Minimum Requirements

  • One page word documents
  • Maximum font-size: 12
  • Maximum margins: 1 inch
  • All scientific terms must be correctly spelled
  • Proper grammer requires complete sentences
  • Do NOT just cut and paste from an online source
  • Rewrite using your understanding of the information provided
  • Cite all references

Assignment One

  1. Identify the genus species and the common name for this plant
  2. Describe its past history in the United States - who discovered it?
  3. What is its preferred habitat and how large can it grow?
  4. List several (2 or more) important uses provided?
  5. What significant event marked a change in its population?
  6. How does it fare in the forest ecosystems of today?
  7. Identify the parasitic organism and country from where it originated.
  8. What are botanists and geneticists doing to rescue it?

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Assignment Two

passive transport

The physical methods of movement known as diffusion and osmosis (water diffusion) require absolutely no energy. For this reason, they are known as passive transport processes. Following the natural concentration gradient, their movement is from an area of high concentration to an area of lower concentration. When the concentrations become equal they have reached a state of equilibrium.

active transport

Active transport, on the other hand, moves molecules (or ions) through a membrane - against the natural concentration gradient. This kind of process requires that the cell use energy (ATP molecules). Cells are capable of performing this in a number of ways. For example, cells move essential ions such as Na+ and K+ using a sodium-potassium pump.

Following the required format, answer these questions about the active transport mechanism known as the sodium-potassium pump.

  1. Where do the sodium (Na+) ions travel during their transport?
  2. How many of these ions are involved in each cycle?
  3. What is happening to the Na+ ion concentration inside the cell?
  4. What is happening to the Na+ ion concentration outside the cell?
  5. Where do the potassium (K+) ions travel during their transport?
  6. How many of these ions are involved in each cycle?
  7. What is happening to the K+ ion concentration inside the cell?
  8. What is happening to the K+ ion concentration outside the cell?
  9. What is the ratio of Na+ to K+ during this exchange?
  10. How many ATP molecules are required for each exchange cycle?

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Assignment Three

You are a carbon atom. You have just returned to the atmosphere as part of a carbon dioxide (CO2) molecule. You have just taken part in the exciting adventure called cellular respiration. Describe what happened on your journey.

Use the questions below to help structure your trip. Be sure to follow the "ec" format.

  1. What molecule were you originally a part of?
  2. What happened to you in the cytoplasm?
  3. What were you split into?
  4. What two path options could you choose from in the cytoplasm?
  5. Which one did you choose and why?
  6. If you found yourself bound to other atoms, what were they?
  7. Now that you are back in the atmosphere, where are you about to go?

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