In chapter IV, titled “Hey, Bud, Can You Do Me A
Fava?”, Dr. Moalem considers AP Biology Big Idea 3, which states that “Living
systems store, retrieve, transmit and respond to information essential to life
processes” on pages 86-87. He explains that celery defends itself from insects
and fungi by producing a toxin called psoralen. Psoralen damages the DNA and
tissue of harmful predators. The plant produces psoralen at a fast rate when it
feels under attack by harmful predators like insects and fungi. Regular farmers
who use synthetic pesticides essentially protect the plants from attack.
However, organic farmers who do not use synthetic pesticides invite insects and
fungi to feed on their celery, which in turn causes the celery to create more
and more psoralen to protect itself. Thus “by keeping poison off the plant, the organic celery farmer
is all but guaranteeing a biological process that will end up with lots of
poison in the plant” (87).
Research how celery produces psoralen. Address the
effects that this production has on the plant. In other words, does massive
psoralen production have a detrimental effect on the well-being of celery? Then,
determine how this toxin protects the plant from attack and what effects it may
have on insects and/or fungi that approach celery. Is it better for farmers to
use synthetic pesticides on celery and protect the plants from attack, or for
farmers to refrain from using synthetic pesticides and leave the celery plant
open to harm? In your discussion, address what effects synthetic pesticides
have on celery plants. Then, compare this effect to the effect of producing
psoralen in celery, and determine which is a better option for these plants.
(Tina Moazezi; tmoazez4@students.d125.org)
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ReplyDeletePsoralens are natural toxins found in several vegetables, such as celery. Psoralens are created by the plant as a biological defense mechanism. See, celery is a plant that is consistently attacked by pests. Therefore, psoralens allows for the plant to defend itself. If the plant is ever to suffer a disease, or be injured, the celery plant makes sure the it can produce and create more psoralen. This level of psoralen is more than the celery plant typically contains. Therefore, since these levels are high, the plant is protected. This relates to big idea #3, or “Living systems store, retrieve, transmit and respond to information essential to life processes” because celery stores psoralen to respond to predators. The plant is protected since the psoralen is there as a defense mechanism. Therefore, massive psoralen production do not have a detrimental effect on the well-being of celery. The only reason why there would be massive psoralen production would be because the plant is injured or dying. The increase in psoralen production is a defense mechanism (Survival of the Sickest).
ReplyDeleteThis toxin protects the plant from attack and what effects it may have on insects and/or fungi that approach celery through a very complicated process. What happens is that the psoralen molecules are very small. Therefore, they are able to go through a cell’s permeable nucleus. Between the adenine and thymine bases in a DNA double helix strand, psoralen does its best to get in between. When sunlight (ultraviolet light) is exposed, a chemical reaction occurs (NAP). This chemical reaction binds the psoralen molecules to the DNA on both sides, which ties and sticks the DNA together. Therefore, the DNA is no longer usable in cases such as cell division and cell reaction. Psoralen does not kill cells. It instead just stops all the cells activities (NAP).
When it comes to synthetic pesticides, there is a lot of detrimental effects that come with it. Tests and research have been done on pesticides and their reaction with celery, and negative answers are prominent. See, celery has no protective skin around it, so therefore it can absorb all the harmful synthetic pesticides the farmers put on them. Since these stay in the celery, all the consumers to ingest and consume this celery also ingest all the synthetic pesticides the the farmers pu when the consumer is eating the vegetable (Livestrong). More research is being doing on how pesticides directly affect humans. So far, the only answers researchers have is that pesticides in food are heavily linked to cancers and immune dysfunctions. Not only that, but with more research and tests being recorded and done, pesticides in food have sown to create neurological and developmental problems in children(Livestrong). One example for this is ADHD. So while synthetic pesticides can keep celery safe and sound, it can also hurt the plant by making it less dependent. The celery relies on these pesticides, and the pesticides can also hurt the plant. However, pesticides to have a positive point in which they have detrimental effects for all consumers.
When it comes to just leaving the plant by itself, there are also several detrimental effects for consumers. Firstly, one natural toxin found in celery, called goitrogens, can prove destructful. See, this compound can have a negative effect on the thyroid (Everything2). Not only that, but celery is very high in nitrates. When in the gastrointestinal tract of the human body, nitrates can be reduced and also become potentially toxic. Nitrates can go as extreme as the loss of hemoglobin’s oxygen carrying ability, and even to death (Everything2). More tests are being down on this topic to see how nitrates truly react, especially to younger children (Everything2). So while consumers are poorly affected, the plant isn’t at all being poorly affected. The plant is healthy and isn’t being affected at all since it’s preventing consumers from access.
Therefore, the better option for the plants is to let them be and take care of themselves. Spraying pesticides only make them weaker, but psoralens make them stronger and more independent.
ReplyDeleteNoella James
noellajames@gmail.com
Sources
http://www.livestrong.com/article/446944-toxins-in-celery/
http://www.nap.edu/openbook.php?record_id=10977&page=44
http://everything2.com/title/Psoralen%253A+skin+disorders%252C+blood+donations%252C+and+dangerous+celery
تنظيف كنب بجدة
ReplyDeleteتنظيف بالبخار بجدة
تنظيف خزانات بجدة
شركة تنظيف بالدمام
شركة تنظيف بعنيزة
تنظيف بالهفوف
تنظيف خزانات بالجبيل
تنظيف سجاد بالبكيرية
تنظيف كنب بالبكبرية
شركة شراء اثاث مستعمل بالرياض
ReplyDeleteشركة الصفرات لمكافحة الحشرات بالرياض
شركة عزل اسطح بالرياض
شركة عزل اسطح بالدمام