PSA Summative Assignment Name(s): William

Vance

Dharsan Ariyanayagam
Jas
Bajwa
Part 1: Group Research

Due Date: Friday January 7, 2011

TOPIC SELECTED: Biofuels - Soybeans

GENERAL RESEARCH QUESTIONS:

Answer the 3 questions below in jot note form. Each jot note should be properly cited or
referenced and correspond to your list of resources in your bibliography.

1. Describe issue and identify significance to society or the environment.

 Fossil fuels are producing carbon monoxide, which contributes to global warming.

 The main purpose of biofuels is to increase the use of more environmentally friendly
fuels and, at the same time, reduce the use of fossil fuels.

2. Identify and describe technologies used to identify, treat or produce biological

agent.

 Sunflower, palm, soybean and other types of plant-derived oils can be turned into
biofuel.

 Coal may also be treated as a kind of biofuel since coal also originates from a
biological material, but the key difference is, it’s derived from plants that were alive
recently, while coal is a biological material that has been dead for a long period of
time

 Plants are grown that naturally produce oil. These oils are heated to reduce their
viscosity, after which they are directly used as fuel for diesel engines. This oil can be
further treated to produce biodiesel which can be used for various purposes.

3. Describe benefits and drawbacks of the selected topic.

Benefits (give 3):

 Because ethanol is produced from plant matter, it is naturally renewable.

 Corn grows quickly, so farmers can harvest a new crop after only six months.

 When compared to vehicles using normal gasoline, biofuels reduce the amount of
carbon monoxide and other air pollutants and therefore decrease the effects of global
warming.

Drawbacks (negatives; give 3):

 All the petroleum used in the USA (not including the rest of the world), would require
the growing area equal to 12,407 square miles.
  Growing demand for land suitable for corn production can have a devastating effect
on the habitat of species that currently occupy the land, leading to severe habitat
loss for several species of animals and plants.

 Reduced food supplies can increase food prices.

CONNECTIONS TO COURSE CONTENT:

Select TWO units from below and answer all associated questions. Your answers should
be in jot note form. Each jot note should be properly cited or referenced and
correspond to your list of resources in your bibliography.

1. Plant Structure & Function Unit:

a)Identify type of plant involved.

 The Plant involved is soybeans.

b)Describe biological importance of plant to society.

 Soybean biodiesel returns 93 percent more energy used to produce it.

 It has a less impact on the environment and a higher net energy benefit than corn
ethanol.

 It burns much cleaner than petroleum fuel.

c) Identify current and past use of plant in society.

It is used for:

 Consumption

 Making biofuels

 Can treat a variety of health conditions including high cholesterol, breast cancer,
memory problems and more.

d)Describe the importance of plant in food web and/or environmental

sustainability.

 Soybean biofuel releases less harmful gases into the atmosphere.

 The gas that is released in the atmosphere can be diverted back into oxygen by
plants.

2. Diversity of Living Things Unit:

a)Provide FULL scientific classification.

Soybean Scientific classification

Kingdom: Plantae
Phylum: Magnoliophyta
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Fabales
Family: Fabaceae
 Genus: Glycine
Species: G. max

b)Provide a phylogenic tree.

c) Describe main anatomical and physiological characteristics, including

reproductive strategies.

 Soybeans can grow to a height of 80 to 100 cm.

 The petals are red, white and can also be violet.
 The beans grow in pods that grow into clusters of 3 to 5 cm with each pod usually
containing 2 to 3 beans.
 These beans are sometimes big, small, long, round or oval.
 Soybean plants can be yellow, green, brown, violet and some are even black or with
spots.

d)Describe the importance in the food web.

 It’s important because soybeans are producers and without a producer the primary
consumers can’t survive and if the primary consumers can’t survive then the secondary
consumers can’t survive and so on

BIBLIOGRAPHY:
List all resources that you cited in your above research. Number each resource. Ensure that
your list is in alphabetical order by the author’s last name.

General Research
1)(n.d.).What is Biofuel Energy. Retrieved Jan 06, 2011, from http://www.benefits-of-
recycling.com/biofuelenergy.html
2) (n.d.).Biofuel Information. Retrieved Jan 06, 2011, from http://biofuel.org.uk/
3)Eija Rissanen. (n.d.). Biofuel Pros & Con. Retrieved Jan 06, 2011, from
http://www.ehow.com/about_5509319_biofuel-pros-cons.html

Connection to Course Content

1b) University of Minnesota (July 11, 2006). Soybean biodiesel has higher net energy benefit
than corn ethanol. Retrieved Jan 06, 2011, from http://news.mongabay.com/2006/0711-
umn.html
1b) (n.d.). Soybean Uses. Retrieved Jan 06, 2011, from
http://extension.agron.iastate.edu/soybean/uses_biodiesel.html
1c) (n.d.). Soy. Retrieved Jan 06, 2011, from http://www.bellybytes.com/nourish/soy.html
1d)What is Biofuel Energy. Retrieved Jan 06, 2011, from http://www.benefits-of-
recycling.com/biofuelenergy.html
2a)(Feb 20, 2010). Soybean Health Dangers for Men. Retrieved Jan 06, 2011, from
http://www.cocawizard.com/showthread.php/41-Soybean-Health-Dangers-For-Men
2b) (n.d.). Sequenced Plant Genomes. Retrieved Jan 06, 2011, from
http://genomevolution.org/wiki/index.php/Sequenced_plant_genomes
2c) (n.d.). Soybean Plant. Retrieved Jan 06, 2011, from http://chinese-
school.netfirms.com/soybean-plant.html
2d)Erik Dorff. (n.d.). Retrieved Jan 06, 2011, from http://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/96-325-
x/2007000/article/10369-eng.htm