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...

"Learn :Core concepts taught in an introductory biology course ; The structures and functions of plants and animals ; The key discoveries in evolutionary, reproductive, and ecological biology."--Cover.

Biology Essentials For Dummies focuses on just the core concepts you need to succeed in an introductory biology course. From identifying the structures and functions of plants and animals to grasping the crucial discoveries in evolutionary, reproductive, and ecological biology, this easy-to-follow guide lets you skip the suffering and score high at exam time. Jump into the gene pool -- grasp how proteins make traits happen, and easily understand DNA...

"Dive deep to explore the ocean. From how most of our oxygen is created by phytoplankton, to how currents control our climate, to the marine food chain and the importance of coral, this is the holy grail of ocean books that's easy for everyone to digest. It features fun facts about some of the most incredible, bizarre, and fascinating creatures in the ocean, from mantis shrimp that can strike things with the speed of a .22 caliber bullet to fish with...