What is a Plant?

Hmmmnow theres an interesting question.

Most schools used to lump the study of fungi (a science now
called mycology) in with their botany departments, and
some schools still do this.
Are fungi plants?

What is a Plant?
Surely, then we can say that anything that does photosynthesis
is a plant, right?
All of these, plus the
euglenoids and golden
algae, fall short of these
criteria; though good
Nope. But Im being pickier than arguments could be made
many people when I say that.
for the inclusion of some
If you want to know much more of them (especially red
about it, take systematic botany; algae.)
but for now, to be a plant you
have to have chlorophylls a and b,
store sugar as starch, and have an ancestor that had two
anterior whiplash flagellae with star-shaped bases.

What is a Plant?
So what is a plant? My definition includes everything from
green algae to flowering plants, which are
considered the most advanced plants. Our focus
will be on the land plants, like ferns, coniferous
and deciduous trees, grasses, and wildflowers,
to name a few.

Why Study Plants?

I.

Atmosphericgasregulation
A.Productionofoxygengasasabyproduct
ofphotosynthesis.Thefirstoxygen
producerswerethoughttobebacteria
(liketodayscyanobacteria),whichwere
eventuallyincorporatedas
endosymbiontsintoplantancestors.
Youcanthaveeukaryoteswithout
oxygen(soarentweallgladitsthere!)

pay

Maybewelltakeafieldtrip
toanoxygenbar,likethisone
inSeattle,wherecustomers

Why Study Plants ?

I.

Atmosphericgasregulation
B.Oxygengas(O2)intheatmosphereisconvertedto
ozone(O3)inthestratosphere,asitabsorbsUVlight.
OzonethenabsorbsmoreUVlightandiseventually
convertedbackintooxygengas.Thisprocessblocksup
to99%ofalltheharmfulUVBraysthatwouldotherwise
sterilizethesurfaceoftheearthimpossible,bycausingso
manymutationinanythingthatventuredoutoftheshade.

Why Study Plants?

C.UtilizationofCO2.Plantsusecarbondioxidetobuild
sugarviatheCalvincycle(a.k.a.darkreactions)of
photosynthesis.Besidesbeing
toxictohumansatelevatedlevels
(asthecrewofApollo13nearly
experienced),CO2isagreenhousegas,meaningthat
it
absorbsinfrared
radiationfrom
earth,
keepingthat
energy
intheatmosphere
longerand

Why Study Plants?

II. Sugarsandtheirpolymers
A.Carbsaretheenemy,accordingtoDr.Atkins,
right? Idontbuyit,butthenagainImnotlosing
weight, either.Plantsgiveussimplesugarsaswellas
starches.
Evenifyouronalowcarbdiet,you
canstillthank
plantsforalltheleafygreensyoure
(hopefully)eating. Andthentheresthefactthatallthe
meatyoueatwas partofananimalthatprobablyate
plantstolive.So almostallourfoodcomes
fromplants.

Why Study Plants?

B.Fibers
1.Cotton:AsGeorge
Costanzashowedthe
YankeesonSeinfeld,
cottonisking.
2.Paper:Averagepaper
useperpersoninNorthAmericais2kg/day.
3.Fiberssuchasnylonand
rayonareprocessedfrom
woodfibers.

Why Study Plants?

III. Othermolecules
A.Medicines
Foxgloveproduces
digitalis,which
treatsheartdisease.
Taxolfromthe
barkofthe
pacificyewtree
isoneofthe
mostpromising
anticancer
drugs.

Rosyperiwinkle
fromMadagascar
treatstwocancers:
juvenileleukemia
andHodgkins
disease.Threatened
Alsonoteworthyareaspirin,ephedra(banned), byincreasing
population.

quinine,ginkgolides,andothers.

Why Study Plants?

B.Spices
C.Oils
D.EssentialaminoacidsThereare8aminoacidsthat
weneedinourcells,butwedonthavetheabilityto
producethemourselves.
Wecanmosteasilygetthem
fromplants.Togetthecomplete
setofessentialaminoacids,
acombinationof
legumesandcerealsisbest.
Whatdoesthatmean?
E.Fossilfuelslikecoal,crudeoil,andnaturalgasarethe
productsofplantsthatdiedalongtimeago.

Why Study Plants?

F.Iwouldberemissnottomentiononeofthemost
economicallyandculturallyimportantothermolecules
thatis
madefrom
plants
alcohol.

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