1) In your assigned reading for this week you have discovered the huge diversity that exists within the plant kingdom from basic non vascular plants such as mosses and liverworts to the more complex s

1) In your assigned reading for this week you have discovered the huge diversity that exists within the plant kingdom from basic non vascular plants such as mosses and liverworts to the more complex seed bearing angiosperms.  Many plants have developed special adaptations that allow them to grow and survive in specific environments.  Over the years, humans have discovered that the products of these adaptations can be appropriated for our own use.Choose a plant from any of the different phyla you have studied and identify a structure or substance that affords it some distinct benefit, describe what that benefit is and then briefly discuss how humans have used that trait as an asset for themselvesfor example;Due to its cellular structure sphagnum moss has the ability to absorb a large amount of liquid which permits it to……...this ability was used by humans over the centuries to …….OrMany plants produce fruits as a mechanism for ……humans utilize this for …Domestication of the first agricultural plants is thought to date back to around 10 000 years ago, however since the advent of modern genetics there has been much greater scope to target specific genes and even introduce those from another species – probably the most famous example being the insertion of a jellyfish gene into certain plants causing them to fluoresce in the dark. Discuss whether you think the manipulation of plants at this level is ethical and can only benefit the world, or do you think that genetically modified crops are something to be cautious of and will negatively impact biodiversity in the years to come.Be sure to properly cite any outside sources you use.  You can find help with citations at the Purdue University Online Writing Lab (OWL); https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/01/

2) Lab Activity: Biodiversity.

This week you have learned about the alternation of generations characteristic of all plants.  This learning journal will allow you to review the life cycle of four major groups, mosses, ferns, gymnosperms and angiosperms using some online tutorials.  Click on the links and answer the questions below.

Life cycle of moss: 

Weru, L. (n.d.). Life cycle of a moss - infographic. STEMLounge. Retrieved from https://stemlounge.com/life-cycle-of-a-moss-infographic/

1)      Which part of the life cycle is dominant in bryophyte?

2)      Why are mosses usually restricted to moist habits?

Life cycle of the fern:

Helmenstine, A. M. (2018, October 1). Fern life cycle - How fern reproduction works. ThoughtCo. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/fern-life-cycle-4158558

3)      What are fern leaves called?

4)      What do ferns have instead of seeds?

Life cycle of a pine:

Gymnosperms. (n.d.). Lumen. Retrieved from https://courses.lumenlearning.com/boundless-biology/chapter/gymnosperms/

5)      What is the “main plant” of gymnosperms?

6)      What structure encases the fertilized egg cell?

Life cycle of an angiosperm: 

Angiosperms. (n.d.). Lumen. Retrieved from https://courses.lumenlearning.com/boundless-biology/chapter/angiosperms/

7)      What are the male and female gametophytes in angiosperms?

8)      What process must angiosperms go through before they can reproduce?

Now you have reviewed the various life cycles, write a paragraph comparing and contrasting the bryophytes, ferns, gymnosperms, and angiosperms.  Include an explanation as to why angiosperms have been more successful than other plants.

The Learning Journal entry should be a minimum of 400 words and not more than 750 words. Use APA citations and references if you use ideas from the readings or other sources.