Scott Freeman's Biological Science is beloved for its Socratic narrative style, its emphasis on experimental evidence, and its dedication to active learning. Science education research indicates that true mastery of content requires a move away from memorization towards active engagement with the material in a focused, personal way. Biological Science is designed to equip students with strategies to assess their level of understanding and identify the types of cognitive skills that need improvement.

With the Sixth Edition, content has been streamlined with an emphasis on core concepts and core competencies from the Vision and Change in Undergraduate Biology Education report. The text's unique BioSkills section is now placed after Chapter 1 to help students develop key skills needed to become a scientist, new "Making Models" boxes guide learners in interpreting and creating models, and new "Put It all Together" case studies conclude each chapter and help students see connections between chapter content and current, real-world research questions. New, engaging content includes updated coverage of global climate change, advances in genomic editing, and recent insights into the evolution of land plants. The features in the text are supported and integrated with MasteringBiology activities, Learning Catalytics, and new whiteboard videos that guide students in completing the "Making Models" assignments.