In this course, you will be introduced to the major groups of vascular plants. Vascular plants share a number of features, including the presence of vascular tissue, a specialized tissue that functions to conduct water, inorganic materials, photosynthate (sugars) produced by the plant, hormones and other substances throughout the plant body.
The objectives of the first lab are to introduce you to this group of plants. One of the unifying features is the life history type (alternation of heteromorphic generations). You will plate fern spores and plant sunflower seeds. The first part of Biology 210 deals with the overall plant body. Each organ we will be examining is made up of three tissue systems. In the first lab you will be introduced to these systems as well as review the use of the compound microscope.
Lab #1 – Activities In a Nutshell:
1. Plate fern spores.
2. Plant Sunflower Seeds.
3. Set up the compound microscope in Kohler Illumination (using fern spores).
4. Section through corn stem (look at the three tissue systems).
5. Section through a bean cotyledon (look at the ground tissue system and consider one of its functions).
Content
Fern Life History – The Cartoon