Introduction to Plant Biology Lecture 1

These flashcards cover key terminology and concepts from the Introduction to Plant Biology lecture.

Living things

Organisms that reproduce, grow, develop, and adapt, maintain specific conditions, take in energy, and pass on information.

Eukaryotes

Organisms whose cells contain a nucleus and organelles, including plants and animals.

Autotrophs

Organisms that produce their own food using light or chemical energy; common in plants.

Photosynthesis

The process by which plants convert light energy, water, and carbon dioxide into glucose and oxygen.

Heterotrophs

Organisms that must consume others for energy, including humans and many animals.

Ethnobotany

The scientific study of how humans have used plants for various purposes throughout history.

Agriculture

The science and art of cultivating plants and livestock on a large scale.

Domestication

The process by which wild plants are cultivated for human use, resulting in useful trait changes.

Monoculture

The agricultural practice of growing a single crop in a given area.

Polyculture

The agricultural practice of growing multiple different crops in the same space at the same time.

Doctrine of Signatures

A historical theory suggesting that the physical characteristics of plants indicate their usefulness in medicine.

Phytochemistry

The study of the chemical processes and compounds in plants.

Bioprospecting

The exploration of biodiversity for useful genetic and biochemical resources.