BIOLOGY Volume 1 - A Guide to General Biology - 2004

PREFACE TO THE THIRD EDITION

Since its first publication in the UK (1984), Biological Science has remained one of the most comprehensive and authoritative textbooks for high school students, prospective university applicants, and undergraduates alike. The primary goal of preparing this third, revised edition was to update the text with new data reflecting modern curricula.

In recent years, the content and scope of these curricula have changed significantly. Alongside "linear" courses, which present material in order of increasing complexity, "modular" teaching schemes emphasizing specific topics have become widespread. Furthermore, new biology examination standards were introduced in the UK in 1993 and refined in 1997. A typical modern syllabus combines a core of fundamental knowledge with optional material covering more specialized fields. As a rule, the latter focuses on the social, ethical, and applied aspects of biology, highlighting its growing importance in the modern world.

The revision of the material for the third edition was carried out at a much deeper level than for the second. Numerous substantial and subtle changes have been made to the text, diagrams, photographs, and tables. A significant amount of new information has been added, and material that is no longer current has been removed. In addition, some content previously found in the Appendices has been integrated into the relevant chapters.

Recognizing the importance and popularity of certain topics—particularly optional ones—three entirely new chapters have been added. These provide detailed coverage of microbiology and biotechnology (Ch. 12), human health and disease (Ch. 15), and applied genetics (Ch. 25). Moreover, coverage of Human Nutrition (Ch. 8) and human reproduction (Ch. 21) has been substantially expanded, including discussions of their ethical and social implications. The ecological content (Ch. 10) has also been broadened.

To reflect curriculum changes, The Diversity of living organisms is now covered in a single chapter (Ch. 2) rather than three, using more relevant Examples. This chapter includes a new introductory Structure/133.html">Discussion on biological systematics and The Use of identification keys. Other chapters have been updated wherever possible to align with the latest scientific findings. In particular, physiological topics throughout the book have been revised in light of both contemporary knowledge and updated syllabuses. Greater emphasis has been placed on angiosperms and humans, reflecting broader trends in modern biology.

In addition to these updates, we have sought to make the material accessible to a wider readership. The writing style has been simplified where possible, particularly regarding terminology. Special attention has been paid to the Introduction of each major topic. Several sections have been restructured and divided into subsections, with Key Concepts highlighted within the text to aid comprehension. We hope these improvements will make the book easier for readers to navigate and understand.

The revision for the present edition was carried out primarily by Dennis Taylor in his spare time from college teaching. As with the second edition, the ecology chapters (Chs. 10 and 11) were revised by Rosalind Taylor of Kingston University. The new chapter on health and disease (Ch. 15) was written largely by Roland Soper. The factual accuracy of the text has been verified by leading scientists. Nevertheless, when dealing with such a vast and diverse body of material, it is difficult to avoid errors and omissions entirely; the authors will therefore be most grateful for any specific feedback or corrections sent to them.