LibGuides: Biology: Background Information

General Information

The resources below are excellent for providing background and general information on topics with which you may be unfamiliar.

Use them to get a general understanding of a topic and how it relates to other biology topics.

These sources are good, authorative alternatives to Wikipedia.

They are useful for:

OMIM
OMIM is a comprehensive, authoritative compendium of human genes and genetic phenotypes that is freely available and updated daily. OMIM is authored and edited at the McKusick-Nathans Institute of Genetic Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.
The Cell: An Image Library
Open-access resource sponsored by the American Society for Cell Biology (ASCB) boasts nearly 9,000 multimedia files. It is browsable by cell process, cell component, cell type, and organism.

Gale Encyclopedia of Science
Call Number: Ebook
ISBN: 9781414498584
Publication Date: 2021
Covers all major areas of science, engineering, technology, as well as mathematics and the medical and health sciences, while providing a comprehensive overview of current scientific knowledge and technology. Entries typically describe scientific concepts, provide overviews of scientific areas and, in some cases, define terms.
Access Science/McGraw-Hill Encyclopedia of Science and Technology
Call Number: EBook
Covers basic introductory material and extended article entries and live journal citations in key scientific areas including biology, Earth and environmental sciences, chemistry, physics, and beyond

Biology by Gale (Editor); Melissa Sue Hill (Editor)
Call Number: Ebook
ISBN: 9780028663722
Publication Date: 2016-03-11
Explains biological concepts and explores related fields as well as the history of biological science. Discusses critical issues such as embryogenesis and commercial applications of research in biology and addresses ethical issues. Provides information on careers in biology and contains color illustrations, sidebars, bibliographies, timelines, charts, and a glossary.
Grzimek's Animal Life Encyclopedia by Gale Research Staff; Michael Hutchins
Call Number: Ebook
ISBN: 9780787653620
Publication Date: 2002-10-04
A completely revised and updated version of the original work published in Germany in 1960, this edition incorporates recent developments in the animal world as noted by prominent advisors and contributors from the scientific community.