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Biology

Foundational biology: scientific inquiry, cells, heredity, evolution, anatomy, and ecology.

For: Learners at any starting point, from curious beginners to returning students.

After this page you can: Choose a biology learning path and explain a biological pattern using evidence and appropriate concepts.

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Part of: Science

About Biology

Biology is the study of life, from the structures and processes of cells to organisms, ecosystems, and the living planet. Its branches include cell biology, anatomy, and physiology, which focus on different aspects of living systems.

Biology is studied through observation, questions, hypotheses, experiments, and analysis of evidence; the methods used depend on the question. Start with the foundations, then follow your interests into heredity, evolution, anatomy, or ecology. You can also use the connections to chemistry, biochemistry, and psychology to explore neighboring fields.

Start here

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I’m new to biology

Begin with a free, open textbook overview of biology and how scientific inquiry works.

Start with: 1.1 The Science of Biology

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I’m returning to biology

Use the free MIT course to revisit biochemistry, molecular biology, genetics, and recombinant DNA through independent-study materials.

Start with: Fundamentals of Biology

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I have a specific interest in the body

Start with an open anatomy and physiology chapter on body organization, structure, and function.

Start with: 1.1 Overview of Anatomy and Physiology

Learn the foundations

1.Scientific inquiry and cellsBegin with scientific inquiry, then use the cell readings to continue.

Begin with scientific inquiry, then use the cell readings to continue.

Cell

The smallest unit of a living thing.

Hypothesis

A proposed explanation that can be tested.

Try it

A plant grows toward a window. Write one testable hypothesis and a simple observation or experiment that could examine it.

One hypothesis is that light direction influences the plant’s growth direction. Observe plants under different light directions while keeping other conditions as similar as possible.

2.Heredity and geneticsUse this section to focus on heredity and genetics.

Use this section to focus on heredity and genetics.

Genetics

The study of heredity.

Gene

A functional unit of heredity carried on chromosomes.

Try it

In a hypothetical cross between two organisms with genotype Aa, list the possible offspring genotypes.

The possible genotypes are AA, Aa, and aa.

3.Evolution and biological diversityUse this section to focus on evolution and biological diversity.

Use this section to focus on evolution and biological diversity.

  • Biology 2e

    The textbook organizes foundational biology topics, including cells, genetics, evolution, and ecology.

  • 19.1 Population Evolution

    Use this section to study evolution at the population level.

Evolution

Change in a population or species over time.

Natural selection

A process in which heritable differences affect survival and reproduction.

Try it

A population contains heritable variation in a trait. Describe one observation that could help test whether the trait is associated with differences in reproduction.

Compare the trait among individuals with their reproductive outcomes across the population, while considering other factors that could affect those outcomes.

4.Anatomy and physiologyUse this section to focus on anatomy and physiology.

Use this section to focus on anatomy and physiology.

Anatomy

The scientific study of body structures.

Physiology

The study of how body structures function.

Try it

Choose a body structure and write one question about its anatomy and one about its physiology.

For the heart, an anatomy question could ask about its chambers; a physiology question could ask how its contractions move blood.

5.Ecology and ecosystemsUse this section to focus on ecology and ecosystems.

Use this section to focus on ecology and ecosystems.

Ecology

The study of interactions between living organisms and their environment.

Ecosystem

A community of living organisms and their interactions with the nonliving environment.

Try it

For a pond, name one living component, one nonliving component, and one interaction between them.

Algae are a living component, sunlight is a nonliving component, and algae use light as an energy source.

Explore subtopics

Anatomy

A foundation in human body structures, anatomical language, tissues, and organ systems.

0 subtopics

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Books

Glossary

Every free Biology course and book on RedLectern

Free Biology online courses

  1. Algorithms for Computational BiologyMIT 6.096 · Browse materials
  2. Analysis of Biomolecular and Cellular SystemsMIT 20.320 · Browse materials
  3. Anthropology of BiologyMIT 21A.303J · Browse materials
  4. Biological Chemistry IIMIT 5.08J · Browse materials · Video
  5. Cell Biology: Structure and Functions of the NucleusMIT 7.60 · Browse materials
  6. Cellular NeurobiologyMIT 7.29J · Browse materials
  7. Computational BiologyMIT 6.047 · Browse materials
  8. Computational Evolutionary BiologyMIT 6.877J · Browse materials
Show all 40 listed coursesShow fewer courses
  1. Computational Functional GenomicsMIT 7.90J · Browse materials
  2. Ecology I: The Earth SystemMIT 1.018J · Browse materials
  3. Experimental Biology - Communications IntensiveMIT 7.02CI · Browse materials
  4. Experimental Molecular GeneticsMIT 7.15 · Browse materials
  5. Foundations of Algorithms and Computational Techniques in Systems BiologyMIT 20.482J · Browse materials
  6. Foundations of Computational and Systems BiologyMIT 7.91J · Browse materials · Video
  7. Freshman Seminar: Structural Basis of Genetic Material: Nucleic AcidsMIT 7.A12 · Browse materials
  8. Fundamentals of BiologyMIT 7.01SC · Browse materials · Video
  9. General BiochemistryMIT 7.05 · Browse materials · Video
  10. GeneticsMIT 7.03 · Browse materials
  11. Genomics and Computational BiologyMIT HST.508 · Browse materials · Video
  12. History and Anthropology of Medicine and BiologyMIT STS.330 · Browse materials
  13. Introduction to BiologyMIT 7.012 · Browse materials · Video
  14. Introduction to Computational Molecular BiologyMIT 18.417 · Browse materials
  15. Introductory BiologyMIT 7.013 · Browse materials · Video
  16. Introductory BiologyMIT 7.013 · Browse materials
  17. Introductory BiologyMIT 7.014 · Browse materials · Video
  18. Introductory BiologyMIT 7.016 · Browse materials · Video
  19. Molecular Biology and Genetics in Modern MedicineMIT HST.161 · Browse materials
  20. Molecular Biology for the Auditory SystemMIT HST.730 · Browse materials
  21. Noninvasive Imaging in Biology and MedicineMIT 22.56J · Browse materials
  22. Principles of Human DiseaseMIT 7.27 · Browse materials
  23. Protein Folding and Human DiseaseMIT 7.88J · Browse materials
  24. Statistical Physics in BiologyMIT 8.592J · Browse materials
  25. Systems BiologyMIT 8.591J · Browse materials
  26. Systems BiologyMIT 8.591J · Browse materials · Video
  27. Teaching College-Level Science and EngineeringMIT 5.95J · Browse materials · Video
  28. The Anthropology of BiologyMIT 21A.303J · Browse materials
  29. Topics in Computational and Systems BiologyMIT 7.89J · Browse materials
  30. Topics in Experimental BiologyMIT 7.18 · Browse materials
  31. 7.03x GeneticsMIT RES.7-006 · Open on OCW · Video
  32. 7.06x Cell BiologyMIT RES.7-007 · Open on OCW · Video

40 of 59 shown. Search the Catalog for Biology →

How these courses are chosen

Listed as Biology courses:

  • those whose department’s name includes “Biology”, or
  • those whose title contains “Biology”, or
  • those tagged “Biology” as one of at most 2 topic tags, or as the first of 3.

Free Biology textbooks and books

Show all 60 listed booksShow fewer books

Search all 181 Biology books on the Books page →

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