Biology- e-learning portal --Photosynthesis and plant organs

Hi Students,

Here is the fifth list of sites you can go to to learn science in a fun way.
The site is good for quick revisions and introductions to the topics.


Topic: Photosynthesis and plant organs

1 experiments to see if chlorophyll and light are needed to make starch

http://kerala.skoool.in/content/KS3%20LOs/biology/chlorophyll_light_exp/index.html

2 the role of the leaf in photosynthesis
http://kerala.skoool.in/content/KS3%20LOs/biology/leaf_role_photosynthesis/index.html

3 testing a leaf for starch
http://kerala.skoool.in/content/KS3%20LOs/biology/leaf_starch_test/index.html

4 photosynthesis
http://kerala.skoool.in/content/KS3%20LOs/biology/photosynthesis/index.html

5 the rate of photosynthesis
http://kerala.skoool.in/content/KS3%20LOs/biology/photosynthesis_rate/index.html

6 difference between photosynthesis and respiration
http://kerala.skoool.in/content/KS3%20LOs/biology/photosynthesis_respiration/index.html

7 plant mineral requirements
http://kerala.skoool.in/content/KS3%20LOs/biology/plant_mineral_req/index.html

8 plant organs
http://kerala.skoool.in/content/KS3%20LOs/biology/plant_organs/index.html

9 water and mineral salt uptake
http://kerala.skoool.in/content/KS3%20LOs/biology/temp_enzymes/index.html



Cheers

Photosynthesis- energy in a plant, by Leslie Samuel

Hi,

Watch this video for a very detailed description of the process.



Cheers

Sea slug that could do photosynthesis?

Hi,

Look at this marine slug, a shell-less snail. It is green as it has chloroplasts. It can make its own food by photosynthesis.

Read how this organism has accomplished this marvelous feat. Click on the link below to find out more about it. Green sea slug is part animal, part plant.

Scientists led by Dr Sidney Pierce found that this slug contained chloroplasts containing chlorophyll taken from an algae by the name of Vancheira. Once the slug has enough chloroplasts under its skin, it does not have to eat for the rest of its life. Just like a plant does not eat food.

Why cannot we also have chlorplasts so that we do not have to eat, but just absorb energy for all our needs from the sun like greeen plants?

Bizarre.

Cheers

Lesson 11: Photosynthesis- nutrition in plants

Hi,

Here are some 31 colourful and cheerful powerpoint slides to zest up your revision of this topic. the concepts covered by these slides include:

• organisation of plant-cells, tissues, organs, systems and organism
• specialised cells, adaptation for their functions
  
• palisade cells-contain chloroplasts for photosynthesis
• root hair cells-have large surface area to volume ratio for quick absorption of water and dissolved mineral ions
• guard cells- bean shaped, have unevenly thickened wall for gaseous exchange with the environment
  
• pollen cells- sex cells for adaptation for pollination, used for sexual reproduction
• annotated plant cells
• mitochondria-site of cellular respiration
• chloroplast-site of photosynthesis
• plants are producers in the ecosystem- change sunlight energy into chemical energy aka glucose molecule
• glucose- a carbohydrate which the plant will use to change into proteins, fats and other forms of carbohydrates
• uses of glucose in plant-respiration, 80% efficiency in changing it to other froms and for storage
• cross section of leaf, annotated
• equation for photosynthesis, models to illustratae the synthesis from water and carbon dioxide
• short questions
  

Unit 9 Photosynthesis in Green Plants

View more OpenOffice presentations from Dr samuel Aylward.

Cheers

Why and which plants can grow in dim light?

Hi,

Some of you are amazed that I have numerous potted plants growing happily in my home-room.

Some of you came to ask me if I take them out into the sun later and whether my plants are getting enough sunlight for photosynthesis. Thank you for the concern you have for my plants.

Many of us assume that all plants need direct sunlight for photosynthesis.

Shade plants (like the ones I have in my home room) are also found in nature and they are usually found on the forest floors, under the tall trees that form the canopy. The light that reaches the undergrowth and ground cover plants is filtered, diffused or scattered and dim.

These shade-loving plants have adapted to maximise whatever available sunlight they get. Most ferns, mosses and epiphytes (plants that grow in the crooked places in the trees) are shade plants. These are places where branches join the tree trunks are also places where dead leaves collect and decay to form compost. Ferns will send down roots into the compost for mineral nutrition and water.

Light is not a limiting factor even at very low intensities in these plants. This means that the chloroplasts (in the leaves of these plants) are able to photosynthesise efficiently even at low light intensities.

How many of the following shade plants are familiar to you? You can start growing them in your own homes once you know their requirements. If you can mimic their natural habitats as closely as you possibly can, they will thrive and give you hours of pleasure. Many flat dwellers keep potted plants in the common corridor but you can keep plants in your room if you choose the right kinds. Remember, as long as they get daylight from a window, they do not need direct sun.

Bird nest ferns, common epiphytes that grow on Singapore road-side trees. Like all ferns, it does not have flowers. It reproduces by means of spores which are tiny, dust-like and buoyant. Spores need moisture for germination.

Stag horn ferns, another common epiphyte with antler or horn-like fronds which hang downwards.

Peace lily, Spathyphyllum, has sail-like flowers which are used in cut-flower displays.

Money plant, lucky plant, Epipremnum aureum, has heart-shaped leaves. It is a very hardy plant that thrives even with minimum care.

Zz plant or jing qian shu, Zamioculus zamiofolia, is extremely hardy, good plant to grow for people with no green fingers.

Peperomia, is an ideal table top plant.

Draceaena, iron wood plant, is a hardy plant that does not need much attention.

Philodendron, is an ideal shade plant.

Monsteria delicosa, fruit-salad plant, has slits in the large leaves. It grows luxuriantly in dim light but will not flower in dim light. But once placed in direct sunlight, it will do so.

Aglaonema, is a beautiful, colourful plant with many varieties which are much sought after.

Fatsia, has large lobed leaves and it is an ideal shade plant.

A bit of trivia here:
Do you know that a potato plant has about 20% common DNA material as man?

Do you know that the chlorophyll molecule is very similar to the haemoglobin molecule in man? Presence of magnesium (green) or iron (red) is the main (metallic) difference it seems.

I hope you will look at plants with more reverence now that you know this... I hope.

Cheers


Postscript:

Do you know the answers to these questions on plants?

1. Why do some plants have small leaves and others large?


2. Why do some plants have simple leaves and others compound?


3. Why is it that money plant has small leaves when it forms the ground cover but it becomes about 100 times larger and produces slits and becomes divided when it climbs up into a tall tree's canopy?


4. Why are young leaves usually orangey or yellowish in colour?


5. Why do leaves turn reddish on the tree when they die?


6. Why does the mangrove trees' leaves have salt crystals on their under surfaces?


7. Why are some leaves shiny and waxy and others matt?


8. Why do some plants have hairy leaves and others smooth ones?
   


9. Can you name some green plants which have special leaves which are not green?


10. Algae depend on sunlight for photosynthesis. However they come in many colours besides green, such as blue-green, red, purple-green, etc? Only green plants can carry out photosynthesis?
    

Why not google for the answers on your own rather then wait for me?