GRADE:X

DATE:24.05.2024.
UNIT 6:LIFE PROCESSES
1. Why is diffusion insufficient to meet the oxygen requirements of multicellular
organisms like humans ?
In multicellular organisms like humans, all the body cells are not in direct contact
with the surrounding environment. Therefore, every cell of the body will not get
oxygen as per need by the process of diffusion from the environment. Therefore
diffusion is insufficient to meet the oxygen requirements of multicellular organisms.

2. What criteria do we use to decide whether something is alive ?

The main criteria used to decide whether something is alive are breathing and
respiration. However, living beings also show growth and movement.

3. What are outside raw materials used by an organism ?

Any organism uses organic molecules as raw material. Heterotrophs use food and
autotrophs use carbon dioxide, minerals, water and all organisms use oxygen (for
respiration) as raw materials.

4. What processes would you consider essential for maintaining life ?

Processes essential for maintaining life are : (i) Nutrition (ii) Respiration (iii)
Transportation (iv) Excretion

5. What are the differences between autotrophic nutrition and heterotrophic

nutrition ?

AUTOTROPHIC NUTRITION HETEROTROPHIC NUTRITION

(i) In this mode of nutrition an (i) In this mode of nutrition an
organism makes or synthesizes its own organism cannot make or synthesize its
food. own food
(ii) Organisms use simple inorganic (ii) Organisms cannot make their own
materials like carbon dioxide and water food from simple inorganic matter and
and synthesize their food in the depend on other organisms for their
presence of sunlight. food.
(iii) All green plants and some algae (iii) All the animals, most bacteria and
undergo this mode of nutrition. fungi undergo this mode of nutrition.
6. Where do plants get each of the raw materials required for photosynthesis ?
(i) Carbon dioxide : Plants get carbon dioxide from the environment/atmosphere
through stomata.
(ii) Water : Plants absorb water from the soil through roots and transport to leaves.
(iii) Sunlight : Plants get sunlight from the sun.
(iv) Chlorophyll : It is present in chloroplast found in green leaves and green parts
of plants.

7. What is the role of the acid in our stomach ?

Role of acid in our stomach is :
(i) To make an acidic medium which is necessary for the activation of the enzyme
pepsin.
(ii) To kill bacteria which the food may contain.

8. What is the function of digestive enzymes ?

The food we eat is complex in nature, i.e., it contains complex molecules. Digestive
enzymes break down these complex molecules into smaller simpler molecules so
that they can be absorbed by the walls of the intestine.

9. How is the small intestine designed to absorb digested food ?

The small intestine is designed to provide maximum area for absorption of digested
food and its transfer into the blood for its circulation into the body. For this the
inner lining of the small intestine has numerous finger-like projections called villi.
The villi are richly supplied with blood vessels which take the absorbed food to
each and every cell of the body.

10. What advantage over an aquatic organism does a terrestrial organism have
with regard to obtaining oxygen for respiration ?
Aquatic organisms use oxygen dissolved in surrounding water. Since air dissolved
in water has fairly low concentration of oxygen, the aquatic organisms have a
much faster rate of breathing.
Terrestrial organisms take oxygen from the oxygen-rich atmosphere through
respiratory organs. Hence, they have much less breathing rate than aquatic
organisms.

11. What are the different ways in which glucose is oxidized to provide energy in
various organisms ?
First step of breakdown of glucose (6 carbon molecules) takes place in the cytoplasm
of cells of all organisms. This process yields a three carbon molecule compound
called pyruvate. Further breakdown of pyruvate takes place in different ways in
different organisms.

(i) Anaerobic respiration : The anaerobic respiration in plants (like yeast) produces
ethanol and carbon dioxide as end products.

(ii) Aerobic respiration : In aerobic respiration breakdown of pyruvate takes place in

presence of oxygen to give rise three molecules of carbon dioxide and water. The
release of energy in aerobic respiration is much more than in anaerobic respiration.

(iii) Lack of oxygen : Sometimes, when there is lack of oxygen especially during
physical exercise, in our muscles, pyruvate is converted into lactic acid (3 carbon
molecule compound). Formation of lactic acid in muscles causes cramp.

12. How is oxygen and carbon dioxide transported to human beings ?

(i) Transport of oxygen : Hemoglobin present in the blood takes up the oxygen from
the air in the lungs. It carries the oxygen to tissues which are deficient in oxygen
before releasing it.

(ii) Transport of carbon dioxide : Carbon dioxide is more soluble in water. Therefore,
it is mostly transported from body tissues in the dissolved form in our blood
plasma to lungs. Here it diffuses from blood to air in the lungs.

13. How are the lungs designed in human beings to maximize the area for
exchange of gases ?

Within the lungs, the air passage divides into smaller and smaller tubes, called bronchi
which in turn form bronchioles. The bronchioles terminate in balloon-like structures,
 called 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.

14. What are the components of the transport system in human beings ? What
are the functions of these components ?

The transport system (circulatory system) in human beings mainly consists of heart,
blood
and blood vessels.
(i) Function of heart : The heart receives deoxygenated blood from the body
parts and pumps it to lungs for enriching with oxygen. It receives purified
blood from lungs and pumps it around the body.
(ii) Function of blood : Blood transports oxygen, carbon dioxide, digested food,
hormones and nitrogenous waste like urea. It also protects the body from
diseases and regulates the body temperature.
(iii) Function of blood vessels : The blood pushed by the heart flows through
the blood vessels (arteries, veins and capillaries) and also comes back to the
heart through them.

15.Why is it necessary to separate oxygenated and deoxygenated blood in

mammals and birds?
Separation of oxygenated and deoxygenated blood allows a good supply of oxygen
to the body. This system is useful in animals that have high energy requirements.
Mammals and birds constantly need oxygen to get energy to maintain their body
temperature constant.

16. What are the components of the transport system in highly organized plants?
In highly organized plants there are two conducting tissues xylem and phloem.
Xylem consists of vessels, tracheids and other xylem tissues. The interconnected
vessels and tracheids form a continuous system of water conducting channels
reaching all parts of the plant. Xylem carries water and minerals.
Phloem conducts soluble products of photosynthesis from leaves to different parts of
the plant body.

17. How are water and minerals transported to plants ?

The roots of a plant have hair called root hair. The root hair is directly in contact
with the film of water in between the soil particles. Water and dissolved minerals
get into the root hair by the process of diffusion. The water and minerals absorbed
by the root hair from the soil pass from cell to cell by osmosis through the
epidermis, root cortex, endodermis and reach the root xylem. The xylem vessels of
the root of the plant are connected to the xylem vessels of its stem.

Therefore the water containing dissolved minerals enters the root xylem vessels into
stem xylem vessels. The xylem vessels of the stem branch into the leaves of the
plants. So, the water and minerals carried by the xylem vessels in the stem reach
the leaves through the branched xylem vessels which enter from the petiole (stalk
of the leaf) into each and every part of the leaf. Thus the water and minerals from
the soil reach through the root and stem to the leaves of the plants. Evaporation of
water molecules from the cells of a leaf creates a suction which pulls water from
the xylem cells of roots. The loss of water in the form of vapour from the aerial
parts of the plant is known as transpiration

18. How is food transported in plants ?

The movement of food in phloem (or translocation) takes place by utilizing energy.
The sugar (food) made in leaves is loaded into the sieve tubes of phloem tissue by
using energy from ATP. Water now enters the sieve tubes containing sugar by the
process of osmosis due to which the pressure in the phloem tissue rises. This high
pressure produced in the phloem tissue moves the food to all parts of the plant
having less pressure in their tissues. This allows the phloem to transport food
according to the needs of the plant.

19. Describe the structure and functions of nephrons.

Structure of nephron : Each nephron is composed of two parts. First one is a cup-
shaped bag at its upper end which is called Bowman’s capsule.

The Bowman’s capsule contains a bundle of blood capillaries which is called

glomerulus. One end of the glomerulus is attached to the renal artery which brings
the impure blood containing the urea waste into it. These impurities are filtered.
The other part of the nephron is coiled. In this part, the substances like sugar
(glucose), amino acid, ions and excess water which are required by the body, are
reabsorbed. The substance remained in the nephron is mainly urine containing
dissolved urea in water which is expelled from the body through urethra from time
to time.
Functions of nephron : Filtration of blood takes place in Bowman’s 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 water.

Reabsorption : As the filtrate flows along the tubule, useful substances such as
glucose, amino acids, salts and water are selectively reabsorbed into the blood by
capillaries surrounding the nephron tubule.

Urine : The filtrate which remained after reabsorption is called urine. Urine contains
dissolved nitrogenous waste like urea and uric acid, excess salts and water. Urine
is collected from nephrons to carry it to the ureter from where it passes into the
urinary bladder.

20. What are the methods used by plants to get rid of excretory products ?

(i) The plants get rid of gaseous products-through stomata in leaves and lenticels in
stems.
(ii) The plants get rid of stored solid and liquid waste by the shedding off leaves,
peeling off bark and felling off fruits.
(iii) The plants get rid of wastes by secreting them in the form of gums and
resins.
(iv) Plants also excrete some waste substances into the soil around them.

21. How is the amount of urine produced regulated ?

The amount of urine is regulated by the kidney. It depends on the quantity of
excess water and wastes dissolved in water.
(i) Quantity of water : When water is abundant in the body tissues, large quantities
of dilute urine is excreted out. When water is less in quantity in the body tissues,
a small quantity of concentrated urine is excreted.
(ii) Quantity of dissolved wastes : Dissolved wastes, especially nitrogenous wastes,
like urea and uric acid and salts are excreted from the body. When there is more
quantity of dissolved wastes in the body, more quantity of water is required to
excrete them. Therefore, the amount of urine produced increases.
(iii) Hormones : The amount of urine produced is also regulated by certain
hormones which control the movement of water and Na+ ions in and out of the
nephrons.
22. How are fats digested in our bodies ? Where does this process take place ?
 Digestion of fats takes place in the small intestine. Bile juice secreted by the liver is
poured in the intestine along with pancreatic juice. The bile salts present in the
bile juice emulsify the large globules of fats. Therefore, by emulsification large
globules break down into fine globules to provide larger surface area to act upon
by the enzymes.
Lipase enzyme present in the pancreatic juice causes breakdown of emulsified fats.
Glands present in the wall of the small intestine secrete intestinal juice which
contains lipase enzyme that converts fats into fatty acids and glycerol.

23. What is the role of saliva in the digestion of food ?

Saliva contains salivary amylase enzymes that breakdown starch into sugars like
maltose.

Saliva keeps the mouth cavity clean and moistens the food that helps in chewing and
breaking down the big pieces of food into smaller ones.

24. What are the necessary conditions for autotrophic nutrition and what are its
by-products ?
Necessary conditions for autotrophic nutrition :
(i) Presence of chlorophyll in the living cells.
(if) Provision of supply of water to green plants or cells of the plant.
(iii) Sufficient sunlight.
(iv) Sufficient supply of carbon dioxide.
By-product of auto tropic nutrition is oxygen.

25. What are the differences between aerobic and anaerobic respiration ? Name
some organisms that use the anaerobic mode of respiration.

AEROBIC RESPIRATION ANAEROBIC RESPIRATION

1. It takes place in the presence of 1. It takes place in the absence of
oxygen. oxygen.
2. Complete breakdown of food occurs 2. Partial breakdown of food occurs in
in aerobic respiration. anaerobic respiration.
3. The end products in aerobic 3. The end products in anaerobic
respiration are carbon dioxide and water. respiration may be ethanol and carbon
dioxide (as in yeast plants) or lactic acid
(as in animal muscles).
4. Aerobic respiration produces a 4. Much less energy is produced in
considerable amount of energy. anaerobic respiration.

26. How are the alveoli designed to maximize the exchange of gases ?
(i) The alveoli are thin walled and richly supplied with a network of blood vessels
to facilitate exchange of gases between blood and the air filled in alveoli.
(ii) Alveoli have balloon-like structure. Hence, provide maximum surface for
exchange of gases.

27. What would be the consequences of a deficiency of hemoglobin in our

bodies?
Due to the deficiency of hemoglobin in blood, its oxygen carrying capacity
decreases. As a result, the production of energy by oxidation will become slower.
Therefore, one would fall sick and would feel fatigue most of the time.

28. Describe double circulation in human beings. Why is it necessary ?

In our heart blood enters twice and also pumped out twice from the heart. The
deoxygenated blood from the body is brought to the right atrium through vena cava
from where it is sent to the right ventricle. From the right ventricle, the blood is
pumped to the lungs for oxygenation through the pulmonary artery. The oxygenated
blood from lungs again enters the left atrium of the heart through pulmonary veins.
From the left atrium it is sent to the left ventricle, from where this oxygenated
blood is pumped to different parts of the body through the arteries. In this way the
blood flows through the heart twice, that’s why it is called ‘double circulation’.
Necessity of double circulation: The right side and the left side of the human heart
are useful to keep deoxygenated and oxygenated blood from mixing. This type of
separation of oxygenated and deoxygenated blood ensures a highly efficient supply
of oxygen to the body. This is useful in the case of humans who constantly need
energy to maintain their body temperature.

29. What are the differences between the transport of materials in xylem and
phloem ?
 XYLEM PHLOEM
1. Xylem conducts water and dissolved 1. Phloem conducts prepared food
minerals from roots to leaves and other material from leaves to other parts of
parts. the plant in dissolved form.
2. In xylem, the transport of material 2. In phloem, transport of material takes
takes place through vessels and tracheids place through sieve tubes with the help
which are dead tissues. of companion cells, which are living
cells.
3. In xylem upward movement of water 3. In translocation, material is transferred
and dissolved minerals is mainly into phloem tissue using energy from
achieved by transpiration pull. It is ATP. This increases the osmotic pressure
caused due to suction created by that moves the material in the phloem
evaporation of water molecules from the to tissues which have less pressure.
cells of a leaf.

30. Compare the functioning of alveoli in the lungs and nephrons in the kidneys
with respect to their structure and functioning.

ALVEOLI NEPHRON
1. Alveoli are functional unit of lungs. 1. Nephrons are functional unit of the
kidney.
2. A mature lung has about 30 crore 2. A kidney has about 10 lakh nephrons.
alveoli.
3. Alveoli provide a wide surface for 3. The surface area of a nephron is not
gaseous exchange. much more.
4. The exchange of O2 and CO2 takes 4. The Bowman’s capsule in nephron
place through the network of capillaries regulates the concentration of water and
in alveoli. salts.

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