Life Processes

1. Why is diffusion insufficient to meet the oxygen requirements of multicellular organisms like humans? Answers: The size of the multicellular organisms is very large compare to unicellular organisms. Diffusion is a passive mode of transport of substances and can transfer gases up to a very small distance only. This will not be sufficient for multicellular organisms needs. 2. What criteria do we use to decide whether something is alive? Answer: The main criteria to check for life, is the sign of breathing and respiration. If there is no sign of breathing or respirations then the given organism is not alive. 3. What are outside raw materials used for by an organism? Answer: Minerals and water and gases are outside raw materials used by an organism. 4. What processes would you consider essential for maintaining life? Answer: Processes essential for maintaining life are as follows: Nutrition Respiration Reproduction Excretion Locomotion or movement 5. What are the differences between autotrophic nutrition and heterotrophic nutrition? Answer: Autotrophic nutrition means that the organism is preparing its own food and is not dependent on any other organism for food. Green plants are autotrophs. Heterotrophic nutrition means that the organism does not prepare its own food and is dependent on other organisms for food. All organisms which are not among green plants are heterotrophic. 6. Where do plants get each of the raw materials required for photosynthesis? Answer:

7. What is the role of the acid in our stomach? Answer: The hydrochloric acid is found in our stomach. It helps in killing harmful germs which may have come along with food. 8. What is the function of digestive enzymes? Answer: The function of digestive enzyme is to hasten the process of breaking up of complex molecules into simpler and absorbable molecules. This makes it easy for the body to absorb food. 9. How is the small intestine designed to absorb digested food? Answer: In the small intestine the innermost layer is in the shape of finger like structures. These are known as villi. Several folds because of villi increase the absorbing surface of small intestine. The blood capillaries in villi absorb simpler molecules from food. 10. What advantage over an aquatic organism does a terrestrial organism have with regard to obtaining oxygen for respiration? Answer: In the aquatic habitat the concentration of oxygen is good up to a certain depth only. Moreover, as oxygen is available as dissolved in water, so taking oxygen from there is not a very efficient method to that. In terrestrial habitat oxygen is available in free form so it is easier to absorb by organisms. This is more efficient so terrestrial organisms can facilitate better utilization of food by way of respiration. 11. What are the different ways in which glucose is oxidised to provide energy in various organisms? Answer: There are two types of respiration for oxidization of glucose. (a) Aerobic respiration: This involves complete oxidation of glucose hence optimum output of energy is achieved. This happens in presence of oxygen.

(b) Anaerobic respiration: As the name suggests this happens in the absence of oxygen hence complete oxidation of glucose does not take place. Usually bacteria show anaerobic respiration. Even sometimes in our calf muscles anaerobic respiration takes place. 12. How is oxygen and carbon dioxide transported in human beings? Answer: Oxygen and carbon dioxide are transported in human beings with a dedicated gas transportation system. This system is mainly composed of following parts: Lungs: Lungs help in breathing in oxygen rich air and breathing out carbon dioxide rich air. Heart: Heart pumps deoxygenated blood to lungs for oxygenation and pumps oxygenated blood to different organs of body. Veins: Veins usually carry deoxygenated blood from different body parts to the heart. One exception is the pulmonary vein which carries oxygenated blood from lungs to heart. Arteries: Arteries usually carry oxygenated blood from heart to different parts of the body. One exception is pulmonary artery which carries deoxygenated blood from heart to lungs. 13. How are the lungs designed in human beings to maximise the area for exchange of gases? Answer: The bronchioles in lungs are finely branched and end up in air sacs. The structure of air sac increases the surface area inside lungs. This helps in making a larger area for exchange of gases. *14. What are the components of the transport system in human beings? What are the functions of these components? Answer: The transport system is mainly comprised of following organs: Heart: Heart is a pumping organ and pumps blood. As blood carries gases and food and waste product along with it so heart plays a major role in transportation. Lungs: The main job of lungs is in facilitating transport of oxygen and carbon dioxide to and from the body respectively. Liver: Food goes to liver after it is absorbed by small intestine. From liver the food is distributed to different parts of body. This system is also called as hepatic portal system.

*15. Why is it necessary to separate oxygenated and deoxygenated blood in mammals and birds? Answer: Mammals and birds are warm blooded animals. This means they can control their body temperature and dont have to depend on environment for their body temperature regulation. Because of this birds and mammals require optimum oxidization of glucose which would be possible with good supply of oxygen. By developing four chambered heart they have made it possible to completely segregate the oxygenated and deoxygenated blood in their bodies which is their need because of their habit and habitat. *16. What are the components of the transport system in highly organized plants? Answer: The plant transport system in highly organized plants contains following: (a) Xylem: To transport water and minerals from roots to other parts. (b) Phloem: To transport food from leaves to other parts. *17. How are water and minerals transported in plants? Answer: Water and minerals are transported from roots. At the level of roots the root pressure helps in rise of water and minerals up to some height. After that there is complex mechanism at work. The transpiration taking place in leaves creates a suction effect which pulls up water in minerals to great heights. *18. How is food transported in plants? Answer: Food is transported in plants through phloem. The transport in phloem is an active process and involves use of energy. The energy in the form of ATP created osmotic gradient which results in transportation of food through phloem. *19. Describe the structure and functioning of nephrons. Draw a neat labeled diagram of it. Answer: The nephron is the functioning unit of kidneys. Nephron consists of a capsule shaped structure called Bowmans capsule. The filtration of blood takes place in Bowmans capsule under very high pressure. After that waste product goes to a network of collecting tubules which finally meet in a common collecting duct. The collecting duct meet in ureter which carries urine to the urinary bladder. *20. What are the methods used by plants to get rid of excretory products? Answer: Plants get rid of carbon dioxide and oxygen through diffusion. Old branches and leaves are shed off when they become useless. Plants release some waste

products through roots also. Some waste products are deposited near bark as raisins or gums. *21. How is the amount of urine produced regulated? Answer: The kidney has a mechanism to reabsorb water from the filtrate. This depends on how much water is left in the body and in the filtrate. The comparative concentration of water gives a signal to the brain which then takes the required corrective action of either reabsorbing water or releasing more water. Thus the amount of urine formation is regulated by kidneys. 22. The kidneys in human beings are a part of the system for (a) nutrition. (b) respiration. (c) excretion. (d) transportation. Answer: (c) 23. The xylem in plants are responsible for (a) transport of water. (b) transport of food. (c) transport of amino acids. (d) transport of oxygen. Answer: (a) 24. The autotrophic mode of nutrition requires (a) carbon dioxide and water. (b) chlorophyll. (c) sunlight. (d) all of the above. Answer: (d)

25. The breakdown of pyruvate to give carbon dioxide, water and energy takes place in (a) cytoplasm. (b) mitochondria. (c) chloroplast. (d) nucleus. Answer: (b) 26. How are fats digested in our bodies? Where does this process take place? Answer: Fats are present in the intestine in the form of large globules which makes it difficult for enzymes to act on them. Bile salts break them down into smaller globules increasing the efficiency of enzyme action. The pancreas secretes pancreatic juice which contains enzyme called lipase for breaking down emulsified fats. The walls of the small intestine contain glands which secrete intestinal juice. The enzymes present in it finally convert fats into fatty acids and glycerol. 27. What is the role of saliva in the digestion of food? Answer: Saliva contains the enzyme amylase which breaks complex molecules into sugar. 28. What are the necessary conditions for autotrophic nutrition and what are its byproducts? Answer: Conditions necessary for photosynthesis: Sunlight, carbon dioxide and chlorophyll. Byproduct of photosynthesis: Oxygen 29. What are the differences between aerobic and anaerobic respiration? Name some organisms that use the anaerobic mode of respiration. Answer: In aerobic respiration there is complete oxidation of glucose and the end product is water and carbon dioxide. In anaerobic respiration there is incomplete oxidation of glucose and the end product is either lactic acid or alcohol. Yeast and bacteria use anaerobic mode of respiration.

30. How are the alveoli designed to maximise the exchange of gases? Answer: The wall of alveoli contains a fine network of blood capillaries. This ensures maximum exchange of gases. *31. What would be the consequences of a deficiency of haemoglobin in our bodies? Answer: Haemoglobin is the carrier of oxygen in blood. Deficiency of haemoglobin will lead to less supply of oxygen to different cells. This will, in turn lead inefficient utilization of food by the body. Finally persons health will deteriorate. *32. Describe double circulation in human beings. Why is it necessary? Answer: In double circulation there is complete segregation of oxygenated and deoxygenated blood. Because of this the blood passes twice through the heart in one cycle of circulation hence the name double circulation. This is necessary for optimum oxygen utilization as humans are warm blooded animals and need extra energy to maintain their body temperature. *33. What are the differences between the transport of materials in xylem and phloem? Answer: Transport in xylem: The transport in xylem is from roots to upwards and takes place in only one direction. This is a kind of passive transport as no energy is required. Through xylem only water and minerals are transported. Transport in phloem: The transport in phloem is bidirectional and food and some other products are transported. The transport in phloem is an active transport as it requires energy. *34. Compare the functioning of alveoli in the lungs and nephrons in the kidneys with respect to their structure and functioning. Answer:

Text book Questions (Page 95) Q.1: Why is diffusion insufficient to meet the oxygen requirements of multi-cellular organisms like humans? Answer: Unlike the unicellular organisms, the multi-cellular organisms have complex body structures with specialized cells and tissues to perform various necessary functions of the body. Since these cells are not in direct contact with surrounding environment so, simple diffusion cannot meet the oxygen requirement of all these cells. Q.2: What criteria do we use to decide whether something is alive? Answer: Living organisms must keep repairing and maintaining their body structures. All these structures are made up of molecules. They must be capable of moving molecules around, all the time. So, molecular movement is one necessary criterion for something to be alive. However, molecular movements are generally not visible to the naked eye. Other such criteria including visible movements are like walking, breathing etc. Q.3: What are outside raw materials used by an organism? Answer: Various outside raw materials used by an organism are as follows: a. Food as source of supplying energy and materials. b. Oxygen for breakdown of food to obtain energy. c. Water for proper digestion of food and other functions inside the body. The raw materials required by an organism will vary depending on the complexity of the organism and its environment. Q.4: What processes would you consider essential for maintaining life? Answer: There are various life processes which are essential for maintaining life. Some of them are as follows: a. Nutrition b. Respiration c. Excretion d. Transportation (Page 101) Q.1: What are the differences between autotrophic nutrition and heterotrophic nutrition? Answer: Autotrophic Nutrition 1. In this type of nutrition food is synthesized from simple inorganic raw materials. 2. For autotrophic nutrition, presence of Heterotrophic Nutrition 1. In this type of nutrition food is obtained from autotrophs. 2. No pigment and sunlight is required for heterotrophic nutrition. Food can

chlorophyll (green pigment) and sunlight are necessary. So, autotrophic nutrition generally takes place during day time. 3. For example, all green plants and some bacteria have this type of nutrition.

be prepared at any time. 3. For example, all animals including human being and fungi have this type of nutrition.

Q.2: Where do the plants get each of the raw materials required for photosynthesis? Answer: Plants need the following things for photosynthesis: Carbon Dioxide - Plants get CO2 from atmosphere through stomata. Water - Plants absorb water from soil through roots and transport to leaves. Sunlight - Sunlight, which is absorbed by the chlorophyll and other green parts of the plant. Q.3: What is the role of acid in our stomach? Answer: Roles of acid in our stomach are 1. It makes an acidic medium in our stomach which is necessary for activation of pepsin enzyme. 2. It kills germs present in the food. Q.4: What is the function of digestive enzymes? Answer: The food materials are very complex in nature. Digestive enzymes such as, amylase, lipase, pepsin, Trypsin etc. Help to break these complex molecules into smaller molecules so that they can be absorbed by the walls of small intestine. Q.5: How is the small intestine designed to absorb digested food? Answer: Small intestine is designed to more and more area for absorption of digested food and transfer into the blood for circulation throughout the body. The inner lining of small intestine has a large number of finger-like projections called villi. These villi provide a large surface area for absorption of food. These villi are richly supplied with blood vessels which take the absorbed food to each and every cell of the body, where it is used for obtaining energy, building up new tissues and repairing of old tissues. (Page 105) Q.1: What advantage over an aquatic organism does a terrestrial organism have with regard to obtain oxygen for respiration? Answer: The organisms that live in water use oxygen dissolved in surrounding water. Since, air dissolved in water has fairly low concentration of oxygen, the aquatic organisms has much faster rate of breathing. Terrestrial organisms take oxygen from the oxygen - rich atmosphere through respiratory organs. So, they have much less breathing rate than aquatic organism. Q.2: What are the different ways in which glucose is oxidized to provide energy in various organisms?

Answer: At first glucose (6 carbon molecules) is broken in the cytoplasm of cells of all organisms. This process yields a 3 carbon molecule compound called pyruvate. Further break down of pyruvate takes place in different manners in different organisms.

1. Anaerobic Respiration This process takes place in absence of oxygen, e.g. in yeast during fermentation. In this case pyruvate is converted into ethanol and carbon dioxide. 2. Aerobic Respiration In aerobic respiration, breakdown of pyruvate takes place in presence of oxygen to give rise 3 molecules of carbon dioxide and water. The release of energy in aerobic respiration is much more than anaerobic respiration. 3. Lack of Oxygen Sometimes, when there is lack of oxygen, especially during vigorous activity, in our muscles, pyruvate is converted into lactic acid (3 carbon molecule compounds). Formation of lactic acid in muscles causes cramp. Q.3: How are oxygen and carbon dioxide transported in human beings? Answer: (a) Transport of Oxygen The respiratory pigments (haemoglobin) present in red blood cells takes up the oxygen from the air to the lungs. They carry the oxygen to tissues which are deficient in oxygen. (b) Transport of carbon dioxide Carbon Dioxide is more soluble in water. Hence, it is mostly transported from body tissues in the dissolved form in our blood plasma to lungs where it diffuses from blood to air in the lungs and then expelled out through nostrils. Q.4: How are lungs designed in human beings to maximize the area for exchange of gases? Answer: In the lungs, the air passage (wind pipe) divides into smaller tubes, called bronchi in turn form bronchioles. The bronchioles which terminate in balloon - like structures, are called alveoli. Each lung contains 300 - 350 million alveoli. The alveoli present in the lungs provide maximum surface for exchange of gases. The alveoli have very thin walls and contain an extensive network of blood vessels to facilitate exchange of gases. (Page 110)

Q.1: What are the components of the transport system in human beings? What are the functions of these components? Answer: Transport system in human beings consists of heart, blood and blood vessels. Functions: Heart - Heart is a pumping organ to push and pull blood around the body. Heart receives the deoxygenated blood from various parts of the body. It sends this impure blood to lungs for oxygenation. Again after receiving pure blood from lungs it sends this oxygenated blood throughout the body. Blood - It is a fluid connective tissue. It consists of: (a) plasma, (b) RBC, (c) WBC, and (d) blood platelets. Plasma transports food, CO2 and nitrogenous wastes in dissolved form. RBC transports respiratory gases and hormones. WBC protects the body from infections and platelets prevent the loss of blood at the time of injury by forming blood clots. Blood vessels - There is a network of blood vessels which contain arteries, veins and capillaries. They help in the circulation of blood throughout the body. Q.2: Why is it necessary to separate oxygenated and deoxygenated blood in mammals and birds? Answer: It is necessary to separate oxygenated and deoxygenated blood to maintain efficient supply of oxygen into the body. This system is essential in animals that have high energy need. For example, animals like mammals and birds which constantly use this energy to maintain their body temperature. Q.3: What are the components of the transport system in highly organized plants? Answer: The main components of transport system in plants are: 1. Xylem, 2. Phloem. Xylem - It consists of vessels and tracheids. Xylem helps to conduct water and minerals from soil to the leaves. Phloem - It consists of sieve tubes and companion cell. Phloem helps to transport food materials from leaves to various parts of the plant. This process is called translocation. Q.4: How are water and minerals transported in plants? Answer: Water and minerals are transported through xylem cells from soil to the leaves. The xylem cells of roots stem and leaves are interconnected to form a conducting channel that reaches all parts of the plant. The root cells take ions from the soil. This creates a difference between the concentration of ions of roots and soil. Therefore, there is a steady movement of water into xylem. An osmotic pressure is formed and water and minerals are transported from one cell to the other cell due to osmosis. The continuous loss of water takes place due to transpiration. Because of transpiration, also a suction pressure is created as a result of which water is forced into the xylem cells of roots. The effect of root pressure for transportation in plants is more important in night while during day time transpiration pull becomes the major driving force. Q.5: How is the food transported in plants?

Answer: The prepared food is transported in the plants through phloem to the storage organs of roots, fruits, seeds and growing parts. This process is called translocation. This function is done by sieve tubes and companion cells. The movement of food particles takes place upward and downward. Mechanism of translocation is an active process that utilizes energy. Materials are transferred from leaf cells or from the site of storage into phloem tissue. For this energy is required which is provided by the ATP molecules. This energy increases the osmotic pressure, as a result, water from outside moves into the phloem. This pressure maintains the movement of food through all the parts of plants. (Page 112) Q.1: Describe the structure and functioning of nephron. Answer: Structure of Nephron

Nephron is the filtration unit of kidney. It consists of a tubule which is connected with collecting duct at one end and a cup - shaped structure at the other end. This cup-shaped structure is called Bowmans capsule. Every Bowmans capsule contains a cluster of capillaries, called Glomerulus, within the cup - shaped structure. The blood enters into Glomerulus through afferent arteriole of renal artery and leaves it through efferent arteriole. Functioning of Nephron 1. Filtration: Filtration of blood takes place in Bowmans capsule from the capillaries of glomerulus. The filtrate passes into the tubular part of the nephron. This filtrate contains glucose, amino acids, urea, uric acid, salts and a major amount of water. 2. Re-absorption: As the filtrate flows along the tubule useful substances such as glucose, amino acids, salts and water are selectively re-absorbed into the blood by capillaries surrounding the nephron tubule. The amount of water re-absorbed depends on the need of the body and also on the amount of wastes to be excreted.

3. Urine: The filtrate which remains after re-absorption is called urine. Urine contains dissolved nitrogenous waste, i.e. urea and uric acid, excess salts and water. Urine is collected from nephrons by the collecting duct to carry it to the ureter. Q.2: What are the methods used by plants to get rid of excretory products? Answer: To get rid of excretory products, plants use the following ways: (1) Many waste products are stored in vacuoles of the cells. Plant cells have comparatively large vacuoles. (2) Some waste products are stored in the leaves. They are removes as the leaves fall off. (3) Some waste products such as resins and gums are stored, especially in nonfunctional old xylem. (4) Some waste products such as tannins, resins, gums are stored in bark, thereby removed as peeled off. (5) Plants excrete some waste products through roots into the soil around them. (6) Plants also get rid of excess water through transpiration. Q.3: How is the amount of urine produced regulated? Answer: The amount of urine largely depends on the amount of excess water or water reabsorbed and also dissolved wastes present in the body. When excess water in the body is more, large quantities of dilute urine is excreted out. On the other hand if the excess water is less, a small quantity of concentrated urine is excreted. When there is more quantity of dissolved wastes in the body, more quantity of water is required to excrete them. As a result of which, the urine produced increases. The amount of urine produced also depends on some other factors like: (a) Habitat of an organism (b) Anti-diuretic hormone (ADH).