Welcome to the Biology Subject Guide
The StMU Library is here to support you with your academic research needs. These subject guides are curated to provide you with the information you need to get started in your course.
Credible. Reliable. Curated.
This guide is an excellent starting point for research, but please contact us if you can't find what you are looking for. We're happy to assist you by email, phone a virtual meeting or, if you're near the Library, stop by for a visit.
Stay on top of the latest research from your favourite journals and databases with email alerts.
Books, journals, and databases help you locate background information, peer-reviewed articles and reference resources.
The web is a goldmine if you know where to look. We've done the mining for you to compile online resources that will make your work easier.
Below are some suggested databases for Biology.
Databases allow you to search collections of journals, articles, books, topic reviews, evidence-based summaries and drug information. StMU databases include Core Databases which are curated collections focusing on a specific subject area and Multidisciplinary Databases which provide broad subject coverage in all areas of undergraduate study.
Wildlife & Ecology Studies Worldwide is the largest index to literature about wild mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians. It covers many wildlife subjects including individual species, habitat types, wildlife behaviour, ecotourism and zoology.
Full text of core literature in biology and agriculture.
The BHL portal provides free access to hundreds of thousands of volumes, comprising over 59 million pages, from the 15th-21st centuries. In addition to public domain content, BHL works with rights holders to obtain permission to make in-copyright materials openly available under Creative Commons licences.
BioOne Complete is a database of more than 200 subscribed and open-access titles in the biological, ecological, and environmental sciences.
Canadian Science Publishing published 24 journals that cover the spectrum of natural and physical sciences and engineering, including three open access journals that are interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary.
Science Reference Center allows students to browse topics by category and have quick access to science experiments, a citation tool, and helpful research guides.
Covering all major academic disciplines, Academic Search Elite is a rich resource spanning a broad stretch of academic subjects with thousands of full-text journals and abstracted and indexed journals.
There is nothing wrong with using the internet. You can find very helpful resources on the web but you should know where and when is the right time to use the internet versus a Library database.
Don't hesitate to ask We're happy to assist you in person, by phone, or by MS Teams.
Anytime, anywhere StMU students, staff, and faculty have access to all of the online resources offsite. Simply enter your credentials.
Having problems with offsite access? Make sure you're selecting OpenAthens when given an option. Check out our guide on OpenAthens External Authentication for detailed support.
The StMU Library provides access to hundreds of scholarly journals to keep you up to date with the latest evidence, research, and discussion in your field. If we don't have access to the article you're looking for, fill out an ILL Request and we'll bring in a copy for free. Below you will find links to core, full-text Education journals as well as information about assessing articles found on the web.
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Published since 1929, this bimonthly journal explores general biochemistry and includes up-to-date coverage of experimental research into cellular and molecular biology in eukaryotes, as well as review articles on topics of current interest and notes contributed by recognized international experts. The journal does not publish papers on the expression pattern and impact of microRNAs and non-coding RNAs in disease states. Special issues each year are dedicated to expanding new areas of research in biochemistry and cell biology.
Cell publishes findings of unusual significance in any area of experimental biology, including but not limited to cell biology, molecular biology, neuroscience, immunology, virology and microbiology, cancer, human genetics, systems biology, signalling, and disease mechanisms and therapeutics. The basic criterion for considering papers is whether the results provide significant conceptual advances into, or raise provocative questions and hypotheses regarding, an interesting and important biological question. In addition to primary research articles in four formats, Cell features review and opinion articles on recent research advances and issues of interest to its broad readership in the leading edge section.
The International Journal of Plant Biology is an Open Access, online-only, peer-reviewed journal that considers scientific papers in all different subdisciplines of plant biology, such as physiology, molecular biology, cell biology, development, genetics, systematics, ecology, evolution, ecophysiology, plant-microbe interactions, mycology and phytopathology. The International Journal of Plant Biology publishes original articles, brief reports, and reviews. From a multidisciplinary perspective, our journal will provide a platform for publication, information and debate, encompassing all areas which fall within the scope of plant science.
Since its inception in 1867, The American Naturalist has maintained its position as one of the world’s premier peer-reviewed publications in ecology, evolution, and behaviour research. Its goals are to publish articles that are of broad interest to the readership, pose new and significant problems, introduce novel subjects, develop conceptual unification, and change the way people think. The American Naturalist emphasizes sophisticated methodologies and innovative theoretical syntheses — all in an effort to advance the knowledge of organic evolution and other broad biological principles.
There is nothing wrong with using journal articles you've found on the internet, there's plenty of high quality information out there. But, there are a few things you should know about Academic, Open Access, and Predatory journals before you start.
A Dictionary of Biology
Print resource: REF QH302.5 .D53 2019
Print resource: REF QH427 .R43 2003
Print resource: REF QR9 .D47 2004
Print resource: REF QH541.15 .B56 E53 2001
Print resource: REF QH302.5 .M382 1997
Libraries are filled with books! Many prefer holding a hard copy book instead of an electronic version. Don't worry, we have both available depending on what you like best.
Books are ideal information sources to consult when looking for a comprehensive overview of your topic. Don't see what you are looking for? Ask us about InterLibrary Loans to find a book from another library.
Libraries are filled with books! Many prefer holding a hard copy book instead of an electronic version. Don't worry, we have both available depending on what you like best.
Books are ideal information sources to consult when looking for a comprehensive overview of your topic. Don't see what you are looking for? Ask us about InterLibrary Loans to find a book from another library.
Click and read Immediate access anytime, anywhere.
Available to all Place a Request in the catalogue for quick pickup or visit the library to browse the stacks. .
You can borrow from them too Search and Request books from our SAIL partners (U of C, AU, and BVC) from within the STMU catalogue.
The internet has a wealth of information. Explore grey literature, Open Education Resources and digital repositories to discover information about your subject from all over the world. Below you will find a curated list of web resources.
Below you will find a curated list of web resources.
A YouTube playlist containing a collection of biology-related videos.
The Biology Project offers problem sets and tutorials and includes topics, such as; cell biology, chemicals and human health, developmental biology, human biology, immunology, genetics, molecular biology, and biochemistry. This site also connects you to other resources related to topics.
The Biology Image Library is a growing collection of over 900 text-supported microscopic and macroscopic images and videos drawn from commercially prepared slide collections and live specimens commonly used in the study of Biology, Botany, Zoology, Histology and Microbiology.
SCOP database, created by manual inspection and abetted by a battery of automated methods, aims to provide a detailed and comprehensive description of the structural and evolutionary relationships between all proteins whose structure is known. As such, it provides a broad survey of all known protein folds, detailed information about the close relatives of any particular protein, and a framework for future research and classification.
It's not always black and whiteGrey literature falls into a 'grey area' of materials produced outside traditional publishing channels. Learn more about grey literature in the Research Tips tab.
Request and you shall receive If you have located an article online that the StMU Library does not have access to through our databases and journals, submit an ILL request and we'll locate a copy at no charge.
Many electronic resources, such as the Library catalogue and academic databases, offer citation generation tools to automatically generate citations in your chosen style. Be sure to always verify the accuracy of the citation as sometimes this information is incorrect or improperly formatted. Below you will find a selection of citing and writing resources.
ACS (American Chemical Society)
APA (American Psychological Association)
APS (American Physical Society)
Print resource on Course Reserve. Please visit the Library information desk. Council of Science Editors Style Guide
Print resource on Course Reserve. Please visit the Library information desk.
Chicago/TurabianPrint resource on Course Reserve. Please visit the Library information desk
IEEE Style Manual (PDF)This style is commonly used for Electrical and Computer Engineering.
MLA (Modern Language Association)Print resource on Course Reserve. Please visit the Library information desk.
Writing Resources for Subject
Essay do's and don'ts : a practical guide to essay writing
Print resource: General Reserves PE1408 .E54 2017
The Purdue Online Writing Lab The Online Writing Lab (OWL) at Purdue University houses writing resources and instructional material and we provide these as a free service of the Writing Lab at Purdue. Students, members of the community and users worldwide will find information to assist with many writing projects.
Style guides are updated regularly to keep pace with the changing nature of information, but instructors don't always adopt the most current guideline right away.
Check out the academic writing series offered by the Learning Centre and master the citation styles used in your field of study.
Print resource on Course Reserve. Please visit the Library information desk.
Print resource on Course Reserve. Please visit the Library information desk.
Print resource on Course Reserve. Please visit the Library information desk
This style is commonly used for Electrical and Computer Engineering.
Print resource on Course Reserve. Please visit the Library information desk.
Print resource: General Reserves QH304 .P43 2007
Print resource: General Reserves PE1408 .E54 2017
Print resource: General Reserves QH304 .N67 2011
Print resource: General Reserves QH304 .K59 2009
The Online Writing Lab (OWL) at Purdue University houses writing resources and instructional material, and we provide these as a free service of the Writing Lab at Purdue. Students, members of the community, and users worldwide will find information to assist with many writing projects.
These are articles reporting on original research and include elements such as a hypothesis, background studies, literature reviews, detailed methodologies, results, interpretations of findings, and discussions on possible implications and future research. Original research articles are typically longer, ranging from 3, 000 – 12, 000 words. These articles are peer reviewed and cite relevant publications from other authors that relate to the research being conducted.
These articles report on the in-depth study of a specific person, group, or event. They are used in a variety of fields such as psychology, medicine, education, political science, and social work in order to seek patterns and causes of behaviour.
A literature review is a systematic summary and synthesis of what has been published on a topic by accredited scholars and researchers. They frequently convey what knowledge and ideas have been established on a topic, as well as critically assessing the strengths and weaknesses of the field. They will often lack a ‘Methods’ section, though they are often peer reviewed.
These reviews are often designed to provide an exhaustive summary of current evidence in relation to a specific research question, synthesize findings qualitatively or quantitatively, and critically appraise research studies. Systematic reviews use rigorous and transparent review methodologies with the aim of assessing and minimizing bias in the findings.
A meta-analysis is a statistical analysis that combines the results of multiple scientific studies addressing the same question. The primary aim is to use statistical analyses to determine common truths. Meta-analyses can be part of a broader systematic review.
Including letters to the editor, correspondences, short communications, editorials, pictorial essays
Broadly speaking, gray literature is information produced outside of the traditional academic publishing and distribution systems such as academic journals and monographs. Gray literature can include reports, policies, working papers, newsletters, speeches, government documents, and more.
As grey literature is produced directly by an individual or organization, for their own either use or wider sharing, it is often more current than academic publications as it is not subject to the delays found in traditional publishing processes.
As grey literature does not go through a rigorous peer review process the quality can vary significantly, and it is recommended that these sources be critically evaluated.
These can include scientific studies conducted by Government agencies and NGO which are often not peer reviewed. These types of reports can be found in both scholarly databases and freely on the web.