Directions: Use the information provided and your knowledge of Life Science to answer the following questions. Show all work where necessary.
Directions: Use the information provided and your knowledge of Life Science to answer the following questions. Show all work where necessary.
Plants have inherited traits that determine how tall they can grow, how large their leaves can become, and how they make food through photosynthesis. But the environment plays a major role in how those traits are expressed.
To investigate this, scientists at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Plant Physiology Lab grew genetically identical sunflower seedlings in two environments:
Full Sunlight (12 hours/day)
Partial Shade (4 hours/day)
After six weeks, researchers measured the height and leaf area of each plant.
Growth Condition | Average Height (cm) | Average Leaf Area (cm²) |
|---|---|---|
Full Sunlight | 42 | 58 |
Partial Shade | 64 | 83 |
Although the plants shared the same inherited traits, the shaded plants grew taller (reaching for light) and had larger leaves (to capture more light). These differences occurred because of environmental influence, not genetic difference.
This investigation shows that traits can be influenced by the environment. Sunflowers inherit genes for growth, but the amount of sunlight affects how those genes are expressed. Similar effects occur in other plants - such as thinner leaves in low light or smaller, thicker leaves in full sun - all examples of environmental influence on inherited traits.
Make a claim, provide the evidence, and explain your reasoning for the statement:
“The environment (amount of sunlight) influences how tall and leafy plants become.”
Claim:
Evidence:
Reasoning:
Refer to Table 1 in the Plant Growth in Sunlight vs. Shade resource.
Compare plant height and leaf area in full sunlight and shade. What pattern do you notice?
Which statement best explains the difference between sun and shade plants?
How does this investigation show both inheritance and variation?
Explain how environmental factors like sunlight influence a plant’s life cycle stages from seed to adult.