Leafy Legends: The Science of Plant Evolution and Adaptation

In this immersive course, students will explore the evolution of plants from algae to angiosperms, tracing key milestones that shaped modern plant lineages. We’ll take a field trip to visit the City Park Botanical Garden, where students will investigate diverse plant forms. Back in class, we’ll study floral morphology and pollination through hands-on data collection and analysis of local plants and pollinators. Diving into plant genetics, we’ll examine the roles of inbreeding and gene flow through interactive activities. A hands-on DNA extraction lab will allow students to compare DNA yields from various plants, like strawberries and bananas. Finally, students will collaborate in a mock poster session to analyze local adaptation data, honing their scientific communication skills and deepening their understanding of how plants evolve in response to environmental pressures.