BIOL3264 2014 21 Review Questions

1. Describe the theories of plant construction, the origin of the cell theory, and discuss the
evidence supporting the cell and organismal theories.
The cell theory is one that refers to the idea that cells are the basic unit of structure. It was first
discovered by Robert Hooke in 1665 and it states that that new cells are formed from preexisting
cells. Sharp 1926 translate the principal tenets of the cell theory by stating that all the living
substances are concentrated in the cell. They are all individuals of the same morphological rank
and they are the unit of structure and function morphologically and physiologically. They went
on to explain that the body is an aggregate of cells that are its building blocks and that the action
of the body is the sum of the many special or specific actions performed by Collabra rating cells
of many different kinds. Evidence for this theory includes most cells are totipotent in that they
produce entire plants and leaves produce epiphyllous buds that essentially grow into entire
plants.
This is the much older theory and there exist another known as the organismal theory.
This tries to interpret the living protoplasmic mass by describing it as a whole rather than
considering its individual cells. According to the organization theory the protozoa as an example
would be homologous not with the individual cells but in the body of a man as a whole. The
organismal theory involves the separation of mass into subordinate semi-independent parts, the
cells. Since septation is rarely complete all parts remain in connection and continue to act as a
unit. Evidence to support this is all the organ surfaces of the shoots of higher plants are covered
in a lipid cuticle that prevents excess water loss in transpiration. The first bit of evidence is that it
is secreted before the epidermis is differentiated, 2. Cell division during a plants development
must be internal partioning of the original zygotic protoplasts by the erection of cell walls and
not by the aggregation of cells that originated from a complete cleavage of the zygote
protoplasts. If the multicellularity in plants, cells would have to be added outside the cuticle and
thus there is no evidence of this occurring.
2. Explain the significance of cellulose and lignin in making the plant cell wall strong.
Cellulose and lignin is the 2 most abundant biomolecules on earth, Cellulose is a
polysaccharide consisting of linear chains of beta 1, 4 glucose units. They are the major
structural component of primary cell wall of algae and green plants.
Wet cellulose cannot provide much strength. Lignin chemically complex and has no true defined
structure. It covalently bonds to polysaccharides and crosslink them.
Lignin alone is not much use, but in secondary cell wall it dries out cellulose and together
they form a strong, waterproof composite material, something like fiberglass.
The cell wall is made up of microfribrils embedded in a polysaccharide-protein matrix.
The primary cell wall is made up of mainly cellulose and this allows for expansion as the micro
fibrils are laid down in a random pattern. They are hydrophilic and all cells have a primary cell
wall. The secondary cell walls are thick and are impregnated with lignin. It is laid down inside
the primary cell wall and this further resists cell expansion and attains a layered appearance. It is
hydrophobic in nature.
3.

How do primary and secondary cell wall differ in relation to their support roles?

Essentially primary cell is fine for hydrostatic cells like parenchyma. Collenchyma can provide
more support if water is not limiting, but real support is provided by lignified cell walls. The cell

wall is made up of microfribrils embedded in a polysaccharide-protein matrix. The primary cell

wall is made up of mainly cellulose and this allows for expansion as the micro fibrils are laid
down in a random pattern. They are hydrophilic and all cells have a primary cell wall. The
secondary cell walls are thick and are impregnated with lignin. It is laid down inside the primary
cell wall and this further resists cell expansion and attains a layered appearance. It is
hydrophobic in nature. Tree trunks taper because of annual variation in activity of the vascular
cambium, a good thing because it lowers self-weight, as does abscission of lower branches in
conifers.
Some cells die as cell wall gets stronger/tougher:
-Tracheids, vessel elements, fibres, sclereids, phellem.
Others remain alive: -Thin walled: parenchyma (primary cell wall)
- Differential thickening: collenchyma. (secondary cell wall)
4. What is the best design for minimum mass of a stem, branch, or bone?
5. Explain why parenchyma is the perfect hydrostatic tissue, but is limited in its ability to
produce tall slender columns.
Parenchyma is very cheap to make, easily made strong by cell turgor, but because of its self
Weight it intern severely limits the height of a column made of parenchyma alone. A layer of
confining epidermis.
6. Why are bamboo stems stronger, pound for pound, than solid stems?
7.

Describe the features of the different support tissues.

8. What is the support role of the plant cell wall and of the protoplast?
9.

Explain the significance of the twist to bend ratio in providing support to stems and
petioles.

10. Why do stems and petioles have greater twist to bend ratios than steel beams with the same
geometry?
11. What distinguishes determinate plants from indeterminate plants?
12. What role does thigmorphogenesis play in the biomechanics of plant growth?
13. Distinguish between the different types of reaction wood.
14. Describe the unique morphological and anatomical features of the Baobab tree.
15. Explain Bernoullis Principle and the relationship between fluid flow and pressure.
Bernoulli principle is one that describes the movement of a fluid from a large tube into a smaller
tube, the pressure drops i.e. there is a higher pressure in the larger than the smaller tube. One
would expect the opposite of this happens but he describes this as the fluid moving faster through

the smaller tube thus less time to come into contact with the walls of the tube thus a decrease in
pressure is observed.
16. Distinguish between pressure stress and shear stress, and explain the Reynolds number.
Pressure stress is that of when the surface area of the object distorts the streamline of the fluid it
is suspended in. The area is perpendicular to the stream path; the object feels a pressure stress as
the fluid rams the object.
17. Explain fineness ratio and how organisms use/reduce drag