Biology

The Boundless Biology textbook is a college-level, introductory textbook that covers the intriguing subject of Biology, the study of life. Boundless works with subject matter experts to select the best open educational resources available on the web, review the content for quality, and create introductory, college-level textbooks designed to meet the study needs of university students.

This textbook covers:

The Study of Life -- The Science of Biology, Themes and Concepts of Biology

The Chemical Foundation of Life -- Atoms, Isotopes, Ions, and Molecules: The Building Blocks; Water; Carbon

Biological Macromolecules -- Synthesis of Biological Macromolecules, Carbohydrates, Lipids, Proteins, Nucleic Acids

Cell Structure -- Studying Cells, Prokaryotic Cells, Eukaryotic Cells, The Endomembrane System and Proteins, The Cytoskeleton, Connections between Cells and Cellular Activities

Structure and Function of Plasma Membranes -- Components and Structure, Passive Transport, Active Transport, Bulk Transport

Metabolism -- Energy and Metabolism; Potential, Kinetic, Free, and Activation Energy; The Laws of Thermodynamics; ATP: Adenosine Triphosphate; Enzymes

Cellular Respiration -- Energy in Living Systems, Glycolysis, Oxidation of Pyruvate and the Citric Acid Cycle, Oxidative Phosphorylation, Metabolism without Oxygen, Connections of Carbohydrate, Protein, and Lipid Metabolic Pathways, Regulation of Cellular Respiration

Photosynthesis -- Overview of Photosynthesis, The Light-Dependent Reactions of Photosynthesis, Using Light Energy to Make Organic Molecules

Cell Communication -- Signaling Molecules and Cellular Receptors, Propagation of the Signal, Response to the Signal, Signaling in Single-Celled Organisms

Cell Reproduction -- Cell Division, The Cell Cycle, Control of the Cell Cycle, Cancer and the Cell Cycle, Prokaryotic Cell Division

Meiosis and Sexual Reproduction -- The Process of Meiosis, Sexual Reproduction

Mendel's Experiments and Heredity -- Mendel’s Experiments and the Laws of Probability, Characteristics and Traits, Laws of Inheritance

Modern Understandings of Inheritance -- Chromosomal Theory and Genetic Linkage, Chromosomal Basis of Inherited Disorders

DNA Structure and Function -- Historical Basis of Modern Understanding, DNA Structure and Sequencing, Basics of DNA Replication, DNA Replication in Prokaryotes, DNA Replication in Eukaryotes, DNA Repair

Genes and Proteins -- Introduction, The Genetic Code, Prokaryotic Transcription, Eukaryotic Transcription, RNA Processing in Eukaryotes, Ribosomes and Protein Synthesis

Gene Expression -- Regulation of Gene Expression, Prokaryotic Gene Regulation, Eukaryotic Transcription Gene Regulation, Eukaryotic Epigenetic Gene Regulation, Eukaryotic Post-transcriptional Gene Regulation, Eukaryotic Translational and Post-translational Gene, Development on the Cellular Level, Cancer and Gene Regulation


The following chapters are also included:
Biotechnology and Genomics
Evolution and the Origin of Species
The Evolution of Populations
Phylogenies and the History of Life
Viruses
Prokaryotes: Bacteria and Archaea
Protists
Fungi
Seedless Plants
Seed Plants
Introduction to Animal Diversity
Invertebrates
Vertebrates
Plant Form and Physiology
Soil and Plant Nutrition
Plant Reproduction
The Animal Body: Basic Form and Function
Animal Nutrition and the Digestive System
The Nervous System
Sensory Systems and Movement
The Endocrine System
The Musculoskeletal System
The Respiratory System
The Circulatory System
Osmotic Regulation and Excretion
The Immune System
Animal Reproduction and Development
Ecology and the Biosphere
Population and Community Ecology
Ecosystems