Text assignment 1 is due at exam time. 

Glossary of terms

1. Scientific method terms:

Hypothesis:  A possible answer to the question under investigation based on the scientist's knowledge.

Independent Variable: A factor in an experiment that is altered.

Dependent variable: A factor that is measured as the experiment proceeds or at the end of the experiment.

Control group: A comparison group where the independent variable is unaltered or set at zero.

Experimental group: A group where the independent variable is altered.

2.  Evolution terms

Evolution (descent with modification): The idea that traits in a population change over time in response to changes in the environment.  Accumulations of these changes eventually lead to new species.

Natural selection (survival of the fittest): Competition exists among individuals in a population and only those best adapted (having traits that match the environment) survive.

Homologous structures: The wing of a bat, arm of a human, front flipper of a whale show a similar bone structure.  These suggest common descent from an ancestor.

Divergent evolution: Organisms with homologous structure share a common ancestor that gave rise to many lines of descent that diverged (separated) over time.

Convergent evolution: The front flipper of a whale and front fin of a bony fish have a similar function, to aid in swimming.  Yet, the two organisms are not closely related.  This is an example of convergent evolution, when structures have a similar function (swimming) to cope with a similar environment (water), but share different origins (no common ancestor).

3.  Plant structure terms:

Cotyledon: A "seed leaf" present in the developing seed. Stores energy to feed the embryo.

Embryo: The baby plant within the seed

Angiosperm: Flowering plant with fruits containing seeds

Lecture 1: How do people use plants?

1.Uses of plants

2. Plants as food: How does the calories and proteins consumed compare between the U.S. and Mexico?

3. What plants provide ½ of the world’s calories? What family are they in?

4. Why is a vegetarian diet healthy?

5. What is the difference between a lacto-ova vegetarian and vegan?

6. What difference and agreement is there between the USDA food pyramid and the Harvard school of public health pyramid?

7.  What technologies have altered the number of people living and working on farms?

Lecture 2: Different kinds of plants

1. Compare the adaptations and their function between a cactus, waterplant (Elodea) and a houseplant.

2. Where does each plant grow? What limits plant growth in each environment?

Lecture 3 : Plant diversity and evolution

1. Understand the example using fossils in the Grand Canyon as a method of scientific reasoning about how life’s history came about.

2. What is evolution or descent with modification?

3. What was the mechanism Darwin proposed for evolution (sometimes called "survival of the fittest")?

4. What are adaptations?

5. What are homologous structures and vestigial structures? What evidence do they provide for evolution?

6. What is the difference between divergent and convergent evolution?

Lecture 4:The fossil record

1. What organisms were all alone for most of life’s history?

2. What is the Cambrian explosion?

3. Why did plants precede animals onto land?

4. What % of species are extinct? 

5.  Since extinction is a natural process, why care about it?

Lecture 5: Seeds , monocots , dicots

1. What are seeds? What are germination requirements? Give an example.

2. What are angiosperms?

3. What are monocots vs. dicots? Give an example of each. Give some characteristics of each.