Why Study Plants? Why not? “To be useless, various, and abstruse is sufficient recommendation of a science to make it pleasing to me.” William Harvey (1811-1866)

How do humans use plants?

Agricultural product as fodder Fodder- food that is fed to domestic animals. Maize (Zea mays) is the most important crop in the United States. 80% of this crop is consumed by animals.

How do animals use plants?

Primary Producers

Phytoremediation The treatment of pollutants or waste by the use of plants to break down undesirable substances. Sunflowers Willow trees Pickleweed

Wastewater Treatment Lemna gibba- duckweed. Eichornia crassipes- water hyacinth.

Biodiesel and Bioethanol from Plants

Plants in Space Chlorella- a unicellular green alga. Nutritional supplement. Process waste (urine). Life support system, O2.

Medicine in Ancient Times Otzi (3,350-3,140 BC)- frozen in ice, found in the alps on the Italian-Austrian border. Birch fungus used as a laxative and as a natural antibiotic. The common herbs used in Ancient Greece: Anise, black helebore, cassia, cucumber, wild root of (squirting cucumber), cumin, cyclamen, root of frankincense, germander, lettuce, wild myrrh, olive oil, opium, poppy, parsnip, seseli.

Hippocrates (460-380 BC) Father of medicine Ancient Greek physician for the Medical School at Kos. Wrote Corpus Hippocraticum

Medicine in Modern Times 25% of the medicine on the market is derived directly from plants. Drugs made from fungi prevent the rejection of transplanted hearts and other organs. The active ingredient in aspirin was originally derived from willow bark. Paclitaxel, a compound found in the Pacific yew tree, assists in the treatment of some cancers. The rosy periwinkle helps treat diabetes. Herbal remedies. Ginkgo biloba is prescribed for depression, mental weakness or confusion, loss of memory, ringing of the ears.

Egyptian Papyrus

The Molecular Composition of Plant Cells

Chemical Elements

Metabolites Primary Metabolites- molecules found in all plant cells. Secondary Metabolites- molecules restricted in their distribution, both within the plant and among different plants; important for survival and propagation.

Macromolecule Synthesis and Splitting

Carbohydrates

Lipids

Proteins Acid group Amino group

Nucleic Acids

Alkaloids

Terpenoids

Phenolics

What is the role of the photosynthetic organism in the carbon cycle?

Global O2 from photosynthesis 80% comes from marine cyanobacteria. Synechococcus Synechocystis 20% comes from terrestrial systems. 5% of this comes from tropical rainforests.

Increases in O2 from photosynthesis had 2 consequences: Photosynthetic organisms evolved 3.4 BYA and are responsible for the biological revolution Increases in O2 from photosynthesis had 2 consequences: 1) Formation of ozone- O2 molecules in atmosphere converted to ozone (O3). 2.5 BYA 2) Formation of aerobic atmosphere. Respiration- break down of molecules by oxidation. Eukaryotic cells- appearance and proliferation of cells. 2.1 BYA

Summary of Photosynthesis

450 430 Phycobilins- 500-660 445 480 660 410 640

Light Reactions

Photorespiration

C4 Photosynthesis