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Christmas 2007: Hottest new biology books for children

admin — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 15:54:55 +0000

Biology is such a wide ranging subject, and there are some great books out there. This list of recently published books suitable for kids from about 5 to 11 years. However, adults may find them compelling reading too.

1. Why is Snot Green? The Science Museum Question and Answer Book by Glen Murphy (2007)

This book contains the answers to which curious young minds pose questions; Why is snot green? Can animals talk? What are scabs for? and many others you never really thought about until your kids asked. A fun book that has been compiled from the many questions asked by children (and probably adults too) at the Science Museum in London.

2. See Inside your Body (Usborne Flap Books) by Katy Danes (2006)

A fun and accurate way to discover the inner workings of the human body. Contains original and colorful illustration accompanied by text with flaps to lift and reveal more detail. Good for kids of all ages as pictures are informative but tasteful with no gory pictures.

3. How the incredible human body works by ‘The Brainwaves’ by Richard Walker (2007)

The brainwaves take you on a tour of the human body; see them as they fight toxic bacteria, find out how you know when you are hungry and explore areas of the human body and how they work in an interesting and different way. Wonderful illustrations and a good dose of all those horrible infections that the body has to deal with such as viruses, fungi and worms and how they are overcome by the immune system.

4. The Deep: The extraordinary creatures of the Abyss by Claire Nouvian (Hardback 2007)

As a child I was transfixed by amazing photos in a book of a similar title. This is truly a stunning and enthralling read. Photos are interspersed by short essays written by the author and other leading researchers that provide insight into the biology of deep sea organisms and compliment the breathtaking visuals. The essays are probably more easily read by slightly older kids but the pictures speak for themselves.

5. Real Science 4 Kids Pre level 1 by Dr. R Keller (2007)

A new book in the Real science for Kids series. This book is aimed at children a little younger than level 1 book’s and is aimed at ages from 7 years and up. The book provides an overview of a wide range of concepts in Biology. Like the other books in the series the content can be taught with a small amount of knowledge of the subjects covered. This book has 10 chapters including ‘ plant life’, cells to protozoa’ , ‘from caterpillar to butterfly’ and ‘our balanced world’. A great way to get kids a good start in science.

Christmas 2007: Hottest new biology books for teens

admin — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 17:41:15 +0000

The vast majority of books in this category are neither new nor hot, mainly consisting of rather worthy but weighty text-books aimed at getting teens through examinations on the subject.

I has to be said, that without doubt, titles like the AQA guides on biology, environment and microbes and disease are solid, dependable and a must for those taking the exams that these books support. However, is it a hot gift for Christmas? No, probably not?

Something that might be more interesting and acceptable when opened is “Hotspots Revisited: Earth’s Biologically Richest and Most Endangered Terrestrial Ecoregions” by Gustavo A. B. de Fonseca, Harrison Ford, Peter A. Seligmann, Russell A. Mittermeier, Patricio Robles Gil, Michael Hoffman, John Pilgrim, Thomas Brooks, Cristina Mittermeier, John Lamoreux.

Origned by Conservation International, it sets out to create an encyclopedic reference point on the biodiversity of endangered regions. This is a “revisit”, continuing to highlight and reference biologically diverse and threatened regions.

The book is illustrated by hundreds of pictures of its subjects, riotously colourful enough to make a coffee table book, but intensely interesting and ecologically important. Something a teen interested in biodiversity could not fail to be enchanted and informed by. It has to be said that it comes in at a coffee table price too 41.00, but the work involved makes it worth considering.

Another interesting topic, outside the normal text-books available is The Biology of Bats. For anyone interested in the leathery, furry creatures this is a must-have. Retailing at 17.99, the book details the biology of the mammals, their physiology, phylogeny and ecology. Echolocation, also known as biosonar is also discussed thoroughly. Written by Gerhard Neuweiler, an acknowledged expert it takes its studies from North American and European species.

Sexual reproduction in biology

admin — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 17:23:10 +0000

Sex: Biology Explained

ABSTRACT

This article explores the variety and similarities of sexual reproduction in plants, frogs, chickens, and people in a way suitable for pre-teens as their first “sex talk.”

COMMON CHARACTERISTICS

Almost every living thing both plant and animal- produces offspring through a process known as sex.

During the process of sex, two individuals of the same species each contribute a tiny portion of their own bodies a special living cell containing half of the material needed to create an offspring. The two special cells combine to form a complete new cell capable of growing.

The two individuals working together to create an offspring are called adults. With just a few exceptions in some species, one of the adults has to be a male and one has to be a female. The reason is that the special cells that come together to form a complete cell are special in different ways. One of these types of special sex cell is called a sperm, which is produced by the male. The other type is called an ovum, which is produced by the female.

When a sperm and an ovum combine together, the new cell begins dividing, first into two cells, then into four. Increasing to eight cells, to sixteen cells and so on, the potential offspring, the embryo, continues growing. As it becomes larger, the embryo’s cells start to become specialized and develop into the different parts that make the embryo begin resembling the original two individuals who created it.

Eventually the embryo has all of the working parts that make it an identifiable member of its species. No longer called an embryo, it may be called depending on the species a seedling, a plantlet, a larva, a tadpole, a chick, a pup, a calf, or a baby. It continues growing until it becomes an adult, and then is able to produce offspring of its own.

PLANTS

In plants, we see the sex process happening when the wind or insects carry pollen grains from one flower to another. The pollen contains sperm. When it lands on a special part of the flower called a pistil, the sperm inside the pollen burrows in to find the ovum. When the sperm and the ovum combine, the new cell begins growing, eventually becoming a seed. The plant embryo is inside the seed.

In plants, the embryo will typically stay dormant inside the seed until conditions are right for it to continue growing such as when it is exposed to warm temperatures and water. Then it will sprout and grow into a new plant.

Book reviews: The Evolutionary Biology of Parasites, by Peter Price

admin — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 00:06:02 +0000

Book Review of Peter Price’s Monograph in Population Biology

For students of science interested in how parasites came to be, this 15th Monograph in Robert May’s Population Biology Series, originally published in 1980, is an interesting and informative must-have classic.

How Did Parasites Evolve?

Unless you are a parasitologist, you may not devote a great deal of time to thinking about the parasitic way of life. But it is an interesting evolutionary question. What combination of genetics and selective pressures are in play that ultimately results in the evolution of an organism that is entirely dependent on a host for its own survival. How did these biological free-loaders evolve?

What Exactly Is a Parasite?

Experts even quibble about what constitutes a parasite, and there are many definitions.

The introduction of the book is devoted to sorting out what a parasite is and focusing the reader on the topic of the book, the evolutionary biology of the parasitic life style.

Why a Book on Evolution of Parasites?

When the book was written in the 1980′s, Price believed that biology had not given sufficient attention to the evolutionary pressures that have selected for parasitism, explaining that, “Ecology and evolutionary principles should address such spectacular speciation and provide the basis for an understanding of the mechanisms involved. I do not think that a coherent body of theory exists for the evolutionary biology of parasitic organisms.”

Since this observation, the ecology and evolution of parasites received additional attention from Price, his students and other scientists interested in the evolution of organisms that make a living through exploitation. This book, Evolutionary Biology of Parasites, is a classic that laid the groundwork for future research and increased understanding.

About Peter W. Price

Dr. Price is currently Regents’ Professor Emeritus in Department of Biological Sciences, Northern Arizona University. He has authored numerous scientific articles and books, his most recent book being Macroevolutionary Theory on Macroecological Patterns published by Cambridge University Press.

Title: Evolutionary Biology of Parasites

Author: Peter Price

Publisher & Year: Princeton University Press, 1980

List Price: $57.50

ISBN Paperback: 9 780691 082578

Verdict: A classic work essential for anyone with a serious interest in parasitology.