Biology Collection: Mary Gregg Defiintions Sporophyte:spore-producing generation of plant Application to plants: in plants that alternate between sexual and asexual phases, a plant in its asexual spore-producing phase Frond:large divided leaf; a large leaf divided into many thin sections that is found on many flowerless plants Application to plants: This adaptation provides a greater surface area to the leaf, allowing more sunlight to be absorbed while the sections allow for easier passage of rainfall/water from one area of the leaf to the next; seen especially ferns and palms. Ovary:In flowering plants, the part of the flowerwhich encloses the ovules. When the ovary matures, it becomes the fruit. Application in plants: This is seen in the “female” plants in dicots, and in all monocots (since monocots contain both “male” and “female” parts). The ovary is a necessary part of the reproductive system of all plants, both monocot and dicot. Without it, the “male” portion of/ plant would have no way of passing its genes on to the next generation, making it, genetically and evolutionarily speaking, a failure. Gibberellins:growth-regulating plant hormone Application in plants: This plant hormone promotes growth and seed germination in plants Were this absent, the plant would have virtually no means by which to regulate germination or growth, making it more susceptible to death, whether by overgrowth, undergrowth, or inability to germinate. Meristem:growing plant tissue embryonic plant tissue that is actively dividing, as found at the tip of stems and roots Application in plants: This adaptation allows the roots to “expand their territory”-allowing the plant to spread its roots over a wider underground expanse, which will therefore allow the plant, ideally, to access a greater amount of essential nutrients. Aboveground, in the stem, this ability enables the stem to control the movement of the not-so fully developed upper portion. As seen in the picture I posted here of the plant with the bent stem, the plant was pulled out of the ground and laid sideways (my mom did this) with the root system still intact. Though the bottom portion of the stem was already fully established and unable to move, the top portion, not fully developed, was able to bend itself toward the light, upwards, despite its being laid sideways. Also, though it is not in the picture, the root system, though uprooted, was able, through use of the meristem, to grow and attach the still-growing portion of its root tips to the ground and begin once more taking in nutrients from the ground despite its mostly above-ground root system. Ethylene:functions as a planthormonein plants Application in plants: it stimulates the ripening of fruit, the opening of flowers, as well as the unfolding of leaves Chlorophyta: large division of chiefly freshwater eukaryotic algae that possess chlorophyll a and b, store food as starch, and cellulose cell walls Autotroph:an organism that produces complex organic compounds from simple inorganic molecules using energy from light (photosynthesis) or inorganic chemical reactions. Application to plants: They are the producers in a food chain, such as plants on land or algae in water. They are able to make their own food and can fix carbon. Therefore, they do not utilize organic compounds as an energy source or a carbon source. Autotrophs can reduce carbon dioxide to make organic compounds. Actin:One of the proteinsinto which actomyosincan be split;can existin eithera globular or fibrous form Application to plants: The ability of the substance to exist as either globular or fibrous allows it to be the backbone of either an herbaceous or woody stemmed plant Lignin:A complex polymer the cheif constituent of wood other than carbohydrates Application to plants: binds to cellulose fibers to harden and strengthen cell walls of plants, allowing plant to maintain its shape and level of stability EXTRA DEFINITIONS Xylem:The woody part of plants: the supporting and water-conducting tissue, consisting primarily of tracheids and vessels Application to plants: this is part of the “veins” of the plant, allowing the plant to take in and distribute water to the plant Phloem:botany tissuethat takes nutrients to parts where needed; consists primarily of sieve tubes Application to plants: Similarly to the xylem, the phloem distributes a substance to all parts of the plant, but unlike the xylem, the phloem is responsible for making sure that nutrients get distributed to all necessary parts of the plant Genetically Modified Organism: An organism whose genetic characteristics have been altered by the insertion of a modified gene or a gene from another organism using the techniques of genetic engineering Application to plants: This technique can be used to put in or take out a specific wanted/ unwanted trait in the plant. A common example is the “Seedless” watermelon. This watermelon has been gmoe-d in order to produce a more “satisfactory” product for the consumer
Biology Collection: Mary Gregg
Defiintions
Sporophyte:spore-producing generation of plant
Application to plants: in plants that alternate between sexual and asexual phases, a plant in its asexual spore-producing phase
Frond:large divided leaf; a large leaf divided into many thin sections that is found on many flowerless plants
Application to plants: This adaptation provides a greater surface area to the leaf, allowing more sunlight to be absorbed while the sections allow for easier passage of rainfall/water from one area of the leaf to the next; seen especially ferns and palms.
Ovary:In flowering plants, the part of the flowerwhich encloses the ovules. When the ovary matures, it becomes the fruit.
Application in plants: This is seen in the “female” plants in dicots, and in all monocots (since monocots contain both “male” and “female” parts). The ovary is a necessary part of the reproductive system of all plants, both monocot and dicot. Without it, the “male” portion of/ plant would have no way of passing its genes on to the next generation, making it, genetically and evolutionarily speaking, a failure.
Gibberellins:growth-regulating plant hormone
Application in plants: This plant hormone promotes growth and seed germination in plants Were this absent, the plant would have virtually no means by which to regulate germination or growth, making it more susceptible to death, whether by overgrowth, undergrowth, or inability to germinate.
Meristem:growing plant tissue embryonic plant tissue that is actively dividing, as found at the tip of stems and roots
Application in plants: This adaptation allows the roots to “expand their territory”-allowing the plant to spread its roots over a wider underground expanse, which will therefore allow the plant, ideally, to access a greater amount of essential nutrients. Aboveground, in the stem, this ability enables the stem to control the movement of the not-so fully developed upper portion. As seen in the picture I posted here of the plant with the bent stem, the plant was pulled out of the ground and laid sideways (my mom did this) with the root system still intact. Though the bottom portion of the stem was already fully established and unable to move, the top portion, not fully developed, was able to bend itself toward the light, upwards, despite its being laid sideways. Also, though it is not in the picture, the root system, though uprooted, was able, through use of the meristem, to grow and attach the still-growing portion of its root tips to the ground and begin once more taking in nutrients from the ground despite its mostly above-ground root system.
Ethylene:functions as a planthormonein plants
Application in plants: it stimulates the ripening of fruit, the opening of flowers, as well as the unfolding of leaves
Chlorophyta: large division of chiefly freshwater eukaryotic algae that possess chlorophyll a and b, store food as starch, and cellulose cell walls
Autotroph:an organism that produces complex organic compounds from simple inorganic molecules using energy from light (photosynthesis) or inorganic chemical reactions.
Application to plants: They are the producers in a food chain, such as plants on land or algae in water. They are able to make their own food and can fix carbon. Therefore, they do not utilize organic compounds as an energy source or a carbon source. Autotrophs can reduce carbon dioxide to make organic compounds.
Actin:One of the proteinsinto which actomyosincan be split;can existin eithera globular or fibrous form
Application to plants: The ability of the substance to exist as either globular or fibrous allows it to be the backbone of either an herbaceous or woody stemmed plant
Lignin:A complex polymer the cheif constituent of wood other than carbohydrates
Application to plants: binds to cellulose fibers to harden and strengthen cell walls of plants, allowing plant to maintain its shape and level of stability
EXTRA DEFINITIONS
Xylem:The woody part of plants: the supporting and water-conducting tissue, consisting primarily of tracheids and vessels
Application to plants: this is part of the “veins” of the plant, allowing the plant to take in and distribute water to the plant
Phloem:botany tissuethat takes nutrients to parts where needed; consists primarily of sieve tubes
Application to plants: Similarly to the xylem, the phloem distributes a substance to all parts of the plant, but unlike the xylem, the phloem is responsible for making sure that nutrients get distributed to all necessary parts of the plant
Genetically Modified Organism: An organism whose genetic characteristics have been altered by the insertion of a modified gene or a gene from another organism using the techniques of genetic engineering
Application to plants: This technique can be used to put in or take out a specific wanted/ unwanted trait in the plant. A common example is the “Seedless” watermelon. This watermelon has been gmoe-d in order to produce a more “satisfactory” product for the consumer