THE MADER/WINDELSPECHT STORY...The twelfth edition of Biology is a traditional, comprehensive introductory biology textbook, with coverage from Cell Structure and Function to the Conservation of Biodiversity. The book, which centers on the evolution and diversity of organisms, is appropriate for any one- or two-semester biology course. Biology, 12th Edition is the epitome of Sylvia Mader's expertise. Its concise, precise writing-style employs lucid language to present the material as succinctly as possible, enabling students-even non-majors-to master the foundational concepts before coming to class. "Before You Begin", "Following the Themes", and "Thematic Feature Readings" piece together the three major themes of the text-evolution, nature of science, and biological systems. Students are consistently engaged in these themes, revealing the interconnectedness of the major topics in biology. Sylvia Mader typifies an icon of science education. Her dedication to her students, coupled with her clear, concise writing-style has benefited the education of thousands of students over the past three decades.The integration of the text and digital world has been achieved with the addition of Dr. Michael Windelspecht's facility for the development of digital learning assets. For over ten years, Michael served as the Introductory Biology Coordinator at Appalachian State University-a program that enrolls over 4,500 non-science majors annually. Michael is the lead architect in the design of McGraw-Hill's Connect Plus and LearnSmart media content for the Mader series. These assets allow instructors to easily design interactive tutorial materials, enhance presentations in both online and traditional environments, and assess the learning objectives and outcomes of the course.