LARTS 271 Introduction to Botany and Plant Physiology
Humans are dependent on plants as plants are the only living organisms on earth that can convert light energy into chemical energy, a process that forms the building blocks of life. This course is about how plants work. We will explore the questions that plant scientists ask by examining how plants do the things they do and by focusing on the function and classification of plants. Topics include an in-depth exploration of photosynthesis, respiration, limits to growth, and the emerging science on plant hormones that allow plants to communicate. The course will be lecture-based with some walking field trips expected during class time.