plant and animal responses Flashcards
name 3 plant responses to abiotic stress
- leaf loss
- prevention of freezing by having solutes in cell sap and cytoplasm that lower freezing point
- stomatal control
name 3 chemicals that plants use in their defence to herbivores and what they do
tanins - bitter taste and can bind to proteins in the gut so they’re hard to digest
Alkaloids - bitter taste and noxious smell
pheromones -if one plant produces pheremones in response to grazing, it cause nearby plants that detect it to produce chemical defences such as tanins
what plant is known for its folding in response to touch and how does this occur and how does it help the plant against herbivores?
Mimosa pudica
rapid uptake of water in cells at the base of each leaflet causes adjacent cells to lose volume and collapse
scares off herbivores and dislodges small insects
what is phototropism?
plants response to light. shoots are positively phototrophic and roots are negatively phototrophic
what is geotropism?
plants response to gravity which always they always receive as a unilateral stimulus downwards
shoots are negatively geotrophic and roots are positively geotrophic
describe the roles of hormones in leaf loss
lengthening dark periods/ loss of light causes falling level of auxin to be produced.
ethene is formed in response
a layer of cells called the abscission layer develops at the bottom of the leaf stalk . ethene stimulates the abscission layer to expand, breaking the cell walls and causing the leaf to fall off
or cause gene switching in abscission zone and new enzymes are produced which break down abscission zone
describe the roles of hormones in seed germination
when seed absorbs water the embryo is activated giberellins are produced
giberellins stimulate digestive enzymes such as amylase to be produced which breaks down food stores
ATP created by the metabolism is used for growth
ABA works against and inhibits enzyme
describe the roles of hormones in stomatal closure
ABA produced by the roots when low level of water in soil
ABA binds to receptors on the cell surface membrane of guard cells.
ABA activates changes in the ion concentrations of guard cells and reduces the water potential and therefore the turgor of cells as water has moved out
cell becomes flaccid and therefore stomata closes
explain and give 2 peices of evidence for the role of auxin in apical dominance
(auxins produced at the apex of the plant cause plant to grow upwards and inhibits lateral growth)
if apex bud and therefore the auxin source is removed, lateral bud growth occurs
if apical bud is replaced with agar block containing auxin, inhibition is restored- lateral bud growth stops
explain how gibberellins are used in germination and give 2 pieces of evidence for this
gibberellins stimulate amylase to be produced which causes digestion of food sources leading to ATP being creating which provides energy for growth.
mutant varieties that do not produce giberellins cannot germonate
however they germinate normally when gibberellins are applied externally
if gibberellin biosynthesis inhibitors are applied, the plant doesnt germinate
how are gibberellins used in stem elongation and give 2 peices of evidence
they causes cell elongation and division leading to stem growth.
dwarf varieties (where giberellin synthesis pathways are inhibited) show very low levels of gibberellins
treating dwarf varieties with gibberellins allows them to grow to normal height
how is ethene used comercially in plants?
control of fruit ripening
ethene stimulates the break down of cell walls, chlorophyll and converts starch into sugars = soft and ripe
harvested unripe then exposed to ethene when needed so they all ripen at the same time
name 2 ways in which auxin is used comercially in plants
rooting powder
- when cutting is made, it is treated with auxin causing it to grow roots so it can be replanted
weed killer
- auxin used as a selective weed killer
- makes weeds produce long stems but not big leaves so plant grows too fast and doesnt get enough water and nutrients so it dies.
what are the two sections the nervous system is organised into structurally?
the central nervous system and peripheral nervous system
what is the central nervous system?
the brain and spinal cord
what is the peripheral nervous system?
all the neurones that connect the CNS to the rest of the body - sensory and motor neurones
how is the nervous system arranged functionally?
into the somatic and autonomic nervous system
what is the somatic nervous system?
the system under conscious control
what is the autonomic nervous system?
works constantly under subconscious control
what is the difference between sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system?
parasympathetic is the relaxing responses- what happens all the time
sympathetic is in regard to the fight or flight response
what is the function of the cerebrum?
controls voluntary actions, interpreting sensory information sends impulses to motor neurones for response
what is the function of the cerebellum?
controls unconscious functions - it coordinates movement such as balance and posture etc
what is the function of the medulla oblongata?
contains many regulatory centres of the autonomic nervous system- heart rate, ventillation etc
what is the function of the hypothalamus?
main controlling region for the autonomic nervous system, it controls temperature. it produces hormones that stimulate other glands
what is the function of the pituitary gland?
under the control of the hypothalamus. it releases hormones and stimulates other glands to release hormones
list the sequence in a reflex arc
stimulus receptor sensory neurone relay neurone motor neurone effector
what kind of reflex is the knee-jerk reflex?
spinal reflex
describe the knee-jerk reflex
stretch receptors in the patellar tendon detect stretch(stimulus)
a nerve impulse is sent along the snesory neurone which contects with a motor neurone
the motor neurone carries the nerve impulse to the effector muscle- extensor muscle on top of thigh contracts and flexor muscle relaxes