An updated edition of the ultimate guide to understanding biology

Ever wondered how the food you eat becomes the energy your body needs to keep going? The theory of evolution says that humans and chimps descended from a common ancestor, but does it tell us how and why? We humans are insatiably curious creatures who can't help wondering how things work -- starting with our own bodies. Wouldn't it be great to have a single source

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An introduction to biology that features illustrations, tables, diagrams, and easy-to-follow explanations covering cells, life processes, cell reproduction, DNA, ecology, evolution, and other related topics.

3.8 billion years and counting -- there's a lot to know about the fundamentals of life. This friendly, jargon-free guide takes you from the primordial soup to the present, explaining how specialized cells have given rise to everything living, from the humbles amoeba to walking, talking humans. Whether you're taking a cell or molecular biology course, catching up on fast-evolving fields like DNA microarrays or genetics for your career -- or are just...