This high school biology course is designed to be the homeschool student's first high school science class and is college-prep. Exploring Creation with Biology, 3rd Edition, is a foundational course that covers everything students need to prepare successfully for a college-level biology course. The updated edition includes more in-depth explanations of certain concepts and new graphics to help students understand the life sciences.

In this course, your student will:

• See the evidence of God’s creation as they learn scientific principles
• Conduct experiments in a methodical way that prepares them not just for future classes, but for life
• Take personal notes, conduct and record experiments, and be able to interpret results
• Develop skills to think through and beyond the textbook materials, and be able to create their own experiments from concept to interpretation of results
• Further develop skills in their own learning style and how they best process, record, study, and retain information learned
• Be able to hold a logical discussion on God and science based on facts and beliefs

This revised edition offers:

• Updated content to present the most current science
• A reorganized structure of the information, which helps students logically progress through their biological studies
• Experiments which have been updated or replaced, and the addition of new experiments
• New illustrations and infographics that help students break down and visually digest difficult concepts, in addition to updated images and illustrations
• New content, including a new section on photosynthesis and a new section on diseases
• An overhaul of the section on genetics, including more information on DNA

Contents

MODULE I: THE SCIENCE OF LIFE

• The Process of Science
  • What Scientists Do
    • Observations and Inferences
    • Hypotheses
    • Experiments
    • Scientific theories and Laws
  • Scientific Method in Action
  • The Limitations of Science
    • Spontaneous Generation
    • Redi's Experiments Refute Spontaneous Generation
    • Discovering Microorganisms
    • Pasteur's Experiment
    • Why Study Science?
    • Spontaneous Generation: Some Still Cling to It!
• The Study of Life
  • Cells and Life
  • Growth and Development
  • Metabolism and Energy
  • Homeostasis
  • Sensing and Responding to Stimuli
  • DNA and Reproduction
• Tools of Biology
  • A Common Measurement System
  • Tables and Graphs
  • Microscopes
    • Light Microscopes
    • Electron Microscopes
  • Experiment 1.1: Introduction to the Microscope
  • Safety in Biology
• Answers to the On Your Own Problems
• Study Guide for Module 1

MODULE 2: THE CHEMISTRY OF LIFE

• The Composition of Matter
  • Atoms: the Basic Building Blocks of Matter
    • Atomic Structure
  • Elements
  • Isotopes
    • Radioactive Isotopes
  • Molecules and Compounds
    • Chemical Formulas
  • Chemical Bonds
    • Ionic Bonds
    • Covalent Bonds
• The Properties of Water
  • Experiment 2.1: Investigating Water's Properties
  • The Structure of Water
  • Life-Supporting Properties of Water
    • The Universal Solvent
    • Cohesion, Surface Tension, and Adhesion
    • High Heat Capacity
    • Density of Ice
  • Carbon Compounds
    • Carbohydrates
    • Functional Groups and Organic Acids and Bases
  • Experiment 2.2: How Effective is Your Antacid?
  • Lipids
  • Proteins and Enzymes
    • Protein Structure
    • Enzymes
  • Experiment 2.3: the Fragility of an Enzyme
  • Nucleic Acids
• Answers to the On Your Own Problems
• Study Guide for Module 2

MODULE 3: ECOLOGY

• Introduction
• Energy and Life
  • Producers, Consumers, and Decomposers
  • Food Chains, Food Webs, and Trophic Levels
  • Energy Moves Through Trophic Levels
    • Ecological Pyramids
      • Energy Pyramids
      • Biomass Pyramids
      • Pyramids of Numbers
• The Biosphere
  • The Water Cycle
  • The Carbon Cycle
  • Experiment 3.1: Carbon Dioxide and the Greenhouse Effect
    • Global Climate
  • The Oxygen Cycle
  • The Nitrogen Cycle
  • The Phosphorus Cycle
• Ecosystems and Biomes
  • Factors that Affect Ecosystems
    • Biotic and Abiotic Factors
    • Climate
  • Major Biomes
    • Terrestrial Biomes
    • Aquatic Biomes
      • Marine Biomes - the Ocean Biome
      • Marine Biomes - Coral Reefs
      • Marine Biomes - Estuaries
      • Standing Freshwater Biomes—Lakes and Ponds
      • Running Freshwater Biomes—Rivers and Streams
      • Freshwater Biomes—Wetlands
• Populations and Communities
  • Community Interactions—Competition
    • Intraspecific Competition
    • Interspecific Competition
  • Community Interactions—Predation
  • Community Interactions—Symbiosis
  • Community Disturbances
    • Primary Succession
    • Secondary Succession
  • Characteristics of Populations
    • Population Growth
    • Exponential Growth
    • Logistic Growth
    • Limits to Growth
  • Experiment 3.2: How Does Competition Affect Plant Growth?
• Answers to the On Your Own Problems
• Study Guide for Module 3

MODULE 4: CELL STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION

• Introduction
• History of Cell theory
  • The Cell theory
  • Characteristics of Cells
• Cell Structure
  • Structures That All Cells Have in Common
    • The Plasma Membrane
    • The Cytoplasm
    • Ribosomes
  • Organelles of Eukaryotic Cells
    • Cell Wall
    • The Nucleus
    • The Endoplasmic Reticulum
    • The Golgi Apparatus
    • Vacuoles and Vesicles
    • The Lysosome
    • The Peroxisome
    • The Mitochondrion
    • The Plastids
    • The Cytoskeleton
    • Centrioles
  • Experiment 4.1: Plant and Animal Cell Structure
• A Closer Look at Membranes
  • Movement Through Membranes
    • Passive Transport: Diffusion
    • Passive Transport: Osmosis
  • Experiment 4.2: Osmosis in Animal Cells
    • Osmosis in Living Cells
  • Experiment 4.3: Plasmolysis in Plant Cells
  • Passive Transport: Facilitated Diffusion
  • Active Transport
• Answers to the On Your Own Problems
• Study Guide for Module 4

MODULE 5: CELLULAR ENERGY

• Introduction
• ATP: the Energy Currency of Cells
• Photosynthesis: Making Energy-Packed Food
  • Experiment 5.1: Pigments of Photosynthesis
  • Paper Chromatography
    • the Light Reactions
    • the Calvin Cycle
• Cellular Respiration: Making ATP
  • Mitochondrial Design
  • The Stages of Cellular Respiration
    • Stage 1: Glycolysis
    • Stage 2: the Link Reaction
    • Stage 3: the Krebs Cycle
    • Stage 4: the Electron Transport Chain
• Fermentation
• Experiment 5.2: Cellular Respiration and Fermentation in Yeast
• Answers to the On Your Own Problems
• Study Guide for Module 5

MODULE 6: DNA, PROTEINS, AND THE CELL CYCLE

• Introduction
• DNA, Genes, and Chromosomes
  • A Brief History of the Discovery of DNA
  • Genes and Chromosomes
  • Experiment 6.1: DNA Extraction
• DNA Replication
• Protein Synthesis
  • Protein Synthesis Part 1: Transcription—DNA to RNA
    • Editing RNA
  • Protein Synthesis Part 2: Translation—RNA to Protein
    • Adding Amino Acids
    • Summarizing Protein Synthesis
• Cell Cycle and Cellular Reproduction
  • Mitosis
    • Prophase
    • Metaphase
    • Anaphase
    • Telophase and Cytokinesis
  • Experiment 6.2: Mitosis
  • Meiosis
    • Counting Chromosomes
• The Process of Meiosis
  • Meiosis I: Prophase I
  • Meiosis I: Metaphase I
  • Anaphase I
  • Telophase I and Cytokinesis
  • Prophase II
  • Metaphase II
  • Anaphase II
  • Telophase II and Cytokinesis
• Answers to the On Your Own Problems
• Study Guide for Module 6

MODULE 7: GENETICS

• Introduction
  • Experiment 7.1: Environmental Factors and their Effect on Radish Leaf Color
• Mendalian Genetics
  • Mendel's Experiments
  • Modern Terminology
    • Inheritance and Meiosis
  • Punnett Squares
  • Testcross
  • Pedigrees
  • Experiment 7.2: Making Your Own Pedigree
  • More Complex Crosses
    • Meiosis and Dihybrid Crosses
• Inheritance Patterns
  • Sex-Linked Genetic Traits
  • Non-Mendalian Inheritance Patterns
• Human Genetics
  • Autosomal Disorders
  • Sex-Linked Disorders
  • Disorders Caused by Damaged Genes
  • Disorders Caused by Damaged Chromosomes
  • Disorders Due to Change in Chromosome Number
• Gene Technologies
  • Restriction Enzymes
  • Gel Electrophoresis and DNA Profiling
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Genetic Engineering and Recombinant DNA
• Summing Up
• Answers to the On Your Own Problems
• Study Guide for Module 7

MODULE 8: EVOLUTION

• Introduction
• Charles Darwin
  • Darwin's theory
  • Microevolution and Macroevolution
    • A Closer Look at Macroevolution
    • Macroevolution Today
• The Geological Column and the Fossil Record
  • A Detailed Look at the Fossil Record Evidence
  • The Cambrian Explosion
  • Punctuated Equilibrium and Gradualism
• Structural Homology
• Molecular Biology
  • Why Do So Many Scientists Believe in Macroevolution?
• Answers to the On Your Own Problems
• Study Guide for Module 8

MODULE 9: PROKARYOTES AND VIRUSES

• Introduction
• Biological Classification
  • Five Kingdoms or Six Kingdoms?
  • Overview of Three Domains and Four Kingdoms
  • Classifying Phylum, Cclass, Order, Family, Genus, and Species using Biological Keys
  • Experiment 9.1: Using a Biological Key
• Archae and Bacteria
  • Archae
  • Bacteria
    • Bacterial Cell Structure (a review)
    • Identifying Bacteria
      • Shape
      • Cell Wall Structure
      • Movement
    • Getting and Releasing Energy
      • Autotraphs
      • Heterotrophs
      • Cellular Respiration
    • Conditions for Bacterial Growth
    • Reproduction
    • Genetic Variation in Bacteria
      • Conjugation
      • Transformation
      • Transduction
    • Bacteria in Nature
      • Chemical Recyclers and Bioremediation
      • Bacteria and Humans
      • Bacteria and Disease
  • Experiment 9.2: Bacterial Fermentation—Making Yogurt
• Viruses
• Viral Structure
• How Viruses Infect
• The Lytic Cycle
• The Lysogenic Cycle
• Defenses Against Viruses
• Answers to the On Your Own Problems
• Answers to Experiment 9.1
• Study Guide for Module 9

MODULE 10: PROTISTS AND FUNGI

• Introduction to Protists
  • Experiment 10.1: Pond Life—Part A
• General Characteristics of Protists
• Classifying Protists
  • Animal-Like Protists—The Protozoans
    • Protozoans with Pseudopodia—Sarcodines
    • Protozoans with Flagella—Zooflagellates
    • Protozoans with Cilia—Ciliates
      • Other Ciliates
    • Nonmotile Protozoans—Sporozoans
  • Fungus-Like Protists
    • Slime Molds
      • Cellular Slime Molds
      • Acellular Slime Molds
    • Water Molds and Mildews
  • Plant-Like Protists—Euglena and Algae
    • Euglena
    • Flame-Colored Algae—Dinoflagellates
      • Golden Algae—Diatoms
      • Gree Algae
      • Other Members of Chrysophyta
    • Red Algae
    • Brown Algae
  • Experiment 10.2: Protozoans, Algae, and Pond Life—Part B
• Introduction to Fungi
• General Characteristics of Fungi
  • Structure and Function
  • Reproduction in Fungi
  • How Fungi Spread
• Classifying Fungi
  • The Common Molds—Zygote Fungi
    • Structure and Function of Zygote Fungi
    • Life Cycle of Zygote Fungi
  • Experiment 10.3: Molds
  • Sac Fungi
    • Yeast
  • Experiment 10.4: Yeast
    • Other Sac Fungi
  • Club Fungi
    • The Life Cycle of Club Fungi
    • Diversity of Club Fungi
  • Experiment 10.5: Club Fungi
  • Chytrids
  • Imperfect Fungi
• How Fungi Impact Life
  • Decomposers
  • Symbiotic Relationships
  • Pathogens
• Summing Up
• Onswes to the On Your Own Problems
• Study Guide for Module 10

[Remainder shows only main module topics...]

MODULE 11: PLANT DIVERSITY AND REPRODUCTION

• Introduction to Plants
• Classifying Plants
• A Closer Look at the Angiosperm Life Cycle
• Answers to the On Your Own Problems
• Study Guide for Module 11

MODULE 12: PLANT STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION

• Introduction to Plant Anatomy and Physiology
• Plant Structure
• Transporting Water and Nutrients
• Plant Growth, Hormones, and Responses
• Unique Designs
• Answesr to the On Your Own Problems
• Study guide for Module 12

MODULE 13: ANIMALS—INVERTEBRATES PART 1

• Introduction
• Characteristics of Animals
• Diversity of Invertebrates
• Summing Up of Invertebrates
• Answers to the On Your Own Problems
• Study Guide for Module 13

MODULE 14: ANIMALS—INVERTEBRATES PART 2

• Introduction
• A Closer Look at Arthropods
• The Diversity of Arthropods
• A Bit About Echinoderms
• Summing Up
• Answers to the On Your Own Problems
• Study Guide for Module 14

MODULE 15: ANIMALS—CHORDATES PART 1

• General Characteristics of Chordates
• Nonvertebrates Chordates
• General Characteristics of Vertebrates
• Diversity of Vertebrates—Fishes
• Diversity of Vertebrates—Amphibians
• Diversity of Vertebrates—Reptiles
• Answers to the On Your Own Problems
• Study Guide for Module 15

MODULE 16: ANIMALS—CHORDATES PART 2

• Introduction
• Birds
• Classification in Class Aves
• Mammals
• Animal Behavior
• Summing it All Up
• Answers to the On Your Own Problems
• Study Guide for Module 16

• End Letter
• Appendix A
• Appendix B: A Complete List of Lab Supplies
• Glossary
• Index