Student textbook.

"© by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company"--Title page verso.

Includes index.

Foundations of biology. The science of life ; Chemistry of life ; Biochemistry -- Cell biology. Cell structure and function ; Homeostasis and cell transport ; Photosynthesis ; Cellular respiration ; Cellular reproduction -- Genetics and biotechnology. Fundamentals of genetics ; DNA, RNA, and protein synthesis ; Gene expression ; Inheritance patterns and human genetics ; Gene technology -- Evolution. History of life ; Theory of evolution ; Population genetics and speciation ; Classification of organisms -- Ecology. Introduction to ecology ; Populations ; Community ecology ; Ecosystems ; Humans and the environment -- Microbes, protists, and fungi. Bacteria ; Viruses ; Protists ; Fungi -- Plants. The importance of plants ; Plant evolution and classification ; Plant structure and function ; Plant reproduction ; Plant responses -- Invertebrates. Introduction to animals ; Sponges, cnidarians, and ctenophores ; Flatworms, roundworms, and rotifers ; Mollusks and annelids ; Arthropods ; Insects ; Echinoderms and invertebrate chordates -- Vertebrates. Fishes ; Amphibians ; Reptiles ; Birds ; Mammals ; Animal behavior -- Human biology. Skeletal, muscular, and integumentary systems ; Circulatory and respiratory systems ; The body's defense systems ; Digestive and excretory systems ; Nervous system and sense organs ; Endocrine system ; Reproductive system -- Appendix: Safe laboratory practices ; Using a compound light microscope ; Using SI units for measurement ; Analyzing word parts ; Biologists guide to the Periodic Table ; Classification ; Geologic time scale -- Glossary.

"An excellent resource for both teaching and learning. This book explains concepts in a clear fashion which allows students to better grasp the subject matter being learned"--Amazon.com.

Grades: 9-12.