Biology Library Tutorial

Commonly Used Databases -

Basic BIOSIS
This tutorial has already highlighted Academic Search Premier as a general database frequently used by students. However, since you are in a highly specialized, technical field, other databases will probably be of more use to you. Examples of these databases follow on this and the following pages.

Basic Biosis is one of the most important databases for Biology students. If you are taking this tutorial from off campus, please see the Using this Tutorial page.

Searching in Basic BIOSIS is much the same as searching in Academic Search Premier, in that you can do Boolean searching. You can utilize the Boolean search options located in the drop-down menus to the left, or you can type in your Boolean operators the same way that you did with Academic Search Premier. Please conduct a Boolean search for butterflies and transgenic. 

To look at the full citation, abstract, and subject headings, click on a pertinent link and view the information. If the item is not available in a fulltext format, you will need to check the Fulltext Periodicals channel as well as RamCat to see if the Library has electronic access to or owns the journal title that your article is in. Be careful! Do not rely on a image or text in this database stating that ASU may own the journal, because sometimes this is wrong! Be sure to check yourself in the Fulltext Periodicals channel and RamCat!
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