Biology Department

Williamwood High School

Biology Department

Biology

National 4

Unit 2 –

Multicellular

Organisms

Key area 3

Commercial uses of plants

Name ______

Unit 2 – Multicellular Organisms

Key area 3 – Commercial uses of plants

Learning Objectives

Unit 2 Learning Outcomes

I can…

1.  identify three products made from plants.
2.  describe three uses of plant products.
3.  describe what is meant by a commercial crop.
4.  explain why farmers want to increase yields.
5.  identify environmental factors that are important for plant growth.
6.  describe how environmental factors can be controlled to increase yields.
7.  describe the advantages of controlling environmental factors.
8.  explain the importance of food production on a world wide scale.
9.  define the term ‘pharming’.
10.  describe and explain an example of pharming.
11.  research course related scientific topics and prepare presentations on the information I have gained.

USES OF PLANTS

•  Plants can be used to produce many different things.

•  The three main uses of plants that we will look at are

-  For food

-  For fuels

-  For medicines

Food from plants

Name three foods that are parts of plants (leaves, roots. Seeds).

______

Name three foods that are manufactured using plant products (foods made from flour, sugar, rice or corn).

______

What the video on Plants and Medicine and answer the following questions.

1.  What percentage of medicines comes from plant?

______

2.  What can garlic help to reduce?

______

3.  What type of tree has been used to help create anti-cancer medicines?

______

4.  What plant is codeine extracted from?

______

5.  How many people are treated for malaria each year?

______

COMMERCIAL USES OF PLANT

•  Crop plants are usually used for food. For example, potatoes, wheat, rice, tomatoes etc.

•  Farmers use various strategies to produce as much of each crop as possible from their land.

•  They are trying to increase their yield, and their profit!

What conditions must be controlled for plants to survive?

·  ______

·  ______

·  ______

·  ______

·  ______

·  ______

INCREASING YIELD PROJECT

“If farmers can grow many more crops today due to technology, why are there still food shortages in the world?”

Research this topic and try to answer the question. Try to include:-

•  What are the main crops grown for food across the world?

•  Is there enough food to go around?

•  Why are people starving?

•  What can governments like ours do?

•  Is money a factor?

You can present your findings in anyway you like!

CONTROLLING ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS

Many crop growers use greenhouses or polythene tunnels to help control environmental conditions.

•  Temperature- Greenhouses and polytunnels allow the ______from the sun to enter, but it cannot escape easily so the temperature is usually higher______than outside.

- Heaters can also be used to maintain a constant temperature in winter. Vents can be opened in ______to prevent overheating.

•  Humidity - Humidity is the amount of ______in the air. This can change depending on the temperature, ventilation, the number of plants and how much they are ______.

-The more humid a greenhouse the less ______the

plants lose.

- If the humidity is too high, ______can grow on plants.

•  Carbon Dioxide levels- needed for photosynthesis. More carbon dioxide means ______growth. Some commercial greenhouse owners add extra carbon dioxide.

•  Burning a ______can also add extra carbon dioxide.

•  Water availability - water is vital for a plant to grow and survive.

Some greenhouses have ______watering systems which ensure that plants do not dry out.

•  Airflow (ventilation)- good ventilation reduces risk of disease and also allows fresh air with ______to reach the plants. ______are also often used to circulate the air.

•  Nutrient levels- the level of nutrients available to a plant can be increased by using ______. Natural forms can be composts or manure but artificial, chemical based fertilisers can also be used.

INVESTIGATING FERTILISERS

Aim: ______

Method:

Draw a diagram of your experiment in the box below.

Results:

Concentration of Fertiliser (g/l) / Height of Plant (mm)

Conclusion:

______

Fertilisers have different chemicals to help plants grow in different ways.

Nitrogen is for ______

Potassium is for ______

Phosphorus is for ______

BIOFUELS

Complete the table.

Name of fuel / What it is made from

What are the advantages of using biofuels?

1.  ______

2.  ______

3.  ______

What are the disadvantages of using biofuels?

1.  ______

2.  ______

3.  ______

PHARMING

•  Genetically engineered plants are more commonly being used for the production of

______, ______

and ______.

•  This can be known a ‘pharming’- pharmaceutical farming.

Group Activity :

Name of pharming technique ______

Write a brief description of the technique.

______

______

______

Do you agree or disagree with this method of pharming and why?

______

INDIVIDUAL PHARMING PROJECT

You are to research ‘pharming’ and present your findings to the class.

You must produce a power point presentation, poster or information leaflet about pharming.

Things to include-

·  What is pharming?

·  What crops are used?

·  What products are produced?

·  What are they used for?

·  Advantages and disadvantages?

·  Future developments?

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