Minna Lacey

Biology for Beginners

This book explores the fascinating world of biology - the study of all life, from tiny bacteria to plants, animals and entire ecosystems. Discover how living things behave and interact, and the amazing ways they adapt to the world around them. Find out how life on Earth began, how it has changed, and what living things might look like in millennia to come. Take a closer look at cells - the building blocks of life itself - and the vital role they play. Through a mix of diagrams, infographics, comic strips and clear, engaging text, this book shows readers what the study of biology is about, how much it covers, and why YOU might want to study it further yourself. It investigates some of the big issues that biologists are grappling with today, from preventing the spread of ever-evolving diseases to saving animals and plants from extinction. Chapters in this book include: - What is biology? - Life and death - The meaning of life Life on Earth What different forms does life take, and can we make sense of the sheer variety of it all? How did life begin in the first place? Cells and DNA Find out all about cells - the tiny building blocks that are part of EVERY living thing. What is DNA, the chemical at the heart of cells? Evolution Evolution is all about how living things change, very gradually. How does it work? Why do some creatures survive, while others die out? And how did anyone manage to hit upon and test out this grand idea? The human body There's one kind of living thing that biologists are more interested in than any other. It's us - human beings. What are we made of? How do our bodies work? And what's so special about our brains? Ecology Ecology is the part of biology that studies how living things grow and change together as a group. This can mean studying small, local habitats, or it can mean looking at how life all over the world is affected by changes, such as deforestation or warming seas. Microorganisms The very smallest living things - known as microorganisms - are some of the most fascinating. Find out about the bacteria and fungi that play a role in the cycle of life and death, help plants talk to each other, and make all sorts of things from food to medicine. Disease All living things can get sick. Often, the cause is another living thing. Find out where diseases come from, how they spread, how they actually make you sick, and how to stop them. Big questions There are endless questions about life that people want answers to. Some of the answers depend on clever experiments and in-depth research. Others come only from debate. For example, if it was possible to live forever, would you even want to? Biology all round Jobs in biology