Digital library
Textbooks, references and open learning resources.
External
Investigations in Molecular Cell Biology
Clare M. O’Connor · Boston College
The course introduces students to molecular cell biology within the context of a semester-long research project in functional genomics. In the Pathways over Time project, students study the evolutionary conservation of genes in methionine synthesis. Each chapter includes both theoretical background material as well as detailed experimental procedures. Chapters can be used alone or in combination, depending on the course.
External
Biology for Majors II (Lumen)
LibreTexts
In the contents: 04: Module 1- Introduction to Biology · 4.01: Why It Matters- Introduction to Biology · 4.11: Introduction to the Study of Biology
External
Fundamentals of Biology Laboratory Manual
Shawn McEachin and Polly Parks · El Camino College
This course is a survey of all living things: prokaryotes, protists, fungi plants, and animals. Basic principles of structure, function, and relationships of living organisms are discussed with special reference to humans.
External
Human Biology
Gabor Gyurkovics · Community College of Vermont
In the contents: 01: Introduction to Human Biology and the Scientific Method · 1.01: Case Study - Why Should You Study Human Biology
External
BIO 403: Microbiology (Neely)
LibreTexts
In the contents: 2.02: The Eukaryotes of Microbiology · 2.2.E: The Eukaryotes of Microbiology (Exercises) · 7.1.05: Cancer Immunobiology and Immunotherapy
External
Microbiology
Gary Kaiser · Community College of Baltimore County (Cantonsville)
In the contents: Unit 1: Introduction to Microbiology and Prokaryotic Cell Anatomy · 1: Fundamentals of Microbiology · 1.1: Introduction to Microbiology
External
Biology
CK-12 Foundation · LibreTexts
In the contents: 01: Introduction to Biology · 1.16: Principles of Biology · 02: Cell Biology
External
MB352 General Microbiology Laboratory 2021
Alice Lee · North Carolina State University
In the contents: 1.01: Safety Procedures for the Microbiology Laboratory
External
Chemical Biology & Biochemistry Laboratory Using Genetic Code Expansion Manual
Ryan Mehl; Kari van Zee; Kelsey Kean · Oregon State University · 2019
Chemical Biology & Biochemistry Laboratory Using Genetic Code Expansion Manual
External
General Microbiology
Linda Bruslind · Oregon State University · 2020
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 in to 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.
External
A Student's Guide to Tropical Marine Biology
Haley Zanga; Audrey Boraski; Alana Olendorf · Kenyon College · 2019
A Student’s Guide to Tropical Marine Biology is written entirely by students enrolled in the Keene State College Tropical Marine Biology course taught by Dr. Karen Cangialosi.Our goal was to investigate three main aspects of tropical marine biology: understanding the system, identifying problems, and evaluating solutions. Each of the sections contains chapters that utilize openly licensed material and images, and are rich with hyperlinks to other sources. Some of the most pressing tropical marine ecosystem issues are broken up into five sections: Coral Reefs and Diversity, Common Fishes to the Coral Reef, Environmental Threats, Reef Conservation, and Major Marine Phyla. These sections are not mutually exclusive; repetition in some content between chapters is intentional as we expect that users may not read the whole book.
External
Conservation Biology in Sub-Saharan Africa
John Wilson; Richard Primack · Open Book Publishers · 2019
Conservation Biology in Sub-Saharan Africa comprehensively explores the challenges and potential solutions to key conservation issues in Sub-Saharan Africa. Easy to read, this lucid and accessible textbook includes fifteen chapters that cover a full range of conservation topics, including threats to biodiversity, environmental laws, and protected areas management, as well as related topics such as sustainability, poverty, and human-wildlife conflict. This rich resource also includes a background discussion of what conservation biology is, a wide range of theoretical approaches to the subject, and concrete examples of conservation practice in specific African contexts. Strategies are outlined to protect biodiversity whilst promoting economic development in the region.
External
Unfolding the Mystery of Life, Biology Lab Manual for Non-Science Majors
Ellen Genovesi; Laura Blinderman; Patrick Natale · Ellen Genovesi, Laura Blinderman and Patrick Natale · 2019
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.
External
Environmental Biology
Matthew Fisher · Open Oregon Educational Resources · 2018
This open textbook covers the most salient environmental issues, from a biological perspective. The text is designed for an introductory-level college science course. Topics include the fundamentals of ecology, biodiversity, pollution, climate change, food production, and human population growth.
External
General Biology Laboratory Booklet
Martilias Farrell · The Pennsylvania Alliance for Design of Open Textbooks (PA-ADOPT) · 2025
This laboratory manual provides a diverse collection of experiments designed to immerse students in techniques mirroring those used in professional biomedical research. Students will explore fundamental enzyme kinetics, investigating how varying amylase concentrations and the introduction of chemical modifiers influence starch digestion rates. These labs emphasize quantitative analysis through colorimetric assays and densitometry using ImageJ software. The booklet also features studies with planaria, where students will assess how common substances affect locomotor activity and screen compounds for their impact on the remarkable regenerative abilities of these organisms, including generating concentration-effect curves. Additional activities guide students in using microscopy to observe microscopic life. Throughout these hands-on investigations, students will develop and refine crucial laboratory skills such as preparing serial dilutions, mastering precise pipetting techniques, and maintaining detailed, reproducible laboratory notebooks, thereby building a robust foundation in experimental design, data analysis, and the scientific method.
External
Developmental Biology Laboratory: Experiments in Classical and Experimental Embryology
Judith Cebra-Thomas; Matthew Smith · The Pennsylvania Alliance for Design of Open Textbooks (PA-ADOPT) · 2025
This work is designed primarily for use as a laboratory manual in college-level Embryology and Developmental Biology courses and as a companion to developmental biology textbooks. It explores several model animal systems and a variety of the scientific approaches that have been used to study them. It includes both classical embryological observations and manipulations, and more modern techniques, including organ culture and the disruption of developmental processes through pharmacology. The experiments described in the lab manual are designed for 2- to 3-hour laboratory periods. The introductory protocols in each chapter can be adapted to Introductory Biology or Cell Biology courses, while the later protocols are more suited to an advanced course in Developmental Biology. The manual also includes extensive illustrations, preparation guides and appendices to aid the instructor in setting up each lab.
External
Biology Laboratory Manual: Introduction to Molecular, Cellular, and Physiological Principles
Carly Manz; Chanda Skelton · Iowa State University Digital Press · 2025
This lab manual is designed for students enrolled in the second lab course in the introductory biology sequence at Iowa State University. It is a semester-long lab course, required by most life-science-related majors at ISU, and includes activities on the scientific method, molecular and cellular biology, energetics, genetics, plant anatomy and physiology, and animal anatomy and physiology.
External
Introduction to Microbiology
Ying Liu; Student Authors · City College of San Francisco · 2025
Introduction to Microbiology is a textbook designed for non-majors and allied health microbiology courses. The book features chunked content, embedded assessments, and clearly stated learning objectives to support active and inclusive learning. It incorporates equity-focused case studies, interactive elements, and diverse global perspectives to enhance engagement and representation - reflecting our belief that students are not only learners but also co-creators of knowledge. Created by Ying Liu of City College of San Francisco (CCSF) in collaboration with undergraduate students from CCSF and the University of Dundee.
External
Microbiology for Earth Scientists
Matthew Kirk · New Prairie Press · 2023
Microorganisms are the most abundant form of life on Earth and in recent decades it has become increasingly clear that their collective activities are one of the dominant forces shaping the Earth. This book provides earth scientists with an introduction to microbiology and a look at the ways microorganisms are important to their area of expertise. The first part of this book summarizes some basic information about microorganisms, including a discussion of their diversity, physical properties, and metabolisms. From there, the second and third portions of the book are organized around the two-way interactions between microorganisms and their environments. The second portion of the book considers the ways that environmental conditions help determine distributions of microbial activity, including chapters focused on thermodynamic, kinetic, and biological factors. The third and final portion of the book examines the impacts of microbes on their environments. These impacts are placed within the context of earth system science, with chapters focused on impacts to the lithosphere, atmosphere, and hydrosphere. In these chapters, emphasis is placed on microbial impacts to greenhouse gas levels and the quality of water resources, underscoring the relevance of microbiology to environmental concerns of keen interest in the earth science community and beyond. This book is specifically designed for earth science students and can provide a helpful free resource for students in Geomicrobiology courses. However, portions of the book can also have value for students and professionals from any field who are interested in environmental microbiology.
External
Fundamentals of Cell Biology
Lauren Dalton; Robin Young; Heather Ng-Cornish · Oregon State University · 2024
This textbook is focused specifically on the principles and concepts of a foundational Cell Biology course. The book takes a more conceptual approach that highlights how scientists study cells, and how to analyze and interpret experimental results. Rather than focusing primarily on historical experiments that were key to our understanding of cells, the book explores a range of more modern experimental techniques so that students can begin to understand how cells are studied now, in the 21st century. The book includes over 200 newly created illustrations and animations, that were specifically designed for this book, as well as review questions at the end of each chapter, to help students explore and understand the material.