Biology is designed for multi-semester biology courses for science majors. It is grounded on an evolutionary basis and includes exciting features that highlight careers in the biological sciences and everyday applications of the concepts at hand. To meet the needs of today’s instructors and students, some content has been strategically condensed while maintaining the overall scope and coverage of traditional texts for this course. Instructors can customize the book, adapting it to the approach that works best in their classroom. Biology also includes an innovative art program that incorporates critical thinking and clicker questions to help students understand—and apply—key concepts.

By the end of this section, you will be able to:Discuss the role of carbohydrates in cells and in the extracellular materials of animals and plantsExplain the classifications of carbohydratesList common monosaccharides, disaccharides, and polysaccharides

By the end of this section, you will be able to:Discuss the role of carbohydrates in cells and in the extracellular materials of animals and plantsExplain the classifications of carbohydratesList common monosaccharides, disaccharides, and polysaccharides

This resource is a video abstract of a research paper created by Research Square on behalf of its authors. It provides a synopsis that's easy to understand, and can be used to introduce the topics it covers to students, researchers, and the general public. The video's transcript is also provided in full, with a portion provided below for preview:

"Ruminants’ ability to break down human-inedible plant fibers stems from the microbes in their rumen. This process is primarily driven by microbes that can ferment plant fibers into volatile fatty acids (VFAs), followed by the rumen epithelial layer absorbing and partially metabolizing these VFAs. Recently, researchers examined how microbes and epithelial cells interact and contribute to VFA metabolism in lactating dairy cows. Metagenomic binning allowed researchers to categorize and examine the metabolic capacity of even uncultivated microbes and identify bacterial genomes with both cellulose/xylan/pectin degradation capabilities and associations with VFA biosynthesis. They then used gene expression data to construct a single-cell map of the rumen epithelial cell subtypes. Searching gene expression profiles for VFA transporters highlighted key epithelial cell subtypes. Leveraging this data highlighted interactions where microbes potentially influenced the gene expression of host epithelial cells..."

The rest of the transcript, along with a link to the research itself, is available on the resource itself.

This resource is a video abstract of a research paper created by Research Square on behalf of its authors. It provides a synopsis that's easy to understand, and can be used to introduce the topics it covers to students, researchers, and the general public. The video's transcript is also provided in full, with a portion provided below for preview:

"Human microbiomes are diverse and dynamic communities of bacteria, which play a critical role in many aspects of human health, including the breakdown of the food we eat. Research has shown that dietary fermentable fiber generally improves cardiometabolic health. However, past studies have found the response to specific interventions has significant variation between individuals. This variation likely has multiple causes, but the role of gut microbial metabolism has not yet been explored. To test this, researchers colonized germ free (GF) mice with distinct, complex microbial communities and then fed them one of four diets. Each microbiome remained distinct under all diets, but the different diets led to variations in richness and taxon abundance in both microbiomes. Epigenetic, transcriptional, and metabolic analyses showed diet-directed differences between the communities, including changes in metabolic pathways associated with health..."

The rest of the transcript, along with a link to the research itself, is available on the resource itself.

This resource is a video abstract of a research paper created by Research Square on behalf of its authors. It provides a synopsis that's easy to understand, and can be used to introduce the topics it covers to students, researchers, and the general public. The video's transcript is also provided in full, with a portion provided below for preview:

"Take. Make. Dispose. Long the mantra of modern industry, this linear model of economic growth is unsustainable. It has drained the planet of natural resources and amplified the climate-altering effects of human activity. Fortunately, it’s not too late to turn it around. The United Nations’ 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development outlines a plan of action for preserving peace, people, prosperity, and our planet. Central to that plan is the promotion of a new industrial model of reduction, reuse, and recycling. Scientists from Sweden are taking up that cause in an unlikely but impactful place: inside plants. Biomass is a highly underutilized natural resource. Currently, humans use only about 3.5% of net growth of global biomass. It’s not hard to envision how adding more biomass to the world’s current energy mix could substantially offset harmful fossil fuels..."

The rest of the transcript, along with a link to the research itself, is available on the resource itself.

In this activity, learners explore the question "What is paper?" Learners discover the processes and materials required to make paper while experimenting with different recycled fibers and tools.

This resource is a video abstract of a research paper created by Research Square on behalf of its authors. It provides a synopsis that's easy to understand, and can be used to introduce the topics it covers to students, researchers, and the general public. The video's transcript is also provided in full, with a portion provided below for preview:

"Today, millions of people throughout the world lead richer, more productive and comfortable lives thanks to the thousands of chemicals poured into modern products and services. That makes the effective use and handling of chemicals and waste more important than ever. The United Nations’ 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development outlines a plan of action for “preserving peace, people, prosperity, and our planet”. Central to that plan is the sound management of chemicals and waste, wherein reduction and renewable resources are key. Here’s where materials like cellulose play an important role. Cellulose is the most abundant natural polymer on earth, and one of the most in-demand. That’s because on top of being non-toxic and biodegradable, cellulose also tends to be lighter, cheaper, and stronger than other commercial polymers. There’s only one problem..."

The rest of the transcript, along with a link to the research itself, is available on the resource itself.