By the end of this section, you will be able to:

Identify the parts of a typical leaf
Describe the internal structure and function of a leaf
Compare and contrast simple leaves and compound leaves
List and describe examples of modified leaves

By the end of this section, you will be able to:

Describe how red and blue light affect plant growth and metabolic activities
Discuss gravitropism
Understand how hormones affect plant growth and development
Describe thigmotropism, thigmonastism, and thigmogenesis
Explain how plants defend themselves from predators and respond to wounds

By the end of this section, you will be able to:

Identify the two types of root systems
Describe the three zones of the root tip and summarize the role of each zone in root growth
Describe the structure of the root
List and describe examples of modified roots

By the end of this section, you will be able to:

Describe the main function and basic structure of stems
Compare and contrast the roles of dermal tissue, vascular tissue, and ground tissue
Distinguish between primary growth and secondary growth in stems
Summarize the origin of annual rings
List and describe examples of modified stems

By the end of this section, you will be able to:

Describe the shoot organ system and the root organ system
Distinguish between meristematic tissue and permanent tissue
Identify and describe the three regions where plant growth occurs
Summarize the roles of dermal tissue, vascular tissue, and ground tissue
Compare simple plant tissue with complex plant tissue

By the end of this section, you will be able to:

Define water potential and explain how it is influenced by solutes, pressure, gravity, and the matric potential
Describe how water potential, evapotranspiration, and stomatal regulation influence how water is transported in plants
Explain how photosynthates are transported in plants

By the end of this section, you will be able to:

Compare the mechanisms and methods of natural and artificial asexual reproduction
Describe the advantages and disadvantages of natural and artificial asexual reproduction
Discuss plant life spans

By the end of this section, you will be able to:

Describe what must occur for plant fertilization
Explain cross-pollination and the ways in which it takes place
Describe the process that leads to the development of a seed
Define double fertilization

By the end of this section, you will be able to:

Describe the two stages of a plant’s lifecycle
Compare and contrast male and female gametophytes and explain how they form in angiosperms
Describe the reproductive structures of a plant
Describe the components of a complete flower
Describe the development of microsporangium and megasporangium in gymnosperms

By the end of this section, you will be able to:

Understand the nutritional adaptations of plants
Describe mycorrhizae
Explain nitrogen fixation

By the end of this section, you will be able to:

Describe how plants obtain nutrients
List the elements and compounds required for proper plant nutrition
Describe an essential nutrient

By the end of this section, you will be able to:

Describe how soils are formed
Explain soil composition
Describe a soil profile

Biology is designed for multi-semester biology courses for science majors. It is grounded on an evolutionary basis and includes exciting features that highlight careers in the biological sciences and everyday applications of the concepts at hand. To meet the needs of today’s instructors and students, some content has been strategically condensed while maintaining the overall scope and coverage of traditional texts for this course. Instructors can customize the book, adapting it to the approach that works best in their classroom. Biology also includes an innovative art program that incorporates critical thinking and clicker questions to help students understand—and apply—key concepts.