Brassica

High school (ages 12+)
Animals & Nature

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/brassica

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the scientific name?Brassica
2. What is the native geographic distribution?Western Europe, Mediterranean region, temperate Asia
3. What are some vegetables that come from the Brassica family?The Brassica family includes tasty veggies like broccoli, cabbage, kale, turnips, bok choy, and mustard. Even the oil crop canola comes from this family.
4. Why are Brassica plants called cruciferous?Their flowers have four petals arranged in a cross shape, so they’re called cruciferous, which means "cross‑bearing."

Allopolyploidization: The process where a new species arises from hybridization followed by chromosome doubling.
Glucosinolates: Sulfur-containing compounds found in Brassica vegetables, known for potential health benefits.
Phenylthiocarbamide (PTC): A compound used to study genetic variation in taste perception, with bitter taste linked to specific gene variants.