Explorations in Basic Biology (12th Edition)

Book Preface

The twelfth edition of Explorations in Basic Biology, like earlier editions, is designed for use in the laboratory component of introductory general biology courses. It is compatible with any modern biology textbook. The exercises provide a variety of options for one- or two-semester courses and one-, two-, or three-quarter courses. The exercises are appropriate for three-hour laboratory sessions, but they are also adaptable to a two-hour laboratory format.

Explorations in Basic Biology is designed to enhance learning by students and to simplify the work of instructors.

MAJOR FEATURES
1. The forty-one exercises provide a wide range of options for the instructor, and the range of activities within an exercise further increases the available options. Several exercises contain investigative portions that ask students to design and conduct experiments on their own, at the discretion of the instructor.
2. Each exercise is basically self-directing, which allows students to work independently without continuous assistance by the instructor.
3. Each exercise and its major subunits are selfcontained so that the instructor may arrange the sequence of exercises, or the activities within an exercise, to suit his or her preferences. In addition, portions of an exercise may be deleted without negatively affecting the continuity of the exercise.
4. More than 250 illustrations are provided to enhance students’ understanding of both background information and laboratory procedures.
5. New key terms are in bold print for easy recognition by students.
6. Each exercise begins with a list of Objectives that outlines the minimum learning responsibilities of the student.
7. The text of each exercise starts with a discussion of background information that is necessary to
(a) understand the subject of the exercise and
(b) prepare the student for the activities that follow.
The inclusion of the background information minimizes the need for introductory explanations andensures that all lab sections receive the same background information. Background information always precedes the activity that students are to perform.
8. Before beginning the laboratory activities, students are asked to demonstrate their understanding of the background information by labeling illustrations and completing the portion of the laboratory report that covers this material. Students are asked to color-code selected illustrations to enhance their learning of anatomical features.
9. The required Materials (equipment and supplies) are listed for each activity in the exercise. This list helps the student to obtain the needed materials and guides the laboratory technician in setting up the laboratory. The exercises use standard equipment and materials that are available in most biology departments.
10. Activities to be performed by students are identified by an Assignment heading and icon for easy recognition. This heading clearly distinguishes activities to be performed from the preceding background information. The assignment sections are numbered sequentially within each exercise and on the laboratory report to facilitate identification and discussion. Each assignment begins with a list of required materials (when needed) followed by specific directions for the laboratory activity.
11. A Laboratory Report is provided for each exercise to guide and reinforce students’ learning. The laboratory reports not only provide a place for students to record observations, impressions, collected data, and conclusions, but they also provide a convenient means of assessing student understanding. Each of the diversity exercises (Exercises 10 through 16) includes a minipracticum section on the laboratory report. This challenges students to use knowledge gained in the laboratory session to identify organisms on the basis of their recognition characteristics, and it gives them a taste of a laboratory practicum.

MAJOR IMPROVEMENTS IT THE TWELFTH EDITION
Information has been updated, including several new or modified figures, and procedures have been clarified wherever necessary to facilitate student learning. Laboratory reports include more graphing of experimental results, and several exercises provide the option for instructors to have students write up experiments in the format of a scientific paper. A new Appendix E provides guidelines for writing a scientific paper including how to use graphs in presenting results. Exercise 40 provides an opportunity for students to research human population data via the Internet. Exercises with significant improvements include:
Exercise 19. Blood and Circulation
Exercise 23. Neural Control

Exercise 35. Molecular and Chromosomal Genetics
Exercise 40. Population Growth
Exercise 41. Animal Behavior