Usage of Plants?

Question

Okay, so in Life Science, we have to think of 25 uses for plants in our lives. I can't think of anything. I've only thought of 3 three things:

1. Plants give oxygen.

2. Trees supply paper.

3. Plants make salad.

I can only have 15 of them food related. I can't think of anything, and I need help from you guys. Please help me with this. It's due next Wednesday. Thanks, you guys rock. <3

Peace, love, crayons.

Answer 1

I won&#039;t give you the uses, but here are some economically important plants -- you can search them on the internet for uses (the branch of botany dealing with plants for human use is called &quot;economic botany&quot;)

cotton

sorghum

maguey

kelp

sargasso

mangroves

yohimbe

bullhorn acacia

Sphagnum

Boswellia

neem

coir

scouring rush

sweetgrass

diatoms

sage (in First People&#039;s rituals)

tobacco

kapok

coconut (not just for food)

calabash

balsa

Acorus calamus

Madigascar periwinkle

oil palm

flax

sweet clover (look at it medicinally, too)

sugar maple

foxglove

sunflower

Osmunda

vanilla orchid

kola

betel

indigo

Lycopodium clavatum (search this one with &quot;photography&quot;

Gelidium

timber bamboo

woad

sedge

broomcorn

pina (put a tilde over that n -- it&#039;s from the Philippines)

rose

orange (think shop cleanup, not just dessert!)

tagua

rubber

goldenrod (exploratory uses during WWII)

Pyrethrum

tung

Cinchona

Cannabis (and not just for diversion)

cork oak

orris root

jojoba

Irish moss

papaya (which has a medical use for part of it)

sugar cane (look at the non-sweet uses -- bagasse, energy)

tabasheer

Also: what are &quot;naval stores&quot;?  a New Guinea phallocrypt?  what makes a reed instrument playable?

Oh, and what is petroleum made from?  (Hint: not dinosaurs!)

Answer 2

Gene transfer in plants.

1.- Scientists &quot;cut&quot; desired gene sequences from the original source with enzimes, then multiply the sequence using a PCR.

2.- The new DNA is removed from cells taken from the organism. They then select the sequence they need.

3.- They transfer the genes to a vector, it&#039;s normally a virus that infects bacteria, so the virus inyects the DNA sequence prepared in the lab to the bacteria. Sometimes the virus or plasmid &quot;infects&quot; the plant&#039;s or the final host&#039;s cells directly.

4.- They take care of it, supervise it and check if the new genetic sequence can be inherited. They can check the seeds.

Answer 3

Coloured dyes are extracted from plants (example, woad)

Timber

Rubber

Ornamental Use

As tools for stabilising land, like Sand dunes. Annual grasses are planted on building sites to stop the sand from blowing everywhere.

New drugs eg quinine.

Shade

Wildlife habitat

Carbon sinks

Trees keep the water table down and prevent salination of the ground in some places.

Leafy materials produce compost.

Plant fibre is used to produce fabric/paper/rope.

Canes or leaves are used to make baskets.

Ritual uses (eg, Peyote)

Animal Fodder (Rye, clover)

Certain plants repel pests and are used in Organic farming. (marigolds repel eelworm)

In that vein, nitrogen fixing plants (legumes) add nitrogen to the soil.

Sound barriers

Wind breaks

Food (fruit, leaves, tubers, flowers, shoots, stems, sugar)

Oh, duh, almost forgot. Plants are producers and supply all the energy to the food chain.