BIO 101 – General Botany Introduction

Study Notes

Introduction to Botany

Botany, or plant biology, studies the origin, diversity, structure, and processes of plants, as well as their interactions with organisms and the environment.
Focuses on the ecological and economic significance of plants, including food security, medical treatments, and pollution reduction.

Key Characteristics of Plants

Highly Organized: Plants are complex and structured, with specialized cells and tissues working together.
Energy Utilization:
- Photosynthesis: Converts light energy into chemical energy stored in glucose, producing oxygen as a byproduct.
- Cellular Respiration: Breaks down glucose to release mechanical energy; essential for all life forms.

Plant Responses and Growth

Stimuli Response: Plants react to environmental changes (e.g., light, gravity, chemicals) through growth and movement, such as root direction changes.
Growth and Development:
- Growth involves an increase in size and cell number; many plants can grow throughout their lifespan.
- Development encompasses all life stages from germination to maturity to death.

Reproduction and DNA

Reproduction: New individuals form through sexual or asexual means.
Genetic Transmission: Traits are encoded in DNA, which carries hereditary information crucial for species characteristics like height and flower color.

Evolution and Adaptation

Adaptations: Traits enhancing survival in specific environments develop over long periods through natural selection.
Natural Selection: Formulated by Charles Darwin and Alfred Wallace, it is a foundational concept in biology illustrating how species evolve over time.

Biological Diversity

Comprises three domains: Bacteria, Archaea, and Eukarya; and six kingdoms: Bacteria, Archaea, Protista, Plantae, Animalia, and Fungi.
Kingdom Plantae:
- Features include cuticles (waxy coverings), stomata (for gas exchange), multicellular gametangia (protective reproductive structures), and vascular tissues for transport.
- Distinct from nonliving entities through characteristics like photosynthesis and cellular respiration.

Classification and Features of Kingdom Plantae

Plants are classified based on their vascular systems: vascular plants have tissues for food and water transport, while nonvascular plants lack these structures.
Key distinguishing features of the kingdom Plantae include the presence of stomata and multicellular reproductive organs, differentiating them from nonliving things and other organisms.

Description

Explore the fundamentals of botany and understand the chemical composition of cells. This quiz covers the ecological and economic importance of plants, as well as the structures and functions of various plant systems. Test your knowledge of growth, development, and reproduction in botanical contexts.