Campbell's Biology, 13th edition

Published by Pearson (December 15, 2025) © 2026

  • Lisa A. Urry Mills College at Northeastern University
  • Peter V. Minorsky Mercy College
  • Kerry L Hull Bishop's University, Quebec, Canada
  • Rebecca B. Orr Collin College
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Title overview

Campbell Biology delivers a proven, current, absorbing experience that guides you to a true understanding of biology. The authors carry on Neil Campbell's original vision: to provide the tools, visuals, resources, and activities that will help you succeed in your general biology course.

The 13th Edition offers new Practice Applying Your Learning question sets in each unit. New and updated content includes updates in gene editing and stem cell research; artificial intelligence and its role in bioinformatics and medical diagnosis; global climate and population changes; SARS-CoV-2 and the COVID-19 pandemic, and expanded discussions of emerging and zoonotic pathogens; and much more.

Table of contents

  • 1. Evolution, the Themes of Biology, and Scientific Inquiry

UNIT 1: THE CHEMISTRY OF LIFE

  • Interview: Kristi Anseth
  • 2. The Chemical Context of Life
  • 3. Water and Life
  • 4. Carbon and the Molecular Diversity of Life
  • 5. The Structure and Function of Large Biological Molecules

UNIT 2: THE CELL

  • Interview: Julie Theriot
  • 6. A Tour of the Cell
  • 7. Membrane Structure and Function
  • 8. Introduction to Metabolism
  • 9. Cellular Respiration and Fermentation
  • 10. Photosynthesis
  • 11. Cell Communication
  • 12. The Cell Cycle

UNIT 3: GENETICS

  • Interview: Pardis Sabeti
  • 13. Meiosis and Sexual Life Cycles
  • 14. Mendel and the Gene Idea
  • 15. The Chromosomal Basis of Inheritance
  • 16. he Molecular Basis of Inheritance
  • 17. Gene Expression: From Gene to Protein
  • 18. Regulation of Gene Expression
  • 19. Viruses
  • 20. DNA Tools and Biotechnology
  • 21. Genomes and Their Evolution

UNIT 4: MECHANISMS OF EVOLUTION

  • Interview: Neil H. Shubin
  • 22. Descent with Modification: A Darwinian View of Life
  • 23. The Evolution of Populations
  • 24. The Origin of Species
  • 25. The History of Life on Earth

UNIT 5: THE EVOLUTIONARY HISTORY OF BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY

  • Interview: Casey Dunn
  • 26. Phylogeny and the Tree of Life
  • 27. Bacteria and Archaea
  • 28. The Origin and Diversification of Eukaryotes
  • 29. Plant Diversity I: How Plants Colonized Land
  • 30. Plant Diversity II: The Evolution of Seed Plants
  • 31. Fungi
  • 32. An Overview of Animal Diversity
  • 33. An Introduction to Invertebrates
  • 34. The Origin and Evolution of Vertebrates

UNIT 6: PLANT FORM AND FUNCTION

  • Interview: Ernesto Gianoli
  • 35. Vascular Plant Structure, Growth, and Development
  • 36. Resource Acquisition and Transport in Vascular Plants
  • 37. Soil and Plant Nutrition
  • 38. Angiosperm Reproduction and Biotechnology
  • 39. Plant Responses to Internal and External Signals

UNIT 7: ANIMAL FORM AND FUNCTION

  • Interview: Adrienne Bratcher
  • 40. Basic Principles of Animal Form and Function
  • 41. Animal Nutrition
  • 42. Circulation and Gas Exchange
  • 43. The Immune System
  • 44. Osmoregulation and Excretion
  • 45. Hormones and the Endocrine System
  • 46. Animal Reproduction
  • 47. Animal Development
  • 48. Neurons, Synapses, and Signaling
  • 49. Nervous Systems
  • 50. Sensory and Motor Mechanisms
  • 51. Animal Behavior

UNIT 8: ECOLOGY

  • Interview: Elisa Bonnacorso
  • 52. An Introduction to Ecology and the Biosphere
  • 53. Population Ecology
  • 54. Community Ecology
  • 55. Ecosystems and Restoration Ecology
  • 56. Conservation Biology and Global Change

APPENDICES

  • A. Answers
  • B. Classification of Life
  • C. A Comparison of the Light Microscope and the Electron Microscope
  • D. Scientific Skills Review
  • E. Word Roots, Prefixes, and Suffixes for Learning Vocabulary

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