Souleymane Makadji 5/9/2021

Name: _________________________________ Date: ___________

Laboratory Activity — Student Laboratory Packet

Relationships and Biodiversity

A Laboratory Activity for the Living Environment
1. Watch the introductory video and read the introduction:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=get6V_U1le4
Introduction
Botana curus is a valuable plant because it produces Curol, a compound used for treating certain kinds of cancer.
Curol cannot be produced in the laboratory. Botana curus grows very slowly and is on the endangered species list,
so its ability to provide Curol in large quantities is limited.

Species that are more closely related to Botana curus are more likely to produce the important substance Curol.
Three similar plant species that are plentiful (X, Y, and Z) may be related to Botana curus. You will work as a
researcher to:
A. gather structural and molecular evidence to determine which plant species is most closely related to the
hypothetical species, Botana curus
B. use this evidence to decide which plant species is most likely to serve as a source of the important
substance Curol

2. Structural Evidence for Relationships: Perform tests 1-3. Record observations in the tables within this
packet and summarize all test in Table 1 on p4.

Test 1-Structural Characteristics of Plants

a. Observe the images of the four plant species below. (*Note: they look different than the ones depicted in the
introductory video)
b. Compare the structural characteristics (leaves, stems and flowers) of the plant samples. Record at least three
observations in the appropriate column on the table below. Hint: things to compare: size and color of flower,
shape of petals, number of petals, number of leaves, shape of leaves, position of leaves, relative length of
leaves, relative length of stems, etc.
c. When you have completed the table below, summarize structural the results in Table 1 on p4.
 Wavy leaves, purple
flower, short stem, 5
leaves
Species Botana curus X Y Z
Observed Purple and yellow yellow flower, big
characteristics flower; wavy leaves; leaves, short stem
short leaves; 5 petals
Long stem

Black and yellow

Test 2--Structural Characteristics of Seeds flower, 5 petals, long
a. serve the images of the seeds of the four plant species below. stem
b. Compare the structural characteristics of the plant seed samples. Record at least three
observations in the appropriate column on the table below. Hint: things to compare relative
size, color, shape, and texture of the seeds.
c. When you have completed the table below, summarize the results in Table below.

Species Botana curus X Y Z

Observed Striped, brown, smooth, light rough, blue, striped, dark

Characteristics large brown, large purple, small brown, large
Test 3: Microscopic Internal Structure of Stems
a. Watch this video to see how a cross section of a plant stem is made: Episode 5: Making cross-
sections by hand (stems) - YouTube
b. Observe the microscope images of the cross-sections of the stems of the four plant species below.
c. Compare the arrangement (circular or scattered) of the bundles of conducting tissue in the
specimens. Refer to Figure 1 to help you determine if the images are scattered or circular and also
watch this video to have a deeper understanding of what you are viewing: Locating Vascular
Bundles In a Stem - YouTube

Figure 1

Scattered Bundles Circular Bundles

d. Record your observations by indicating if each stem is “circular” or “scattered” to describe the
arrangement of the conducting tissue arrangements in the appropriate column on the table below.
e. When you have completed the table below, summarize the results in Table 1 on p4.

Species Botana curus X Y Z

Circular or Scattered spread out in scattered

bunched together groups
Bundled
Hypothesize: Tests 1-3
a. Based on your data for structural relationships, which species (X, Y, or Z) would you hypothesize is
most likely to produce Curol?

I would hypothesize that species Z is most likely to produce Curol.

b. Explain how the evidence from your data table supports your hypothesis. You will test your
hypothesis by completing additional tests in the second part of this laboratory activity.

It has a very similar plant structure and stem structure. The seeds are very similar the color
and the shape is very similar. The Microscopic

DATA TABLE:
Table 1: Comparison of Botana curus with species X, Y and Z

Structural evidence Molecular Evidence

Species Test 1 - Test 2 - Test 3 - Test 4 - Test 5 - Test 6 - Test 7 -

Structural Structural Microscopi Paper Test for Gel Difference
Characteri Characteri c Stem Chromato Enzyme M Electropho s in Amino
stics of stics of Structure graphy resis DNA Acid
Plants seeds band Sequencze
pattern s

Striped, Scattered
Botana brown,
Long stem large
curus

smooth, bunched
light together
X Short stem brown,
large
rough, Spread
blue, out in
Y Short stem purple, groups
small
striped, scattered
dark
Z Long Stem brown,
large

End Part 1 of 3.