Course BIOL 3431: Unit 2 Discussion-Plants and People
Unit 2: Discussion (5%)
Now that you have completed the readings and activities, you are ready to participate in the Discussion for Unit 2.
Instructions
Participate in the discussion by responding to the following:
Write a summary (250 words or less) of a current news article about plant-based food, spices, or dye plants. Identify what you think are the most important ideas in the article. Be sure to include academic citations for the source(s) of your information.
Post a question based on your news article for another student to answer.
Two examples are provided below to give you an idea how to craft your question.
Example 1
A cold air mass over California caused crop failures of citrus and other produce. It is estimated that citrus prices may go up by 400% for Canadians. While the increase in prices is alarming for Canadian consumers, the reality is that with the global economy, produce is available from other parts of the world. Although it is devastating to California citrus growers and farm workers, Canadians are not in jeopardy of doing without fruits and vegetables.
Question: From what countries do we import oranges and lemons?
Example 2
Turmeric, an important spice in curry, is used in Ayurvedic medicines as an anti-inflammatory. A study by the University of Arizona, using living organisms, demonstrated that rheumatoid arthritis could be prevented by treatment with curcuminoid compounds from turmeric rhizomes. The chemical composition is similar to commercially available products. The researchers also identified the mechanism of action.
Question: For what other health problems is turmeric currently being researched?