BIO 101 - Introduction to Botany

Study Notes

Introduction to Botany

Botany, or plant biology, studies the origin, diversity, structure, internal processes of plants, and their relationships with organisms and the environment.
Plants have ecological and economic importance, including food production, pollution reduction, and potential medical treatments.

Characteristics of Plants

Organization: Plants are highly organized with structured systems.
Energy Utilization:
- Photosynthesis converts light energy into chemical energy (glucose) while producing oxygen.
- Cellular respiration converts glucose into usable mechanical energy for all organisms.
Growth and Development:
- Growth refers to an increase in size and mass due to cell division and enlargement.
- Development includes all life stages, from infancy to maturity to death.
Reproduction: Plants can reproduce sexually or asexually, forming new individuals.
Genetic Information: DNA encodes an organism's characteristics, influencing traits like height, color, and production capabilities.

Evolution and Diversity

Evolution includes genetic changes over generations, with adaptations facilitating survival in specific environments.
Natural selection, a concept defined by Charles Darwin, serves as the unifying theory of biology.
Biological diversity encompasses three domains: Bacteria, Archaea, and Eukarya, and six kingdoms including Plantae.

Plant Cell Structure

Cell Components: Plant cells include structures such as the plasma membrane, nucleus, chloroplasts, mitochondria, and vacuoles, each serving specific functions.
Plasma Membrane: Acts as a barrier that regulates material flow into and out of the cell.
Nucleus: Houses DNA, controlling the cell functions.
Chloroplasts: Specialized for photosynthesis; contain chlorophyll for light absorption.
Mitochondria: Facilitate ATP production during cellular respiration.
Vacuoles: Large sacs within cells helping maintain turgor pressure and store substances.

Membranes and Transport

Fluid Mosaic Model: Describes the structure of biological membranes as flexible and dynamic.
Diffusion and Osmosis:
- Diffusion is the movement of substances along a concentration gradient.
- Osmosis is the specific diffusion of water across a selectively permeable membrane.
Facilitated Diffusion: Materials pass through special membrane channels, while active transport requires energy to move substances against their concentration gradient.

Chemistry Fundamentals

Atoms, the basic units of matter, consist of protons, neutrons, and electrons.
Chemical bonds include ionic (gained/lost electrons), covalent (shared electrons), and hydrogen bonds (attractions between polar molecules).
Inorganic compounds do not primarily contain carbon while organic compounds typically involve carbon and hydrogen.
Water is a crucial inorganic compound, allowing most chemical reactions to occur in aqueous environments due to its unique properties, such as high boiling point and solvent abilities.

Description

This quiz covers the fundamentals of botany, including the ecological and economic importance of plants. Students will explore the structures, functions, and processes of plant systems from cellular to whole-organism levels. By understanding these concepts, learners will appreciate the growth, development, and reproduction of plants.