Plant Biology Questions

What role did oxygen play in early life?

enabled respiration which is more efficient than anaerobic respiration

What are the advantages of terrestrial life? Disadvantages?

advantages: there is more sunlight, higher CO2 availibility, less competition, and access to new nutrients and untapped resources
disadvantages: much less water available, gravity is more a a concern, water/nutrients don’t float around

How do plants cope with challenges of terrestrial life?

adaptations such as the cuticle (water loss), stomata (transport), vascular system (gravity/transport), and lignin (transport)

How are plants useful for things other than food?

they define landscapes, are at the base of almost all ecosystems, etc.

What are the major organic molecules in plant cells?

carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids

What are the individual components of each major organic molecule?

carbohydrates - monosaccharides; lipids - fatty acids; proteins - amino acids; nucleic acids - nucleotides

How are the individual components joined together?

dehydration synthesis

What roles do carbohydrates play in the cell?

act as energy sources, energy storage, and structural support

What roles do lipids play in the cell?

energy storage, structural support in the cellular membrane, and prevention of water loss

What roles do proteins play in the cell?

too many to count, but enzymes are a thing :)

What roles do nucleic acids play in the cell?

literally everything they are the blueprint for everything

What makes the more diverse molecules interesting?

they have many different interesting functions from flavoring (alkaloids, tannins) and colors (flavinoids)