Biology Essentials For Dummies focuses on just the core concepts you need to succeed in an introductory biology course. From identifying the structures and functions of plants and animals to grasping the crucial discoveries in evolutionary, reproductive, and ecological biology, this easy-to-follow guide lets you skip the suffering and score high at exam time. * Get down to basics—master the fundamentals, from understanding what biologists study to how living things are classified * The chemistry of life—find out what you need to know about atoms, elements, molecules, compounds, acids, bases and more * Conquer and divide — discover the ins and outs of asexual and sexual reproduction, including cell division and DNA replication * Jump into the gene pool—grasp how proteins make traits happen, and easily understand DNA transcription, RNA processing, translation and gene regulation Open the book and find: * An overview of cells and their substructures * Elementary chemistry * The key facts about reproduction and DNA * The 411 on energy and organisms * What you need to know about evolution * Coverage of ecosystems and populations * Ten great biology discoveries Learn: * Core concepts taught in an introductory biology course * The structures and functions of plants and animals * The key discoveries in evolutionary, reproductive and ecological biology