Download PDF Zoology, Fifth Edition by Miller Harley

Sinopsis

Animals are united with all other forms of life by the biological processes that they share with other organisms. Understanding these processes helps us to know how animals function and why animals are united with other forms of life from the evolutionary and ecological perspectives. Chapter 1 examines some of these unifying themes and sets the stage for the evolutionary and ecological perspectives that are developed throughout this book. An understanding of the cell as the fundamental unit of life is key to understanding life on this planet. As you learn more about cell structure and function, you will find that many cellular components and processes are very similar in cells from a variety of organisms. One of the common functions of all cells is reproduction. Reproduction may involve individual cells within a multicellular organism, a single-celled organism, or the formation of single reproductive cells in multicelluar organisms. The processes involved in cellular reproduction, and the processes involved in determining the characteristics of the new cells and organisms that are produced, are based on common biological themes. Chapters 2 and 3 present cell structure and inheritance as an important, unifying framework within which biologists approach the diversity of organisms.

Principles of inheritance explain not only why offspring resemble their parents, but also why variation exists within populations. This variation is a key to understanding evolution. All organisms have an evolutionary history, and evolution helps us to understand the life-shaping experiences that all organisms share. Chapter 4 explores the work of pioneers of evolutionary theory, Charles Darwin and Alfred Russell Wallace, and how their work forms the nucleus for modern evolutionary theory. Chapter 5 examines the influence of modern genetics on evolutionary theory. This coverage of evolution will provide core knowledge for understanding the diversity of animal life presented in Part Two and how evolution has influenced the animal structure and function described in Part Three.

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