My Science School

While some plants produce spores for reproduction, some others have seeds for the purpose. Of the non-flowering plants that bear seeds, Conifers, Cycads, Ginkgo and Gnetophytes are the major species.

Conifers are found almost everywhere. These plants have evergreen leaves but no flowers. Their pollination happens with the help of wind. They have woody stems that produce seeds in cones. Most conifers are trees; however, there are low-growing shrubs too.

Cycads are palm-like plants and have thick, woody stems.They generally have a crown of compound leaves too. These plants grow mainly in tropical regions. The male and the female trees are found in the same species. While female plants produce seeds inside the cone, male plants shed pollen.The pollination of cycads takes place through wind. However, there are a few insect-pollinated species too.

Ginkgo, also called the maidenhair tree, is one of its kinds. The species has no other members. They are mainly found in China and Japan. These trees have fan-shaped leaves. Unlike most conifers, gingkoes shed their leaves annually.

Gnetophytes are often found live in deserts and dry lands. They do not grow into huge trees. Gnetophytes are either wind-pollinated or insect-pollinated.

 

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Flowers make plants more beautiful. However, not all plants have flowers. Some plants reproduce either by spore or seeds. Non-flowering spore-producing plants are classified into seven groups.They are liverworts, hornworts, mosses, whisk ferns, club mosses, horsetails and ferns.

There are about 8000 species of liverworts, and they are found world-wide. They are the simplest plants and have no true roots; stems and leaves.They grow in damp areas and reproduce by scattering spores. Hornworts grow in damp places. These simple plants get their name from their horn-like spore bearing structures.

Nearly 10,000 species of mosses can be found in the world. They grow in damp woodlands and have a cushion-like shape.

Whisk ferns are simple vascular plants that may grow on other plants. Their spore producing stage has a whisk-like shape, with branches.

Club mosses are low-growing plants that have true roots. They usually grow on forest floors. Horsetails are brush like plants with cylindrical stems, narrow leaves and separate spore producing stems.

Ferns are plants with well-developed roots, stems and leaves. The largest group of non-flowering plants, ferns usually grows on ground, but some species grow on other plants.

 

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The next time you go for a stroll in the nearby park, take a moment to count the kinds of plants and trees around you. You will be amazed at their variety! Man has attempted to classify plants for centuries; however, an acceptable scientific classification was done by Carl Linnaeus, a Swedish scientist.

Linnaeus’ classification was based purely on observation. The plants were ordered according to their flowers, and the number and type of stamens and pistils. He gave each plant two Latin names: one for the genus or family of the plant and the other for the species or particular member of the family. As there was no taxonomical system for plants until then, Linnaeus’work was revolutionary. Today, however, we have more accurate classification available.

Plants can be classified into vascular and non-vascular plants, depending on whether they circulate water or not.Vascular plants have vascular vessels known as phloem and xylem to transport water and food respectively throughout the plant.

Non vascular plants, on the other hand, are small, simple plants without a vascular system.

They cannot circulate water through their stems and leaves, but absorb water right into the main parts without relying on roots. These are early plants.

Vascular plants have a complex reproductive process that includes flowers and seeds. However, non vascular plants have much more simple reproduce either by creating single-celled spores, or by vegetative propagation. Vegetative propagation happens when parts of the plant break off, and develop into new plants.

 

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The earliest life forms were found only in water, as the oceans provided the most conducive atmosphere for life. Life was absent on land, and the earlier forms of plants were water-bound.

However, as time passed, life started migrating on the wetlands. Some of the earliest green plants began to grow in the soil around 450 million years ago. The first plants looked like mosses, liverworts and hornworts as they in all probability developed from seaweeds or algae.

Most of these plants lived on wet soil and gradually they started reproducing. We see their descendants today in rocky lands, sandy plains, bogs and marshes. In the course of time, around 400 million years ago, more sophisticated life forms evolved into being. These plants looked like the modern ferns, horsetails and club mosses.They gradually developed roots, leaves and stems. Ferns were the first of this kind.

 Do you know that the little ferns and mosses were giants once upon a time?  These plants were once the size of a tree. Some species of ferns and club mosses in some parts of the world like New Zealand are still having the size of a tree. By the time dinosaurs walked on Earth, some plants had developed the ability to reproduce by means of their seeds. There were vast forests of seeds ferns, ginkgo and cycads, across the planet.

Cone bearing trees known as conifers developed later, about 300 million years ago. Pines, firs, spruces, cedars and red woods are some trees that belonged to this group and had needle like, or scale like leaves too.

About 150 million years ago, the first flowering plants evolved. They had well-protected seeds which gave them an advantage over plants with more exposed seeds. Today, there is hardly any place where flowering plants are not found.

 

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Although it is very difficult to estimate how life appeared on Earth, scientists have arrived at certain hypotheses that they believe are true. When life appeared on Earth, it was not as we see it today, well developed and sophisticated. The earliest life forms were tiny speaks of living matter. These simple organisms were called protoplasm. Scientists say that protoplasm mark the beginning of animal and plant life.

When these tiny organisms evolved, some of them developed thick walls, and were immobile. They did not move from one place to another. They were the first plants. Some of them had a green colouring called chlorophyll that absorbed sunlight, for preparing food. These plants trapped the energy in the sunlight and used it to synthesis carbohydrates from carbon and water. As we know already, this process is known as photosynthesis.

The earliest life forms were single-celled. They developed more cells, and began to grow as plants. These plants had to live in water, as they would have otherwise died out, without moisture.

 

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You must have heard stories of walking trees that move from place to place. However, in our day-to-day life, we never see plants moving from the place they are firmly rooted to.

The most obvious characteristic feature of plants is the one that distinguishes them from animals: their inability to move from a place to another.

However, plants are superior to animals when it comes to looking after themselves.They have the distinct ability to prepare their own food. Animals depend on plants or other animals for their food, directly or indirectly.

The process of plants preparing their food with the help of sunlight is known as photosynthesis. Plants use the green pigment on their body, called Chlorophyll, in order to make their food. In the process of photosynthesis, plants release oxygen, a gas vital for the existence of animals. Plants, therefore, are essential for animal life.

Plants, generally, have root, stem and leaves.They are usually divided into two broad categories: flowering plants. Mosses, ferns and horse- tails are some of the non-flowering plants.

However, there is so much diversity among flowering plants, and they outnumber non-flowering plants. About quarter of a million flowering plants can be found across the globe.The non-flowering plants include pines, redwood, ferns and mosses.

Algae, fungi and lichens were once considered as plants. However, they are no longer considered as true plants. They merely have some plant-like characteristics.There are about 400,000 kinds of plants on Earth today. The plant kingdom is one of the five kingdoms of living things.

 

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Much like everything else on Earth, plants too are scientifically studied by Man and this study is known as botany.

Botany derives its name from a Greek word meaning ‘herbs’. Botanists study plants. So much of scientific research on plants is undertaken today in order to develop new medicines and a variety of new products from plants.

Botanists also play a significant role in designing and fashioning more and better plants for food. The diversity of plants on Earth is deteriorating and scientists are trying their best to save plants under threat.

Botanical research is not a recent development. Studies on plants and herbs existed in ancient Greece, India and China. Herbalists predominantly collected herbs and undertook research on their use as medicines. Therefore, Botany is one of the oldest sciences. In prehistoric times, primitive physicians and witch doctors were the first people to have studied plants for their medicinal properties.

Botany, in the earliest stages, was closely linked to medicine. However, as time passed, the study became a more exact science as people began to record their observations about plants. Charles Darvin, the nineteenth century English scientist, played an important role in the study of the evolution of plants. Carl Linnaeus, a Swedish scientist, invented the system of naming plants and this system is considered a landmark achievement in the history of botanical research. This system is still in use.

Today, botany is a much developed science with many branches specialized in a variety of aspects of plant life.

 

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The Welwitschia mirabilis is a plant that is considered to be a living fossil. It goes back to prehistoric times, to the Jurassic Age, when similar plants known as gymnosperms flourished on Earth.

 

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After a long and hard day in the sun, the shade of a tree is the best solace for Man. Our planet is beautiful because of its green plants. In fact, our life revolves around plants, as we come in contact with them in one way or the other.

Plants are the reason we are alive. Our green friends provide the oxygen that sustains animal life. Scientists say that our atmosphere was filled with toxic gases before plants evolved. Photosynthesis, the process of preparing food by plants, produced oxygen as a by-product and made the gas abundant on Earth. This created an atmosphere conducive for animals on Earth, and caused their evolution. Do you know that plants are the only life forms that can make their own food?

Plants make use of light from the Sun to prepare their food. In fact, all the food that we eat comes from plants directly or indirectly. Even if someone is a ‘pure non-vegetarian’, he indirectly consumes plants because the animals that he eats feed on plants. The carnivorous animals eat animals that are dependent on plants and thus indirectly consume plants.

Therefore, there is no life on Earth without plants. Plants store the surpules amount of food that they prepare in their leaves. We consume this for our sustenance. Thus, the whole animal world depends on plants for their existence.

 

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I am in class XII. I want to know, whether I should join biotechnology after class XII or after college. Also, should I go for an allied field of biotechnology, or for the main branch. Please advice me, as I am quite very confused.

Most biotechnology experts has interviewed over the last few years are of the view that the earlier the better. It’s ideal to catch a student young.

In fact, this is what Prof Sunil Saran, director, Amity Institute of Biotechnology, had to say: “Earlier, science students had just two streams to choose from – engineering or medicine. That led to a lot of frustration also, because students attempted pre-medical or premedical test, often did not get selected, and entered any BSc course. Their minds were still set on medical studies or engineering. They spent their three years in this manner and ended up with a BSc degree. Now this BSc degree has huge gaps of knowledge because all along these students were thinking in terms of becoming a doctor or an engineer. It was then that they thought of doing biotechnology at masters level. But they entered the biotech scene without any understanding of what biotech is. Now the feedback we have got from the industry is that these students were totally incompetent to handle anything. So they had to be sent for one year for training, before they can be put to job.” So you should not have any dilemma about joining a biotech course after school.

 

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Journalism is all about gathering and disseminating news and information. It is often seen as glamorous and exciting but, as with any occupation, success is only achieved after much hard work and routine activity.

You can go for  a 3-year-journalism course after 10+2 (any stream). The course is called Bachelors in Journalism and Mass Communication (BJMC), Bachelor of Mass Media (BMM) or Bachelor of Mass Communication (BMC). It teaches students the skills necessary for careers in reporting, writing, and editing functions with newspapers, wire services, magazines, and special publications. In the third year, emphasis is given to field assignments and practicals. A good course in journalism gives you the chance to do an internship with some of the best names in the business, besides teaching the basic skills. Admission is generally through an entrance test, conducted by the individual institute. The objective of these tests is to judge awareness of current events and the essential skills required to be a conscientious journalist. Personal qualities rather than training are more important for becoming a good journalist.

Some of the institutes are Department of Communication Studies, University of Pune, Pune (unipune.ernet.in); Symbiosis Institute of Mass Communication, Pune (simc.edu); Xavier Institute of Communication, Mumbai (xaviercomm.org); Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, Delhi (ggsipu.nic.in); Asian College of Journalism, Chennai (asianmedia.org.in); Indian Institute of Journalism & New Media, Bangalore (iijnm.org); Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC), New Delhi (iimc.ac.in); Makhanlal Chaturvedi Rashtriya Patrakarita Vishwavidyalaya, Bhopal (mcu.ac.in); AJK Mass communication Research Centre, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi (ajkmcrc.org); Times School of Journalism, New Delhi (tcms.in).

 

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The National Talent Search Examination (NTSE) is a national-level scholarship programme conducted by NCERT to recognize and nurture talented students throughout India. The question paper is divided into two sections – Mental Ability Test (MAT) and Scholastic Aptitude Tests (SAT).

MAT judges your ability to think, power of reasoning, ability to evaluate, visualize in space, etc. questions are asked from series, analogies, pattern perception, classification, coding-decoding, problem solving, hidden figures, block assembly, etc. SAT consists of a language (English or Hindi) test and a test for Science, Math and Social Sciences.

Both the tests carry equal weightage. Start your preparation by solving last year’s NTSE papers. It does not matter if you have not prepared for it before. Just sit down and write the test. This will help you gain knowledge of NTSE and also give you a fair idea of your standing. Then analyze your performance and study your weak areas. Make a plan, allocating more time to weaker subjects. The final word is practice and more practice. As you practice, you will also get confident of your speed, subject knowledge and accuracy.

The NTSE examination is held in November, so you have enough time to prepare for the boards. Make sure that you attend all your classes in school and do your homework.

 

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I am student of class XII. I want to know how to start preparing for UPSC civil services examination from now on, so that I can do focussed studies in my graduation.

The entrance examination for entrance to the covered civil services is open to those who have done their graduation. However, Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh has suggested a national exam for recruitment to the civil service right after class XII, rather than after graduation. Under the proposed system, Class XII students, who pass this test, would be sent to a National Academy for a five-year course. At the end of three years, a graduate degree would be given to those clearing the normal examinations. The best candidates would be given to their service allotments on basis of merit and choice at the end of three years. They will go in for a two-year service specific course that will cater to requirements of their respective fields. But those at the bottom of the pool would be “released” for seeking other jobs in the market. However, till his suggestion come into effect, induction to IAS will be after graduation.

As of now, civil services exam is conducted in two stages : preliminary exam, held in May/June, followed by main written exam, held in October/November, and ultimately an interview. The preliminary exam is an objective-type exam. There are two papers : general studies, carrying 150 marks, and one subject, carrying 450 marks. The subject paper can be selected from among the following subjects : agriculture, animal husbandry and veterinary science, botany, chemistry, civil engineering, commerce, economics, electrical engineering, geography, geology, Indian history, law, mathematics, mechanical engineering, medical science, philosophy, physics, political science, psychology, public administration, sociology, statistics, zoology.

The syllabus is what is followed at the graduation level. Marks obtained in the main exam will determine whether a candidate is called for an interview, which is of 300 marks. Marks obtained in the main exam and interview determine the final ranking.

The two of you, at this stage, can take care of your general studies and current awareness. To begin with, get into the habit of reading newspapers and magazines back to back. Not only should you be abreast of events around you, you should also formulate views on what’s happening around you. World events, Indian politics, arts happenings, sports achievements should be on your tips. But also read the view columns in newspapers and magazines and the debates on TV, so that you know what are the issues involved in each event.

 

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I am a student of class IX. My queries are : I have heard about NTSE. What is it and who can apply for it? What are the subjects included and which book to consult for it? Also, is coaching necessary for IIT / civil services? Tell me how to prepare for IIT-JEE and civil services.

First, about the National Talent Search  Examination (NTSE). NTSE is conducted by the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT),New Delhi. NCERT under its National Talent Search Scheme awards 1,000 scholarships, including 150 for scheduled castes and 75 for scheduled tribes candidates, each year. The objective of the scheme is to identify brilliant students at the end of Class X and give them financial assistance towards getting good education. The scheme, launched in 1963 and extended to the rest of the country in 1964, and has undergone several modifications in the last four decades.

All students studying in Class X in any recognised school, including Kendriya Vidyalayas, Navodaya Vidyalayas and Sainik Schools, are eligible to appear for the state level examination in the state in which the candidate’s school is located. The talent identification is done in two stages. The first selection is done by the states / union territories, whereas the second stage selection, at the national level, is carried out by NCERT.

Each state/UT conducts its own examination. It has the freedom to lay down its own norms for the purposes of determining the eligibility of the candidates. The state determines the candidates to be sent for the national-level examination, on the basis of its own written examination. The state level screening examination is conducted in all states/UTs on the fourth Sunday of November, except in Nagaland, Manipur, Meghalaya and Mizoram where it is conducted on the fourth Saturday of November every year.

Students studying in Class X in the country should be on the look out for the advertisement in the newspapers or circular in the school by the respective government of their state/UT for the examination and act as per the requirement in the state advertisement / circular. They should submit the filled-in application form to the state liaison officer through the principal of the school before the due date as advertised/circulated by each concerned state/UT.

The Mental Ability Test has 100 multiple-choice type items, with five alternatives. Each item carries one mark. A variety of questions, such as analogies, classification, series, pattern perception, hidden figures, coding-decoding, block assembly and the like are asked. Candidates are required to answer the items on a separate answer sheet as per instructions given both in the test booklet and on the answer sheet.

SAT consists of 100 multiple-choice questions of one mark each. Each question has four alternatives, out of which only one is the correct answer. There are 40 questions from sciences, 40 from social sciences and 20 from mathematics. In science, there are questions from physics, chemistry and biology. Similarly, in social sciences there are questions from history, geography and civics. The question in mathematics cover algebra, arithmetic, geometry, trigonometry, statistics and mensuration. Candidates are required to answer the items on a separate answer sheets.

The medium of examination is English or regional languages, as provided in the Constitution of India. The language in which a candidate wants to take the test has to be mentioned in the application form for the state-level examination. Accordingly, a question booklet in that language is made available to the candidate. No request for change of medium is entertained. The state level examination also has two-part examinations – MAT and SAT. The medium of the test is announced by each state/UT.

The test demands both speed and accuracy. So work on improving both. Use your time wisely. If you find a question difficult, skip it and move ahead without wasting too much time on it. You can always return to these questions once you have completed the entire test.

Though there is no negative marking, wild guessing does not help. The trick is to make intelligent guesses. If you can rule out one or two options as definitely wrong, you improve your chance of scoring in that question.

Whenever you come across a question that has got more than one correct answer, choose only the most appropriate one.

In MAT, questions of the same type are grouped together. Since the instructions for all these questions are the same, read them carefully and answer the questions together.

As regards coaching for IIT-JEE and civil services, it helps to join a course, for a number of reasons. It channelizes your preparation. You can take advantage of a qualified faculty that has perhaps been through the examination process itself, knows the examination pattern thoroughly well and guides you how to approach the paper. This last part is important because even bright students at times mess up an exam if they don’t know the right approach. Also, you get to interact with a whole batch, you take a number of tests in stimulated conditions and you know where you stand.

As regards preparation for IIT-JEE, we carry an article in this issue regarding the changed IIT-JEE pattern. For civil services, the answer to the next question will help you.

 

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I have just started my class X. After class X I want to join the science stream. But maths is a problem. The teacher who taught me in class IX is also taking class X. I don’t understand anything in her class. I had been hoping to get another teacher but I was quite disappointed when I saw her entering the class in the maths period. How will I do well if I don’t clear my doubts? Even though my interest is in biology, I want to do well in maths in well. How can I do well in maths?

Mathematics is all about understanding and practising. It is of great help not just in the science stream, but in other streams too. The more you practice, the more you learn. If there is no chance of the teacher being changed, you should look for someone in or around your home who can help you clear your doubts regularly.

 

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