Brock Biology of Microorganisms (14th Edition)

Book Preface

Because learning evolves, so do we. Streamlined, completely up to date, and written with deference to the history of microbiology and excitement for the future, the Fourteenth Edition of Brock Biology of Microorganisms is the strongest yet. For three generations, students and instructors have relied on the accuracy, authority, consistency, and up-to-date science of Brock Biology of Microorganisms to learn the core principles of microbiology and pique their interest in the future of the discipline. With the Fourteenth Edition, students will benefit from the book’s emphasis on cutting-edge research, its seamless integration of and introduction to modern molecular microbiology, and a visually stunning art program revision. Additionally, for the first time, Brock Biology of Microorganisms is supported by MasteringMicrobiology, Pearson’s online homework, tutorial, and assessment system.

Experienced authors Madigan, Martinko, and Stahl welcome two new coauthors on the Fourteenth Edition: Kelly S. Bender and Daniel H. Buckley. Significantly revising the coverage of molecular biology and microbial genetics, Kelly has been highly praised for both her undergraduate teaching and graduate student mentoring at Southern Illinois University. At Cornell, Dan participates in the Cornell Institute for Biology Teachers’ summer workshop for high school science teachers and codirects the world-famous Summer Course in Microbial Diversity at Woods Hole. Both new coauthors have greatly strengthened the core mission of Brock Biology of Microorganisms: to remain the best learning resource for today’s microbiology students and instructors.

What’s New in the 14th Edition?

Reorganized and reimagined, the Fourteenth Edition guides students through the six major themes of microbiology in the 21st century as outlined by the American Society of Microbiology Conference on Undergraduate Education (ASMCUE): Evolution, Cell Structure and Function, Metabolic Pathways, Information Flow and Genetics, Microbial Systems, and the Impact of Microorganisms. With enhanced and revised artwork and nearly 200 new color photos, Brock Biology of Microorganisms beautifully presents microbiology as the visual science it is. The new chapter-opening features, titled “MicrobiologyNow,” engage students in cuttingedge research relevant to each chapter’s content and connect to assignable and assessable MasteringMicrobiology coaching activities. “Explore the Microbial World” features focus on specific topics that help students get a feel for the “big picture” in microbiology while simultaneously fueling their scientific curiosity.

Genomics, and all of the various “omics” it has spawned, support content in every chapter of Brock Biology of Microorganisms, reflecting how the omics revolution has transformed all of biology. Gone is the day of microbiology as a descriptive science. Mastering the principles of the dynamic field of microbiology today requires understanding the underlying molecular biology. As authors, we are well aware of this, and have written Brock Biology of Microorganisms in a way that provides both the foundation for the science and the science itself. The result is a truly robust and eminently modern treatment of microbiology.

To strengthen the learning experience, additional Mastering- Microbiology content includes chapter-specific reading quizzes, MicroLab Tutorials, MicrobiologyNow coaching activities, Clinical Case and MicroCareer coaching activities, animation quizzes, MCAT Prep questions, and many additional study and assessment tools. Collectively, the content and presentation of Brock Biology of Microorganisms, coupled with the powerful learning tools of MasteringMicrobiology, create an unparalleled educational experience in microbiology.