Overview

As we approached this revision of Biology of Plants, we recognized that extensive work would be needed to address the advances that have been made in all areas of plant biology. From new molecular details about photosynthesis to the vast differences in taxonomic relationships that have been revealed by comparison of Dna and Rna sequences, to advances in genomics and genetic engineering to an enhanced understandinof the anatomy and physiology of plants, there have been exciting developments in the field. This current edition of Biology of Plants has undergone the most significant revision in its history, with every topic scrutinized and, where necessary, revised and updated. While covering these advances, we have strengthened the narrative by expanding and clarifying discussions; carefully defiing new terms; and adding new diagrams, photos, and electron micrographs. each chapter now begins with an attractive photograph and informative caption that relates to the chapter content but in a tangential way that often touches on an environmental topic. With each revision, we continue to pay special attention to the book’s interlocking themes: (1) the functioning plant body as the dynamic result of processes mediated by biochemical interactions; (2) evolutionary relationships as aluable for understanding form and function in organisms; (3) ecology as an integrated theme that pervades the book and emphasizes our dependence on plants to sustain all life on earth; and (4) molecular research as essential for revealing details about plant genetics, cellular function, and taxonomic relationships.