Is it no longer politically correct to teach in biology that plants do "exhale" carbon dioxide?

Question

This is a science question, but I've put it here in the political section for obvious reasons.

Mark, what you are referring to is photosynthesis...taking in CO2 and giving off O2. Have you heard of cellular respiration? I didnot imply that plants ONLY give off CO2, nor did I imply that the net output is mostly CO2. Obviously, the net output is O2.

***WOW***

The answer is OBVIOUS! It IS politcally incorrect! None of you who supposedly took biology know a thing about cellular respiration in plants. QED.

***Way to go Nick! Are you a lot older and actually leaned that a long time ago in school before the global warming issue became such a "hot" political issue?

***To James K: Apparently not taught anymore. It must be sacrilege to believe anything but that plants only produce O2 while graciously taking in mankind's greenhouse CO2. I guess all plants must be good Democrats today. Too bad trees, then, can't vote for Al Gore, their Super Hero.

To Jeff S: I will. My point is: Politcal agendas from the left are now shaping how science is taught in a maner not much different than how the politcal agenga of the religious right has shaped it for years (e.g., age of the earth, evolution, etc.).

"Meet the new boss. Same as the old boss."
- in the song, "We don't get fooled again" by The Who

"Agenda," above. I wish YA! had a spell checker for edits.

Answer 1

We have political correctness about plants?

That's the limit....

Of course they exhale carbon dioxide.

I hate it when science doesn't matter. We keep making problems worse. Look at MTBE in trying to solve air pollution which really screwed up the groundwater. Whatever happened to checking things out for scientific basis, first?

Answer 2

most of you don't know what you are talking about, plants have cells like any other organism, they produce O2 through photosynthesis BUT they also use oxygen and make CO2 through cellular respiration

at night when there is no sunshine, plants are making only CO2




no, I learned this in college when I got a BS in Biology, and I do think Global Warming is a legitiimate concern, we are burning millions of years worth of accumulated fossil fuels in the space of a few hundred years

Answer 3

Actually, the degree to which plants net improve the carbon balance (and which plants help the most) is a very significant part of the debate over global warming.

I do not know what is being taught in any particular school since conservatives control a lot of what publishers put into textbooks through their role in the book selection process in Texas. Most publishers have learned to avoid any politically hot issues in their textbooks to avoid being rejected in Texas.

Answer 4

i hope they are still teaching the krebbs cycle. interaction of photosynthesis and respiration. why wouldnt they teach that?

oh i get it! you tricked me and now i'm an idiot...haha....shoot everybody already knew that....

well what the heck about hydro methane? (i think thats what its called) its a solid form of methane that exists under the ocean. well when it floats up it vaporizes into methane gas and poof, the globe gets warmer. point is, its silly to act is if the krebbs cycle and hydro methane dont exist. these things are not any political parties fault! are they? hmmmmmm, i smell a conspiracy theory!

Answer 5

It's not politically incorrect, it's just plain incorrect. Plant respiration takes in CO2 and gives off oxygen.

Answer 6

First off, it's not "politcally incorrect" it's just incorrect. Secondly, why is it obvious that this is a political question. I don't understand the reasoning behind the question.

Answer 7

Ummm..... I think you have that backwards, plants "inhale" carbon dioxide and "exhale" oxygen.

Edit: yeah you got me, it's been a long time since HS. But, you're implication that people not knowing it is a result of it not being taught due to PC is ludicrous. All I had to do was google "plant respiration" and choose from many, many hits.

Answer 8

It's not even scientifically correct.
Everyone knows that plants EXHALE oxygen and INHALE Carbon dioxide.

EDIT:
Maybe we only took biology because it was a required course. Plant biology had to be one of the most boring of the science topics. Sheesh, man! If you have a point to make, make it, and don't assume everyone here was once a biology major.

WTF was your point ANYWAY????

Answer 9

Boy Mike, you really screwed this question up. Guess you should have researched this a little before asking. Don't worry, there are no dumb questions, just dumb questioners.

Answer 10

you bet ye, very odious.