Course Information
Description
Plant science deals with a wide variety of organisms that are of great interest and are basic to our survival. These organisms are viewed from various perspectivestaxonomic, physiological, ecological, etc. in hopes of developing an overall understanding and appreciation of their value and beauty. Emphasizes taxonomy and evolution, physiology, anatomy and ecology. A survey of plants and plant-like organisms is presented.
Total Credits
5
Course Competencies
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Distinguish plants from animalsAssessment Strategieson exams and lab activitiesCriteriayou distinguish between photoautotrophs from chemoheterotrophsyou relate the plant structure to its nutritional life style
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Explain 10 uses of plantsAssessment Strategieson exams and lab activitiesCriteriayou provide 10 general examples of how plants are used by humans
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Explain the use of scientific methods in the study of plantsAssessment Strategieson exams and lab activitiesCriteriayou provide a list of the general steps involved in providing a scientific answer to a biological question
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Identify the elemental substances critical to plantsAssessment Strategieson exams and lab activitiesCriteriayou distinguish between essential from non-essential elementsyou distinguish between macroelements and microelementsyou list the six macroelementsyou summarize the use of hydroponics to identify essential elementsyou explain the concept of deficiency disease
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Distinguish between organic and inorganic substancesAssessment Strategieson lecture exams and lab activitiesCriteriayou identify carbon as the central element in organic materialsyou summarize the five features of carbon that are critical to its role in organic molecules
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Explain the molecular composition of plant tissuesAssessment Strategieson exams and lab activitiesCriteriayou list the three major components of a biological sampleyou summarize the general roles of each component
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Explain a polymerAssessment Strategieson exams and lab activitiesCriteriayou make a diagram illustrating structure of a polymeryou summarize role of monomers in polymer structureyou give three examples of biological polymers
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Explain the levels of complexity exhibited by carbohydratesAssessment Strategieson exams and lab activitiesCriteriayou summarize the monosaccharides, disaccharides, polysaccharidesyou distinguish between pentoses and hexosesyou summarize how monosaccharides can be linked together by glycosidic bondsyou summarize the structure and roles of three common disaccharidesyou compare/contrast the structure and functions of starch and celluloseyou summarize the use of plant carbohydrates by humans
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Explain how various carbohydrates are used by humansAssessment Strategieson exams and lab activitiesCriteriayou identify the economically important monosacchides, dissacchides and polysacchaidesyou identify the uses of mono-, di-, and polysaccharides by humans
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Explain the levels of complexity exhibited by proteinsAssessment Strategieson exams and lab activitiesCriteriayou identify the amino acids as monomers of proteinsyou distinguish essential from non-essential amino acidsyou summarize the structure of a peptide bondyou explain how a polypeptide is formed from amino acidsyou distinguish between primary, secondary, tertiary and quaterary structure
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Explain how proteins are used by humansAssessment Strategieson exams and lab activitiesCriteriayou explain the nutritional role of proteinsyou explain the meaning of NPU as an indicator of nutritional valueyou provide examples of non-nutritional uses of plant proteins
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Explain the levels of complexity of nucleic acidsAssessment Strategieson exams and lab activitiesCriteriayou summarize the structure of nucleotidesyou summarize structure of phosphodiester bondyou summarize the structure of a polynucleotideyou summarize molecular polarity of polynucleotide
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Distinguish between DNA and RNA in terms of structure and functionAssessment Strategieson exams and lab activitiesCriteriayou provide two distinctions between nucleotides of DNA and RNAyou distinguish between DNA and RNA based on rolesyou distinguish between DNA and RNA based on sizeyou distinguish between DNA and RNA based on strandedness
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Identify the central feature of lipidsAssessment Strategieson exams and lab activitiesCriteriayou identify the common, uniting feature of all lipids
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Distinguish primary from secondary metabolitesAssessment Strategieson exams and lab activitiesCriteriayou differentiate between primary metabolites and secondary metabolites
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Identify 4 general types of secondary metaboliteAssessment Strategieson exams and lab activitiesCriteriayou summarize the four common categories of secondary metaboliteyou distinguish between these categories based on their chemical structure
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Provide examples of each type of secondary metabolite and their usesAssessment Strategieson exams and lab activitiesCriteriayou cite two or more specific examples of each type of secondary metabolite
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Provide description of the two basic types of cellsAssessment Strategieson exams and lab activitiesCriteriayou identify the eukaryotic cell typesyou identify the prokaryotic cell typesyou relate cell type to kingdom classification systemyou distinguish between these cell types based on structure and typical cell size
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Compare and contrast plant and animal cell structuresAssessment Strategieson exams and lab activitiesCriteriayou recognize both cells as eukaryoticyou identify cell parts that are found in plants but not animalsyou relate cell differences with differences in nutritional "life styles"
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Explain the structure and function of each plant cell part discussedAssessment Strategieson exams and lab activitiesCriteriayou summarize the anatomy of each plant cell part describedyou summarize the function of each plant cell part described
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Explain why cells are generally microscopic structuresAssessment Strategieson exams and lab activitiesCriteriayou provide an estimate of typical cell sizeyou calculate surface to volume ratios for cellsyou relate ratios to ability to efficiency of material transportyou identify methods used to circumvent surface to volume problem
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Identify the two major energy conversion processes occurring in a plantAssessment Strategieson exams and lab activitiesCriteriayou identify photosynthesis and respirationyou explain the role of each process for plant
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Explain what redox reactions areAssessment Strategieson exams and lab activitiesCriteriayou provide three features of an oxidation or reductionyou recognize that these processes are linkedyou associate oxidation with catabolic activitiesyou associate reduction with anabolic activities
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Explain the role of enzymes in cellular activitiesAssessment Strategieson exams and lab activitiesCriteriayou summarize the primary function of enzymes as organic catalystsyou list the essential features of enzymes
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Explain the role of coenzymes in cellular activitiesAssessment Strategieson exams and lab activitiesCriteriayou distinguish coenzymes from enzymesyou list the common coenzymes and their functionsyou use coenzymes to illustrate the redox phenomenon
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Provide chemical equations that summarize the respiratory and photosynthetic processesAssessment Strategieson exams and lab activitiesCriteriayou write a balanced equation providing the input and output of the overall respiratory activitiesyou write a balanced equation providing the input and output of the overall photosynthetic activities
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Outline the 4 major stages in the respiratory processAssessment Strategieson exams and lab activitiesCriteriayou list in order the four stages of respirationyou provide general description of activities occurring at each stage
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Explain starting materials, major activities and products of each stage of respirationAssessment Strategieson exams and lab activitiesCriteriayou list the chemicals needed to initiate each step in respirationyou provide description of changes occurring to initial chemicalsyou list the products formed during each stageyou explain the redox activities occurring during each stage
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Explain the meaning of "efficiency" in relation to the respiratory processAssessment Strategieson exams and lab activitiesCriteriayou explain the meaning of energy efficiencyyou provide equation for efficiency calculationyou calculate efficiency when given adequate information
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Outline the two major stages in the photosynthetic processAssessment Strategieson exams and lab activitiesCriteriayou identify the light-dependent and light-independent reactionsyou recognize that two stages are coupled
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Explain the solar spectrumAssessment Strategieson exams and lab activities.Criteriayou differentiate between wavelength and frequencyyou summarize the various types of radiant energy as wavelength increasesyou summarize the visible spectrum and the approximate wavelengths in each color
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Explain the pigments involved in photosynthesisAssessment Strategieson exams and lab activitiesCriteriayou identify the chlorophylls and the accessory pigmentsyou provide a general description of the structure of chlorophyll and the porphoryin ringyou summarize the light-harvesting photosystems
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Explain the absorption spectrum of chlorophyll and the activity spectrum of photosynthesisAssessment Strategieson exams and lab activitiesCriteriayou draw an appropriate graph for the absorption spectrum of chlorophyllyou draw an appropriate graph for the activity spectrum of photosynthesisyou explain the absorption spectrum of chlorophyllyou explain the activity spectrum of photosynthesisyou explain how similarity in spectra provide evidence for chlorophyll's role in photosynthesis
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Explain the steps of the light-dependent reactionsAssessment Strategieson exams and lab activitiesCriteriayou provide a general description of major activities occurring during this stage
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Explain meaning of types of photosynthesisAssessment Strategieson exams and lab activitiesCriteriayou identify C3 style of photosynthesisyou identify C4 style of photosynthesisyou identify CAM style of photosynthesisyou explain the benefits of C4 under the appropriate conditionsyou explain the benefits of CAM under the appropriate conditions
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Explain the impact of photorespiration on photsynthetic efficiencyAssessment Strategieson exams and lab activitiesCriteriayou summarize photorespirationyou explain impact on photosynthetic efficiency
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Explain the steps of the light-independent reactionsAssessment Strategieson exams and lab activitiesCriteriayou summarize the general events occurring during this stage
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Explain the "discovery" of geneticsAssessment Strategieson exams and lab activitiesCriteriayou provide an adequate definition of geneticsyou summarize the background of Mendel's work
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Explain the relationship between genotype and phenotypeAssessment Strategieson exams and lab activitiesCriteriayou use the term genotype appropriatelyyou use the term phenotype appropriatelyyou explain that genotype plus environment mold phenotype
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Explain Mendel's theory of inheritanceAssessment Strategieson exams and lab activitiesCriteriayou explain the basic ideas Mendel used to understand the results of his crosses
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Apply Mendel's ideas to solve genetic problemsAssessment Strategieson exams and lab activitiesCriteriayou solve the mono-problems providedyou solve the di-problems providedyou solve the trihybrid problems provided
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Explain post-Mendelian ideas as covered in lectureAssessment Strategieson exams and lab activitiesCriteriayou summarize the ideas not known to Mendelyou explain why these ideas don't fit Mendelian expectations
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Apply post-Mendelian ideas to solve genetic problemsAssessment Strategieson exams and lab activitiesCriteriayou solve problems involving post-Mendelian ideas
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Provide description of general cycle of events occurring as a cell developsAssessment Strategieson exams and lab activitiesCriteriayou make a diagram or outline of main steps in cell cycleyou summarize the general cycle of events occurring as a cell develops
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Explain chromosomes and chromosome complementAssessment Strategieson exams and lab activitiesCriteriayou draw and label the parts of chromosomeyou explain the relationship between chromotidsyou explain "ploidy"
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Explain the significance of the S period of interphaseAssessment Strategieson exams and lab activitiesCriteriayou summarize the doubling process occurring during Syou recognize that chromotids are replicas of one another
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Identify the two forms of nuclear divisionAssessment Strategieson exams and lab activitiesCriteriayou identify mitotic divisionyou identify meiotic divisionyou identify the locations where mitotic division occursyou identify the locations where meiotic division occurs
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Compare/contrast the results of the two division processesAssessment Strategieson exams and lab activitiesCriteriayou explain the similarities and differences between two division processesyou explain equational ideasyou explain reductional ideas
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Explain the chromosomal changes occurring during divisionAssessment Strategieson exams and lab activitiesCriteriayou summarize the chromosomal changes occurring at each step of the cell cycle
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Compare determinate to indeterminate growthAssessment Strategieson exams and lab activitiesCriteriayou explain the difference between determinate to indeterminate types of growthyou identify plants as having indeterminate growthyou explain impact of indeterminate growth on aging
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Explain the meristems of a plantAssessment Strategieson exams and lab activitiesCriteriayou identify the main function of meristemsyou summarize the locations of meristemsyou distinguish between primary from secondary meristemsyou summarize the anatomy of an apical meristemyou summarize the anatomy of a lateral meristem
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Distinguish between growth and developmentAssessment Strategieson exams and lab activitiesCriteriayou explain the difference between accumulating cells and modification of the cell
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List internal and external factors regulating growth and developmentAssessment Strategieson exams and lab activitiesCriteriayou identify several internal features that stimulate growth and developmentyou identify several external features that stimulate growth and development
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Give a general description of primary growthAssessment Strategieson exams and lab activitiesCriteriayou summarize primary growth
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Explain the basic cell types used to form a plant tissueAssessment Strategieson exams and lab activitiesCriteriayou summarize parenchyma and other cell typesyou identify the functions of each common cell type
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Identify the cell types and tissues characteristic of herbaceous roots, stems and leavesAssessment Strategieson exams and lab activitiesCriteriayou draw (or label a drawing) of each organ labeling the typical tissues and cells
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Explain the transition from meristem to root or shoot anatomyAssessment Strategieson exams and lab activitiesCriteriayou explain the formation of immature tissues from meristemyou explain the formation of mature tissues from immature formsyou identify each tissue on diagram
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Distinguish between the anatomy of a primary root and a primary stemAssessment Strategieson exams and lab activitiesCriteriayou make a label diagram of each primary organyou distinguish between a monocot and dicot organ
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Explain the anatomy of monocot and dicot organsAssessment Strategieson exams and lab activitiesCriteriayou diagram the organ anatomy as found in monocot and dicot plant groupsyou summarize the anatomy of monocot organsyou summarize the anatomy of dicot organs
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Explain the typical anatomy of a leafAssessment Strategieson exams and lab activitiesCriteriayou draw a monocot leaf structureyou summarize a monocot leaf structureyou draw a dicot leaf structureyou summarize a dicot leaf structure
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Explain the meaning of "ecological type" relating to leaf structureAssessment Strategieson exams and lab activitiesCriteriayou explain how leaf structure reflects the conditions a plant can grow inyou identify three general ecological typesyou identify the features of each type that aid in survival within each type of habitat
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Distinguish between primary and secondary growthAssessment Strategieson exams and lab activitiesCriteriayou summarize the presence of lateral meristems in plants with secondary growthyou summarize the production of secondary tissues due to lateral meristem activitiesyou label a detailed diagram of stem cross-section indicating all secondary features visibleyou explain common terminology relating to wood
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Analyze the economically important materials derived from roots, stems and leavesAssessment Strategieson exams and lab activitiesCriteriayou analyze the economically important materials derived from rootsyou analyze the economically important materials derived from stemsyou analyze the economically important materials derived from leavesyou note these organs as sources of many items essential for humankind
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Analyzes economically important items derived from monocots and dicotsAssessment Strategieson exams and lab activitiesCriteriayou note materials, especially foods, derived from monocotsyou note materials, especially foods, derived from dicots
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Distinguish between sexual and asexual reproductionAssessment Strategieson exams and lab activitiesCriteriayou identify the key features of sexual reproductionyou identify the key features of asexual reproductionyou explain the meaning of cloningyou recognize which process produces variety in offspring
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List three methods of asexual reproductionAssessment Strategieson exams and lab activitiesCriteriayou summarize three methods of asexual reproductionyou explain three methods of asexual reproduction
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Give two examples of asexual reproduction in economically important areasAssessment Strategieson exams and lab activitiesCriteriayou summarize two asexual procedures used for economic gain
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Explain the phrase "alternation of generations"Assessment Strategieson exams and lab activitiesCriteriayou associate this process with the sexual reproductive process in plantsyou draw a simple diagram illustrating this processyou recognize that the alternation process is essential to all sexual reproduction
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Distinguish between sporophyte and gametophyte generationsAssessment Strategieson exams and lab activitiesCriteriayou provide a key feature that identifies each generationyou provide familiar examples of each generation
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Analyze the stages in each sexual generationAssessment Strategieson exams and lab activitiesCriteriayou list in proper order each significant step in the sporophyte generationyou list in proper order each significant step in the gametophyte generation
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Explain how a sporophyte (gametophyte) can form a gametophyte (sporophyte)Assessment Strategieson exams and lab activitiesCriteriayou recognize change in ploidy that occurs in this transitionyou summarize sporangium and activities leading to gametophyte production
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Distinguish between a monoecious and a dioecious gametophyte generationAssessment Strategieson exams and lab activitiesCriteriayou differentiate between bisexual and unisexual gametophyteyou summarize the increased complexity involved in having unisexual gametophytes
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Explain the parts of a typical flowerAssessment Strategieson exams and lab activitiesCriteriayou list in order the four basic flower partsyou identify the basic parts on a diagramyou summarize the purpose of each part
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Explain how basic floral parts can be modified to produce variety in flower structureAssessment Strategieson exams and lab activitiesCriteriayou list five general ways flower structure can be modifiedyou provide examples of each type of modificationyou interpret a floral formula
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Explain the process of microsporogenesisAssessment Strategieson exams and lab activitiesCriteriayou list the steps involved in formation of microsporesyou relate microsporogenesis to the general process of sporophyte forming gametopyte
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Explain how microspores develop into pollen grainsAssessment Strategieson exams and lab activitiesCriteriayou summarize how microspores develop into pollen grainsyou relate process to general process of gametophyte development
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Distinguish pollination from fertilizationAssessment Strategieson exams and lab activitiesCriteriayou recognize pollination as essential forerunner to fertilizationyou recognize that further pollen development must occur prior to fertilization
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Explain the basic parts of a carpelAssessment Strategieson exams and lab activitiesCriteriayou list macroscopic parts of carpelyou summarize the functions of each partyou identify the source of seedsyou identify the source of fruit
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Explain the development of an ovule within the ovaryAssessment Strategieson exams and lab activitiesCriteriayou identify the parts of mature ovuleyou summarize how female gametophyte develops within the ovule
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Diagram the female gametophyte within an ovuleAssessment Strategieson exams and lab activitiesCriteriayou make a diagram illustrating parts of female gametophyteyou illustrate female gametophyte in relation to whole ovule and ovary wall
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Explain the development of a pollen grain leading to fertilizationAssessment Strategieson exams and lab activitiesCriteriayou summarize how pollen grain growth and development leads to double fertilization
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Explain "double fertilization"Assessment Strategieson exams and lab activitiesCriteriayou recognize this process as unique to flowering plantsyou summarize the fertilization of the egg and central cellyou recognize the role of each fertilization in seed production
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Explain how fertilization of the female gametophyte leads to production of a seedAssessment Strategieson exams and lab activitiesCriteriayou summarize the development of the fertilized egg and central cell leading to embryo and endosperm formationyou distinguish embryo development in monocots from that in dicots
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Explain the changes in the ovary wall leading to pericarp formationAssessment Strategieson exams and lab activitiesCriteriayou identify the ovary wall as source on "container" for developing seedsyou summarize the changes in wall leading to pericarp formation
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Identify common pollinating agentsAssessment Strategieson exams and lab activitiesCriteriayou distinguish biological from physical agents of pollinationyou list common examples of each type of agent
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Explain the features of flowers associated with various types of pollinating agentsAssessment Strategieson exams and lab activitiesCriteriayou identify the key features of flowers that are correlated with each type of pollinating agentyou give examples of flowers associated with each type of pollinator
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Characterize the nature of the factors influencing plant growth and developmentAssessment Strategieson exams and lab activitiesCriteriayou summarize the internal influences that regulate growth and developmentyou summarize the external influences that regulate growth and developmentyou provide specific examples of such factors
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Explain a plant growth regulating substanceAssessment Strategieson exams and lab activitiesCriteriayou summarize the general features of plant hormonesyou identify the five classic plant hormonesyou summarize the functions of each plant hormoneyou summarize various practical uses of plant hormones
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Explain the role of environmental factors on plant growth and developmentAssessment Strategieson exams and lab activitiesCriteriayou identify the role of light in regulating growth and developmentyou identify the role of gravity in regulating growth and developmentyou identify the role of touch in regulating growth and developmentyou summarize the various types of tropisms and nastic movements exhibited by plants
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Analyze the seasonal responses of plants to environmental changesAssessment Strategieson exams and lab activitiesCriteriayou identify the seasonal responses of plants to lightyou explain photoperoidismyou explain dormancyyou explain circadian rhythms
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Identify the role of soil in the life of a plantAssessment Strategieson exams and lab activitiesCriteriayou list the roles soil plays in life of plantsyou identify the nutritional role of soil in the life of a plantyou explain how essential plant nutrients have been identifiedyou summarize positive and negative plant-soil organism interactions
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Provide evidence that species change over timeAssessment Strategieson exams and lab activitiesCriteriayou explain the difference between static and dynamic views of speciesyou summarize five lines of evidence supporting the evolutionary process
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Explain the concept of descent with modificationAssessment Strategieson exams and lab activitiesCriteriayou summarize the Darwinian view of change over timeyou distinguish Darwinian view from inheritance of acquired characteristicsyou distinguish natural from artificial selection
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Explain each of the eight postulates of Darwinian evolutionAssessment Strategieson exams and lab activitiesCriteriayou identify each of Darwin's postulatesyou provide evidence in support of each postulate
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Explain the role of population genetics in evolutionAssessment Strategieson exams and lab activitiesCriteriayou relate evolution to Mendelian discoveriesyou recognize that evolution acts on phenotypes, not genotypesyou recognize that populations, not individuals, evolve
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State the Hardy-Weinberg lawAssessment Strategieson exams and lab activitiesCriteriayou state the Hardy-Weinberg lawyou demonstrate that gene frequency doesn't change in a non-evolving population mathematically
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Analyze the sources of gene frequency changesAssessment Strategieson exams and lab activitiesCriteriayou identify the five agents that can change gene frequency in a gene poolyou summarize how each agent can alter frequency
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Explain two forms of speciationAssessment Strategieson exams and lab activitiesCriteriayou summarize allopatric and sympatric speciationyou explain genetic isolation
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Explain coevolutionAssessment Strategieson exams and lab activitiesCriteriayou explain coevolutionyou provide examples of this phenomenon
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Outline a system of classification for the plant kingdomAssessment Strategieson exams and lab activitiesCriteriayou provide a dichotomous scheme for organizing all members of the plant kingdomyou place a new species within the schemeyou provide justification for the scheme
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List the key features of each category within the classification schemeAssessment Strategieson exams and lab activitiesCriteriayou provide detailed features of each category within the classification schemeyou compare/contrast the features of each category in the classification scheme
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Explain the sexual life cycle of representative organisms within each categoryAssessment Strategieson exams and lab activitiesCriteriayou provide a description of selected organisms within each classification categoryyou identify the key features used for classification of each representative organismyou label the significant life cycle features on diagrams
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Explain the levels of complexity encountered in the study of ecologyAssessment Strategieson exams and lab activitiesCriteriayou identify populationyou identify communityyou identify ecosystemyou provide the distinguishing features of each complexity level
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State the types of interactions occurring within populations, communities and ecosystemsAssessment Strategieson exams and lab activitiesCriteriayou summarize the dynamics occurring within a level of complexityyou recognize the increasing difficulty of analysis as complexity increases
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Explain how energy and materials move through ecosystemsAssessment Strategieson exams and lab activitiesCriteriayou summarize the flow of energy in a systemyou explain why energy diminishes as you move through a systemyou summarize the cycling of nutrients within a system
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Relate trophic level to material and energy flowAssessment Strategieson exams and lab activitiesCriteriayou explain the meaning of trophic levelyou provide examples of each trophic levelyou recognize that energy flow limits the size of higher trophic levelsyou explain carrying capacity and limiting nutrient
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Explain the concept of nutrient cyclingAssessment Strategieson exams and lab activitiesCriteriayou recognize that essential material can be reusedyou identify examples of nutrient cyclingyou provide details of the nitrogen cycleyou provide details of the carbon cycleyou provide details of the phosphorus cycle
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Explain the general features of the growth of a populationAssessment Strategieson exams and lab activitiesCriteriayou identify four factors that influence population sizeyou explain the effects of each size regulating factoryou diagram a representative growth curveyou label a representative growth curve
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Explain the process of successionAssessment Strategieson exams and lab activitiesCriteriayou summarize the dynamics occurring when colonization of a new area occursyou distinguish primary from secondary successional processes