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Oct 31, 2025
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Catalog 2024-2025 [ARCHIVED CATALOG] Chemeketa Community College, Salem OR (curriculum@chemeketa.edu)
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BI 153 Fundamentals of Plant Biology
Lecture Hours: 3
Lab Hours: 3
Credits: 4
Introduction to the study of plant structure and function. Begins with a survey of plant evolution and diversity, then focuses on Angiosperms as a model system to explore plant structure, physiology and reproduction. Discusses the role of co-evolution in ensuring the success of plants on Earth. Serves as background for students in the Horticulture programs.
Prerequisite: Placement into WR 115 (or higher), or completion of WR 090 (or higher) with a grade of C or better; or consent of instructor.
Differential Fee Yes
Student Learning Outcomes:
- Discuss a variety of reasons that plants are essential to life on Earth
- Describe current hypotheses regarding the evolution of modern plants
- Recognize and identify plant and cell structures at the macroscopic and microscopic level
- Describe the roles of enzymes and water in the basic function of plants at the cellular and organismal level.
- Explain how the symbiotic relationships between plants and other organisms such as pollinators and fungi are essential to plant success
- Demonstrate a basic understanding of how plants capture, store and use energy.
- Diagram the processes of plant reproduction with a focus on flowering plants.
- Apply the principles of Mendelian genetics to explain how characteristics are controlled by genes.
- Predict the effects of hormones and environment on the growth and timing of vascular plant responses to environment.
Statewide General Education Outcomes:
- Gather, comprehend, and communicate scientific and technical information in order to explore ideas, models, and solutions and generate further questions.
- Apply scientific and technical modes of inquiry, individually, and collaboratively, to critically evaluate existing or alternative explanations, solve problems, and make evidence-based decisions in an ethical manner.
- Assess the strengths and weaknesses of scientific studies and critically examine the influence of scientific and technical knowledge on human society and the environment.
Content Outline
- Introduction to Plant Biology
- Why are plants important to life on Earth?
- Properties of life
- Using the scientific method
- Evolution of Plant Diversity
- Natural selection
- Evolution of photosynthesis and Earth’s O2-based atmosphere
- Characteristics of plants
- Plant diversity (Bryophytes, Seedless vascular plants, Gymnosperms and Angiosperms)
- Cell structure and Function
- Prokaryotes versus Eukaryotes
- Plant cell structure
- Mitosis
- Plant Structure and Function
- Plant tissue systems
- Stems
- Roots
- Leaves
- Plant Metabolism
- Key chemistry concepts (atomic structure, chemical reactions, macromolecules, propertiesof water)
- Enzymes and cell energetics
- Overview of Photosynthesis
- Overview of Respiration
- Plant Reproduction
- Meiosis
- Alternation of Generations
- Angiosperm life cycle (including flowers, fruits, and seeds)
- Coevolution
- Plant Genetics
- Mendel’s laws
- Solving basic genetics problems
- Plant Nutrition and Transport
- Plant Macro- and micronutrients
- Basic soil structure including cation exchange
- Interactions between plants, bacteria and fungi
- Diffusion, osmosis, active transport and bulk flow
- Structure and function of plant vascular tissues
- Response to the Environment
- Plant Growth (germination, primary and secondary)
- Hormones and plant growth responses
- Plant Defenses
- Laboratories
- Introduction to Scientific Method
- Microscopes and Plant Diversity
- Plant Cells, Tissues, and Organs
- Enzymes
- Photosynthesis and Cellular respiration
- Plant Transport
- Basic Plant Genetics
- Flowers, Seeds, and Fruit
- Plant Growth and Development
- Term-long group inquiry project
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