Introduction to BotanyBotany Unit 1

Chapter 1Sycamore Tree

Camouflage bark turns white

What is Botany?

• Botany – the scientific study of plants– AKA “plant biology”

• Botanists study:– Origin– Diversity– Structure– Internal process of plants– Relationships with other organisms– Relationships with nonliving physical environment

Types of Botanists

• Bryologists – study mosses• Agronomists – study field crops and soils• Horticulturists – study ornamental plants,

fruits, and vegetable crops• Forester – study forest conservation and forest

products• Economic Botanists – study plants with

commercial importance

Plants provide• Oils and lubricants• Perfumes and

fragrances• Dyes• Paper• Lumber• Waxes• Fibers

• Rubber and other elastics

• Resins• Poisons• Cork• Medicines• Foods & Spices

Only 330,000 different species of plants known– Only 5,000 evaluated for potential usefulness

Spices & Herbs

• Spices – the barks, roots, seeds, or fruits of plants from tropical regions– Uses:

• Ginger to treat diabetes• Cinnamon oil – to treat

toothaches

• Herbs – the leaves of plants from temperate regions

Taxol

• One of the most effective drugs against cancer

• Obtained from the bark of the pacific yew

7 Characteristics of Living Things

1. Complex organization (made up of 1+ cells)2. Metabolism - Take in and use energy3. Responsiveness - respond to environmental stimuli4. Growth5. Reproduce (sexually or asexually)6. Contain Genetic Information - Deoxyribonucleic Acid

– DNA is the molecule that transmits genetic information from one generation to the next

7. Evolve – change as a population/adapt to survive in changing environments

Do plants do all of these things?

12 Levels of Organization

1. Atoms –the smallest particle of an element that possesses the properties of that element

2. Molecule – 2 or more atoms3. Macromolecule – ex. Proteins, nucleic acids,

lipids4. Organelle – “little organs” of cells5. Cell – basic functional and structural unit of life6. Tissue – associations of cells that perform

specific functionsSee page 9

12 Levels of Organization

7. Organ –functional units that perform specific roles8. Organism – distinct living entities9. Population- a group of the same species that live in

the same area at the same time10. Community – all the populations of different

organisms that live and interact within an area11. Ecosystem – a community together with its non-living

environment12. Biosphere – Earth’s collective ecosystems & their

relationships with Earth’s physical environment

Taxonomic Categories

SpeciesGenusFamilyOrderClass

PhylumKingdomDomain

Dumb Kids Prefer Candy Over Fresh Green Salad

Taxonomical Organization

Domain Archaea

Kingdom Archaea

Domain Eubacteria

Kingdom Bacteria

Domain Eukarya

Kingdom Animalia

Kingdom Plantae

Kingdom Fungi

Kingdom Protista

Major Phyla of the Plant Kingdom

• Phylum Anthophyta (Angiosperms)• Phylum Confiferophyta (Conifers)• Phylum Ginkgophyta (Ginkgos)• Phylum Gnetophyta (Gnetophytes)• Phylum Cycadophyta (Cycads)• Phylum Pterophyta (Ferns)• Phylum Lycopodiophyta (Club Mosses/Quillworts)• Phylum Bryophyta (Mosses)

The Scientific Method

Communicate Results

Support or Refute

Analyze

Experiment

Research

Hypothesis

Ask a Question/Make an Observation

An experiment must have a control

• Variables – factors that are changed– Examples:• Time• Color• Size• Temperature

• Controls– Factors that are the same for both experiments

Controlled vs. Uncontrolled Experiments

• Controlled experiment –(preferred)– Has only 1 variable

Main experiment – conditions are altered in one way Controlled experiment - an experiment that is identical to the

main experiment in all respects except that conditions are not altered

• Uncontrolled experiment– Has more than 1 variable