54 Biology
Biology (BIO)
Animal Behaviour Series 
Adam Oliver Brown (University of Ottawa)
2022
Licence: CC BY-SA 4.0
This is a 10-part series of documentary-style episodes on Animal Behaviour. These video episodes are meant to accompany the instruction of undergraduate biology courses in zoology.
Format: videos
Suggested for:
BIO 3176 Animal Behaviour
Applied Ecology
Erin McKenney (North Carolina State University)
2023
Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
This book is formatted to provide information about key ecological principles, concepts, and processes, explored and applied across various contexts. The text can be used as a foundational or supplementary text for ecology courses, or as a standalone reference for students in formal academic settings or beyond.
Format: Pressbook webbook
Includes: glossary, ressources for educators
Suggested for:
BIO 2129 Ecology
Biology for Majors I∗
Lumen Learning
2017
Licence: CC BY 4.0
This text created through Lumen Learning to provide an expansive overview of introductory biology for science students. The broad and specific approaches provide academic freedom for instructors and provide the necessary information for students.
Format: Online
Includes: Applications, instructor resources, exercises, assignments, and solutions
Suggested for:
BIO 1109 Principles of Biology
BIO 1130 Introduction to Organismal Biology [modules 12-13]
BIO 1140 Introduction to Cell and Molecular Biology [modules 1-11]
Biology for Majors II∗
Lumen Learning
2017
Licence: CC BY 4.0
This text created through Lumen Learning to provide an expansive overview of introductory biology for science students. The broad and specific approaches provide academic freedom for instructors and provide the necessary information for students.
Format: Online
Includes: Applications, instructor resources, exercises, assignments, and solutions
Suggested for:
BIO 1109 Principles of Biology [modules 1-12 and 25-26]
BIO 1130 Introduction to Organismal Biology [modules 3 and 25-26]
Biology 2e∗
Mary Ann Clark (Texas Wesleyan University), Jung Choi (Georgia Institute of Technology), and Matthew Douglas (Grand Rapids Community College) (OpenStax)
2018
Licence: CC BY 4.0
Biology 2e is an OpenStax biology textbook with all of the concepts covered in two terms of first-year biology. It was written by biology professors from several American institutions and is faculty-reviewed.
Formats: Online and PDF
Includes: Instructor resources, slides, simulations, applications, summaries, exercises, and solutions
Reviews: Open Textbook Library – BCcampus
Suggested for:
BIO 1130 Introduction to Organismal Biology [chapters 18-20 and 44-47]
BIO 1140 Introduction to Cell and Molecular Biology [chapters 1-3]
Biology 351 Anatomical Illustrations∗
Corrina Most, Katherine Tran, Olivia Seweryn, and Graham Hagan (Iowa State University)
2021
Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 3.0
These anatomical illustrations were created by Biological and Pre-Medical Illustration (BPMI) students that had previously attended the course, BIOL351: Comparative Chordate Anatomy. The students worked closely with the lab instructor to develop detailed anatomical illustrations of the specimens studied in the lab, which allowed the students to showcase their work. The images were then incorporated in the lab handbook for the course and made more widely available as open educational resources.
Formats: PDF, .png, .tif., and .jpg
Suggested as source of illustrations for biology courses
Biology Media Collection∗
Edited by Rachel Brown (University of Alberta)
2018
Licence: CC BY 4.0
The four courses this database provides images for (Biology 107 Introduction to Cell Biology, 108 Introduction to Biological Diversity, 207 Molecular Genetics and Heredity, and 208 Principles of Ecology) are foundational to all other Biological Science courses at the university. Images can be used in a wide variety of other science courses, and may be included in student and faculty work.
Format: .jpg
Suggested as source of images for biology courses
Concepts of Biology∗
Samantha Fowler (Clayton State University), Rebecca Roush (Sandhills Community College), and James Wise (Hampton University) (OpenStax)
2013
Licence: CC BY 4.0
Concepts of Biology is designed for the introductory biology course for nonmajors taught at most two- and four-year colleges. The scope, sequence, and level of the program are designed to match typical course syllabi in the market. Concepts of Biology includes interesting applications, features a rich art program, and conveys the major themes of biology.
Formats: Online and PDF
Includes: Key terms, chapter summary, and questions
Reviews: Open Textbook Library – BCcampus
Suggested for:
BIO 1109 Principles of Biology
Concepts of Biology – First Canadian Edition∗
Charles Molnar and Jane Gair (Camosun College)
2015
Licence: CC BY 4.0
In this survey text, directed at those not majoring in biology, we dispel the assumption that a little learning is a dangerous thing. We hope that by skimming the surface of a very deep subject, biology, we may inspire you to drink more deeply and make more informed choices relating to your health, the environment, politics, and the greatest subject that are all of us are entwined in, life itself. Canadian adaptation of Concepts of Biology.
Formats: Pressbooks webbook, EPUB, PDF, MOBI, and more
Includes: PowerPoint slides, videos, simulations, summaries, exercises, and solutions
Reviews: BCcampus
Suggested for:
BIO 1109 Principles of Biology
Ecology: Population Growth∗
Sofia Perin and Teaching and Learning Support Service (University of Ottawa)
2021
Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
Ecology: Population Growth is a Canadian adaptation of Connecting Concepts: Interactive Lessons in Biology by Robert Jeanne and Jan Cheetham (University of Wisconsin). It includes interactive lessons on exponential growth focusing on the zebra mussel population, logistic growth using fish as an example, and elephant population growth.
Format: Online
Used in:
BIO 2129 Ecology
Evolutionary Developmental Biology∗
Ajna Rivera (University of the Pacific)
2019 (Updated 2021)
Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
The fields of Development and Evolution cannot be truly separated. When we study Developmental Biology we are mostly looking at a fine-tuned mechanical and genetic process that has been selected on for eons. Not only can evolution select on the final product – a working, fertile adult – but also can act at each developmental stage. It is easy to see how evolution acts through natural selection on adults, but how can it act on development itself?
Formats: Online and PDF
Suggested for:
BIO 3147 Animal Developmental Biology
Forensic Toxicology: From Crime Scene to the Virtual Lab
Sanela Martic (Trent University)
2022
Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
Take a virtual tour from fundamental toxicology through laboratory demonstrations to court cases that focus on analysis, interpretation, and reporting of toxicological results in a forensic science context.
Format: Pressbooks webbook
Suggested for:
BIO 9107 Toxicology and Regulation
Fundamentals of Microbiology Lab Manual
Deon O’Bryant, Sasha Guillory, and Bryan Mitchell (Atlanta Metropolitan State College)
2020
Licence: CC BY 4.0
This lab manual for Fundamentals of Microbiology was developed to supplement OpenStax Microbiology at Atlanta Metropolitan State College. Topics include smear preparation, simple, gram, acid, and endospore staining, environmental effects on bacterial growth, and bacterial isolation from a mixed culture.
Format: PDF
Suggested for:
BIO 3126 General Microbiology Laboratory
General Biology I: Survey of Cellular Biology
Lisa Bartee and Christine Anderson (Mt Hood Community College) (OpenOregon)
2018
Licence: CC BY 4.0
BI101: Survey of Cellular Biology is intended for one term of the introductory biology course for non-science majors taught at many two- and four-year colleges. The concepts of cellular biology, as they apply to the study of life, are introduced, including parts of a cell, metabolism, and homeostasis.
Formats: Pressbooks webbook, EPUB, PDF, MOBI, and more
Includes: Learning objectives and interactive activities
Suggested for:
BIO 1109 Principles of Biology
General Biology II: Survey of Molecular Life and Genetics
Lisa Bartee and Christine Anderson (Mt Hood Community College) (OpenOregon)
2018
Licence: CC BY 4.0
BI102: Survey of Molecular Life and Genetics is intended for one term of the introductory biology course for non-science majors taught at many two- and four-year colleges. The concepts of genetics, as they apply to the study of life, are introduced, including the principles of inheritance, genetics, and gene regulation.
Formats: Pressbooks webbook, EPUB, PDF, MOBI, and more
Includes: Learning objectives
Suggested for:
BIO 1109 Principles of Biology
General Microbiology – 1st Edition
Linda Bruslind (Oregon State University)
2020
Licence: CC BY-NC 4.0
Welcome to the wonderful world of microbiology! Yay! So. What is microbiology? If we break the word down it translates to “the study of small life,” where the small life refers to microorganisms or microbes. But who are the microbes? And how small are they? Generally microbes can be divided into two categories: the cellular microbes (or organisms) and the acellular microbes (or agents). In the cellular camp we have the bacteria, the archaea, the fungi, and the protists (a bit of a grab bag composed of algae, protozoa, slime molds, and water molds). Cellular microbes can be either unicellular, where one cell is the entire organism, or multicellular, where hundreds, thousands or even billions of cells can make up the entire organism. In the acellular camp we have the viruses and other infectious agents, such as prions and viroids. In this textbook the focus will be on the bacteria and archaea (traditionally known as the “prokaryotes,”) and the viruses and other acellular agents.
Formats: Pressbooks webbook, EPUB, PDF, and MOBI
Suggested for:
BIO 3124 General Microbiology
Human Biology∗
Suzanne Wakim and Mandeep Grewal (Butte College)
Last updated: January 2021
Licence: CC BY-NC 4.0
Human biology is an interdisciplinary area of study that examines humans through the influences and interplay of many diverse fields such as genetics, evolution, physiology, anatomy, epidemiology, anthropology, ecology, nutrition, population genetics, and sociocultural influences.
Formats: Online and PDF
Includes: case studies, summaries, and review questions
Suggested for:
BIO 1300 The Human Animal
An Interactive Introduction to Organismal and Molecular Biology
Andrea Bierema (Michigan State University)
2020
Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
This “textbook” is interactive, meaning that although each chapter has text, they also have interactive H5P content, such as quizzes, simulations, interactive videos, and images with clickable hotspots. Students receive instant feedback when they complete the interactive content, and therefore, can learn and check their understanding all in one place. The first unit introduces students to the nature of science, including scientific controversies, and information literacy, including how to analyze literature and identify stakeholders. Unit 2 is organismal biology, including carbon cycling and population growth, and unit 3 is molecular biology with a focus on gene expression.
Formats: Pressbooks webbook, PDF, EPUB, MOBI, and more
Includes: Learning objectives, questions, and interactive activities
Suggested for:
BIO 1130 Introduction to Organismal Biology
BIO 1140 Introduction to Cell and Molecular Biology
Introducing Mathematical Biology
Alex Best (University of Sheffield)
2023
Licence: CC BY 4.0
This interactive textbook focuses on the areas of population ecology, infectious diseases, immunology and cell dynamics, gene networks and pharmacokinetics. It is aimed at anyone who is interested in learning about how to model biological systems, including undergraduate and postgraduate mathematics students who have not studied mathematical biology before, life-sciences students with an interest in modelling, and post-16 mathematics students interested in university-level material.
Formats: Pressbooks webbook, EPUB, and PDF
Suggested for:
BIO 5306 Modelling for Biologists
Introduction to Genetics
Natasha Ramroop Singh (Thompson Rivers University)
2009 (revised in 2023)
Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
In this Introductory text, the focus is on Transmission or Classical Genetics, which deals with the basic principles of heredity and the mechanisms by which traits are passed from one generation to the next. The work of Gregor Mendel is central to Transmission Genetics; as such, there is a discussion about the pioneering work performed by him along with Mendel’s Laws, as they pertain to inheritance. Other aspects of Classical Genetics are covered, including the relationship between chromosomes and heredity, the arrangement of genes on chromosomes, and the physical mapping of genes.
Formats: Pressbooks webbook, EPUB, and PDF
Includes: H5P activities, key terms, study questions and answers
Reviews: Open Textbook Library
Suggested for:
BIO 2133 Genetics
Introductory Animal Physiology∗
Sanja Hinic-Frlog (University of Toronto Mississauga)
Licence: CC BY 4.0
This book is an introduction to the diversity of structure and function in animals at the tissue and organ system level. The focus of this book is on principles and mechanisms that sustain life and maintain homeostasis, including water balance, gas exchange, acquisition and transport of oxygen and nutrients, temperature regulation, electrical and chemical signal transmission, sensory processing, and locomotion. The content in this open textbook was adapted from other open textbooks (CC-BY-4.0) resources or created/written by Sanja Hinic-Frlog and collaborators. Collaborators include: Jessica Hanley, Simone Laughton, and invited undergraduate and graduate students at the University of Toronto Mississauga.
Formats: Pressbooks webbooks, EPUB, PDF, MOBI, and more
Suggested for:
BIO 3303 Animal Physiology I
BIO 3302 Animal Physiology II
Laboratory Exercises in Microbiology: Discovering the Unseen World Through Hands-On Investigation
Susan McLaughlin and Joan Petersen (Queensborough Community College)
2016
Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
The exercises in this laboratory manual are designed to engage students in hand-on activities that reinforce their understanding of the microbial world. Topics covered include: staining and microscopy, metabolic testing, physical and chemical control of microorganisms, and immunology. The target audience is primarily students preparing for a career in the health sciences, however many of the topics would be appropriate for a general microbiology course as well.
Format: PDF
Reviews: Open Textbook Library
Suggested for:
BIO 3124 General Microbiology
BIO 3126 General Microbiology Laboratory
Microbiology
Nina Parker (Shenandoah University) (OpenStax)
2016
Licence: CC BY 4.0
Microbiology covers the scope and sequence requirements for a single-semester microbiology course for non-majors. The book presents the core concepts of microbiology with a focus on applications for careers in allied health.
Formats: Online and PDF
Reviews: Open Textbook Library
Suggested for:
BIO 3124 General Microbiology
Microbiology for Allied Health Students
Molly Smith and Sara Selby (South Georgia State University)
2017
Licence: CC BY 4.0
Microbiology for Allied Health Students is designed to cover the scope and sequence requirements for the single semester Microbiology course for non-majors and allied health students. The book presents the core concepts of microbiology with a focus on applications for careers in allied health. The pedagogical features of Microbiology for Allied Health Students make the material interesting and accessible to students while maintaining the career-application focus and scientific rigor inherent in the subject matter.
Format: PDF
Includes:
Reviews: Open Textbook Library
Suggested for:
BIO 3124 General Microbiology
“Open Genetics Lectures” textbook for an Introduction to Molecular Genetics and Heredity (BIOL207)∗
John Locke (University of Alberta)
2017
Licence: CC0 Public domain
The Fall 2017 version of Open Genetics Lectures for the course: Introduction to Molecular Genetics and Heredity.
Format: PDF
Suggested for:
BIO 2133 Genetics
A Primer for Computational Biology∗
Shawn T. O’Neil (Oregon State University)
2019
Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
This book aims to teach these basics of scientific computing: skills that even in fields such as computer science are often gained informally over a long period of time. This book is intended for readers who have passing familiarity with computing. The discussion and examples are framed in the analysis of biological data, and thus assume some basic biological knowledge, including concepts such as genes, genomes, and proteins. This book covers topics such as the usage of the command-line interface, installing and running bioinformatics software (without access to administrator privileges on the machine), basic analysis of data using built-in system tools, visualization of results, and introductory programming techniques in languages commonly used for bioinformatics.
Formats: Pressbooks webbook, EPUB, and PDF
Suggested for:
BIO 3360 Computational Tools for Biological Sciences
Unfolding the Mystery of Life, Biology Lab Manual for Non-Science Majors∗
Ellen Genovesi, Laura Blinderman, and Patrick Natale (Mercer County Community College)
2019
Licence: CC BY 4.0
This laboratory manual is intended for use in a biology laboratory course taken by non-science majors, pre-biology, and pre-allied health majors.
Laboratory exercises provide students with experience in basic laboratory skills, gathering and organizing data, measuring and calculating, hypothesis testing, analysis of data, writing, and laboratory safety. The skill sets are designed to promote the development of critical thought and analysis. Students work with living and preserved specimens, and laboratory reagents and equipment.
Format: PDF
Reviews: Open Textbook Library
Suggested for:
BIO 1109 Principles of Biology [exercises 2, 4-13; as instructor resource to create own lab manual]
Biomedical Science (BIM)
No suggested OER at this time. Please also have a look at the following disciplines: Anatomy, Biochemistry, Chemistry, Medicine, and Psychology.
