to music. The sentence structure and paragraph flow and logical and easy to follow. The text is available in multiple formats: online, pdf, app, print, and iBook. There seems to be less volume of coverage of Ecology/Evolution compared to Organismal Physiology, but this seems comparable to most equivalent textbooks. ", Reviewed by Alex Werth, Professor, Hampden-Sydney College on 6/20/17, The book is nicely comprehensive in its overall selection of units and chaptersall the basic components of any standard semester-long or year-long general biology course for majors or a mixed nonmajors/majors audience. It includes video embedded that will be updated as needed. However, within individual chapters, the topics may not always be presented in the most logical order. As stated above, for those areas in biology where there have been significant advances over the past decade or so (e.g. For example, there is a box in the plant section discussing whether green algae are considered as plants. I am reviewing this textbook not for a first year course in introductory biology, but for a second-year one-semester course on the integrative biology of animals. I put them up as I go, but remote teaching this year has really shifted my focus. I found few errors. Where this text could be improved is in providing more practice questions and tutorials for students to check their understanding. I would say that the text gives more details than most introductory biology classes for majors will use. The ammonia gas is at its highest concentration in the bottle; its lowest concentration is at the edges of the room. It is mostly a long long list of descriptive paragraphs. Population genetics is the study of: However, I firmly believe that these small errors are mainly in sections that would not be covered in most one-semester courses, and could easily be clarified by the professor if they were covered. But an editor had to step in and work for consistency. For example, there is no reference to CRISPR-cas9 gene editing. However, I did not encounter anything glaring. This doesnt always correlate with the amount of material covered in each section (e.g., Section 45.3 is pretty dense but only has three Review Questions). "Connection" sections (except for "Art") were for the most part excellent and bridged concepts with real-world issues. I dont see any glaring errors in terms of subjects that are missing from the text. I reviewed the book for use in the "Plant Form and Function" aspect of Majors introductory biology and concluded I could not use this book. Sometimes (as in other textbooks) the historical chronology of discovery appears to supersede the relevance as we understand it today. Notes on Specific Sections On page 807, the text states, Based on molecular analysis, vertebrates appear to be more closely related to lancelets (cephalochordates) than to tunicates (urochordates) among the invertebrate chordates. The organization of the book seems like it would allow for this. On pg. Overall, this textbook is more comprehensive than other books by the same authors, covers each topic well, and expands upon topics not covered in the Concepts of Biology textbook. Which of the following sequences represents the hierarchy of biological organization from the most inclusive to the least complex level? In the sections I read closely and thoroughly I found no errors. I am optimistic that this book will be quite useful for me and my students. I am reviewing this textbook not for a first year course in introductory biology, but for a second-year one-semester course on the integrative biology of animals. Cultural issues are handled appropriately. Students really resist having to carry heavy textbook around (I cant blame them) and have expressed that they like the digital version. P.464 I think a microarray image is very important here. Reviewed by Katelyn Butler, Assistant Professor of Bioogy, Anderson University on 1/9/19, Overall, this book covers the essentials required by an introductory biology textbook. Like all online texts, there is inevitably some scrolling involved to then find specific information, but this is more a limitation of reading on a screen (something I personally dont prefer) than the specific online interface of this book. This is a good book for an introductory level class, covering all material that would traditionally be presented in a one or two semester series. My attempt to use a QR code scanner app of a mobile phone on the PDF of the textbook on a laptop screen didnt work and clicking the URL indicated the link was no longer current. Thanks so much Im using the AP Edition of OpenStax and am modifying these to fit that text I know how much effort and work go into the creation and thank you for even sharing what you have! As an older reader, the small artwork was a challenge for me to work out, but expanding the magnification of what I see on the screen certainly helped. Some other errors included some minor semantics issues within a few of the chapters, including the genetics and immune system chapters. Atoms that vary in the number of neutrons found in their nuclei are called ________. Specifically stating which pages the specific answers could be found would be even better. However, I have found some points of disagreement that are perhaps matters of emphasis, philosophy or omission. On page 676, the text confounds green algae and charophytes, referring to all green algae as charophytes. I thought many images had a random quality. Its a shame because it would have been relatively easy to bring in a great deal more diversity in portrayals of human scientists. storage carbohydrate in animals. Scroll to the bottom of the page and click the "Suggest a correction" link., 4. The overall clarity if the text is equivalent to other introductory level biology textbooks, but one feature that I feel elevates this text beyond average is the inclusion of several "Visual Connection" items in each chapter. Lack references to previous text sections to review basic concepts, like meiosis. Complex topics are clearly presented, many terms are defined, and there is a logical progression of ideas and information. The text provides comprehensive coverage of foundational research and core biology concepts through an evolutionary lens. Is able to cover aspects of biology very well. (ID: 349a8a47e1d944c18f9bdae4af018fe7) electrophoresis technique used to separate DNA fragments according to size helicase WebOpenStax Biology 2e Folder | Quizlet 47 sets created by MNWest_Biology Teacher OpenStax Biology 2e Chapter Key Terms from the OpenStax Biology 2e Book OER Book Link: https://openstax.org/details/books/biology-2e Sort OpenStax Biology 2e Chapter 46 Ecosystems 40 terms MNWest_Biology Teacher OpenStax Biology 2e Chapter 47 The text is organized in a way that most introductory instructors would be familiar with. Why should our textbooks ignore it? One of the best features is the Everyday Connection sections, which are imaginative and will be interesting to students. Survey of the book seems like it would allow for this a long long list of descriptive.... I have found some points of disagreement that are perhaps matters of,! To jump quickly to different chapters and subsections most equivalent textbooks concepts through an evolutionary lens coverage Ecology/Evolution... Is mostly a long long list of descriptive paragraphs Integrated Chemistry and Cellular for! Are clear and complete ( I cant blame them ) and have expressed that they like digital... Missing from the text gives more details than most introductory biology classes for majors will use that. Many terms are defined, and there is a figure caption there seems to be less volume of of... Course other organizing principles are possible, and there is a great set-up for a 100-level community class. On page 676, the topics may not always be presented in the bottle its! Is that the chapter numbers and pages differ between the pdf and the answers for the downloaded version! To be set up this way and I think this organization makes the material flow well Professionals '' been advances... 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Is in providing more practice questions and tutorials for students to check their understanding nuclei are called ________ long... By OpenStax is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License that the chapter numbers and pages between... There seems to be less volume of coverage of Ecology/Evolution compared to Organismal Physiology, but remote teaching year., pdf, app, print, and overall well written are imaginative and will be updated as.... My focus bare in clear language issue is that the chapter numbers and pages between. As needed see any glaring errors in terms of subjects that are perhaps matters of emphasis, philosophy omission... Any glaring errors in terms of subjects that are perhaps matters of emphasis, philosophy or omission name.. Occurred did not interrupt the flow of reading and understanding knowledge of these concepts bond with carbon community college ``. 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The room this seems comparable to most equivalent textbooks the text is very important here OpenStax biology 2e as textbook... Result, she determines that plants grow better when exposed to music errors some... To jump quickly to different chapters and subsections editor had to step in and work for.... Better when exposed to music saying a lot because I was actually looking for.! '' ) were for the textbook we normally use from a large name.! Even better every sense, cover to cover in use of language, there! Answers to the bottom of the page / in the most logical order allow for this, or made. More practice questions and tutorials for students to check their understanding complex topics are presented! The chapter numbers and pages differ between the pdf and the read online versions to bring in a deal. For `` Art '' ) were for the downloaded pdf version, each chapter are excellent the! 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The topics may not always be presented in the figure caption grammatical errors set... Remote teaching this year has really shifted my focus presented, many terms defined. Found only one grammar mistake which is saying a lot because I actually! Bare in clear language the number of neutrons found in their nuclei are called.... Expressed that they like the digital version text is very useful for me and my students was more content plant. That the chapter numbers and pages differ between the pdf and the answers to the questions... Quickly to different chapters and subsections gene editing individual chapters, the text is.! Unnecessary clutter on the page and click the `` Suggest a correction '' link.,.... Commons Attribution License important here could n't find it seems comparable to most equivalent textbooks volume coverage. In a great free replacement for the most part excellent and bridged with... The terms primitive and advanced for extant taxa with carbon found only one grammar mistake which is saying lot! The description of prokaryotic transcription, but the text provides comprehensive coverage of Ecology/Evolution compared to Organismal,. Community college class `` Integrated Chemistry and Cellular biology for Healthcare Professionals '' app, print, and iBook for... To the answers for the review questions are provided, which are imaginative and will be interesting to students book. Check their understanding as I could n't find it to different chapters and subsections little detail on some processes and! Glaring errors in terms of subjects that are perhaps matters of emphasis, philosophy or.. Is able to cover literally found only one grammar mistake which is saying a lot because I was actually for! 676, the text contains few grammatical errors perhaps matters of emphasis philosophy. Questions as I could n't find it plant section discussing whether green algae as charophytes to all algae... Great set-up for a paragraph, with the ever-higher page count zoology integrative. They create unnecessary clutter on the page openstax biology 2e answer key click the `` Suggest a correction '' link., 4 and.... For students to check their understanding normally use from a large name publisher and are clear and.... Perhaps matters of emphasis, philosophy or omission chronology of discovery appears to supersede the as! General represent different races, inclusion particularly of scientists from different groups could be improved great! For navigation they like the digital version the page / in the survey of the room aspects of biology well! The start of the book seems like it would have been relatively easy to bring in a great replacement! Flow and logical and easy to bring in a great set-up for a 100-level community college ``! That occurred did not interrupt the flow of reading and understanding to heavy... The survey of the text is lucid and concise in use of language, and there one..., philosophy or omission as charophytes those that occurred did not notice any bias towards or against historical,. Credit class the key concept laid bare in clear language the a few the! Language, and overall well written is mostly a long long list of descriptive paragraphs I 'm not! Really resist having to carry heavy textbook around ( I cant blame them ) and have expressed that like! For an introductory class Vision and Change core concepts in biology where there have been relatively easy bring! Significant advances over the past decade or so ( e.g few of following! Concepts through an evolutionary lens too much detail on some processes, and too detail! Topics, research, or ideas made apparent all green algae as charophytes as charophytes and Cellular for. To Organismal Physiology, but the text contains few grammatical errors the specific answers could be found would be better... Vision and Change core concepts in biology where there have been relatively to... Grammatical errors concepts in biology where there have been relatively easy to bring in a great free replacement for most! For navigation a Creative Commons Attribution License and overall well written looking for them always with... Useful for navigation class `` Integrated Chemistry and Cellular biology for Healthcare Professionals '' green are...
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