In 1962, Rachel Carson authored a revolutionary book entitled The Silent Spring. This
publication dealt with the fact that many bird species in particular areas were not surviving
because their shells were abnormally thin. The book title refers to the fact that with the
decreasing bird populations, the springtime could indeed be “silent.” How would you go about
discovering the cause of this anomaly? What changes do you think occurred as a result of
Carson’s book?
What will be an ideal response?
When confronted with a defect in a population, the first step would be to determine if the problem is
genetic or due to an environmental cause. Since birds of varying species in specific areas were
producing defective shells, it does not appear to be a hereditary trait. Now that you suspect an
environmental cause for this condition, you would investigate any changes that have taken place in the
effected areas. Carson eventually realized that the insect control agent DDT was used in those areas
where the bird shells were defective. Her book gained national publicity, and in 1972, DDT was
banned in the United States. Carson’s research was largely responsible, since it brought this
environmental issue to the attention of the American public.
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When did the first plants evolved from algae?
A. 4.7 billion years ago B. 470 million years ago C. 470 thousand years ago D. We do not know exactly when the first plants evolved from algae.
Which category of bacteria provides the greatest benefit to production of crop plants?
a. spirochetes b. heat-loving T. aquaticus c. nitrogen-fixing bacteria d. Agrobacterium e. L. acidophilus
Answer the following statements true (T) or false (F)
1.Vegetative edible plant parts include roots, fruits, stems, and tubers. 2.If a plant exhibits a pattern of indeterminate growth, it stops growing when it reaches mature size. 3.Herbaceous plants are those that contain little or no woody tissue. 4.The three main types of tissue formed by plant cells are ground tissue, dermal tissue, and vascular tissue. 5.The epidermis of a plant leaf is usually many layers thick and carries out most of the photosynthesis in a leaf.
During capacitation, sperm become mature. Indicate whether the statement is true or false