Lecture: Intro and Botany

Botany in the News Examples

DNA- new salt tolerance gene; possible new antibiotics developed

Scientific Method

observation, question, hypothesis, experiments, conclusion, communication with others/peer review

Characteristics of Living Things

assimilate/use energy; response to environment; use homeostasis (maintains relatively constant environment; highly organized (more sophisticated and complex); have evolutionary history (have evolved from other living things); has genetic info (DNA, RNA); can reproduce; are made up of cells

Levels of Organization

atoms; molecules; parts of organelles; organelles; cells; tissues; organism; population; community; biosphere

Plant’s Maintenance of Earth’s Environment

supply O2; take in and use CO2 (balances CO2 in the envrionment); water purification; habitat for other organisms; energy transformation; stop erosion

Ecosystem Goods and Services

goods: food, water, fiber, fuel, other biologicals

services: water purification, pollination, waste treatment, watershed protection, shoreline protection (prevents erosion)

Greenhouse Effect & Plants

plants take in CO2 which helps to lesson the overall amount of CO2 in the atmosphere to bring it down to a more balanced level; lower CO2 levels help combat global warming

Biology’s Unifying Principle

evolution- all biological principles are examples and evidence of evolutions

are living things are shaped by evolution

Bryophytes

embryophyte (land plant): mosses

Lycophytes

embryophyte (land plant): club mosses

Pteridophytes

embryophyte (land plant): ferns

Gymnosperms

embryophyte (land plant): seed producing (conifers)

Angiosperms

embryophyte (land plant): seed producing flowering plants

Carbohydrates

sugars, starches, cellulose

Lipids

fats, oil, phospholipids, steroids (ex: digitalin, deters insects)

Proteins

storage proteins, enzymes (ex: rubisco, most abundant protein on earth, responsible for carbon fixation in photosynthesis)

Nucleic Acids

DNA, RNA, single nucleotides

Monomers and Polymers

mono: building blocks of organic molecules

poly: large units of monomers linked together

Secondary Compounds

complex and diverse molecules produced by plants, algae, or fungi

species specific-

used by the plant for defense, specialized structures, or reproduction

ex: UV protection, pigments, poisons

Terpenes

a group of second compounds

citronella, pyrethrum: repel insects

taxol cancer drug from plants

carotenes: carrots, help in light harvesting reactions, protect from UV exposure

fragrances of roses and lavender (attract pollinators)

rubber, turpentine, rosin, tree resin

Phenolics

Alkaloids

defensive secondary compound, most are toxic in high levels and have effect on central nervous system

can be used in medicines

ex: caffeine, nicotine, narcotic painkillers, theobromine (chocolate!)