Chapter Concepts1. Green plants, especially flowering plants, are more than just landscaping for the planet, since they supply humanity with all the essentials of life: food and oxygen, as well as other products that have shaped modern society.
2. The algae are an extremely diverse group of photosynthetic organisms that are key producers in aquatic food chains, a valuable source of human food, and the base for a number of commercial and industrial products.
3. Fungi are also an economically important group of organisms affecting society in numerous ways, from fermentation in the brewing process to the use of antibiotics in medicine to their role as decomposers in the environment and as the cause of many plant and animal diseases.
4. All living organisms share certain characteristics: growth and reproduction, ability to respond, ability to evolve and adapt, metabolism, organized structure, and organic composition.
5. The processes of life are based on the chemical nature and interactions of carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids.
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2003 McGraw-Hill Higher Education