Question

There is increasing evidence that plants are much more ‘animal-like’ than originally thought. Even without nervous systems, plants have sophisticated sensory and communication abilities, they are ‘aware’ of their surroundings, they ‘learn’, ‘remember’ and ‘make decisions’, and they most certainly take an active role in ensuring their own survival and reproduction when they are threatened. Should we treat plants differently? Animal rights are well-established - animals are regarded as individuals with needs, feelings, and an inherent right to avoid suffering. Should plants be granted ‘plant rights’? Make a case for or against this idea. In supporting your argument, be sure to include specific examples of plant biology that should (or should not) be considered ‘animal-like’ enough to change the way that we regard plants

Answer 1

Animals unlike plants possess hiver level consciousness (just like human beings). Due to this reason plant (though being a living organism) cannot react to the environment the way an animal do. Also it can be said that there responses are not visible instantly.

Thus it becomes difficult to guess when the plant/trees are conscious.

Also, an animal has the ability to loco-mote which make it efficient enough to escape from its predators. While plants cannot do so though they have other defense mechanism.

Plants are the major source of entrapping solar energy and carbon dioxide in nature to produce food as starch. All living forms are dependent for their survival on them as plants are base of all food chains and ecosystems.

Thus, plants should be dealt in a different way as compared to animals.

The circulatory system of plants and animals are functionally similar but the structural difference makes them entirely different from each other. Unlike plants, the circulatory system of animal’s bleak if they are wounded or are harmed.