Cecie Starr updated every chapter in this concise introduction to biology with the help of 300 researchers. She organized each basic biology concept on a one- or two-page spread, called a Concept Spread. The carefully written transitions between Concept Spreads help students grasp how each concept fits into the whole story. Visual Preview illustrations depict biological concepts one step at a time, including all major concepts in the text. You can easily integrate the Visual Previews into your lecture using BioLink CD-ROM. As with every revision, Starr's simplified writing presents scientifically sound story lines, tightening the writing overall and expanding selected topics that can be confusing if not presented in sufficient detail. Because Starr thinks a text should be readable, first and foremost, she worked tirelessly to make this Fourth Edition clear, interesting, and engaging. Applications appear throughout the text including Focus on…essays and chapter-opening vignettes. This edition's Applications Index contains more than 1000 entries with links to the applications. Students can look up any number of topics - such as bioethics or behavior - to find pertinent information. Then they can see how understanding biology helps us interpret the world in which we live. InfoTrac College Edition, an online library of more than 700 publications, is an additional resource for students to learn more about a specific application. The Interactive Concepts in Biology CD-ROM, free with every new copy of the text, enhances every Concept Spread in the book with animations, sound, video clips, and a speaking glossary. The interactive exercises give students the opportunity to do biology experiments, and chapter-based quizzes allow self-assessment. This CD-ROM has been revised and expanded to accompany the Fourth Edition. Read Less