Wan+Shin

Wan Shin, Jessica
 * Plant Maze**

__Relevance__ I feel that phototropism connects to Auxin which is a type of plant growth hormone. It connects because Auxin is a plant hormone that is found in the buds of the plant and it also helps phototropism to occur. Auxin also supports the growth of plants, making it grow faster and stronger. This helps the farmers because if with Auxin, their crops can grow bigger and better which is what all farmers aim to do. As a result, I believe that the discovery of Auxin helps farmers make more money.

__Goal__ For our experiment, we would be trying to prove that plants require light through the process known as phototropism.

__General Expectations__ For our experiment, due to the process of phototropism occuring, I would expect the plant to bend and to follow the maze and grow out of the hole. Photosynthesis requires light for energy, that is why phototropism would occur.

__Variables__ I think the only thing that we can control is the amount of water we use to water the plant. The independent variable would be the number of days passing by and the dependent variable would be the length of the plant which is the variable that we would measure.

__Materials__ Scissors Masking Tape Cardboard box Cardboard dividers 4 bean seeds Small flowerpot containing soil

__Procedure__ 1. Make a maze by taping cardboard dividers in a cardboard box. Cut a hole in the side of the box at the end of the maze. 2. Plant 4 bean seeds in a small flowerpot of soil and water thepot. 3. place the flowerpot in the box at the beginning of the maaze. Close the box so that the only light in the box comes from thehole that you cut. 4. Over the next 2 weeks, open the box every 2 to 3 days to water the seeds. and to observe the seedlings. Record observations daily.

__Expectations__ I would expect the plants to bend according to the way the maze is built because plants require light for it to grow and for photosynthesis to occur. Without light, the plant would not be able to make any glucose and as a result, the plant is built to follow light due to the heliotropism which is the tendency for the stem and leaves of a plant to grow towards light. Also, I would expect the plant to start bending from the very end that is near the soil which is called the Coleoptile because that is where a plant during phototropism first starts to bend at if it is not excessed to light when it first starts to grow.

__Results__ We have many pictures showing how the plants first started off growing upwards, then later following the light source and bending towards the way the maze is made. These pictures help us prove that phototropism indeed occurs. As a result, it shows that our experiment is indeed pretty successful till now.
 * Qualitative Observations**










 * Quantative Observations**
 * No. of Days || Length of Plants (cm) ||
 * 2 days || 0 ||
 * 4 days || 3 ||
 * 7 days || 12 ||
 * 9 days || 20 ||
 * 11 days || 28 ||
 * 13 days || 35 ||

Through the table and the graph above, we noticed that the plant is growing at a steady pace and through the photos taken, it is proven that our experiment is indeed successful because the plant is starting to follow the maze towards the opening that allows sunlight to come in.
 * Data Processing and Analysis**

__Discussion__ I feel that our experiment was very successful because the results were very similar to what we have predicted in the outcome. We predicted that the plant would follow the maze made and grow out of the hole. Although, the plant still did not grow out of the hole, but I am sure if more time was given, we would definetely be successful in growing the plant out of the hole. A new understanding that I would probably have is that it may not be very accurate that the plant actually just starts bending once it grows, in our experiment, it actually starts bending after it grows straight up for some time. This experiment is a pretty straight forward experiment as we just have to create a maze and plant the plants in and hope that it would grow. I guess the worst part was the first 4 days because it did not really grow much until the 3rd class we did our experiment. I guess the main question during this experiment that would pop up would by why did the plants grow this way? I mean, I know that the plants need sunlight for photosynthesis, but I never understood why. Now I did because light energy during photosynthesis is transformed into chemical energy which is then used to store glucose. Maybe a follow up experiment can be a experiment to test how photosynthesis works, or maybe I can have a look at the plant cells close up to study the parts of the plant cell and to understand why each organelle of the cell is there for and how it works. This would definetely be a good follow up on the plant experiment. Another good follow up experiment may be the Auxin experiment that is found in the textbook which shows how Auxin affects the growth of the plant.

__Appendix 1__ "Amine" means chemical compounds formed from Ammonia. An organic compound containing an amino group (NH2). Proteins which make hormones are made up of Amino Acids. "Auxein" is greek for to increase. Any of numerous plant hormones that promote growth of plant tissues by an increase in the size of existing cells. Auxine is a plant hormone that is found in the buds of the plant which assists the growth of plants. "Chloro" greek for leaf.The green pigment, found in the chloroplasts of all green plants, that absorbs light energy from the Sun during photosynthesis. Chlorophyll is required in the process of photosynthesis. "Chlor" greek for moulded. In the cytoplasm of photosynthetic cells of all green plants: any of many specialized membrane-bound structures containing the green pigment chlorophyll. Chlorophyll is found in the chloroplasts which is used in photosynthesis. "Koleon" is greek for sheath. "Ptilon" is greek plume. A protective sheath enclosing the shoot tip and embryonic leaves of grasses. The Coleoptile is the part where the plants first starts to bend during the process of phototropism. "Gen" is greek for born. The basic unit of inheritance, consisting of a sequence of DNA that occupies a specific position on a chromosome. Auxin is a type of growth gene. "Gravi" attration to the earth. Gravitropism causes the roots of the plants to grow into the soil. In order for the plants to grow, the roots has to grow towards the earth. "Helio" is greek for roots. The tendency of the stems and leaves of plants to grow towards and of the roots to grow away from the light. Heliotropism causes the stems and leaves to grow towards the light therefore supporting phototropism. "Horman" is greek for to stimulate. A substance in plants which influences their growth and development. Auxin is a type of hormone that helps the plant to grow and it assists phototropism. "Light" is derived from the Anglo-Saxon word "Lehot". Electromagnetic radiation that has a wavelength in the range from about 4,000 (violet) to about 7,700 (red) angstroms and may be perceived by the normal unaided human eye. Light is needed in photosynthesis. "Nodus" is Latin for knots. A swelling where a leaf is attached to a stem. This is the place where most Auxin is applied on or found on in plants. "Oxygene" is French for to generate. Oxygen has the symbol O, atomic number 8 and is a colourless odourless tasteless gas. Oxygen is let out from the plant during the process of photosynthesis. "Photo" means light, "systems" mean system. Photsystems are arrangements of chlorophyll and other pigments pakced into thylakoids. The photosystems are part of the process of photosynthesis. "Photo" is light, "synthesis" is activity. Photosynthesis is the process in green plants and certain other organisms by which carbohydrates are synthesized from carbon dioxide and water using light as an energy source. Most forms of photosynthesis release oxygen as a byproduct. Photosynthesis is the basis of any reactions in a plant due to its need for light, water and CO2, which supports plant growth. "Photo" means light and "taxis" is Greek for arrangement. The movement of a cell or a motile organism towards or away from a light source. It is something like phototropism only that it also causes a plant to bend away from the light source. "photo" means light, "tropos" means a turn. Phototropism is the growth of the roots or shoots of plants in response to light. Phototropism is the process which we are trying to prove in this experiment. "Photo" means light. "Tropo" means to bend.It means exhibiting phototropism. Phototropic is the process of phototropism. "Planta" is Latin for a shoot or spring. A living organism that is capable of manufacturing carbohydrates by the process of photosynthesis and that typically possesses cell walls containing cellulose. We are using a plant to prove phototropism. "Proteine" is french for of the first quality. Any of a group of complex organic macromolecules that contain carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, and usually sulfur and are composed of one or more chains of amino acids. Auxin which is a type of hormone is made up of proteins. "Stoma" is greek for hole. one of the minute openings in the under parts of the leaf through which gaseous interchange takes place. The stomata is used to take in CO2 that would be used in photosynthesis. "Thulakos" is greek for sack. A saclike membrane that is the structural unit of the grana in the chloroplasts of plant cells. The thylakoids helps to support photosynthesis. "Tropos" is greek for a turn. Tropism means the change of direction of an organism, especially in a plant. Phototropism is the process where a plant turns towards the sunlight as a result, tropism is part of the experiment that we are trying to prove.
 * Amino Acid**
 * Auxin**
 * Chlorophyll**
 * Chloroplast**
 * Coleoptile**
 * Genes**
 * Gravitropism**
 * Heliotropism**
 * Hormone**
 * Light**
 * Nodes**
 * Oxygen**
 * Photosystems**
 * Photosynthesis**
 * Phototaxis**
 * Phototropism**
 * Phototropic**
 * Plant**
 * Proteins**
 * Stomata**
 * Thylakoids**
 * Tropism**

__Appendix 2__ Phototropism occurs because plants require light to grow, as a result, it would cause the seedling to bend towards light so that photosynthesis which is the process in which plants make glucose to grow. Phototropism is when a plant responding to light by bending towards it due to heliotropism. Heliotropism is the tendency for plants to grow towards sunlight and roots to grow towards the earth, as a result, it support phototropism to happen. This figure shows that plants bends towards where the light is shining at only if it can sense the direction the light source is coming from. This picture teaches us that phototropism is controlled by the amount of Auxin produced. Auxin is a type of plant hormone that assists the growth of the plant. It is also used to help support phototropism which is the main cause of why plants always grow towards where the source of light is coming from. Auxin works because in every plant, there would be something in it to control the amount of growth within the plant, but the Auxin helps to manipulate the cells in a plant faster so that the plant would be able to grow faster and upwards because Auxin allows the plant to grow towards the light source, as a result supports the plant to grow upwards. This figure shows that Auxin helps the "growth genes" to work faster and therefore the plant would grow faster. Photosynthesis is the process where light+CO2+Chlorophyll makes glucose and oxygen. It has the formula of 6CO2+6H20 -> C6H12O6+6O2. It uses the energy of sunlight to convert water and carbon dioxide into glucose and oxygen. The stomatas at the underside of the plant is used to take in CO2 and to attract the photons into the plant for photosynthesis. The chloroplasts in the plant creates chlorophyll which is used in the process of phtosynthesis to help trap sunlight. The roots of the plant take in water. This figure shows the process that takes place within the chloroplast called the Calvin Cycle where ATP goes in and ADP comes out. This picture shows what goes into the plant and what goes out of the plant during photosynthesis. __References__ http://www.allwords.com http://trc.ucdavis.edu/biosci10v/bis10v/week8/06tropisms.html http://www.uoregon.edu/~melliot2/plants/sunlight.htm http://www.biologycorner.com/bio3/notes-photosynthesis1.html http://techalive.mtu.edu/meec/module19/Page4.htm http://www.dlarborist.com/treetrends/2005/05/29.html [|www.allwords.com]
 * Phototropism**
 * Auxin (Hormones)**
 * Photosynthesis**