Chapter 1-What is Plant Biology?

Marcello Malpighi

"Father of Histology," the study of tissues

Scientific Method

A series of steps followed to solve problems including collecting data, formulating a hypothesis, testing the hypothesis, and stating conclusions.

Hypothesis

A testable prediction, often implied by a theory

Science

Involves classification, recording, and observation of facts

Genetics

The scientific study of heredity

Plant Geography

The study of how and why plants are distributed where they are

plant morphology

The study of the form and structure of plants

Plant Taxonomy

describing, naming, and classifying plants

Plant systematics

developing methods for classifying and naming plants

Economic Botany and Ethnobotany

practical uses of plants and plant products

Plant physiology

study of plant function

Botany

study of plants, originated in the stone age

Genomics

study of whole genomes, including genes and their functions

Cell Biology (cytology)

the study of cellular structure and function

Plant Ecology

the study of the interactions between plants and the environment

Plant Anatomy

the study of the internal structure of plants