Scientific American Biology for a Changing World with Physiology,
Fifth Edition ©2026 Michele Shuster; Janet Vigna; Matthew Tontonoz Formats: Achieve, E-book, Print
As low as C$71.99
As low as C$71.99
- Product Overview
- Content Material
- Assessment
- Reports and Insights
- Teaching Resources
- Support and Services
Authors
-
Michele Shuster
Michèle Shuster, Ph.D., is the Associate Dean for Research in the College of Arts and Sciences at New Mexico State University in Las Cruces, New Mexico. In her life as a Professor in the Biology Department, she focused on biology teaching and learning and taught introductory biology, microbiology, and cancer biology classes at the undergraduate level. She has also worked on several STEM education grants. Michèle has mentored graduate students and postdoctoral fellows in effective teaching, thereby preparing the next generation of undergraduate educators. She is the recipient of numerous teaching awards, including the Westhafer Award for Teaching Excellence at NMSU. Michèle received her Ph.D. from the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences at Tufts University School of Medicine, where she studied meiotic chromosome segregation in yeast.
-
Janet Vigna
Janet Vigna, Ph.D., is a Professor of Biology and Associate Dean for Student Success in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at Grand Valley State University in Allendale, Michigan. She is a science education specialist, with a passion for training and mentoring K–12 science teachers and teaching nonmajors biology. Her professional interests include the development of curriculum and student success programming that embeds high impact experiential learning. She has been recognized with several teaching awards, including the Michigan Science Teachers Association College Science Teacher of the Year. She received her B.S. in biology from the University of Michigan and her Ph.D. in microbiology from the University of Iowa.
-
Matthew Tontonoz
Matthew Tontonoz is a Ph.D. candidate in the History and Philosophy of Science in the Center for Biology and Society at Arizona State University in Tempe, Arizona, where he is also Editor-in-Chief of the Embryo Project Encyclopedia (embryo.asu.edu). Before returning to graduate school, Matt had been a professional science writer for more than 10 years. Matt received his B.A. in biology from Wesleyan University and his M.A. in the history and sociology of science from the University of Pennsylvania.
Table of Contents
Unit 1: Process of Science
CHAPTER 1 Process of Science: Do Cell Phones Cause Cancer?
CHAPTER 2 Chemistry of Life: The Right Stuff With a powerful new telescope, scientists search for signs of life in the universe
CHAPTER 3 Cell Structure and Function: Wonder Drug
M1 MILESTONES IN BIOLOGY: Scientific Rebel Lynn Margulis
CHAPTER 4 Nutrients, Enzymes, Metabolism: Take Your Vitamins
CHAPTER 5 Energy and Photosynthesis: The Future of Fuel
CHAPTER 6 Dietary Energy and Cellular Respiration: Taste Sensations
Unit 2: Cell Division and Inheritance
CHAPTER 7 DNA Structure and Replication: A Matter of Justice
M2 MILESTONES IN BIOLOGY: The Model Makers Watson and Crick
CHAPTER 8 Genes to Proteins: Bullet Proof
CHAPTER 9 Mutations and Genetic Engineering: New Gene, New Me
CHAPTER 10 Cell Division and Cancer: Fighting Fate
CHAPTER 11 Simple Inheritance and Meiosis: Catching Breath
M3 MILESTONES IN BIOLOGY: Mendel’s Garden
CHAPTER 12 Complex Inheritance: Genetics Q&A
M4 MILESTONES IN BIOLOGY: Forgotten Forerunner of Epigenetics, Ernest Everett Just
Unit 3: Evolution and Diversity
CHAPTER 13 Natural Selection and Adaptation: Bugs That Resist Drugs
CHAPTER 14 Nonadaptive Evolution and Speciation: Urban Evolution
M5 MILESTONES IN BIOLOGY: Adventures in Evolution Darwin and Alfred Russel Wallace
CHAPTER 15 Evidence for Evolution: A Fish with Fingers
CHAPTER 16 Life on Earth: Evolution Q&A
CHAPTER 17 Prokaryotic Diversity: Invisible You
CHAPTER 18 Eukaryotic Diversity: Can Rubber Save the Rain Forest?
M6 MILESTONES IN BIOLOGY: Shaking the Tree
CHAPTER 19 Human Evolution: Skin Deep
Unit 4: Ecology
CHAPTER 20 Population Ecology: On the Tracks of Wolves and Moose
CHAPTER 21 Community Ecology: What’s Happening to Honey Bees
CHAPTER 22 Ecosystem Ecology: Bringing Bison Back
M7 MILESTONES IN BIOLOGY: Progress or Poison? Rachel Carson
CHAPTER 23 Global Climate Change Vital Signs
Unit 5: Plant Biology
CHAPTER 24 Plant Growth and Reproduction Plants 2.0
CHAPTER 25 Plant Physiology: Plants Q&A
Unit 6: Animal Physiology
CHAPTER 26 Overview of Animal Physiology Man vs Mountain
CHAPTER 27 Digestive System Stomach Troubles
M8 MILESTONES IN BIOLOGY: Stumbling on a Cure Banting and Best
CHAPTER 28 Cardiovascular System: Death in Bogalusa
CHAPTER 29 Respiratory System Peak Performance
CHAPTER 30 Central Nervous System: Smoke on the Brain
CHAPTER 31 Reproductive System: Too Many Multiples
M9 MILESTONES IN BIOLOGY: Pandora’s Dish: Stem Cells
CHAPTER 32 Immune System: Parallel Pandemics
Product Updates
New and Updated for the Fifth Edition:
- Visualization and Applications
- Updated Visuals and Data:
- New or revised infographics across chapters (e.g., 1.6, 4.1–4.8, 10.10, 18.1, 22.6, 23.3–23.13, 30.1, 32.1).
- Revised tables and figures covering diverse biology topics from human health to biodiversity.
- New Writing-to-Learn Activities encourage students to apply knowledge and interpret data through graphs as well as explain their answer in short form writing.
- Interactive Animation Activities
- Real World Simulations focus on the most challenging concepts in a non-majors biology course. These scaffolded, interactive lessons help students apply the principles they have learned from the text or lecture in the context of a relevant “real life” question or familiar scenario. Pair well with tutorials as a precursor activity.
- Virtual Lab Simulations are excellent options for make-up lab assignments; online lab options; or as a pre-lab to help make in-lab more efficient and effective.
- Personalized Study and Assessment
- AI Student Tutor uses a Socratic approach to help students work through homework problems—asking guiding questions rather than providing answers—so they build understanding step by step.
- Adaptive Quizzing adjusts to each student’s pace, reinforcing understanding through personalized practice.
- Active Learning Resources and Tools
- iClicker is included with Achieve for instructors and students.
- New Active Lecture Slides embed iClicker slides into lecture slide decks to provide easy pause points for student participation during lecture. Available for all 32 chapters and 9 milestones.
- In-Class Activities. Structured plan to facilitate an activity that encourages student engagement in both face-to-face and remote learning courses. Each guide is based on a single topic and allows students to participate through questions, group work, presentations, and/or simulations.
- Easy Course Management and Planning
- Learning Objectives have been updated to match content changes in the text and are tagged on all questions.
- A new AI-powered short-form writing assistant automatically tags and categorizes student responses—helping you grade by theme, identify trends, and save time without losing the personal touch.
- Over 3600 New Test Bank questions into the Achieve Question Library.
- New and Updated Book Content:
- New Chapter Stories:
- Ch. 2 – “Are We Alone?” featuring the James Webb Space Telescope and the search for extraterrestrial life.
- Ch. 4 – “Supplementing Science” on the evolving science behind dietary supplements.
- Ch. 6 – “The Art and Science of Fermented Foods.”
- Ch. 7 – “A Crime Solved” about Tyrone Day’s wrongful imprisonment overturned by DNA evidence.
- Ch. 27 – “Digestive Deception” discussing chemical additives and weight loss drugs like Ozempic.
- New Milestone Chapter: Milestone 4 features Ernest Everett Just and his pioneering work in epigenetics.
- Expanded COVID-19 Coverage (Ch. 32): Includes comparisons with the 1918 flu, vaccine development and hesitancy, and how mRNA vaccines work.
- Writing has been updated to be more representative and promote a sense of belonging.
Authors
-
Michele Shuster
Michèle Shuster, Ph.D., is the Associate Dean for Research in the College of Arts and Sciences at New Mexico State University in Las Cruces, New Mexico. In her life as a Professor in the Biology Department, she focused on biology teaching and learning and taught introductory biology, microbiology, and cancer biology classes at the undergraduate level. She has also worked on several STEM education grants. Michèle has mentored graduate students and postdoctoral fellows in effective teaching, thereby preparing the next generation of undergraduate educators. She is the recipient of numerous teaching awards, including the Westhafer Award for Teaching Excellence at NMSU. Michèle received her Ph.D. from the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences at Tufts University School of Medicine, where she studied meiotic chromosome segregation in yeast.
-
Janet Vigna
Janet Vigna, Ph.D., is a Professor of Biology and Associate Dean for Student Success in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at Grand Valley State University in Allendale, Michigan. She is a science education specialist, with a passion for training and mentoring K–12 science teachers and teaching nonmajors biology. Her professional interests include the development of curriculum and student success programming that embeds high impact experiential learning. She has been recognized with several teaching awards, including the Michigan Science Teachers Association College Science Teacher of the Year. She received her B.S. in biology from the University of Michigan and her Ph.D. in microbiology from the University of Iowa.
-
Matthew Tontonoz
Matthew Tontonoz is a Ph.D. candidate in the History and Philosophy of Science in the Center for Biology and Society at Arizona State University in Tempe, Arizona, where he is also Editor-in-Chief of the Embryo Project Encyclopedia (embryo.asu.edu). Before returning to graduate school, Matt had been a professional science writer for more than 10 years. Matt received his B.A. in biology from Wesleyan University and his M.A. in the history and sociology of science from the University of Pennsylvania.
Table of Contents
Unit 1: Process of Science
CHAPTER 1 Process of Science: Do Cell Phones Cause Cancer?
CHAPTER 2 Chemistry of Life: The Right Stuff With a powerful new telescope, scientists search for signs of life in the universe
CHAPTER 3 Cell Structure and Function: Wonder Drug
M1 MILESTONES IN BIOLOGY: Scientific Rebel Lynn Margulis
CHAPTER 4 Nutrients, Enzymes, Metabolism: Take Your Vitamins
CHAPTER 5 Energy and Photosynthesis: The Future of Fuel
CHAPTER 6 Dietary Energy and Cellular Respiration: Taste Sensations
Unit 2: Cell Division and Inheritance
CHAPTER 7 DNA Structure and Replication: A Matter of Justice
M2 MILESTONES IN BIOLOGY: The Model Makers Watson and Crick
CHAPTER 8 Genes to Proteins: Bullet Proof
CHAPTER 9 Mutations and Genetic Engineering: New Gene, New Me
CHAPTER 10 Cell Division and Cancer: Fighting Fate
CHAPTER 11 Simple Inheritance and Meiosis: Catching Breath
M3 MILESTONES IN BIOLOGY: Mendel’s Garden
CHAPTER 12 Complex Inheritance: Genetics Q&A
M4 MILESTONES IN BIOLOGY: Forgotten Forerunner of Epigenetics, Ernest Everett Just
Unit 3: Evolution and Diversity
CHAPTER 13 Natural Selection and Adaptation: Bugs That Resist Drugs
CHAPTER 14 Nonadaptive Evolution and Speciation: Urban Evolution
M5 MILESTONES IN BIOLOGY: Adventures in Evolution Darwin and Alfred Russel Wallace
CHAPTER 15 Evidence for Evolution: A Fish with Fingers
CHAPTER 16 Life on Earth: Evolution Q&A
CHAPTER 17 Prokaryotic Diversity: Invisible You
CHAPTER 18 Eukaryotic Diversity: Can Rubber Save the Rain Forest?
M6 MILESTONES IN BIOLOGY: Shaking the Tree
CHAPTER 19 Human Evolution: Skin Deep
Unit 4: Ecology
CHAPTER 20 Population Ecology: On the Tracks of Wolves and Moose
CHAPTER 21 Community Ecology: What’s Happening to Honey Bees
CHAPTER 22 Ecosystem Ecology: Bringing Bison Back
M7 MILESTONES IN BIOLOGY: Progress or Poison? Rachel Carson
CHAPTER 23 Global Climate Change Vital Signs
Unit 5: Plant Biology
CHAPTER 24 Plant Growth and Reproduction Plants 2.0
CHAPTER 25 Plant Physiology: Plants Q&A
Unit 6: Animal Physiology
CHAPTER 26 Overview of Animal Physiology Man vs Mountain
CHAPTER 27 Digestive System Stomach Troubles
M8 MILESTONES IN BIOLOGY: Stumbling on a Cure Banting and Best
CHAPTER 28 Cardiovascular System: Death in Bogalusa
CHAPTER 29 Respiratory System Peak Performance
CHAPTER 30 Central Nervous System: Smoke on the Brain
CHAPTER 31 Reproductive System: Too Many Multiples
M9 MILESTONES IN BIOLOGY: Pandora’s Dish: Stem Cells
CHAPTER 32 Immune System: Parallel Pandemics
Product Updates
New and Updated for the Fifth Edition:
- Visualization and Applications
- Updated Visuals and Data:
- New or revised infographics across chapters (e.g., 1.6, 4.1–4.8, 10.10, 18.1, 22.6, 23.3–23.13, 30.1, 32.1).
- Revised tables and figures covering diverse biology topics from human health to biodiversity.
- New Writing-to-Learn Activities encourage students to apply knowledge and interpret data through graphs as well as explain their answer in short form writing.
- Interactive Animation Activities
- Real World Simulations focus on the most challenging concepts in a non-majors biology course. These scaffolded, interactive lessons help students apply the principles they have learned from the text or lecture in the context of a relevant “real life” question or familiar scenario. Pair well with tutorials as a precursor activity.
- Virtual Lab Simulations are excellent options for make-up lab assignments; online lab options; or as a pre-lab to help make in-lab more efficient and effective.
- Personalized Study and Assessment
- AI Student Tutor uses a Socratic approach to help students work through homework problems—asking guiding questions rather than providing answers—so they build understanding step by step.
- Adaptive Quizzing adjusts to each student’s pace, reinforcing understanding through personalized practice.
- Active Learning Resources and Tools
- iClicker is included with Achieve for instructors and students.
- New Active Lecture Slides embed iClicker slides into lecture slide decks to provide easy pause points for student participation during lecture. Available for all 32 chapters and 9 milestones.
- In-Class Activities. Structured plan to facilitate an activity that encourages student engagement in both face-to-face and remote learning courses. Each guide is based on a single topic and allows students to participate through questions, group work, presentations, and/or simulations.
- Easy Course Management and Planning
- Learning Objectives have been updated to match content changes in the text and are tagged on all questions.
- A new AI-powered short-form writing assistant automatically tags and categorizes student responses—helping you grade by theme, identify trends, and save time without losing the personal touch.
- Over 3600 New Test Bank questions into the Achieve Question Library.
- New and Updated Book Content:
- New Chapter Stories:
- Ch. 2 – “Are We Alone?” featuring the James Webb Space Telescope and the search for extraterrestrial life.
- Ch. 4 – “Supplementing Science” on the evolving science behind dietary supplements.
- Ch. 6 – “The Art and Science of Fermented Foods.”
- Ch. 7 – “A Crime Solved” about Tyrone Day’s wrongful imprisonment overturned by DNA evidence.
- Ch. 27 – “Digestive Deception” discussing chemical additives and weight loss drugs like Ozempic.
- New Milestone Chapter: Milestone 4 features Ernest Everett Just and his pioneering work in epigenetics.
- Expanded COVID-19 Coverage (Ch. 32): Includes comparisons with the 1918 flu, vaccine development and hesitancy, and how mRNA vaccines work.
- Writing has been updated to be more representative and promote a sense of belonging.
Fuel engagement and deepen learning with real, relevant biology.
Biology for a Changing World brings science to life through powerful, real-world stories that make biology relevant, engaging, and unforgettable. Each chapter begins with a compelling narrative—whether it’s the James Webb Space Telescope and the search for extraterrestrial life, how DNA evidence overturned a wrongful conviction, or the science of weight-loss drugs like Ozempic. These stories hook students with context that matters to their lives. Magazine-style visuals, clear infographics, and story-driven learning ensure that students not only understand biology but also see why it matters.
In this new edition, fresh stories and hands-on learning tools deepen engagement. Pre-lecture videos prepare students for class, the new AI study Coach provides personalized practice, and virtual labs and real-world simulations let students experience how science is done. For many, this may be their only science course—so it’s designed to leave them with lasting scientific literacy, critical thinking skills, and the confidence to apply biology in their personal choices and as citizens of a changing world.
Success Stories
Here are a few examples of how Achieve has helped instructors like you improve student preparedness, enhance their sense of belonging, and achieve course goals they set for themselves.
Prof. Kiandra Johnson, Spelman College
See how the resources in Achieve help you engage students before, during, and after class.
Prof. Jennifer Duncan
Use diagnostics in Achieve for a snapshot into cognitive and non-cognitive factors that may impact your students’ preparedness.
Prof. Ryan Elsenpeter
Here’s why educators who use Achieve would recommend it to their peers.
Related Titles
Instructor Resources
Instructor Resources
Access Test Bank
You need to sign in as a verified instructor to access the Test Bank.
Test Bank for Scientific American Biology for a Changing World with Physiology
Michele Shuster; Janet Vigna; Matthew Tontonoz | Fifth Edition | ©2026 | ISBN:9781319526153
You've selected:
Click the E-mail Download Link button and we'll send you an e-mail at with links to download your instructor resources. You will also be able to download your resources anytime from within your account once ready. Please note there may be a delay in delivering your e-mail depending on the size of the files.
Warning! These materials are owned by Macmillan Learning or its licensors and are protected by copyright laws in the United States and other jurisdictions. Such materials may include a digital watermark that is linked to your name and email address in your Macmillan Learning account to identify the source of any materials used in an unauthorised way and prevent online piracy. These materials are being provided solely for instructional use by instructors who have adopted Macmillan Learning’s accompanying textbooks or online products for use by students in their courses. These materials may not be copied, distributed, sold, shared, posted online, or used, in print or electronic format, except in the limited circumstances set forth in the Macmillan Learning Terms of Use and any other reproduction or distribution is illegal. These materials may not be made publicly available under any circumstances. All other rights reserved. For more information about the use of your personal data including for the purposes of anti-piracy enforcement, please refer to Macmillan Learning's.Privacy Notice
Thank you!
Your download request has been received and your download link will be sent to .
Please note you could wait up to 30 to 60 minutes to receive your download e-mail depending on the number and size of the files. You will also be able to download your resources anytime from within your account once ready. We appreciate your patience while we process your request.
Check your inbox, trash, and spam folders for an e-mail from InstructorResources@macmillan.com.
If you do not receive your e-mail, please visit macmillanlearning.com/support.
FAQs
-
-
Are you a campus bookstore looking for ordering information?
MPS Order Search Tool (MOST) is a web-based purchase order tracking program that allows customers to view and track their purchases. No registration or special codes needed! Just enter your BILL-TO ACCT # and your ZIP CODE to track orders.
Canadian Stores: Please use only the first five digits/letters in your zip code on MOST.
Visit MOST, our online ordering system for booksellers: https://tracking.mpsvirginia.com/Login.aspx
Learn more about our Bookstore programs here: https://www.macmillanlearning.com/college/us/contact-us/booksellers
-
-
-
Our courses currently integrate with Canvas, Blackboard (Learn and Ultra), Brightspace, D2L, and Moodle. Click on the support documentation below to find out more details about the integration with each LMS.
Integrate Macmillan courses with Blackboard
Integrate Macmillan courses with Canvas
-
-
-
If you’re a verified instructor, you can request a free sample of our courseware, e-book, or print textbook to consider for use in your courses. Only registered and verified instructors can receive free print and digital samples, and they should not be sold to bookstores or book resellers. If you don't yet have an existing account with Macmillan Learning, it can take up to two business days to verify your status as an instructor. You can request a free sample from the right side of this product page by clicking on the "Request Instructor Sample" button or by contacting your rep. Learn more.
-
-
-
Sometimes also referred to as a spiral-bound or binder-ready textbook, loose-leaf textbooks are available to purchase. This three-hole punched, unbound version of the book costs less than a hardcover or paperback book.
-
-
-
Achieve (full course) includes our complete e-book, as well as online quizzing tools, multimedia assets, and iClicker active classroom manager.
Most Achieve Essentials courses do not include our e-books and adaptive quizzing.
Visit our comparison table for details: https://www.macmillanlearning.com/college/us/digital/achieve/compare
-
-
-
Achieve (full course) includes our complete e-book, as well as online quizzing tools, multimedia assets, and iClicker active classroom manager.
Achieve Read & Practice only includes our e-book and adaptive quizzing, and does not include instructor resources and assignable assessments. Read & Practice does integrate with LMS.
Visit our comparison table for details: https://www.macmillanlearning.com/college/us/digital/achieve/compare
-
-
-
We can help! Contact your representative to discuss your specific needs for your course. If our off-the-shelf course materials don’t quite hit the mark, we also offer custom solutions made to fit your needs.
-
ISBN:9781319526092
Access all your course tools in one place!
ISBN:9781319526108
Take notes, add highlights, and download our mobile-friendly e-books.
ISBN:9781319607135
Save money with our hole-punched, loose-leaf textbook.
FAQs
-
-
Are you a campus bookstore looking for ordering information?
MPS Order Search Tool (MOST) is a web-based purchase order tracking program that allows customers to view and track their purchases. No registration or special codes needed! Just enter your BILL-TO ACCT # and your ZIP CODE to track orders.
Canadian Stores: Please use only the first five digits/letters in your zip code on MOST.
Visit MOST, our online ordering system for booksellers: https://tracking.mpsvirginia.com/Login.aspx
Learn more about our Bookstore programs here: https://www.macmillanlearning.com/college/us/contact-us/booksellers
-
-
-
Our courses currently integrate with Canvas, Blackboard (Learn and Ultra), Brightspace, D2L, and Moodle. Click on the support documentation below to find out more details about the integration with each LMS.
Integrate Macmillan courses with Blackboard
Integrate Macmillan courses with Canvas
-
-
-
If you’re a verified instructor, you can request a free sample of our courseware, e-book, or print textbook to consider for use in your courses. Only registered and verified instructors can receive free print and digital samples, and they should not be sold to bookstores or book resellers. If you don't yet have an existing account with Macmillan Learning, it can take up to two business days to verify your status as an instructor. You can request a free sample from the right side of this product page by clicking on the "Request Instructor Sample" button or by contacting your rep. Learn more.
-
-
-
Sometimes also referred to as a spiral-bound or binder-ready textbook, loose-leaf textbooks are available to purchase. This three-hole punched, unbound version of the book costs less than a hardcover or paperback book.
-
-
-
Achieve (full course) includes our complete e-book, as well as online quizzing tools, multimedia assets, and iClicker active classroom manager.
Most Achieve Essentials courses do not include our e-books and adaptive quizzing.
Visit our comparison table for details: https://www.macmillanlearning.com/college/us/digital/achieve/compare
-
-
-
Achieve (full course) includes our complete e-book, as well as online quizzing tools, multimedia assets, and iClicker active classroom manager.
Achieve Read & Practice only includes our e-book and adaptive quizzing, and does not include instructor resources and assignable assessments. Read & Practice does integrate with LMS.
Visit our comparison table for details: https://www.macmillanlearning.com/college/us/digital/achieve/compare
-
-
-
We can help! Contact your representative to discuss your specific needs for your course. If our off-the-shelf course materials don’t quite hit the mark, we also offer custom solutions made to fit your needs.
-
Scientific American Biology for a Changing World with Physiology,
Biology for a Changing World brings science to life through powerful, real-world stories that make biology relevant, engaging, and unforgettable. Each chapter begins with a compelling narrative—whether it’s the James Webb Space Telescope and the search for extraterrestrial life, how DNA evidence overturned a wrongful conviction, or the science of weight-loss drugs like Ozempic. These stories hook students with context that matters to their lives. Magazine-style visuals, clear infographics, and story-driven learning ensure that students not only understand biology but also see why it matters.
In this new edition, fresh stories and hands-on learning tools deepen engagement. Pre-lecture videos prepare students for class, the new AI study Coach provides personalized practice, and virtual labs and real-world simulations let students experience how science is done. For many, this may be their only science course—so it’s designed to leave them with lasting scientific literacy, critical thinking skills, and the confidence to apply biology in their personal choices and as citizens of a changing world.
Select a demo to view:
Sample Achieve