Carolus Linnaeus Fame and success. Pastor or doctor? His Legacy. Traveling and writing

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1 Carolus Linnaeus 15.1 Carl Linnaeus is sometimes called the Father of Taxonomy. He devoted most of his life to creating a workable naming system for every known plant, animal, and mineral. He was not the first person to try to create such a system, but he was the first one to do it so effectively. His published volumes became the standard for other scientists. His work is the basis for the scientific classification system still used today. Pastor or doctor? In 1707, Carl Linnaeus was born in a small town in southern Sweden. His father was a Lutheran pastor and an avid gardener. By the age of five, Carl had a garden of his own. In school, he was not a very good student, but he loved anything to do with nature. His parents wanted him to become a pastor like his father, but his teachers advised against it. A wealthy doctor was so impressed with Carl s knowledge of plants that he agreed to send Carl to college to become a doctor. This was a natural career choice for him since, at that time, doctors were expected to make their own drugs from plants. In 1727, Carl went to the University of Lund to study medicine. After one year, he transferred to the University of Uppsala, the best school in Sweden. Throughout his life, Carl had a way of making friends with rich and important people. He always found someone willing to pay for his education and his scientific expeditions. Sometimes he tutored, gave lectures, or worked in their gardens as repayment. Traveling and writing Between 1731 and 1735, Linnaeus traveled to Lapland and other remote areas of Sweden collecting rare plants and gathering information. He published detailed accounts of his trips. In 1735, he proposed to Sara Elisabeth Moraea. Her father, a doctor, refused to let Linnaeus marry his daughter until he completed his medical degree. Linnaeus went to the Netherlands to a university that was known for giving quick exams. Within a few days, he had his license to practice medicine. Over the next few years, he worked at a number of botanical gardens in Amsterdam, England, and Paris. His reputation as an expert was spreading. He returned to his fiancé, and the two were married in Fame and success In 1741, Linnaeus became a professor at the University of Uppsala. He was responsible for the care of the botanical garden, plus he taught botany and natural history. Students loved him and came from all over Europe to take his courses. In 1747, he was appointed physician to the royal family, a great honor. In 1749, he was named as the head of the university. In 1757, the king of Sweden made Linnaeus a nobleman, and he changed his name to Carl von Linne. When he was in his sixties, he suffered a series of strokes. He never regained his health and died in 1778 at age seventy-one. His Legacy Before Linnaeus, plants had long, difficult Latin names. The same plant often had more than one name. There was a huge need to simplify the naming system and make it the same everywhere. Linnaeus identified about 7,700 known plants and gave each one a two-part name. The first was a Latin name for the genus, and the second was a more specific name for the species. He did the same thing for about 4,400 known animals. He published his names for plants in 1753 and for animals in Those names are still used today. Linnaeus also created a classification system. He divided plants and animals into two kingdoms and grouped them based upon observable characteristics. Even though some of the groups have changed over the last two centuries, the basic plan was his. His classification of plants was a little radical for his time. He was the first person to observe that plants reproduced sexually. He grouped plants according to the number of stamens and pistils they had and where these parts were located. Many people thought it was scandalous to talk about male and female parts of plants. When one doctor criticized him severely, Linnaeus got even by naming an ugly little weed after the man.

2 Reading reflection 1. Why was medical school a good choice for Linnaeus? 2. How was the son of a poor pastor able to afford to go to the best university in Sweden? 3. Why do you think that Dr. Moraea would not let Linnaeus marry his daughter until completed his medical degree? 4. List three of Linnaeus' achievements during his life at the University of Uppsala. 5. Why was Linnaeus' system for naming plants important? 6. What observation did Linnaeus make that offended some people of his time 7. How was Linnaeus's classification system different from others that had been done? 8. Research: A doctor named Johann Siegesbeck was very critical of Linnaeus system of classifying plants. Linnaeus got revenge by naming an ugly little weed after the man. Use the library or the Internet to find the name, a picture, and a description of that weed. Page 2 of 2

3 Primate Cladogram 15.1 Use the cladogram below to answer the questions on the next page. You may need to use your textbook as a reference for additional information.

4 Page 2 of a. Which organisms have color vision? b. Which organisms have binocular vision? c. Which organisms have much larger brains? d. Which organisms are bipedal? e. Which organism evolved last? f. Of the following organisms (frog, squirrel, euglena, redwood tree, or kangaroo), which would be the most closely related to all of the organisms in the cladogram? Explain your reasoning. g. Which organism in the diagram is the most closely related to humans? h. A common ancestor of the baboon, chimpanzee, and human would NOT have which characteristic: 1. Color vision; 2. Bipedal; 3. Opposable thumbs; 4. Fur

5 George Washington Carver 16.1 Carver, an agricultural scientist, did more than merely study plants. He wanted his work to be meaningful to ordinary people. His scientific research and product development helped farmers survive and prosper. Born into slavery George Washington Carver was born around 1864 near Diamond, Missouri toward the end of the Civil War. His exact birth date is not known due to poorly kept slave records. George and his mother, a slave for Moses and Susan Carver, were kidnapped when he was an infant. George was found and returned to the Carvers, but his mother was never located. When slavery ended, the Carvers became foster parents for George and his brother. George, a sick and weak child, did not perform many physical duties on the farm. Instead he spent time outdoors exploring nature. He had a gift for growing plants and became known locally as the plant doctor. In pursuit of an education George wanted to be educated. A tutor, provided by the Carvers, was unable to provide enough knowledge for George. So, eleven year old Carver traveled eight miles alone to the Lincoln School for Colored Children in Neosho, Iowa. He worked for a local family in exchange for housing while attending school. Carver excelled at school and quickly surpassed the other students. He was so dedicated to learning that he skipped recess to read and draw. By the age of 13, he knew as much as his teacher and had to seek an education elsewhere. He found a family moving to Fort Scott, Kansas nearly 100 miles away and offered to care for their mules in exchange for a wagon ride. Once in Fort Scott, George worked as a cook. He eventually saved money for school, rented a lean to, and allocated one dollar a week for food. He was determined to study and to read all he could. While in Fort Scott though, Carver saw an African-American man dragged from jail and killed. Carver was frightened and fled town. Carver graduated from Minneapolis, Kansas High School. He applied to Highland College, was accepted, and arrived on campus only to be rejected because of his race. Dejected, George claimed a homestead and farmed. He saved enough money to attend Simpson College in Iowa. He studied art and piano at Simpson, but his love was agriculture. He transferred to Iowa State College to study agriculture and received his degree at age 30. He became the first African-American faculty member at the college and earned his master's degree in agriculture two years later. Peanuts are productive Booker T. Washington, founder of Tuskegee Institute in Alabama, contacted Carver to lead the agricultural department. Washington could not offer much to Carver financially. However, Carver was attracted by the opportunity to help farmers in the region. Cotton, a major crop of the South, was not growing well after repetitive years of planting. A beetle called the boll weevil often destroyed entire cotton crops as well. Carver taught students and local farmers to rotate crops annually to enrich the soil. Peanuts and sweet potatoes were beneficial because they improved the soil and were resistant to boll weevils. Peanut crops flourished on millions of acres of land. However, farmers were overwhelmed by the peanut surplus. Consumers could not possibly eat so many peanuts, but Carver realized that consumers could use other peanut based products. Carver utilized every part of the peanut plant to develop 300 products including beverages, cosmetics, paints, medicines, fuel, and soap. Carver discovered that peanut oil could even help to repair human tissue! Beyond the peanut Carver was a respected teacher, successful scientist, and accomplished artist. He collaborated with Henry Ford to invent a goldenrod-based rubber substitute and his artwork was displayed at the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition. In 1940, Carver donated his savings to establish the George Washington Carver Foundation. He died in 1943 and was buried at Tuskegee Institute. The George Washington Carver Museum and National Monument both pay honor to this agricultural pioneer and champion.

6 Reading reflection 1. How did Carver manage to complete his education? 2. What major contribution did Carver make to improve farming in the South? 3. Research: Carver discovered over 300 uses for peanuts. Using the Internet or library resources, identify ten specific products Carver developed. 4. Research: In addition to peanuts, what other crops did Carver study? 5. Research: Carver worked for Booker T. Washington at Tuskegee Institute. Who was Booker T. Washington? 6. Research: Carver received only three patents for his work. Using the Internet or library resources, list the three patents awarded to Carver. Page 2 of 2

7 The Parts of a Plant 16.2 Write the name of the part that corresponds to each letter in the diagram. Then, write the function of each part in the spaces on the next page.

8 Page 2 of a. b. c. d.

9 Root Structure Diagram 16.2 Write the name of the part that corresponds to each letter in the diagram.

10 Flower Parts 16.3 Write the name of the part that corresponds to each letter in the diagram. Then, write the function of each part in the space below the diagram. a. b. c. d. e. f. g. h. i.

11 Plant Reproduction 16.3 Describe what happens at each letter in the diagram below. A B E C D a. b. c. d. e.

12 The Mammalian Eye 17.3 Write the name of the part that corresponds to each letter in the diagram. Then, write the function of each part in the spaces on the next page.

13 Page 2 of a. b. c. d. e. f. g. h. i. j. k.