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Biology: The Dynamic Science, 6th Edition

Peter J. Russell, Joel H. Benington, Beverly McMillan, Tag N Engstrom, Nicole Shakerley

Copyright 2027
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Biology: The Dynamic Science 6th Edition by Peter J. Russell/Joel H. Benington/Beverly McMillan/Tag N Engstrom/Nicole Shakerley

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Overview
Meet the Authors
What's New
Features
Table of Contents
Pricing

Overview

Russell/Benington/McMillan/Engstrom/Shakerley's "Biology: The Dynamic Science," 6th Edition, empowers instructors to teach biology the way scientists practice it by emphasizing and applying science as a process. The text sharpens its focus on the key concepts students need to build a solid understanding of living systems. Content has been streamlined, removing or summarizing minor details and secondary topics, so learners can concentrate on essential ideas without distraction. Chapters consider what students must grasp at every stage of learning, supported by up‑to‑date research findings that keep material current and relevant. With clear explanations, refined organization and an emphasis on developing quantitative and mathematical reasoning skills, the text helps students build deep conceptual understanding while giving instructors a text that aligns with how students learn best.

Meet the Authors

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Peter J. Russell

Peter J. Russell received a B.Sc. in biology from the University of Sussex, England, in 1968 and a Ph.D. in genetics from Cornell University in 1972. He has been a member of the Biology faculty of Reed College since 1972, and he is currently a professor of biology. He teaches a section of the introductory biology course, a genetics course, an advanced molecular genetics course and a research literature course on molecular virology. In 1987, he received the Burlington Northern Faculty Achievement Award from Reed College in recognition of his excellence in teaching. Since 1986, he has been the author of a successful genetics textbook; current editions are "iGenetics: A Mendelian Approach, iGenetics: A Molecular Approach" and "Essential iGenetics". He wrote nine of the BioCoach Activities for The Biology Place. Peter Russell's research is in the area of molecular genetics, with a specific interest in characterizing the role of host genes in pathogenic RNA plant virus gene expression; yeast is used as the model host. His research has been funded by agencies, including the National Institutes of Health, the National Science Foundation and the American Cancer Society. He has published his research results in a variety of journals, including Genetics, Journal of Bacteriology, Molecular and General Genetics, Nucleic Acids Research, Plasmid, and Molecular and Cellular Biology. He has a long history of encouraging faculty research involving undergraduates, including co-founding the biology division of the Council on Undergraduate Research (CUR) in l985. He was Principal Investigator/Program Director of an NSF Award for the Integration of Research and Education (AIRE) to Reed College, 1998–2002.

Joel H. Benington

Joel H. Benington received a BA in 1985 from St. John’s College in Annapolis, Maryland, and a Ph.D. in Biology in 1992 from Stanford University. He performed postdoctoral research at UCLA and Stanford University until 1996, and since then has been a member of the Biology faculty of St. Bonaventure University. He is currently professor of biology and director of programs in bioinformatics and health and society. He has twice served as chair of the department of biology. During his entire time at St. Bonaventure University, he has taught one or both semesters of the general biology sequence for first-year life-science majors. He also teaches upper-level courses in neurobiology, genomics and evolution and has led a variety of seminar courses in the university’s Honors Program. He has published his research in journals such as Progress in Neurobiology, Brain Research, the American Journal of Physiology and The Scientist. In addition to laboratory research, he has published hypotheses concerning the role of sleep in brain energy metabolism, the functional relationship between REM sleep and nonREM sleep and connections between sleep and learning. His research has been funded by the National Institutes of Health and he has served as principal investigator of a National Grid grant to support K-12 STEM education in Cattaraugus County, New York.

Beverly McMillan

Beverly McMillan has worked extensively in educational and commercial publishing as an author, contract science writer, project manager and multimedia content developer. In addition to her contributions to college textbooks, Bev has written or co-authored multiple popular books on the biology and natural history of sharks and the structure and functioning of the human body, as well as field guides to the flora and fauna of more than 20 U.S. states. She has also created science-based exhibition, web and print content for clients including the U.S. National Park Service, the Science Museum of Virginia, The Mariners’ Museum, the San Francisco Exploratorium, the University of California system and the Virginia Institute of Marine Science/College of William and Mary. She holds undergraduate and graduate degrees from the University of California, Berkeley, as well as a Business of Publishing certification from the University of Chicago School of Business.

Tag N Engstrom

Tag Engstrom received his BS in biology from Eckerd College in 1994. He received a Fulbright Fellowship to study marine turtle conservation in Queensland Australia. He completed his Ph.D. in population biology at the University of California Davis in 2002 and conducted postdoctoral research at Stonybrook University before accepting a position at California State University, Chico in 2004. At Chico State, he as taught courses in across the biology curriculum, including a first semester bridge course focusing on student success for first time college students, the first semester of the introductory course for biology majors as well as general education courses in evolution and upper division and graduate courses in ecology, zoology, herpetology, comparative vertebrate anatomy and conservation biology. His research is in the fields of phylogenetics, population genetics and conservation of amphibians and reptiles with a focus on turtles. He has published in Systematic Biology, Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, Molecular Ecology and Conservation Biology, and has conducted field studies in Florida, the Caribbean coast of Panama and Costa Rica, Australia, the Peruvian Amazon, Hawaii and throughout California.

Nicole Shakerley

Nicole Shakerley received a BS in medical biotechnology from SUNY Upstate Medical University and earned certification as a Molecular Biologist (MB, ASCP) in 2008. She completed her Ph.D. in nanoscale science at the University at Albany, SUNY, in 2015, followed by postdoctoral research in molecular biology. Since 2017, she has been a faculty member in the Department of Life Sciences at Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, where she is currently associate professor of biology and director of the BS in Health Sciences program. She teaches the general biology sequence for science majors, along with upper-level courses in cell biology and public health microbiology. Her commitment to student success has been recognized with both Advisor of the Year and Teacher of the Year awards. Her research interests focus on redox modification of cell signaling pathways, and she has published in journals including Journal of Biological Chemistry, Toxicology Letters, Nutrients and Cell Death and Disease. Nicole is also active in STEM outreach and regularly hosts discovery-based learning programs for youth through organizations such as Girl Scouts, AHEC and HOSA – Future Health Professionals.

What's New

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Comprehensive revision of learning objectives strengthen instructional focus, ensuring full alignment with section content and end‑of‑chapter material.
The art program has been comprehensively revised to enhance clarity and accessibility, with figures simplified and visual elements refined to emphasize essential concepts.

Features

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Science as a Process: Think Like a Scientist questions prompt students to analyze and apply concepts. Updated Research Methods and Experimental Research figures feature current, relevant examples that demonstrate practical problem‑solving.
Conceptual Understanding: Clear explanations presented from the evolutionary perspective unify core biological concepts and help students grasp the big picture. Closer Look figures distill major ideas, while MindTap activities support deeper conceptual learning beyond memorization.
MindTap enhancements offer a wider range of question types, including conceptual, application‑based and data‑interpretation questions.

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1. The Nature of Life.
Unit I: MOLECULES AND CELLS.
2. Life, Chemistry, and Water.
3. Biological Molecules: The Carbon Compounds of Life.
4. Cells.
5. Membranes and Transport.
6. Energy, Enzymes, and Biological Reactions.
7. Cellular Respiration: Harvesting Chemical Energy.
8. Photosynthesis.
9. Cell Communication.
10. Cell Division and Mitosis.
Unit II: GENETICS.
11. Meiosis: The Cellular Basis of Sexual Reproduction.
12. Mendel, Genes, and Inheritance.
13. Genes, Chromosomes, and Human Genetics.
14. DNA Structure and Replication.
15. Gene Expression: From DNA to Protein.
16. Regulation of Gene Expression.
17. Bacterial and Viral Genetics.
18. DNA Technology: Making and Using Genetically Altered Organisms, and Other Applications.
19. Genomes and Proteomes.
Unit III: EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY.
20. Development of Evolutionary Thinking.
21. Microevolution: Genetic Changes within Populations.
22. Speciation.
23. Paleobiology and Macroevolution.
24. Systematics and Phylogenetics: Revealing the Tree of Life.
Unit IV: BIODIVERSITY.
25. The Origin of Life.
26. Bacteria and Archaea: The Primary Domains.
27. Eukaryotes: Two Domains United.
28. Seedless Plants.
29. Seed Plants.
30. Fungi.
31. Animal Phylogeny, Acoelomates, and Protostomes.
32. Deuterostomes: Vertebrates and Their Closest Relatives.
Unit V: PLANT STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION.
33. The Plant Body.
34. Transport in Plants.
35. Plant Nutrition.
36. Reproduction and Development in Flowering Plants.
37. Plant Signals and Responses to the Environment.
Unit VI: ANIMAL STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION.
38. Introduction to Animal Organization and Physiology.
39. Neurons and Synapses.
40. Nervous Systems.
41. Sensory Systems.
42. The Endocrine System.
43. Muscles, Bones, and Body Movements.
44. The Circulatory System.
45. Defenses against Disease.
46. The Respiratory System.
47. Digestive Systems and Animal Nutrition.
48. Regulating the Internal Environment: Osmoregulation, Excretion, and Thermoregulation.
49. Animal Reproduction.
50. Animal Development.
Unit VII: ECOLOGY AND BEHAVIOR.
51. Ecology and the Biosphere.
52. Animal Behavior.
53. Population Ecology.
54. Population Interactions and Community Ecology.
55. Ecosystems and Global Change.
56. Biodiversity and Conservation Biology.