This laboratory manual assumes no previous knowledge of the biological sciences on the part of the student. It is designed for use in a one-semester or one-quarter introductory course in plant biology and shorter introductory botany courses open to both nonmajors and majors.
Both the principles of biology and the scientific method are introduced, using plants as illustrations. The exercises demonstrate the underlying unity of all living organisms at the cellular level.
The manual is designed so that students can work more or less independently. Instructors are free to require different drawings or other assignments and may also omit some of those suggested within each exercise.
Students are encouraged to read the laboratory exercise before coming to class. Laboratory preparation quizzes are provided at the end of each exercise. Answers to the laboratory preparation quizzes are discernible within the particular exercises and should not require checking other sources. Each exercise includes suggested learning goals and exercise review questions. Answers to the lab manual exercise review questions can be found on the Online Learning Center that accompanies the Eleventh Edition textbook.