The Handy Biology Answer Book
"This book best serves public libraries and high school media centers. These students as well as the general public will find the text engaging and the material useful."
American Reference Books Annual
"The Handy Biology Answer Book...is the ultimate reference guide to life science."
Bella Online
"Everything you’ve always wanted to know about biology (and probably much more) has been asked and answered in this informative, engrossing and entertaining 2004 reference book."
University of Pittsburgh
Life itself and today's hottest science are examined in The Handy Biology Answer Book.
From the newsworthy (What are stem cells? What is genetically modified food and why is it so controversial?) to the practical (Does antibiotic soap really help reduce infection? How does caffeine affect cells? How many kinds of mushrooms are edible?) and the curious (What is the most dangerous poison produced by a plant?), Handy Biology answers 1,600 questions about human, animal, and plant biology.
Easy to use and a friendly reference source for general science readers and students, Handy Biology is organized in sixteen chapters with 150 illustrations plus dozens of charts and tables. Handy Biology explains the workings of cell structure and function, bacteria, viruses, plant diversity, animal diversity, DNA and chromosomes, genetics, biotechnology and genetic engineering, evolution and adaptation, the environment, laboratory techniques, and more.
You?ll find answers to such intriguing questions as: What is cell cloning? What is DNA and RNA? When and how did cells first evolve? Can two blue-eyed people have a brown-eyed child? How serious a disease is influenza? Do overweight children have a greater risk of being overweight adults? What is an atom? Why are some fats ?good? and others ?bad?? Why do humans need cholesterol? How do birds know to fly south in winter? Can the environment determine the sex of an animal? When was the first microscope developed?
A special appendix on milestones describes notable advancements in biological research, and a resources section leads readers to books, periodicals, and websites where they can explore each subject in greater depth.
About James Bobick
James Bobick has been a science librarian for more than 30 years. He has master's degrees in biology and library
science and is currently Department Head in the Science and Technology Department at the Carnegie Library of
Pittsburgh.
About Naomi Balaban
Naomi Balaban, a science reference librarian for 15 years, has a background in linguistics and a master's degree in library science. A co-editor, with James Bobick, of the The Handy Science Book, she works at the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh.
About Sandra Bobick
A college biology teacher for 15 years, Sandra Bobick currently teaches general biology and genetics at the Community College of Allegheny County (PA) and coordinates
a summer "Biotechnology Boot Camp" for middle school girls. She holds master's degrees in biology and education
and a doctoral degree in science education.
About Laurel Roberts
Laurel Bridges Roberts has been a college biology instructor since 1992 and currently teaches introductory biology and human physiology at the University of Pittsburgh. She holds both master’s and doctoral degrees in behavioral ecology and has research experience in experimental pathology and molecular biology.
