Adaptation and attribution
This OER is structured to support the Fundamentals of Veterinary Biology course taught at Charles Sturt University.
Content is adapted and remixed from the following sources:
- Biology 2e by Mary Ann Clark, Matthew Douglas, Jung Choi, OpenStax, 2018 under CC BY 4.0
- Introductory animal physiology by Sanja Hininc-Frlog, eCampusOntario, 2019 under CC BY 4.0
- Anatomy and Physiology 2e by J. Gordon Betts, Kelly A. Young, James A. Wise, Eddie Johnson, Brandon Poe, Dean H. Kruse, Oksana Korol, Jody E. Johnson, Mark Womble, Peter DeSaix, OpenStax, 2022 under CC BY 4.0
- A Guide to the principles of animal nutrition by Gita Cherian, Oregon State University, 2019 under CC BY NC 4.0
- Fundamentals of Cell Biology by Lauren Dalton, Robin Young, Oregon State University, 2024 under CC BY NC 4.0
- Charles Sturt University veterinary science course materials by Sarah Teakel and Leigh Ladd
At the end of each part, interactive H5P interactive review questions were prepared by Samantha Hamilton, Division of Learning and Teaching, Charles Sturt University. Veterinary case studies throughout the book are by Sarah Teakel.
Figure attributions
Where possible, sources of images have been found and attribution details added to the OpenStax figure captions. In some cases alternatives have been substituted.
- Where no credit is provided in captions, the figures are attributed to the same source as the chapter text.
- Works by United States government agencies are assumed to be public domain or free to re-use.
- Micograph images provided to OpenStax by the Regents of University of Michigan Medical School (c) 2012 are available from Michigan Histology and Virtual Microscopy Learning Resources by Michael Hortsch, licensed under CC-BY-SA-NC 4.0
- Images from Texas A&M University’s Biology faculty were released in partnership with OpenStax under CC BY 4.0
Part I Taxonomy of Life
Chapters 1 and 2 covering taxonomy and phylogeny are adapted from Chapter 20, Phylogenies and the History of Life in Biology 2e (2018) by OpenStax. Some sections are omitted and content relevant to veterinary practice has been added.
Chapter 3, Distinctions between major groups of life and their interrelationships is written by Sarah Teakel, Charles Sturt University.
Part II Principles of Science
Chapter 5, Basic Science and measurement is a remix of Chapter 1.1 The Science of biology in Biology 2e by OpenStax and course content written by Leigh Ladd, Charles Sturt University.
Chapter 6, Particles and temperature is a remix of Chapter 2.1 Atoms, isotopes, ions, and molecules: the building blocks in Biology 2e by OpenStax and course content from Charles Sturt University.
Chapter 7, Thermodynamics is an adaptation and contraction of Chapter 1.5 Biological energy in Introductory animal physiology, eCampusOntario. Enzymes are covered in a later chapter.
Chapter 8, Homeostasis is an adaptation of Chapter 1.3 Homeostasis in Introductory animal physiology, eCampusOntario. Human examples and illustrations are substituted with veterinary equivalents. Video links are replaced with better quality alternatives.
Part III Structure and Function of Cells
Chapters 10 to 13 are adapted and remixed from Chapter 3, the cellular level of organisation (parts 3.1, 3.2 and 3.3) in Anatomy and Physiology 2e by OpenStax. Some sections are omitted.
Chapter 14, Cell-cell adhesions and cell functions is from Chapter 4.6 Connections between cells and cellular activities in Biology 2e by OpenStax.
Part IV Tissues, Organs and Systems
Chapters 16 and 18 to 21, are adapted from Chapter 4, The tissue level of organization in Anatomy and Physiology 2e by OpenStax. Micograph images provided to OpenStax by the Regents of University of Michigan Medical School (c) 2012 are available from Michigan Histology and Virtual Microscopy Learning Resources by Michael Hortsch, licensed under CC-BY-SA-NC 4.0.
Chapter 17, Organs and systems is from course content by Sarah Teakel and Leigh Ladd, Charles Sturt University. Images are sourced from OpenStax publications indicated in figure captions.
Part V Biomolecules and Cell Metabolism
Chapter 23, Introduction to biomolecules and energy is based on course content from Leigh Ladd at Charles Sturt University.
Chapter 24, Enzymes is an adaptation and contraction from Chapter 5.1 Biological energy in Introductory Animal Physiology, eCampusOntario and course content from Charles Sturt University.
Chapter 25, Carbohydrates is remixed from Chapters III, IV and V in Guide to principles of animal nutrition, Oregon State University and images from content at Charles Sturt University.
Chapter 26, Lipids is remixed from Chapters VI, VII and VIII in Guide to principles of animal nutrition, Oregon State University and course content at Charles Sturt University. Figures are copied or adapted from A Guide to Principles of Animal Nutrition.
Chapter 27, Proteins is remixed from Chapters IX, X and XI in Guide to principles of animal nutrition, Oregon State University and Chapter 3.4 Biological Molecules: Proteins in Biology 2e by OpenStax.
Chapter 28, Nucleic acids is adapted from Chapter 3.5 Biological Molecules: Nucleic Acids in Biology 2e by OpenStax and course content at Charles Sturt University.
Part VI Membrane Transport
Chapter 30, Selective permeability and simple diffusion is an adaptation and contraction of Chapter 5.2 Passive Transport in Biology 2e by OpenStax and course content at Charles Sturt University.
Chapter 31, Facilitated diffusion is an adaptation and contraction from Chapter 5.2 Passive Transport in Biology 2e by OpenStax.
Chapter 32, Electrochemical gradients and equilibrium potential is adapted from Chapter 7.1 Electrical potential in Introductory Animal Physiology, eCampusOntario and course content from Charles Sturt University.
Chapter 33, Active transport is remixed from Chapter 5.3 Active Transport in Biology 2e by OpenStax and Chapter 3.1 The Cell Membrane in Anatomy and Physiology 2e by OpenStax.
Part VII Cell-Cell Communication
Chapter 35, Cell signalling is an adaptation and contraction of Chapter 9.1 Signaling Molecules and Cellular Receptors in Biology 2e by OpenStax.
Chapter 36, Receptors and ligands is an adaptation and contraction of Chapter 9.1 Signaling Molecules and Cellular Receptors in Biology 2e by OpenStax.
Part VII Molecular Biology
Chapters 38 and 39, DNA and chromosomes and Regulation of gene expression, are adapted and remixed from Chapter 3 DNA, Chromosomes, and the Interphase Nucleus in Fundamentals of Cell Biology, Oregon State University. Some sections are omitted.
Chapter 40, Cell cycle regulation is an adaptation and contraction of Chapter 8 The Cell Cycle and Mitosis in Fundamentals of Cell Biology, Oregon State University.
Chapter 41, Biotechnology is an adaptation and contraction from Chapter 17.1 Biotechnology in Biology 2e by OpenStax.
Recommended attribution and reference
This adaptation and remix of OER and Charles Sturt University course material is distributed with a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 international licence except where otherwise noted. Readers are welcome to redistribute, remix, adapt and build upon the material in any medium or format with appropriate attribution.
Recommended attribution
The secret lives of cells: foundations of veterinary cell biology and microbiology by Sarah Teakel, © Charles Sturt University, is licensed under CC BY NC 4.0
Reference in APA (7th edition) style
Teakel, S. (2025). The secret lives of cells: foundations of veterinary cell biology and microbiology. Charles Sturt University Library. https://opentext.csu.edu.au/secretlivesofcells/
