Download Botany Syllabus 2016

BOTANY 101
Syllabus
Fall 2014
MRS. MIZAK
Description:
This course details the basic concepts of plant biology. It focuses on plant characteristics,
structure, unity and diversity, growth and reproduction. Students are acquainted with the
origin, structure, development and functions of plant cells, tissues and organs. Current
ideas in agriculture, horticulture, medicine, ecology and conservation issues are
discussed. Individual plant experiments as well as group laboratory investigations play a
major part of this course. Lab work includes greenhouse and various field activities.
TEXT: Biology-Miller/Levine. Pearson/ Prentice Hall education, copyright 2006
UNIT 1Chapter 22:
Sec 1- Introduction to Plants
Key Concepts:
 Plant are multicellular, eukaryotic cells
 Plant needs revolve around sunlight, water, minerals, gas exchange
 Plants evolved from multicellular green algae
Sec 2- Bryophytes
Key Concepts:
 Bryophytes’ life cycle depend on water for reproduction
 Bryophytes include mosses, liverworts and hornworts
Sec 3- Seedless Vascular Plants
Key Concepts:
 Xylem and Phloem are plant vascular tissues
 Seedless vascular plants include club mosses, horsetails and ferns
 Ferns’ life cycle include diploid sporophyte
Sec 4- Seed Plants
Key Concepts:
 Cones and flowers allow seed plants to reproduce without water
 Gymnosperms include cycads, ginkgoes and conifers
Sec 5- Angiosperms
Key Concepts:
 Angiosperms develop flowers containing ovaries which surround and
protect the seeds.
 Monocots and dicots are named according to the number of cotyledons
 Three categories of plant life spans are annual, biennial and perennial
Chapter 23:
Sec 1- Specialized Tissues in Plants
Key Concepts:
 Three principal tissues of plants are roots, stems, leaves
 Three tissue systems are dermal, vascular and groud
 Xylem consists of tracheids and vessel elements, Phloem consists of tube
elements and companion cells
 Meristematic tissue produces more cells by mitosis
Sec 2- Roots
Key Concepts:
 Two main types of roots are fibrous and tap roots
 Mature roots have outer layer of epidermal cells, a center of vascular tissue
and separating the two is the cortex
 Roots anchor the plant and absorb water and nutrients from the soil
Sec 3- Stems
Key Concepts:
 Stems have three important functions- produce leaves, branches and
flowers, hold leaves upright, and transport substances between roots and
leaves
 Monocots have vascular bundles scattered throughout/Dicots have
cylindrical vascular bundles
 Primary growth is produced by mitosis in apical meristems
 In conifers and dicots, secondary growth takes place in lateral meristematic
tissue
Sec. 4- Leaves
Key Concepts:
 Leaves optimize light absorption to photosynthesize
 Stomata open/close depending on light and humidity conditions
Sec. 5- Transport
Key Concepts:
 Root pressure, capillary action and transportation work together to move
water through the xylem
 Phloem is able to move nutrients in either direction
Chapter 24:
Sec 1- Cones and Flowers
Key Concepts:
 Reproduction in gymnosperms occurs in cones
 Reproduction in angiosperms occurs in flowers
 Pollination and fertilization occurs within flowers
 Gymnosperms are pollinated by wind/angiosperms by animals
Sec 2- Seed development and Germination
Key Concepts:
 Angiosperm seeds mature, the ovary walls thicken and a fruit is formed
 Seeds disperse by animal action in fruits
 Seeds dispersed by wind/water are lightweight
 Temperature and moisture cause a seed to germinate
Sec 3- Plant Propagation
Key Concepts:
 Vegetative reproduction includes the production of new plants from
horizontal stems, cuttings, leaves, plantlets, and underground roots
 Horticulteralists use plant propagation to make clones of a plant
Chapter 25:
Sec 1- Hormones and Plant Growth
Key Concepts:
 Plant hormone are chemical substances that control plant patterns of growth
 Auxins are produced in the apical meristem
 Cytokinins stimulate cell division and growth
 Gibberellins produce increase in sizw
 Ethylene stimulate fruits to ripen
Sec 2- Plant Responses
Key Concepts:
 Plant tropisms include gravitropism, phototropism, and thigmotropsim
 Phototropism is responsible for the timing of seasonal activities
 As cold weather approaches, deciduous plants turn off photosynthetic
pathways
Sec 3- Plant Adaptations
Key Concepts:
 Aquatic plants have tissues with large air-filled spaces
 Desert plants have extensive roots, reduced leaves and thick stems
 Plants have specialized features for obtaining nutrients
 Many plants have defensive effects upon attack from animals

GRADING: Various tests, quizzes and homework assignments
PART II- Abstracts:
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
Two to be completed every marking period and must be taken from legitimate
science reference.
Copy of the article must accompany a 1 typed page abstract.
The original article must be current research (within the last 4 years).
Topics for each abstract will be student dependent
GRADING: Each abstract is equivalent to a quiz grade
PART III- Lab Reports:
a.
b.
c.
Format for lab reports will vary upon type of experiment performed
GRADING: Dependent upon the intensity of the particular lab itself and will be
announced prior to each deadline.
Lab notebooks will are required for each student in order to record individual results
PART IV- Projects:
a.
b.
c.
Throughout the course various projects will be required. Models, collections, and
poster will be submitted for course grades. Details of the requirements and rubrics
for each assignment will be explained when necessary.
Some of the projects will be completed individually; some will be completed in
small groups.
GRADING: Dependent upon the intensity of the assignment.
PART V- Extra Credit and Individual Studies:
a.
b.
Extra Credit will be granted to any/all students who have already completed the
assigned work but desire to improve their overall grade. In other words this is
EXTRA work above and beyond what is expected.
Extra Credit assignments will be discussed between the instructor and the individual
student. Topics and worth of each assignment will be mutually agreed upon prior to
the completion of the work.