Plants As Systems
Systems are a complex collection of parts that interact to produce a result. In order to do this, a system needs organization, energy, and matter. An example of a system is a Geranium. How do you think a Geranium is a system?
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Roots & Shoots
The combined systems of the roots and shoots are very important for the plant in the fact that they help provide support and nutrition for the plant as a whole system.
Roots, are an underground structure that help anchor the plants in the ground. The primary purpose of the root system is to take in water and oxygen and to store food for the plant. There are two main types of root systems in plants, taproot systems and fibrous root systems. Taproot systems primarily have a large and deep growing primary or central root that has several other less prominent roots growing out of the side. A good example of a taproot system would be a carrot. Fibrous roots are made up of many thin roots, roughly the same size. Fibrous root systems have a large surface area that helps the plant absorb the most water and minerals as possible. An example of a fibrous root system would be a marigold flower and various grasses.
Attached to roots are tiny root hairs. In simple terms root hairs are essentially miniature roots that grow off of the actual root system that help increase the systems surface area to allow for maximum water and mineral absorption.
Another key part of the plant system is the shoot. The shoot system of the plant is composed of the stem, leaves, and flowers. The major functions of the shoot system is to distribute food and holds the plants systems. Two major parts of the shoot system are the xylem and the phloem. The xylem and phloem are the plants water distribution system. The xylem, is the structure that brings the water up the stem from the roots. The phloem is the structure that brings water down the stem.
The major structures of the shoot system include the stem, leaves, petiole, cortex, pith, and cuticle. The stem, is the structure that provides support for the plant above ground and transports water from the roots to the shoots. Leaves, are where photosynthesis takes place and usually have the highest surface area to volume ratio to make sure that photosynthesis can take place easily and effectively. The petiole is the small stalk that attaches the leaves to the stems. The cortex, is essentially the outer portion of the stem or roots of the plant. The pith is soft and spongy material that is located in the center of the stem and holds the xylem and the phloem. The cuticle is the protective waxy coverings that is produced by the epidermal cells of the leaves.
Cells
Cells are the smallest unit of life and are found in all living things. They also, contain DNA and are highly organized. The following three cell structures are unique to plant cells and are not found in animal cells.
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There are three structures that are specific to plant cells. They include: the cell wall, central vacuole, and the chloroplasts. The cell wall is a structural outer covering of the cell that limits the cells flexibility. It does this to maintain the cell shape and limit the water uptake. The central vacuole is mainly needed to break down waste and store water & nutrients. The central vacuole makes up almost 80% of the cell's volume! Chloroplasts are needed for photosynthesis. They catch sunlight and convert it to Carbon Dioxide for food for the plant. Also, chloroplasts are what we see when we look at a plant and it is green.
In order for a plant to live it needs much more. Including: guard cells, stomata, cell membrane, and the nucleus. The guard cell is on the under surface of the leaves, which controls the gas exchange between cells and the water loss from the plant. The stomata is surrounded by the guard cell to keep them safe, this is where gas exchange takes place! This is basically how the plant breathes, just like a human! The cell membrane separates the inside of the cell from the outside environment, keeping the cell safe. Lastly, the nucleus contains the cells genetic material. The nucleus has two major objectives: to store the genetic material (DNA) and to coordinate the cell's functions (growth, reproduction, etc.) Photosynthesis
Photosynthesis is the process of using light energy to produce ATP molecules that provide the energy required to make Glucose from Carbon Dioxide and water. There are two parts of Photosynthesis: The Light Reaction and the Calvin Cycle.
The Light Reaction
The light reaction is known as the "photo" of photosynthesis. The goal of the Light Reaction is to use the sun to excite the chlorophyll, split water into Hydrogen and Oxygen, and store solar energy. The sunlight hits the chlorophyll, which causes the electrons to get excited. Next, the molecules of water split apart, leaving hydrogen and oxygen by themselves. Then the oxygen gas is released from the chloroplasts. Once all the oxygen has been released, the electrons are passed around a series of proteins. This is known as the "Electron Transport Chain." In this process, energy is stored in NADPH and ATP.
The Calvin Cycle
The Calvin Cycle is known as the "synthesis" part of photosynthesis. There are three "phases" of the Calvin Cycle. Phase 1 is Carbon Fixation, phase 2 is Sugar Formation, and Phase 3 is Regeneration. The goal of the Calvin Cycle is to use Carbon Dioxide, Hydrogen, and energy to make sugar (glucose). In the Calvin Cycle, the hydrogen from water combines with the Carbon Dioxide taken in from the stomata to make glucose. It has to go through the cycle twice to make one glucose.
Below is the formula for glucose.
Photosynthesis fo realz
Plant Reproduction
Why do you think a flower looks the way it does?
Flowers are colorful because they need to attract the pollinators. Once the pollinators land on the plant, the pollen from the anther’s sticks to their bodies. When the pollinator leaves the plant and goes to another plant, it takes the pollen with it and distributes it to another plant to begin fertilization. Once the pollinator lands, the pollen falls off of the pollinator onto the stigma, which is very sticky. The stigma recognizes that there is a new substance on it. The pollen is made up of two sperm cells and a tube cell. The tube cell makes it’s way down to the ovary, forming a path for the sperm to follow. The sperm cells follow the path that was made by the tube cell down to the ovary where fertilization takes place. Only one sperm cell fertilizes the egg in the ovary, then the other sperm cell becomes the endosperm cell. From there, the egg begins to develop and becomes an embryo. Thus, making a seed! The process is started over with another pollinator landing on the plant and everything happens again!
Once the seed is produced the ovary surrounding the ovule develops into fruit.The leaves/petals are dropped and the fruit is left to eat. The seed inside of fruits can become dormant depending on what time of environment it is in. Some seeds last longer than others and some do better in freezing conditions versus warm tropical conditions. Fruit is ripened by a gas called "ethylene." Ethylene is a gaseous hormone that makes each individual piece of fruit ripen.
Systems are a complex collection of parts that interact to produce a result. In order to do this, a system needs organization, energy, and matter. An example of a system is a Geranium. How do you think a Geranium is a system?
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Roots & Shoots
The combined systems of the roots and shoots are very important for the plant in the fact that they help provide support and nutrition for the plant as a whole system.
Roots, are an underground structure that help anchor the plants in the ground. The primary purpose of the root system is to take in water and oxygen and to store food for the plant. There are two main types of root systems in plants, taproot systems and fibrous root systems. Taproot systems primarily have a large and deep growing primary or central root that has several other less prominent roots growing out of the side. A good example of a taproot system would be a carrot. Fibrous roots are made up of many thin roots, roughly the same size. Fibrous root systems have a large surface area that helps the plant absorb the most water and minerals as possible. An example of a fibrous root system would be a marigold flower and various grasses.
Attached to roots are tiny root hairs. In simple terms root hairs are essentially miniature roots that grow off of the actual root system that help increase the systems surface area to allow for maximum water and mineral absorption.
Another key part of the plant system is the shoot. The shoot system of the plant is composed of the stem, leaves, and flowers. The major functions of the shoot system is to distribute food and holds the plants systems. Two major parts of the shoot system are the xylem and the phloem. The xylem and phloem are the plants water distribution system. The xylem, is the structure that brings the water up the stem from the roots. The phloem is the structure that brings water down the stem.
The major structures of the shoot system include the stem, leaves, petiole, cortex, pith, and cuticle. The stem, is the structure that provides support for the plant above ground and transports water from the roots to the shoots. Leaves, are where photosynthesis takes place and usually have the highest surface area to volume ratio to make sure that photosynthesis can take place easily and effectively. The petiole is the small stalk that attaches the leaves to the stems. The cortex, is essentially the outer portion of the stem or roots of the plant. The pith is soft and spongy material that is located in the center of the stem and holds the xylem and the phloem. The cuticle is the protective waxy coverings that is produced by the epidermal cells of the leaves.
Cells
Cells are the smallest unit of life and are found in all living things. They also, contain DNA and are highly organized. The following three cell structures are unique to plant cells and are not found in animal cells.
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Structure specific to plant cells:
There are three structures that are specific to plant cells. They include: the cell wall, central vacuole, and the chloroplasts. The cell wall is a structural outer covering of the cell that limits the cells flexibility. It does this to maintain the cell shape and limit the water uptake. The central vacuole is mainly needed to break down waste and store water & nutrients. The central vacuole makes up almost 80% of the cell's volume! Chloroplasts are needed for photosynthesis. They catch sunlight and convert it to Carbon Dioxide for food for the plant. Also, chloroplasts are what we see when we look at a plant and it is green.
In order for a plant to live it needs much more. Including: guard cells, stomata, cell membrane, and the nucleus. The guard cell is on the under surface of the leaves, which controls the gas exchange between cells and the water loss from the plant. The stomata is surrounded by the guard cell to keep them safe, this is where gas exchange takes place! This is basically how the plant breathes, just like a human! The cell membrane separates the inside of the cell from the outside environment, keeping the cell safe. Lastly, the nucleus contains the cells genetic material. The nucleus has two major objectives: to store the genetic material (DNA) and to coordinate the cell's functions (growth, reproduction, etc.)
Photosynthesis
Photosynthesis is the process of using light energy to produce ATP molecules that provide the energy required to make Glucose from Carbon Dioxide and water. There are two parts of Photosynthesis: The Light Reaction and the Calvin Cycle.
The Light Reaction
The light reaction is known as the "photo" of photosynthesis. The goal of the Light Reaction is to use the sun to excite the chlorophyll, split water into Hydrogen and Oxygen, and store solar energy. The sunlight hits the chlorophyll, which causes the electrons to get excited. Next, the molecules of water split apart, leaving hydrogen and oxygen by themselves. Then the oxygen gas is released from the chloroplasts. Once all the oxygen has been released, the electrons are passed around a series of proteins. This is known as the "Electron Transport Chain." In this process, energy is stored in NADPH and ATP.The Calvin Cycle
The Calvin Cycle is known as the "synthesis" part of photosynthesis. There are three "phases" of the Calvin Cycle. Phase 1 is Carbon Fixation, phase 2 is Sugar Formation, and Phase 3 is Regeneration. The goal of the Calvin Cycle is to use Carbon Dioxide, Hydrogen, and energy to make sugar (glucose). In the Calvin Cycle, the hydrogen from water combines with the Carbon Dioxide taken in from the stomata to make glucose. It has to go through the cycle twice to make one glucose.Below is the formula for glucose.
Plant Reproduction
Why do you think a flower looks the way it does?
Flowers are colorful because they need to attract the pollinators. Once the pollinators land on the plant, the pollen from the anther’s sticks to their bodies. When the pollinator leaves the plant and goes to another plant, it takes the pollen with it and distributes it to another plant to begin fertilization. Once the pollinator lands, the pollen falls off of the pollinator onto the stigma, which is very sticky. The stigma recognizes that there is a new substance on it. The pollen is made up of two sperm cells and a tube cell. The tube cell makes it’s way down to the ovary, forming a path for the sperm to follow. The sperm cells follow the path that was made by the tube cell down to the ovary where fertilization takes place. Only one sperm cell fertilizes the egg in the ovary, then the other sperm cell becomes the endosperm cell. From there, the egg begins to develop and becomes an embryo. Thus, making a seed! The process is started over with another pollinator landing on the plant and everything happens again!
Once the seed is produced the ovary surrounding the ovule develops into fruit.The leaves/petals are dropped and the fruit is left to eat. The seed inside of fruits can become dormant depending on what time of environment it is in. Some seeds last longer than others and some do better in freezing conditions versus warm tropical conditions. Fruit is ripened by a gas called "ethylene." Ethylene is a gaseous hormone that makes each individual piece of fruit ripen.