Chapter 14
Plants
What would it take for plants from Earth to survive in outer
space? Travel and life in space is stressful to plants. There are
extreme temperatures, drought conditions, radiation, and
varying gravity, to name several issues. Scientists from North
Carolina State University are looking deep in the ocean for
help in redesigning plants for life in outer space. They are
studying a microorganism that can grow in underwater sea
volcanoes where temperatures exceed the boiling point of
water. Scientists are trying to take a helpful gene from this
microbe and insert it into a simple plant. Perhaps the
adaptability of the microbe can be transferred to the plant,
allowing it to grow and thrive in outer space. Read this
chapter to learn more about plants. Perhaps in your lifetime,
scientists will be growing plants in space!
- What are some main characteristics that all
plants have? - Do all plants have seeds?
- How do plants manage to live just about any-
where, from the desert to the Arctic tundra?