Practical Skills in Biology
by Jonathan Weyers, Rob Reed, Allan Jones
7th Edition
Publisher: Pearson
Book Details
| Print ISBN | 9781292397078 |
| eText ISBN | 9781292397054 |
| Publisher | Pearson |
| Publishing Year | 2022 |
| Edition | 7th Edition |
| Language | English |
| Pages | 656 |
Practical Skills in Biology, 7th Edition, supports students in developing experimental competency, laboratory practices, and academic study strategies across the biological sciences.
The textbook addresses core laboratory fundamentals such as liquid handling, solution preparation, and sterile technique alongside environmental field methods for analyzing soils, sediments, and aquatic systems. It also examines data analysis, including spreadsheet handling, descriptive statistics, and statistical test interpretation.
To aid self-evaluation, the volume features over 250 end-of-chapter study exercises with solutions available on a companion website, supplemented by instructional "how to" boxes and practical tips.
Table of Contents
Chapter 1: Developing your skills
- • Self-management
- • Learning effectively
- • Making the most of learning resources
- • Locating and citing published information
- • Evaluating information
- • Working with others
- • Mapping your personal development
- • Assessment skills
Chapter 2: Succeeding in assessments
- • Scientific writing
- • Writing essays
- • Reporting practical and project work
- • Tackling literature surveys and reviews
- • Presenting written assignments
- • Preparing a poster
- • Giving a spoken presentation
- • Revision strategies
- • Improving your performance in exams
- • Fundamental laboratory techniques
Chapter 3: Preparing for practical work
- • Working safely in the lab and field
- • Basic laboratory skills
- • Measuring and dispensing liquids
- • Preparing solutions – principles and practice
- • Measuring and maintaining pH
- • The investigative approach
Chapter 4: Making measurements
- • Understanding SI units and their use
- • Observational skills
- • Recording data in the laboratory and field
- • Drawing diagrams
- • Taking samples
- • Designing experiments
- • Understanding bioethics
- • Tackling project work and placements
- • Obtaining and identifying specimens
Chapter 5: Collecting animals and plants
- • Collecting and isolating microbes
- • Fixing and preserving specimens
- • Naming and classifying organisms
- • Identifying plants and animals
- • Identifying microbes
- • Examining specimens and samples
Chapter 6: Understanding microscopy
- • Preparing specimens for light microscopy
- • Setting up and using a light microscope
- • Interpreting microscope images
- • Recording and processing photographic images
- • Measuring growth and responses
- • Dissection techniques
- • Working with microbes, cells and tissues
Chapter 7: Learning sterile technique
- • Culturing cells
- • Working with bacteria
- • Working with eukaryotic microbes: fungi and protists
- • Working with viruses
- • Working with animal and plant tissues and cells
- • Environmental investigations
Chapter 8: Developing fieldwork skills
- • Describing ecosystems
- • Analysing aquatic environments
- • Analysing soils and sediments
- • Measuring atmospheric variables
- • Measuring light
- • Analytical techniques
Chapter 9: Understanding chemical analysis
- • Understanding calibration and quantitative analysis
- • Assaying biomolecules
- • Centrifugation techniques
- • Using spectroscopic methods
- • Using chromatographic systems
- • Methods of electrophoresis
- • Studying Mendelian and population genetics
- • Investigating molecular genetics
- • Using immunological methods
- • Studying enzymes
- • Measuring oxygen content
- • Quantifying photosynthesis and respiration
- • Using radioisotopes
- • Analysing stable isotopes
- • Analysing and presenting data
Chapter 10: Manipulating and transforming raw data
- • Analysing data with spreadsheets
- • Summarising data in tables
- • Illustrating data in graphs
- • Solving numerical problems
- • Using descriptive statistics
- • Selecting and interpreting statistical tests
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