Plant Form and Function, Plant Reproduction and Development - Essay Example

? Plant Form and Function, Plant Reproduction and Development Teacher               Plant Form and Function, Plant Reproduction andDevelopment Plant Function: “Well, Really? The Claim: Some Plants Can Filter Airborne Chemicals” The article is all about the over 15 species of indoor plants that could filter air pollutants like benzene, trichloroethylene and formaldehyde, which may come from household cleaning products as well as heating and cooling systems inside the home. Plants such as peace lilies, devil’s ivy, gerbera daisies, Japanese aralia and the snake plant are among the 15 species of plants which could filter air pollutants, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. Moreover, according to the article, there should at least be one plant “for every 100 square feet of living space” (O’Connor, 2012). Although the species of this plant is not specified, the statement implies that any species of plant may even have the same benefits as those species mentioned to have the filtration properties. The article is actually from the Science section of the New York Times. It was written by Anahad O’Connor and published on September 4, 2012. There is no link to any other scientific cross-reference or the main reference itself, which is supposed to be an article in a scientific journal. However, based on my own research, the information seems to have come from pages 13 to 16 of Sandy Baker’s book entitled The Complete Guide to Keeping Your Houseplants Alive and Thriving: Everything You Need to Know Explained Simply, which was published by the Atlantic Publishing Group Inc. However, since this source was not particularly cited, then perhaps this is not the actual source of the information. Nevertheless, even if this were the actual source, the book lacks scientific basis and explanations; hence it does not make a very reliable reference material. Moreover, the method of writing does not include anything scientific at all, and the article seems to have been written for the general public. The information contained in the article somehow applies to those in charge of domestic health, environment, and even interior decorating. The fact that certain species of plants have the ability to filter air pollutants is a promising new way of decorating the house and doing it the holistic way. Moreover, the idea of plants filtering the air of pollutants is also a clear message to horticulturists and environmental specialists that they should increase the production of such plants and that they should at least encourage people to do the same and to value these species. If these plants become so numerous, they might be able to bring about a positive effect in the environment. Plant Reproduction: “Rare Glimpse Into the Origin of Species” The anonymously written article appears in the Sciences News section of Science Daily and was about how a new species of monkey flower developed the natural way. According to the article, the new species of monkey flower, which is scientifically known as Mimulus peregrinus, was produced from a series of matings among foreign plant species in Britain that lasted 150 years. Basically, these different species of plants actually cannot reproduce upon mating, but during the 150 years of evolution, infertility was overcome. The principle involved was polyploidization, which is the “duplication of the entire hybrid DNA [which] can balance the amount of DNA and restore fertility” (“Rare Glimpse,” 2012). It is also mentioned in the article that even wheat, cotton and tobacco may have originated in the same way. This article is based on the journal article entitled “Mimulus peregrinus (Phrymaceae): A new British allopolyploid species,” which was written by Mario Vallejo-Marin and published by PhytoKeys. The Science Daily article therefore is heavily backed by scientific information and peer reviews, and is therefore very reliable. Moreover, it has its own DOI number. The Science Daily article was also written with great objectivity and comprehensiveness because even the scientific details have been specified by the anonymous author. The article would appeal most to plant geneticists, who might finally be able to establish hard evidence for the theory that evolution causes genetic changes in plants. If, however, these plant genetic experts could find out how exactly evolution effected such genetic changes and what the exact mechanism of genetic change was. If they find this out, this information may be used to alter the present genetic make-up of common crops like rice, corn and soybeans, as well as crops like cotton – in order to produce better yield. Plant Development: “Superweeds Linked to Rising Herbicide Use in GM Crops, Study Finds” The article, which appears on Science Daily, states that the use of herbicides in order to protect cotton, soybeans and corn has greatly increased. The volume of increase is from “1.5 million pounds in 1999 to about 90 million pounds in 2011” (“Superweeds Linked,” 2012). Such an overwhelmingly high amount of increase of around 25% a year in a span of 12 years has somehow become a concern for farmers. The cause of such an increase is believed to be the development and emergence of “glyphosate-resistant weeds,” whose growth is correlated with the increase in the amount of herbicides used. Some scientists also say that the over-reliance of crops on herbicides may have in fact caused the growth of such weeds. The article is actually based on a journal article entitled “Impacts of genetically engineered crops on pesticide use in the U.S. – the first sixteen years,” which was authored by Charles M. Benbrook and published in the Environmental Sciences Europe in 2012. The fact that the article in Science Daily was based on a journal article is a proof of the validity of the information in it. Besides, the article was objectively and comprehensively written, which means that it included even the scientific details of the study. Such comprehensiveness makes the article useful to both those inclined to science and those not familiar with scientific jargon. The information in the article may be used by farmers and agriculturists in that through this, they may be able to determine the amount of pesticide that should be used for crops and why such amount of pesticide is used. More importantly, through the article, they may be able to realize why too many weeds are growing where they have been using herbicides, and that they would hopefully learn that over-reliance on herbicides will eventually be harmful to the crops if such practice is continued and overused. Lastly, the article should inspire those concerned to try to find means – whether agricultural or genetic – in order to make crops resistant to pests without using herbicides. References O’Connor, A. (4 Sept. 2012). “Well; Really? The Claim: Some Plants Can Filter Airborne Chemicals.” Retrieved Oct. 7, 2012 from The New York Times: http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9502E1DE113CF937A3575AC0A9649D8B63&ref=flowersandplants “Rare Glimpse Into the Origin of Species.” (12 Jul. 2012). Retrieved Oct. 8, 2012 from Science Daily: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/07/120710120231.htm “Superweeds Linked to Rising Herbicide Use in GM Crops, Study Finds.” (2 Oct. 2012). Retrieved Oct. 8, 2012 from Science Daily: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/10/121002092839.htm Read More