Digital library
Textbooks, references and open learning resources.
External
CHEM 210 General Chemistry I
Sol Parajon Puenzo · Cañada College
This course is the first half of a two-semester sequence in general chemistry intended for students pursuing majors in physical sciences, biological sciences and engineering. The topics include atomic theory, stoichiometry, chemical bonding, thermochemistry, periodicity, molecular geometry, gas laws, solution stoichiometry, intermolecular forces and selected topics covering redox and acid-base reactions.
External
Biotechnology Foundations
Jack O'Grady · OpenStax CNX · 2013
Given the broad definition of biotechnology applications and products, it is easy to see how there is enormous overlap within the fields of cellular biology, microbiology, chemistry, and biomedical engineering. It is the goal of this textbook to provide foundational knowledge to begin building your biotechnology toolkit and enter an exciting career of making a difference through biotechnology. This textbook first explores the fundamentals of laboratory science and biotechnology. Unit 1 begins with a dive into the foundation of biology and chemistry by asking what is life and what are the molecules of life? The end of the unit offers a primer into laboratory science; preparing solutions and operating basic lab equipment. Unit 2 brings readers through a vital tool of biomanufacturing, understanding the growth and control of microbes. Many biotechnology products are made by harnessing the work of microbes, and this unit explores this invisible and intriguing world of microorganisms. The final unit, molecular biotechnology, offers a more in-depth look at how biological molecules such as DNA and protein are manipulated into creating useful products.
External
General Chemistry: Principles, Patterns, and Applications
Bruce Averill; Patricia Eldredge · Saylor Foundation · 2011
The overall goal of the authors with General Chemistry: Principles, Patterns, and Applications was to produce a text that introduces the students to the relevance and excitement of chemistry. Although much of first-year chemistry is taught as a service course, Bruce and Patricia feel there is no reason that the intrinsic excitement and potential of chemistry cannot be the focal point of the text and the course. So, they emphasize the positive aspects of chemistry and its relationship to students' lives, which requires bringing in applications early and often. In addition, the authors feel that many first year chemistry students have an enthusiasm for biologically and medically relevant topics, so they use an integrated approach in their text that includes explicit discussions of biological and environmental applications of chemistry. Topics relevant to materials science are also introduced to meet the more specific needs of engineering students. To facilitate integration of such material, simple organic structures, nomenclature, and reactions are introduced very early in the text, and both organic and inorganic examples are used wherever possible. This approach emphasizes the distinctions between ionic and covalent bonding, thus enhancing the students' chance of success in the organic chemistry course that traditionally follows general chemistry. Finally, the authors made a conscious effort to treat material that has traditionally been relegated to boxes, and thus perhaps perceived as peripheral by the students, by incorporating it into the text to serve as a learning tool. To begin the discussion of chemistry rapidly, the traditional first chapter introducing units, significant figures, conversion factors, dimensional analysis, and so on, has been reorganized. The material has been placed in the chapters where the relevant concepts are first introduced, thus providing three advantages: Eliminates the tedium of the traditional approach, which introduces mathematical
External
Calculus for the Life Sciences: A Modeling Approach
James Cornette; Ralph Ackerman · A.T. Still University · 2013
Our writing is based on three premises. First, life sciences students are motivated by and respond well to actual data related to real life sciences problems. Second, the ultimate goal of calculus in the life sciences primarily involves modeling living systems with difference and differential equations. Understanding the concepts of derivative and integral are crucial, but the ability to compute a large array of derivatives and integrals is of secondary importance. Third, the depth of calculus for life sciences students should be comparable to that of the traditional physics and engineering calculus course; else life sciences students will be short changed and their faculty will advise them to take the 'best' (engineering) course. In our text, mathematical modeling and difference and differential equations lead, closely follow, and extend the elements of calculus. Chapter one introduces mathematical modeling in which students write descriptions of some observed processes and from these descriptions derive first order linear difference equations whose solutions can be compared with the observed data. In chapters in which the derivatives of algebraic, exponential, or trigonometric functions are defined, biologically motivated differential equations and their solutions are included. The chapter on partial derivatives includes a section on the diffusion partial differential equation. There are two chapters on non-linear difference equations and on systems of two difference equations and two chapters on differential equations and on systems of differential equation.
External
Calculus for the Life Sciences: A Modeling Approach
James Cornette; Ralph Ackerman · A.T. Still University · 2011
Our writing is based on three premises. First, life sciences students are motivated by and respond well to actual data related to real life sciences problems. Second, the ultimate goal of calculus in the life sciences primarily involves modeling living systems with difference and differential equations. Understanding the concepts of derivative and integral are crucial, but the ability to compute a large array of derivatives and integrals is of secondary importance. Third, the depth of calculus for life sciences students should be comparable to that of the traditional physics and engineering calculus course; else life sciences students will be short changed and their faculty will advise them to take the 'best' (engineering) course. In our text, mathematical modeling and difference and differential equations lead, closely follow, and extend the elements of calculus. Chapter one introduces mathematical modeling in which students write descriptions of some observed processes and from these descriptions derive first order linear difference equations whose solutions can be compared with the observed data. In chapters in which the derivatives of algebraic, exponential, or trigonometric functions are defined, biologically motivated differential equations and their solutions are included. The chapter on partial derivatives includes a section on the diffusion partial differential equation. There are two chapters on non-linear difference equations and on systems of two difference equations and two chapters on differential equations and on systems of differential equation.
External
Introduction to Systems Biology: Workbook for Flipped-Classroom Teaching
Thomas Sauter; Marco Albrecht · Open Book Publishers · 2023
This book is an introduction to the language of systems biology, which is spoken among many disciplines, from biology to engineering. Authors Thomas Sauter and Marco Albrecht draw on a multidisciplinary background and evidence-based learning to facilitate the understanding of biochemical networks, metabolic modeling and system dynamics. Their pedagogic approach briefly highlights core ideas of concepts in a broader interdisciplinary framework to guide a more effective deep dive thereafter. The learning journey starts with the purity of mathematical concepts, reveals its power to connect biological entities in structure and time, and finally introduces physics concepts to tightly align abstraction with reality. This workbook is all about self-paced learning, supports the flipped-classroom concept, and kick-starts with scientific evidence on studying. Each chapter comes with links to external YouTube videos, learning checklists, and Integrated real-world examples to gain confidence in thinking across scientific perspectives. The result is an integrated approach that opens a line of communication between theory and application, enabling readers to actively learn as they read. This overview of capturing and analyzing the behavior of biological systems will interest adherers of systems biology and network analysis, as well as related fields such as bioinformatics, biology, cybernetics, and data science.
External
Introduction to Biosystems Engineering
Nicholas M. Holden; Mary Leigh Wolfe; Jactone A. Ogejo; Enda J. Cummins · American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE), Virginia Tech Publishing · 2021
The discipline of Biosystems Engineering emerged in the 1990s from the traditional strongholds of agricultural engineering and food engineering. Biosystems engineering integrates engineering science and design with applied biological, environmental, and agricultural sciences. Introduction to Biosystems Engineering is targeted at 1st and 2nd year university-level students with an interest in biosystems engineering but who are not yet familiar with the breadth and depth of the subject. It is designed as a coherent educational resource, also available for download as individual digital chapters. The book can be used as a localized, customizable text for introductory courses in Biosystems Engineering globally. It is written as a series of stand-alone chapters organized under six major topics: Food and Bioprocessing; Environment; Buildings and Infrastructure; Information and Communications Technology and Data; Machinery Systems; and Energy. Each chapter is organized around stated learning outcomes and describes key concepts, applications of the concepts, and worked examples. Instructors adopting or reviewing this text are encouraged to register with the publisher using this form.
External
Bio-Inspired Sensory Systems
Geoffrey Brooks · Florida State University · 2021
Using natural sensory system concepts to develop and improve sensory systems will continue to thrive for many years to come. Technology advances rapidly (Moore’s Law) as does our understanding of biological principles and designs. These trends fuel the fertile grounds of bio-inspired sensory systems, a topic that is inherently multidisciplinary. This book will serve well as either an academic text on the subject or an introduction to the variety of proven bio-inspired designs. The focus is on sensory systems that interpret environmental stimuli. It introduces natural photo-, mechano-, and chemo-sensory systems across the animal kingdom and also summarizes various novel engineering ideas that glean ideas from these natural sensory systems.
External
Introduction to Environmental Science
Caralyn Zehnder, Kalina Manoylov, Samuel Mutiti, Christine Mutiti, Allison VandeVoort, & Donna Bennett · Georgia College and State University
In the contents: 1.2: Biological Molecules · 1.3: Biological Organization
External
ENVS C100: Environmental Science
Tanya Hoerer · Coastline College
In the contents: 2.5.12.08: Genetic Engineering · 2.5.12.09: Biological Interaction with Environmental Chemicals · 2.5.14: Feeding the Anthrosphere- Utilizing Renewable and Biological Materials
External
TLP Library I
Dissemination of IT for the Promotion of Materials Science (DoITPoMS) · University of Cambridge
In the contents: 05: Avoidance of Crystallization in Biological Systems · 23: Elasticity in Biological Materials
External
OIT: CHE 333 Organic Chemistry III
Travis Lund · Oregon Institute of Technology
In the contents: 6.4: Comparing Biological Reactions to Laboratory Reactions · 8.7: Biological Nucleophilic Substitution Reactions · 9.8: The Organic Chemistry of Genetic Engineering
External
Contemporary Biology
Rachel Aptekar · Cosumnes River College
In the contents: 3.03: Biological Molecules · 8.06: Cloning and Genetic Engineering
External
Biology for an Informed World
Trevor Rivers · University of Kansas
In the contents: 10.04: Biological Molecules · 15.01: Cloning and Genetic Engineering
External
Concepts in Biology
OpenStax · LibreTexts
In the contents: 2.03: Biological Molecules · 10.01: Cloning and Genetic Engineering
External
Raskoff Environmental Science
Kevin Raskoff · Montery Peninsula College
In the contents: 2.02: Biological Molecules · 7.10: Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering · 8.05: Biological Magnification
External
Basic Cell and Molecular Biology
Gerald Bergtrom · University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
In the contents: 3.05: Some Proteins are Chemically Modified and Others Require Prosthetic Groups to be Biologically Active · 15.08: From Genetic Engineering and Genetic Modification
External
Principles of Biology
LibreTexts
In the contents: 03: Biological Molecules · 3.05: Biological Macromolecule Practice Questions · 20.03: Genetic Engineering
External
Organic Chemistry with a Biological Emphasis
Tim Soderberg · University of Minnesota Morris
In the contents: 6.05: Comparing Biological Reactions to Laboratory Reactions · 8.08: Biological Nucleophilic Substitution Reactions · 9.09: The Organic Chemistry of Genetic Engineering
External
Contemporary Biology
Rachel Aptekar · Cosumnes River College
In the contents: 2.03: Biological Molecules · 7.06: Cloning and Genetic Engineering