Includes index.

PART 1: GETTING READY FOR BIOLOGY: The coming of biology -- Patterns of life -- Evolution: from dawn to Darwin -- PART 2: THE UNIVERSAL BUILDING BLOCKS OF LIFE: Chemicals: the tiniest blocks -- Cells: the "little chambers" in plants and animals -- PART 3: THE FIVE KINGDOMS OF LIFE, PLUS VIRUSES: Bacteria, and the "homeless" viruses -- The protists: "first of all" -- The fungi: not just mushrooms! -- The plants: "Kings and Queens" of the world of green -- Invertebrates as special animals: "Have you no spine?" -- The arthopods: no jointed backbones, but "jointed feet" -- The chordata: animals with a "chord" in their "back" -- PART 4: ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY OF ANIMALS: Skins and skeletons -- The neuromuscular (Nerve -- Muscle) -- Glands and their hormone messengers -- Blood and the circulatory system -- Immune and lymphatic systems: "the best survival offense is a good defense!" -- The respiratory system: the breath of life -- "Getting the goodies" : nutrition and the digestive system -- Urine and (Gulp!) sex in animals.