A concise and engaging biology text for biology majors, Understanding Biology 4e partnered with Connect emphasizes fundamentals concepts to help students better understand biology and focus on developing scientific skills. This approach utilizes the Vision and Change guidelines of Core Concepts and Core Skills while helping students begin the process of becoming a scientist.

This is not a sad story, nor does it attempt to hide the horrific details of head and neck cancer. The poet takes the reader through the course of the disease beginning with the discovery of her cancer. The crossover of word-as-art and the excruciatingly gritty realm of medical treatment comprise the world within "The Shoulders of Country Roads." A single haiku carries her story to its positive finish: "Molecular storm science defies hurricane disease exiting"

Committed to Excellence. This edition continues the evolution of Raven & Johnson's "Biology." The author team is committed to continually improving the text, "keeping the student and learning foremost." We have integrated new pedagogical features to guide the student through the learning process. This latest edition of the text maintains the clear, accessible, and engaging writing style of past editions with the solid framework of pedagogy that highlights an emphasis on evolution and scientific inquiry that have made this a leading textbook for students majoring in biology. This emphasis on the organizing power of evolution is combined with an integration of the importance of cellular, molecular biology and genomics to offer our readers a text that is student friendly and current.

Our author team is committed to producing the best possible text for both student and faculty. The lead author, Kenneth Mason, "University of Iowa," has taught majors biology at three different major public universities for more than fifteen years. Jonathan Losos, "Harvard University," is at the cutting edge of evolutionary biology research, and Susan Singer, "Carleton College," has been involved in science education policy issues on a national level.