Author Biography

Sylvia S. Mader has authored several nationally recognized biology texts published by McGraw-Hill. Educated at Bryn Mawr College, Harvard University, Tufts University, and Nova Southeastern University, she holds degrees in both Biology and Education. Over the years she has taught at University of Massachusetts, Lowell; Massachusetts Bay Community College; Suffolk University; and Nathan Mayhew Seminars. Her ability to reach out to science-shy students led to the writing of her first text, Inquiry into Life, which is now in its fifteenth edition. Highly acclaimed for her crisp and entertaining writing style, her books have become models for others who write in the field of biology. Michael Windelspecht has taught introductory biology, genetics, and human genetics in the online, traditional, and hybrid formats at community colleges, universities, and military institutions. Educated at Michigan State University and the University of South Florida, he is currently an adjunct professor of biology at Appalachian State University. He served for over a decade as the Introductory Biology Coordinator at Appalachian State University, a program that enrolled over 4,500 students annually. As an author and editor, Dr. Windelspecht has published over 20 reference textbooks and multiple print and online lab manuals and has founded several science communication companies, including Ricochet Creative Productions, which develops and assesses new technologies for the science classroom. Learn more about Dr. Windelspecht at

Table of Contents

1 Biology: The Science of Life 
UNIT I The Cell
2 The Chemical Basis of Life 
3 The Organic Molecules of Life 
4 Inside the Cell 
5 The Dynamic Cell 
6 Energy for Life 
7 Energy for Cells 
UNIT II Genetics
8 Cellular Reproduction 
9 Meiosis and the Genetic Basis of Sexual Reproduction
10 Patterns of Inheritance 
11 The Instructions for Life: DNA and RNA
12 Biotechnology and Genomics 
13 Mutations and Genetic Testing 
UNIT III Evolution
14 Darwin and Evolution 
15 Evolution on a Small Scale
16 Evolution on a Large Scale
UNIT IV Diversity of Life
17 Viruses, Bacteria, and Protists
18 Plants and Fungi 
19 Animals
UNIT V Plant Structure and Function
20 Plant Anatomy and Growth
21 Plant Responses and Reproduction
UNIT VI Animal Structure and Function
22 Organization of the Animal Body and Homeostasis
23 The Transport Systems
24 The Maintenance Systems
25 Digestion and Human Nutrition
26 Defenses Against Disease
27 The Control Systems
28 Sensory Input and Motor Output
29 Reproduction, Development, and Aging
UNIT VII Ecology
30 Ecology and Populations
31 Communities and Ecosystems
32 Human Impact on the Biosphere

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