An Interactive Introduction to Organismal and Molecular Biology

Reviewed by Jaimie Powell, Biology Instructor, Blue Mountain Community College on 9/1/22

Comprehensiveness rating: 3 see less

I think the title is a bit misleading. Most of the chapters in the "Organismal Biology" section are about ecology (e.g., Biodiversity, Population Growth, Species Interactions). The "Reproduction" chapter is primarily about cell division and doesn't really fit in with the other chapters in the section or under the heading of "Organismal Biology.

The second section "Molecular Biology" seems more comprehensive. It covers the basics of protein structure and function, gene expression, and more.
There is no glossary or index.

Content Accuracy rating: 5

The information seems to be accurate.

Relevance/Longevity rating: 5

The examples are up-to-date and interesting. I like the inclusion of Genetic Engineering.

Clarity rating: 4

It isn't clear if the book is used for majors or non-majors. I think that some students (non-majors in particular) would struggle with some chapters. For example, the Carbon Cycle chapter would be challenging for students with no prior knowledge of the topic. Also, in Ch 16: Protein Structure and Function, there is a large section on mutations and how they affect phenotype. This chapter precedes Gene Expression so students may struggle to see the connections.

Consistency rating: 5

Yes. Each chapter is organized similarly and includes a combination of text, videos, and interactive exercises.
I saw no inconsistency in terms of terminology.

Modularity rating: 5

Yes. I love the way each chapter is organized. I believe it would appeal to students. The text is readable. The interactive activities and examples are interspersed throughout each chapter.

Organization/Structure/Flow rating: 3

The topics are presented in an order that I find a bit confusing. However, the author explains that the book was written for her classes. I'm sure in that context, the order is clearer.
As I stated earlier, the name of the book and the names of the sections don't really fit the content. The "Organismal Biology" section seems to be Ecology and Evolution.

Interface rating: 5

This book looks great and is easy to navigate.

Grammatical Errors rating: 4

Overall, the writing is good. But could use additional proofreading. e.g. Ch 15 starts with "This unit addresses how DNA is read to create protein and that proteins determine an organism’s characteristics."

Cultural Relevance rating: 5

Yes. The author has obviously made an effort to make sure the text is culturally sensitive and inclusive. She cites projectbiodiversity.org a source for some of her examples.

Comments

Overall, I think this is a good textbook. I think students would like the organization and benefit by the inclusion of the interactives and examples in each chapter.