THE MADER/WINDELSPECHT STORY…
The twelfth edition of Biology is a traditional, comprehensive introductory biology textbook, with coverage from Cell Structure and Function to the Conservation of Biodiversity. The book, which centers on the evolution and diversity of organisms, is appropriate for any one- or two-semester biology course.
Biology, 12th Edition is the epitome of Sylvia Mader's expertise. Its concise, precise writing-style employs lucid language to present the material as succinctly as possible, enabling students—even non-majors—to master the foundational concepts before coming to class. “Before You Begin”, “Following the Themes”, and “Thematic Feature Readings” piece together the three major themes of the text—evolution, nature of science, and biological systems. Students are consistently engaged in these themes, revealing the interconnectedness of the major topics in biology.
Sylvia Mader typifies an icon of science education. Her dedication to her students, coupled with her clear, concise writing-style has benefited the education of thousands of students over the past three decades.
The integration of the text and digital world has been achieved with the addition of Dr. Michael Windelspecht’s facility for the development of digital learning assets. For over ten years, Michael served as the Introductory Biology Coordinator at Appalachian State University—a program that enrolls over 4,500 non-science majors annually. Michael is the lead architect in the design of McGraw-Hill's Connect Plus and LearnSmart media content for the Mader series. These assets allow instructors to easily design interactive tutorial materials, enhance presentations in both online and traditional environments, and assess the learning objectives and outcomes of the course.

1 A View of Life
Unit 1 The Cell
2 Basic Chemistry
3 The Chemistry of Organic Molecules
4 Cell Structure and Function
5 Membrane Structure and Function
6 Metabolism: Energy and Enzymes
7 Photosynthesis
8 Cellular Respiration
Unit 2 Genetic Basis of Life
9 The Cell Cycle and Cellular Reproduction
10 Meiosis and Sexual Reproduction
11 Mendelian Patterns of Inheritance
12 Molecular Biology of the Gene
13 Regulation of Gene Activity
14 Biotechnology and Genomics
Unit 3 Evolution
15 Darwin and Evolution
16 How Populations Evolve
17 Speciation and Macroevolution
18 Origin and History of Life
19 Taxonomy, Systematics, and Phylogeny
Unit 4 Microbiology and Evolution
20 Viruses, Bacteria, and Archaea
21 Protist Evolution and Diversity
22 Fungi Evolution and Diversity
Unit 5 Plant Evolution and Biology
23 Plant Evolution and Diversity
24 Flowering Plants: Structure and Organization
25 Flowering Plants: Nutrition and Transport
26 Flowering Plants: Control of Growth Responses
27 Flowering Plants: Reproduction
Unit 6 Animal Evolution and Diversity
28 Invertebrate Evolution
29 Vertebrate Evolution
30 Human Evolution
Unit 7 Comparative Animal Biology
31 Animal Organization and Homeostasis
32 Circulation and Cardiovascular Systems
33 The Lymphatic and Immune Systems
34 Digestive Systems and Nutrition
35 Respiratory Systems
36 Body Fluid Regulation and Excretory Systems
37 Neurons and Nervous Systems
38 Sense Organs
39 Locomotion and Support Systems
40 Hormones and Endocrine Systems
41 Reproductive Systems
42 Animal Development
Unit 8 Behavior and Ecology
43 Behavioral Ecology
44 Population Ecology
45 Community and Ecosystem Ecology
46 Major Ecosystems of the Biosphere
47 Conservation of Biodiversity