BIOLOGY 152: Introductory Biology (Spring 2025) : Background Information
Finding Background Information
Finding background information is a good way of gaining general understanding of a complex topic, as well as understanding the scientific terminology.
You will be writing papers on a specific aspect of a biological topic. Before you dive into that specific literature you should have an understanding of the basic concepts about which you will be writing.
These resources will help you find that general information.
Finding Books
- Library CatalogFind books within the UW-Madison Libraries' System
- Google BooksMany titles in Google Books include a limited preview of the text that will help you decide whether you want to borrow a copy via the library.
- NCBI BookshelfThe NCBI Bookshelf provides free online access to books and documents in life science and healthcare.
Reference Resources
- MedlinePlus: GeneticsThis resource includes a basic introduction to genetics and information about all of the genes in the human genome, explained in non-technical language.
- MedlinePlusMedlinePlus has extensive information about drugs, an illustrated medical encyclopedia, interactive patient tutorials, and latest health news.
Newspapers and Magazines
- After your initial search, limit your results to Newspapers and Magazines
Science News websites