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Scope and importance of botany
1. In biology, plant life can be studied from different perspectives, from the molecular, genetic and biochemical level through organelles, cells, tissues, organs, individuals, plant populations, and communities of plants. At each of these levels a botanist might be concerned with the classification, structure (anatomy and morphology), or function (physiology) of plant life.
2. Historically all living things were grouped as animals or plants, and botany covered all organisms not considered animals. Some organisms once included in the field of botany are no longer considered to belong to the plant kingdom – these include fungi (studied in mycology), lichens (lichenology), bacteria (bacteriology), viruses (virology) and single-celled algae, which are now grouped as part of the Protista. Paleobotanists study also ancient plants in the fossil record. It is believed that early in the Earth's history, the evolution of photosynthetic plants altered the global atmosphere of the earth, changing the ancient atmosphere by oxidation.
3. The study of plants is vital because they are a fundamental part of life on Earth, which generates the oxygen, food, fibres, fuel and medicine that allow humans and other life forms to exist. Through photosynthesis, plants absorb carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas that in large amounts can affect global climate. Additionally, they prevent soil erosion and are influential in the water cycle. A good understanding of plants is crucial to the future of human societies as it allows us to produce food to feed an expanding population, to understand fundamental life processes, to produce medicine and materials to treat diseases.
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Botanists study classification, structure, function of plant life while some organisms once included in its field are no longer considered to belong to the plant kingdom: fungi, lichens, bacteria, viruses and single-celled algae.
Plants role is important not only for today’s satisfaction of needs of humans and other living beings but one should also bear in mind that they can affect the future of the climate of our planet protecting air, soil and water from negative effects of a greenhouse gas.
One can hardly imagine how would it be possible for living beings to exist on the Earth without plants as they generate the oxygen, food, fibres, fuel and medicine, reduce the level of a greenhouse gas which in large amounts threatens the Earth’s climate.
Studying plants promotes people and other living beings not only to use their advantages, but also provides us with knowledge of their influence on the evolution of the Earth climate in the past and enables us to realize their importance for the future of our planet.