Ks. Renzaglia et Tr. Warne, CERATOPTERIS - AN IDEAL MODEL SYSTEM FOR TEACHING PLANT BIOLOGY, International journal of plant sciences, 156(3), 1995, pp. 385-392
We have successfully utilized Ceratopteris richardii as a pedagogical
tool in introductory and upper-division investigative exercises and in
independent research projects. Undoubtedly, this is one of the simple
st and easiest to implement biological systems in educational applicat
ions. Plants, especially gametophytes, are readily maintained in cultu
re and can be used as a means to explore a wide array of biological ph
enomena, research tools, and techniques. This fern affords the advanta
ge of rapid growth, especially for studies of growth regulation, devel
opment, and genetics. It enables experimentation on single cells and s
ubsequent manipulation of differentiation into multicellular organisms
. Hundreds of individuals may be maintained in a single petri dish, th
us facilitating observation of population dynamics and genetics.