2009

ATHLETES FOOT:

Transmission:
Direct contact, as in, skin to skin contact
Walking barefoot on damp/ wet floors of changing rooms, contaminated with fungal
spores
Sharing socks / towelscontaminated with fungal spores
Skin shed from feet of infected person contains fungal spores that are picked up by
uninfected person when walking barefoot. The parasitic fungus establishes itself in
the new host.

Prevention of spread:
Well ventilated footwear/ sandals are used to inhibit fungal growth.
Wash feet thoroughly to remove sweat.
Use disinfected footbath at swimming pools.
Dry yourself thoroughly between the toesor use antifungalpowder
Change socks regularly
Fungicidal drugs and creams are used for treatment.
Wear slippers in changing rooms
Disinfect floors of changing rooms regularly
Sufferers should not use swimming pools
Dont share towels, socks, footwear to reduce the chances of cross infection.
Use disinfectant in swimming pools

Nutrition of Fungus causing Athletes Foot :

The fungus is parasitic.
It lives in the surface of the body on the damp skin between the toes.
It secretes extracellular enzymes to digest skin cells in presence of water.
The products of the digested skin are absorbed into the hyphae by diffusion

Nutrition:

Definition :A balanced diet contains all the nutrients required by the body in the right
amounts (neither omitted nor in excess). It includes fats, proteins, carbohydrates,
fibre, water, vitamins and minerals.

FATS

Use of fats in the body:

Fats act as a store of energy for use when the body requires extra energy. Fats have higher
energy value.
Fats provide electrical insulation around axons and dendrons of neurones.
Fats act a solvent for uptake of vitamins A and D to allow them to pass across cell membranes.
Fats are a component of the cell membrane, so, they are needed to form new cells.
Fats protect internal organs, for example, pericardium around the heart, protects against
mechanical injury. Kidneys are protected.
 Fat layer under the skin in the hypodermis provides thermalinsulation, reducing heat loss to
the environment, thus helping maintain a constant body temperature.

Note :Eat food having lower fat content as the chances of blocking arteries / causing heart attacks is
reduced. Lower risk of obesity.

Deficiency :
The person finds it difficult to control body temperature in a coldenvironment. Fat layer
under the skin in the hypodermis provides insulation. If that layer is lost, that is, used up if
diet lacks fat, more heat is lost to the environment.
The body loses a source of energy from diet.

In Excess :
Obesity results as fat is stored around organs and under the skin.
Extra mass has to be moved around due to obesity, which puts strain on muscles, heart and
skeleton. The heart muscle must also work harder.
Increased risk of diabetes
Increased risk of coronary heart disease as deposit of saturated fat, such as, cholesterol cause
coronary arteries to be narrowed / blocked. This increases the risk of heart attack.

Problems linked to obesity :

Coronary Heart Disease
Varicose veins
Colon cancer
High blood pressure
Foot problems
Heart attacks
Increased pressure in the eye

Test for fats :

The food sample is chopped or grinded and is put in a dry test tube. Ethanol is added and the
test tube is shaken. The liquid is decanted and a drop of cold water is added to it.A cloudy
emulsion confirms the presence of fats.
Squash food on filter paper. Attempt to dry stain. If still transclucent, fat present.
Chop / squash food. Add (III or IV) dye. Leave for a few minutes and wash off. Look for
orange / red colour in food.

Differences between cells produced by mitosis and meiosis :

Mitosis
Cells having diploid nuclei
Daughter cells are genetically identical to each
other and to the parent cell
2 cells / 2 nuclei are formed.
Chromosome number is maintained
Occurs in body cells
Meiosis
Cells having haploid nuclei
Daughter cells are not genetically identical
4 cells / 4 nuclei are formed.
Chromosome number is halved
Occurs in somatic cells
 WATER

Uses of water in the human body :

Water is a major component of blood plasma. Water is a good solvent and hence, acts as a
transport medium. Glucose is transported in blood plasma. Oxygen dissolves in the film of
moisture in the alveolar lining, and then diffuses into red blood cells.
Water is a major component of cytoplasm.
Water causes hydrolysis of food substances during digestion, like digestion of starch.
Sweat is made of water. It evaporates to carry body heat away as latent heat of vapourisation.
Thus, body heat is lost. Sweat cools the body. So, water helps in temperature regulation.

DIETARY FIBRE

Source
Brown rice
Spinach
Root vegetables
Fruits
Bran / wholegrain cereal
Wholemeal bread

Functions :
Dietary fibre increases / aids peristalsis as plant cell walls contain indigestible
cellulose, which gives bulk to food. It gives grip to gut muscles as they contract during
peristalsis.
It prevents constipation as faeces are removed easily. It retains water from faeces and,
thus forms soft faeces.
It reduces risk of bowel cancer.
Less time is there for toxins to accumulate.

2009

Significance of green plants / photosynthesis :

They are called producers as they can trap sunlight, convert light energy to chemical energy. Thus,
they form the basis of food chains.
They make their own food.
They are food for other organisms as they are eaten by animals for nutrition.
They provide oxygen for respiration and maintain supply.

Benefits of photosynthesis to humans :

Glucose is converted to starch. Animals eat starch for nutrition, forming the basis of the food chain.
Photosynthesis produces oxygen needed for respiration.
WATER TREATMENT

Water is pumped from river.

It is filtered / screened through a coarse grid to remove large objects.
Aeration allows gases and smells to escape.
Suspended matter settles in settling / sedimentation tanks.
Slow sand filter :Fine sand is above gravel. Algae in water reproduce. Algae and bacteria form
a jelly like gelatinous layer on sand particles, which traps bacteria in water. Protozoa and
midge larvae feed on bacteria.
OR
Rapid sand filter :Aluminium sulphate is added to water, that forms jelly on sand particles.
Jelly traps suspended particles and bacteria. Jelly is removed periodically by forcing water
under pressure upwards from the base of the filter.
Chlorination tank :Chlorine is added to water to destroy any remaining bacteria by oxidation.
Water is stored in covered reservoirs to prevent contamination.
The purified water is distributed in closed pipes by gravity or by pumps