Present and discuss the evolutionary adaptations plants made if transitioning from water to land life. Discuss why original plants required a water environment, and the adaptations needed for movement to the land. Include the physiology changes which take place and the anatomical changes. Discuss how the move from aqueous to land brought about changes in the environment and in ecosystems
Introduction to the biology of plants. Define a plant using biological definitions. Discuss how present day plants and algae show a common ancestor. Discuss some specific plant anatomical and physiological characteristics. Include cell wall and cell plate formation. Chlorophyll for photosynthesis and starch as food storage. Discuss how plants have adapted to land environments which include limited water resources and climate adaptations. Discuss the anatomy and physiology of the cuticle in plants, the stomata, the vascular tissue and the seeds as a reproductive strategy.
Microscope lab which concentrates on viewing protists which are animal like, plant like, and fungi like. From image diagrams, note and discuss some of the anatomical characteristics and their functions
Discuss the anatomy and physiology of a typical fungi. Introduce how bread mold can reproduce both by sexual and asexual methods. Discuss fungi ecology and the roles played by fungi in maintaining ecological equilibrium. Define and discuss decomposition by fungi and recycling. Discuss parasitism by fungus on plants and animals. Discuss animal fungal diseases and some specific human fungal diseases. introduce lichens as mutualistic organisms with green algae and fungi.
Define and discuss symbiosis. Introduce mutualism and parasitism. Define and discuss using examples of each type of symbiotic relationship. Discuss common diseases caused by parasitic prototist, how they are transmitted and the symptoms for each. Begin a discussion of fungi. Determine that they are not plants, have chitin in their cell wall and are heterotrophic. Discuss yeast as single celled and mushrooms as multi celled. View an image of mushroom anatomy including hypha and mycelium.
Discuss animal like protists which move by cilia motion. Use an image of the paramecium and label some important parts and functions. Discuss the two types of nuclei and their function. Introduce how they reproduce by binary fission and/or conjugation. Discuss how heterotrophic protists obtain nutrition, by engulfing and digesting smaller organs or by absorbing nutrients from the environment. Use the amoeba, paramecium, and slime mold as examples of each.
Discuss the kingdom protist as a diverse catch all group of organisms. Show that they are primarily unicellular organisms which possess a defined nucleus and membrane bound organelles. Discuss and view images of some multicellular forms. Divide them into plant like, animal like and fungi like. Show that animal like are heterotrophs, plant like are autotrophs, and fungi like are saprophytes. View images of all types.
List and discuss some bacterial survival methods. Introduce the endospore and what it consists of. Define the dormancy which can occur as well as what will occur when the unfavorable conditions become favorable again. Discuss gene mutation as a survival method, with antibiotic resistance occurring to the bacteria. Briefly discuss nitrogen fixation and the conversion of nitrogen gas into usable nitrogen compounds. Define and discuss normal flora in the digestive system and its importance in digestion. Introduce the importance of some bacteria in food production, like cheese, yogurt, pickles, and chocolate. Introduce that some bacteria are used to. produce antibiotics.
Discuss aerobic and anaerobic metabolism of bacteria. Use Mycobacteria Tuberculosis as an example of aerobic bacteria, found in the lungs. Discuss heterotrophs and autotrophic bacteria and elicit definitions. Separate and discuss saprotrophs which are heterotrophs from photoautrotrophs and chemotrophs, which are both autotrophs. Discuss nitrogen fixing chemosynthesis bacteria
