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Ch. 37 - Plant Sensory Systems, Signals, and Responses
Freeman - Biological Science 8th Edition
Freeman8th EditionBiological ScienceISBN: 9780138276263Not the one you use?Change textbook
Chapter 37, Problem 7

To explore how hormones function, researchers have begun to transform plants with particular genes. In one experiment, a gene involved in cytokinin synthesis was introduced into tobacco plants. Which one of the following results would be expected?
a. Individuals produced more lateral branches.
b. Stems grew extremely tall and slender.
c. Roots were incapable of responding to gravity.
d. Stomata were closed most of the time.

Verified step by step guidance
1
Understand the role of cytokinins: Cytokinins are a class of plant hormones that promote cell division and growth, particularly in the shoots and leaves. They are known to influence various aspects of plant development, including the stimulation of lateral bud growth.
Consider the effects of increased cytokinin synthesis: Introducing a gene involved in cytokinin synthesis into tobacco plants would likely lead to an increase in cytokinin levels. This could enhance the hormone's typical effects on plant growth and development.
Evaluate the options based on cytokinin function: Given the role of cytokinins in promoting lateral bud growth, option (a) 'Individuals produced more lateral branches' aligns with the expected outcome of increased cytokinin activity.
Analyze the other options: Option (b) 'Stems grew extremely tall and slender' is more characteristic of gibberellins, another plant hormone. Option (c) 'Roots were incapable of responding to gravity' relates to auxins, which are involved in gravitropism. Option (d) 'Stomata were closed most of the time' is associated with abscisic acid, which regulates stomatal closure.
Conclude with the most likely result: Based on the understanding of cytokinin function, the expected result of introducing a gene involved in cytokinin synthesis into tobacco plants would be the production of more lateral branches, as described in option (a).

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Cytokinin Function

Cytokinins are a class of plant hormones that promote cell division and growth, particularly in shoots and leaves. They are known to influence the development of lateral branches by stimulating the growth of axillary buds. Understanding cytokinin function is crucial for predicting how genetic modifications affecting cytokinin synthesis might alter plant morphology.
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Genetic Transformation in Plants

Genetic transformation involves introducing new genes into a plant's genome to alter its characteristics. This process can be used to study hormone functions by modifying hormone synthesis pathways. In the context of the question, transforming tobacco plants with a gene for cytokinin synthesis allows researchers to observe changes in growth patterns and development.
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Plant Hormone Interactions

Plant hormones often interact with each other to regulate growth and development. Cytokinins, for example, can work in conjunction with auxins to balance root and shoot growth. Understanding these interactions helps predict outcomes of genetic modifications, such as increased lateral branching due to enhanced cytokinin activity, as opposed to other growth changes like stem elongation or root behavior.
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Related Practice
Textbook Question

What evidence suggests that ABA from roots can signal guard cells to close?

a. If roots are given sufficient water, guard cells close anyway.

b. If roots are dry, guard cells begin to close—even though leaves may not be experiencing water stress.

c. Applying ABA to guard cells directly causes them to close.

d. If roots are dry, the ABA concentration in leaf cells drops dramatically.

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Textbook Question

Why was it logical to predict that amyloplasts function as statoliths?

a. They are dense and settle to the bottom of gravity-sensing cells.

b. They are present only in gravity-sensing cells.

c. They make a direct physical connection with membrane proteins that have been shown to be gravity-receptor molecules.

d. Their density changes in response to gravity.

657
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Textbook Question

Phytochromes can be considered 'shade detectors,' while phototropins such as PHOT1 can be considered 'sunlight detectors.' Explain why these characterizations are valid.

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Textbook Question

Suppose that a mutant plant is unable to make methyl salicylate. Explain why it is not likely to survive in the wild.

525
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Textbook Question

In general, small seeds that have few food reserves must be exposed to red light before they will germinate. (Lettuce is an example.) In contrast, large seeds that have substantial food reserves typically do not depend on red light as a stimulus to trigger germination. State a hypothesis to explain these observations.

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Textbook Question

In many species native to tropical wet forests, seeds do not undergo a period of dormancy. Instead, they germinate immediately. Predict the role of ABA in these seeds. How would you test your prediction?

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