Becker's World of the Cell, 10th edition

For courses in cell biology.

Connecting fundamental concepts across the world of the cell

Becker's World of the Cell provides a beautifully illustrated, up-to-date introduction to cell biology concepts, processes and applications. Known for its strong biochemistry coverage and clear, easy-to-follow explanations and figures, the text features accessible and authoritative descriptions of all major principles, as well as unique scientific insights into visualization and applications of cell and molecular biology.

With the 10th Edition, the authors guide students to make connections throughout cell biology and provide questions that encourage students to practice interpreting and analyzing data.

Also available with Mastering BiologyMastering® is the teaching and learning platform that empowers you to reach every student. By combining trusted author content with digital tools developed to engage students and emulate the office-hour experience, Mastering personalizes learning and improves results for each student.  Mastering Biology extends learning and provides students with a platform to practice, learn, and apply knowledge outside of the classroom. Learn more about Mastering Biology.

Plus, get anytime, anywhere access with Pearson eText 
Pearson eText is an easy-to-use digital textbook available within Mastering that lets students read, highlight, take notes, and review key vocabulary all in one place. 

For instructors not using Mastering, Pearson eText can also be adopted on its own as the main course material. Learn more about Pearson eText. 

About the book

Helps students make connections across concepts in cell biology

• NEW - Make Connection Questions ask students to make connections across concepts and chapters throughout the text with two new questions in every chapter. By reinforcing fundamental conceptual connections throughout cell biology, these features help overcome students' tendencies to compartmentalize information. These questions are also assignable and automatically graded in Mastering Biology.  
• Concept Check questions enable students to check their understanding using the Concept Check questions after reading a main concept section. There is one question at the end of every main heading in the text and questions throughout each chapter encourage students to actively read the text. Answers to these questions are available at the back of the book. 
• REORGANIZED - Material on translation and intracellular trafficking is now combined into Chapter 12, focusing on the Endomembrane System with co-translational import into the endoplasmic reticulum of proteins destined for secretion or insertion into the plasma membrane. Because the molecular genetics material comes earlier in the book, topics that relate to translation of secreted and plasma membrane-associated proteins are now more naturally integrated into the discussion of intracellular trafficking.  

Insights into visualization and applications of cell biology

• NEW - 10 Figure Walkthroughs embedded in the Pearson eText guide students through key figures with narrated explanations and figure mark-ups that reinforce important points. All Figure Walkthroughs are also assignable in Mastering Biology and paired with several auto-gradable questions for student assessment.  
• NEW - Data Analysis Questions in every chapter require students to practice their ability to interpret data. Students must be able to analyze data in order to make informed decisions, generate well-formed, testable hypotheses, design follow-up experiments, and provide compelling evidence for results. These questions are also assignable and automatically graded in Mastering Biology.  
• NEW - Quantitative questions in every chapter infuse a quantitative component throughout the text. New and existing quantitative questions are flagged at the end of each chapter to encourage students to work on developing their ability to perform or interpret a calculation. 
• Chapter on molecular techniques that focuses on the tools or the key technologies cell biologists use to analyze and manipulate DNA, genomes, RNA and proteins, and gene function. 
• 24 Human Connection boxes incorporate human examples and show the relevance of Cell Biology to human health and societal issues, from the human story of Henrietta Lacks to the relevance of biochemical pathways to our diet, to the many cases in which cell biology informs diagnosis and treatment of human disease. 

Emphasis on modern genetic/genomic/proteomic approaches to cell biology

• 26 Key Technique boxes in every chapter are integrated throughout the text, demonstrating how cutting-edge technologies can be used to answer outstanding questions in Cell Biology. 
• Content updates have been added throughout the book highlighting the most recent advances in the understanding of cell biology. 
• Molecular genetics chapters appear early in the book and contain substantial material on chromosomes, mechanisms of DNA mutation and repair, and mobile genetics elements. 
• Cell signaling, cell division, and cell cycle regulation materials are integrated with coverage of many topics in the last sections of the text. Topics related to the regulation of gene and protein expression are naturally integrated into the discussion of cell signaling and cell cycle control, immediately before the chapter on cancer. 

Reach every student with Mastering

Teach your course your way

• Pearson eText is an easy-to-use digital textbook available within Mastering. It lets students read, highlight, take notes, and review key vocabulary* all in one place, even when offline. Seamlessly integrated videos and other rich media* engage students and give them access to the help they need, when they need it. Educators can easily customize the table of contents and share their own notes with students so they see the connection between their eText and what they learn in class — motivating them to keep reading, and keep learning. 
• NEW - Access reading analytics.  Analytics Dashboard. Use the dashboard to gain insight into how students are working in their eText to plan more effective instruction in and out of class. 
• Scheduled Reading. Assign a chapter or specific section to hold students accountable for their reading and help them prep for lecture, homework, and quizzes. Scheduled Readings populate to each student's assignment page, and you can now link readings directly to a Mastering assignment.  
• With Learning Catalytics™, you'll hear from every student when it matters most. You pose a variety of questions that help students recall ideas, apply concepts, and develop critical-thinking skills, and students respond using their own smartphones, tablets, or laptops.  

Deliver trusted content

• 240 Reading Quiz Questions check students' familiarity with key concepts, prompting them to do their assigned reading before class. Additional open-ended questions help students identify the topics they found most difficult and assist instructors with “just-in-time” teaching. 
• End-of-Chapter questions from the book are available for auto-graded homework assignments and prepare students for the challenging problems that they may see on exams. Question types include sorting, labeling, entering numerical information, multiple choice, and fill-in-the-blank.  
• Test Bank Questions for every chapter include over 1,000 multiple-choice, short-answer, and inquiry/activity questions. Test bank problems allow instructors to use the same system for building tests and exams for both on- or off-line delivery. Instructors can also include a wide variety (multiple-choice, short-answer, randomized numerical, and choose-all-that-apply) of problems in weekly homework assignments.  

Empower learners

• Over 100 Tutorials and activities teach complex cell processes and feature specific wrong-answer feedback, hints, and a wide variety of educationally effective content. The hallmark Hints and Feedback offer instruction similar to what students would experience in an office-hours visit, allowing them to learn from their mistakes without being given the answer.  
• Over 100 molecular and microscopy videos help students visualize topics in cell biology through vivid images of cellular processes. 
• PowerPoint® Lecture Tools include customizable lecture outlines containing all of the figures and photos and embedded animations, and 5-10 Personal Response System clicker questions per chapter. 

New and updated features of this title

• Make Connection Questions ask students to make connections across concepts and chapters throughout the text with two new questions in every chapter.
• 10 Figure Walkthroughs guide students through key figures with narrated explanations and figure mark-ups that reinforce important points.
• Data Analysis Questions ask students to analyze data in order to make informed decisions, generate well-formed, testable hypotheses, design follow-up experiments, and provide compelling evidence for results.
• Quantitative questions infuse a quantitative component throughout the text. New and existing quantitative questions at the end of each chapter encourage students to work on developing their ability to perform or interpret a calculation.
• REORGANIZED: Material on translation and intracellular trafficking is now combined into Chapter 12, focusing on the Endomembrane System with co-translational import into the endoplasmic reticulum of proteins destined for secretion or insertion into the plasma membrane.
• UPDATED: Content has been added throughout the book, highlighting the most recent advances in the understanding of cell biology.