Biology and Life Sciences: An Interdisciplinary Survey

This book takes learners on a journey through the interconnected systems of life on earth and the latest scientific research being done to understand those systems. We will begin with recent evidence suggesting that comets may have delivered not only water, but the building blocks of life to a young planet earth, and how we store seeds and tissues in biobank facilities today. Next, we'll examine recent discoveries in the fields of paleontology and evolutionary biology, followed by new findings in human anthropology. Next, we will take a look at conservation biology and how human behavior is impacting other species on earth, including raptors and sea turtles, and discuss what we can do to prevent our behavior from threatening our planet's biodiversity. Biomechanics and biophysics follow as we read about why geckos can climb smooth vertical surfaces. Finally, we will learn about recent research into the movement of matter and energy in ecosystems, including scientific studies of how forests absorb carbon dioxide and how layers of ice are melting in Greenland. Education and careers in science, math, engineering, and science (STEM) are continuously evolving, expanding, diverging, and converging, much like life on earth. In addition to introducing recent research that is taking place in biology and life science fields, this text is also intended to introduce students to a variety of disciplines in the biological and life sciences, some of which they may not yet be familiar with.