Adaptation of a plant

This is a photo of an aloe vera plant. An aloe vera plant is an example of an adaptation of a plant. An adaption of a plant is a change made to a species in order to help it better survive. Some plants have these adaptations to water. For example, aquatic plants live in water, so an adaption to aquatic plants are they lack a complex root system because they don't need to waste energy for roots to absorb water. Other plants live in areas that lack water, so their adaptation involves a long root system in order to collect moisture from the ground more easily. The aloe vera in the photo also has an adaptation to hot climates. Aloe vera are adapted to areas with low water availability and intense heat. They use their tissue to store large amounts of water and they have a thick leaf cuticle covered in wax so they don't dry out easily in hot climates. This can be seen in cacti and other desert plants. There are plants that don't make contact with the ground, so they adapt to their environment with modified leaves in order to collect water for photosynthesis. If plants were not able to adapt to their environment, almost every plant on Earth would die. This is why plant adaptations are very important.

“Adaptation.” UWL Website, bioweb.uwlax.edu/bio203/s2007/peteler_kari/Adaptation.htm.
Wilkin, Douglas, and Jean Brainard. “Plant Adaptations.” CK-12 Foundation, CK-12 Foundation, 5 Sept. 2016, 
        www.ck12.org/biology/Plant-Adaptations/lesson/Plant-Adaptations-BIO/.

Spore

This is a photo of a mushroom. A mushroom is an example of an organism that produces spores. A spore is a reproductive single-cell unit that uses asexual reproduction. In Greek, the word spore is derived from the word seed. Spores are produced by fungi, bacteria, algae, and plants as a part of their life cycle. The mushroom in the photo contains spores in the inner surface of the fruiting body. Mushroom spores germinate under certain conditions containing the right moisture, temperature, and food availability. When spores are ready to be released, the organism releases them into the environment. Wind dispersal is used to relocate the spores and then once settled, the spores grow into new organisms.







Britannica, The Editors of Encyclopaedia. “Spore.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 1 May 
       2017, www.britannica.com/science/spore-biology.

Eukaryote

This is a photo of a grub. A grub is an example of a eukaryote. A eukaryote is a any organism that contains a nucleus, the nucleus is surrounded by a nuclear membrane. The nucleus is arguably the most important part of a eukaryote; it contains the DNA and is important for reproduction. Eukaryotes contain organelles, some examples of organelles are golgi apparatus, mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum, and lysosomes; however, not every eukaryote contains every organelle. Organelles are important for things such as energy production, photosynthesis, and membrane construction. Eukaryotes are comprised of fungi, animals, and plants. The grub in the photo is a eukaryote because each of its cells contain a nucleus.








Britannica, The Editors of Encyclopaedia. “Eukaryote.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 10   
        May 2018, www.britannica.com/science/eukaryote.
Nature News, Nature Publishing Group, www.nature.com/scitable/topicpage/eukaryotic-cells-14023963.

Genetically Modified Organism

This is a photo of tomatoes. Tomatoes are an example of a genetically modified organism. Genetically modified organisms are engineered organisms whose genomes are modified in order to achieve desired traits. This is done by modifying the organisms cells on a molecular level and during the modification, different genes from unrelated species are added to the organism. The reason scientists genetically modify organisms is because certain traits are desired and when they are achieved, this can help the organism survive longer by withstanding environmental issues. There are different ways scientists genetically modify organisms. One way is by reproductive cloning, this is done by extracting a nucleus from a cell of the individual and is inserted into a host egg. The resulting offspring is identical to its donor. Another way to genetically modify an organism is through recombinate DNA technology. This is done by inserting specific genes from organisms into the DNA of another organism. Genetic modification is used in agriculture, medicine, and environmental management. The tomatoes in the photo are an example of organisms that get genetically modified. One way scientists genetically modify tomatoes is with a type of bacterium that acts as an insecticide. Although genetic modification is used today, many see it as unethical and as a harm to our environment and health.

Diaz, Julia M., and Judith L. Fridovich-Keil. “Genetically Modified Organism.” Encyclopædia Britannica,             
         Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 26 Apr. 2018, www.britannica.com/science/genetically-modified-organism.

Territorial Behavior

This is a photo of a beagle. A beagle is an example of territorial behavior. Territorial behavior is a method used by an animal or a group of animals in order to protect their territory. Territorial behavior is a result of genetics as a tactic to survive. There are different ways that animals exhibit their territorial behavior. Some animals use sounds or scents secreted from skin glands producing territorial pheromones. If surrounding animals do not stay away from an animal's territory, fights and chases take place. Territorial behavior is very important for some animals. It allows animals to mate without interruption and it also allows a safe place for animals to raise their young. Territories usually allow little competition and prevents overcrowding. Many dogs, including the dog in the photo, show territorial behavior too. They do so by urination, barking, growling, and aggression. Dogs use territorial behavior as a way to protect their owners or defend their territory from other dogs.




Britannica, The Editors of Encyclopaedia. “Territorial Behaviour.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia 
        Britannica, Inc., 13 Mar. 2009, www.britannica.com/science/territorial-behaviour.

Animal With a Segmented Body

This is a photo of a beetle. A beetle is an example of an animal with a segmented body. A segmented body is the division of the body and is divided into functional units. This physical attribute is found in all insects and most animals and include three main regions: head, thorax, and abdomen. The beetle clearly shows these three regions as going right to left the beetle shows its head, thorax, and abdomen. Each segmented unit contains their own organs and purpose. For example, most heads contain the brain, eyes, nose, and mouth. The thorax's main purpose it for movement, so most insect's thoraxes contain their wings and legs. The abdomen is where the reproductive organs, heart, and digestive organs are contained.






“Abdomen.” Insect Wings - Amateur Entomologists' Society (AES), '
        www.amentsoc.org/insects/glossary/terms/abdomen.
“Insect Body Parts.” What Is an Insect?, www.uky.edu/Ag/Entomology/ythfacts/4h/unit2/insbpa.htm.
“Thorax.” Insect Wings - Amateur Entomologists' Society (AES), www.amentsoc.org/insects/glossary/terms/thorax.

C3 Plant

This is a photo of a lemon. A lemon is an example of a C3 plant. A C3 plant is a plant that specifically has a way to remove carbon from the atmosphere's carbon dioxide and turn it into organic molecules during photosynthesis. The C3 pathway received its name because of the first molecule produced in the process, 3-phosphoglyceric acid. On Earth, 85% of plants use the C3 pathway to fix carbon by using the Calvin Cycle. Plants with the C3 pathway use the Calvin Cycle as its initial steps of development. The C3 pathway uses a one step process where the enzyme, RuBisCO creates an oxidation reaction an as a result, some energy used in photosynthesis is lost known as photorespiration. This results in a 25% reduction in the amount of carbon fixed and released back into the atmosphere as carbon dioxide. This pathway is used in all environments and some common C3 plants include spinach, peanuts, barely, most trees, and grasses. The lemon is also a C3 plant because it utilizes the C3 pathway as its main mechanism in converting carbon dioxide into an organic compound. 
                                                                                       
                                                                                          
Editors. “C3, C4 And CAM Plants: Differences and Comparison.”Biology Dictionary, Biology Dictionary, 8 Sept.         
        2017, biologydictionary.net/c3-c4-cam-plants/.