LibGuides: Biology: Biology Research

Researching Biology

This page is dedicated to helping you do research on Biology topics.

On this page you will find:

A link to our library catalog along with some helpful tips and tricks to keep in mind when searching Biology materials.
Preset database searches for Biology articles.
Scholarly books related to Biology.

These resources can also be found on our Library Resources page.

When you are not on campus and try to use the databases, you will be prompted for a username and password. If you do not know these and are a Schoolcraft student, then give the library a call and we will provide you with the information you need.

Our phone number is: (734) 462-4440

Catalog Search (w/ Tips and Tricks)

Schoolcraft Library Catalog

Use the library's catalog to search for Biology materials.

Tips to keep in mind when searching:

1) Searching for "Biology" under the Key Word or Subject criteria will not always give you the best results.

2) Instead, if you are searching for Biology materials available in our library's collection, then use one or more of the following Subject Headings:

Agriculture
Botany
Forestry
Human Anatomy
Human Physiology
Microbiology
Microorganisms
Natural history
Oceanography
Physiology
Zoology

3) As you explore our holdings, you'll discover more specific Subject Headings, such as:

Agriculture--United States
Extinction (Biology)
Brain--Physiology

These help narrow the focus of the search and can be helpful if you have a specific topic or genre you're interested in exploring. If you want to know all of the Subject Headings for a particular item in our catalog, then click the Catalog Record tab in the item's record. You can click on one of the Subject Headings and it will bring up a list of all the other items in the library that have the same Subject Heading.

Important Note: Keep in mind that some of these subject searches will return mostly (if not all) ebooks and online resources. If you are only interested in book results, then select BOOK under the "Format" option on the Advanced Search page. This will get rid of all the ebook and online resource results and only provide you a list of books under the selected subject.

Off Campus Library Database Access

Schoolcraft students, faculty, and staff can access library databases from off-campus through Blackboard by clicking the “Organizations” tab. Go to https://bb.schoolcraft.edu

Databases (w/ Preset Searches for Biology-Related Materials)

Biology Scholarly Materials

Connectome by Sebastian Seung
Call Number: QP 376 .S433 2012
ISBN: 9780547508184
Publication Date: 2012-02-07
---

We know that each of us is unique, but science has struggled to pinpoint where, precisely, our uniqueness resides. Is it in our genes? The structure of our brains? Our genome may determine our eye color and even aspects of our personality. But our friendships, failures, and passions also shape who we are. The question is: how?Sebastian Seung, a dynamic professor at MIT, is on a quest to discover the biological basis of identity. He believes it lies in the pattern of connections between the brain’s neurons, which change slowly over time as we learn and grow. The connectome, as it’s called, is where our genetic inheritance intersects with our life experience. It’s where nature meets nurture.Seung introduces us to the dedicated researchers who are mapping the brain’s connections, neuron by neuron, synapse by synapse. It is a monumental undertaking—the scientific equivalent of climbing Mount Everest—but if they succeed, it could reveal the basis of personality, intelligence, memory, and perhaps even mental disorders. Many scientists speculate that people with anorexia, autism, and schizophrenia are "wired differently," but nobody knows for sure. The brain’s wiring has never been clearly seen.In sparklingly clear prose, Seung reveals the amazing technological advances that will soon help us map connectomes.
The Human Genome in Health and Disease by Tore Samuelsson
Call Number: QH 447 .S36 2019
ISBN: 9780815345916
Publication Date: 2019-02-04
"The human genome is a linear sequence of roughly 3 billion bases and information regarding this genome is accumulating at an astonishing rate. Inspired by these advances, The Human Genome in Health and Disease: A Story of Four Letters explores the intimate link between sequence information and biological function."--Publisher's description
In Search of Cell History by Franklin M. Harold
Call Number: QH 582.4 .H37 2014
ISBN: 9780226174280
Publication Date: 2014-10-29
---

The origin of cells remains one of the most fundamental problems in biology, one that over the past two decades has spawned a large body of research and debate. With In Search of Cell History, Franklin M. Harold offers a comprehensive, impartial take on that research and the controversies that keep the field in turmoil.

Written in accessible language and complemented by a glossary for easy reference, this book investigates the full scope of cellular history. Assuming only a basic knowledge of cell biology, Harold examines such pivotal subjects as the relationship between cells and genes; the central role of bioenergetics in the origin of life; the status of the universal tree of life with its three stems and viral outliers; and the controversies surrounding the last universal common ancestor. He also delves deeply into the evolution of cellular organization, the origin of complex cells, and the incorporation of symbiotic organelles, and considers the fossil evidence for the earliest life on earth.
Microbiology: a Very Short Introduction by Nicholas P. Money
Call Number: QR 41.2 .M66 2014
ISBN: 9780199681686
Publication Date: 2015-02-01
---

In recent decades we have come to realize that the microbial world is hugely diverse, and can be found in the most extreme environments. Fungi, single-celled protists, bacteria, archaea, and the vast array of viruses and sub-viral particles far outnumber plants and animals. Microbes, we nowknow, play a critical role in ecosystems, in the chemistry of atmosphere and oceans, and within our bodies. The field of microbiology, armed with new techniques from molecular biology, is now one of the most vibrant in the life sciences.In this Very Short Introduction Nicholas P. Money explores not only the traditional methods of microscopy and laboratory culture but also the modern techniques of genetic detection and DNA sequencing, genomic analysis, and genetic manipulation. In turn he demonstrates how advances in microbiology have had a tremendous impact on the areas of medicine, agriculture, and biotechnology.