CHAPTER 5 LIFE PROCESSES

1. Why is diffusion insufficient to meet the oxygen requirementsof 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.

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

Answer

Any visible movement such as walking, breathing, or growing is generally used to decide
whether something is alive or not. However, a living organism can also have movements,
which are not visible to the naked eye. Therefore, the presence of life processes is a
fundamental criterion that can be used to decide whether something is alive or not.

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

Answer

Various outside raw materials used by an organism are as follows:

→ Food as source of supplying energy and materials.
→ Oxygen for breakdown of food to obtain energy.
→ 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.

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

Answer

Life processes such as nutrition, respiration, transportation, excretion, etc. are essential for
maintaining life.

Page No: 101

1. What are the differences between autotrophic nutrition and heterotrophic nutrition?

Answer

Autotrophic Nutrition Heterotrophic Nutrition

 Food is synthesised from simple Food is obtained directly or indirectly from
inorganic raw materials such as autotrophs. This food is broken down with the help
CO2 and water. of enzymes.

Chlorophyll is required. Chlorophyll is not required.

Food is generally prepared during day Food can be obtained at all time.
time.

All green plants and some bacteria have All animals and fungi have this type of nutrition.
this type of nutrition.

2. Where do plants get each of the raw materials required for photosynthesis?

Answer

The following raw materials are required 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.

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

Answer

Following are the roles of acid in our stomach:→ The hydrochloric acid present in our
stomach dissolves bits of food and creates an acidic medium. In this acidic medium,
enzyme pepsinogen is converted to pepsin, which is a protein-digesting enzyme.
→ It also kills many bacteria and other microorganisms that enter alongwith the food.

4. What is the function of digestive enzymes?

Answer

Digestive enzymes such as amylase, lipase, pepsin, trypsin, etc. help in the breaking down
of complex food particles into simple ones. These simple particles can be easily absorbed
by the blood and thus transported to all the cells of the body.

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

Answer

The small intestine has millions of tiny finger-like projections called villi. These villi increase
the surface area for more efficient food absorption. Within these villi, many blood vessels
are present that absorb the digested food and carry it to the blood stream. From the blood
stream, the absorbed food is delivered to each and every cell of the body.
Page No: 105

1. What advantage over an aquatic organism does a terrestrial organism have with regard
to obtaining oxygen for respiration?

Answer

Terrestrial organisms take up oxygen from the atmosphere whereas aquatic animals obtain
oxygen from water. Air contains more O2 as compared to water. Since the content of O2 in
air is high, the terrestrial animals do not have to breathe faster to get more oxygen.
Therefore, unlike aquatic animals, terrestrial animals do not need adaptations for gaseous
exchange.

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.
→ 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.
→ 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.
→ 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.

3. How is oxygen and carbon dioxide transported in human beings?

Answer

→ 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.

→ 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.

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

Answer

Lungs contain millions of alveoli which provide a surface for the exchange of gases. An
extensive network of blood vessels is present in the wall of the alveoli. By lifting our ribs and
flatten the diaphragm, the chest cavity becomes spacious. Air is sucked into the lungs and
alveoli. The oxygen from the breath, diffuses into the blood and CO 2 from the blood brought
from the body, diffuses out into the air.

Page No: 110

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

Answer

The main components of the transport system in human beings are the heart, blood, and
blood vessels.
→ Heart pumps oxygenated blood throughout the body. It receives deoxygenated blood
from the various body parts and sends this impure blood to the lungs for oxygenation.
→ Blood helps in the transport of oxygen, nutrients, CO 2, and nitrogenous wastes.
→ The blood vessels (arteries, veins, and capillaries) carry blood either away from the heart
to various organs or from various organs back to the heart.

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.

3. What are the components of the transport system in highly organised plants?

Answer

In highly organised plants, there are two different types of conducting tissues - xylem and
phloem. Xylem conducts water and minerals obtained from the soil (via roots) to the rest of
the plant. Phloem transports food materials from the leaves to different parts of the plant
body.

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, 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.

5. How is food transported in plants?

Answer

Phloem transports food materials from the leaves to different parts of the plant. The
transportation of food in phloem is achieved by utilizing energy from ATP which helps in
creating osmotic pressure that transport food from the area of high concentration to low
concentration.

Page No: 112

1. Describe the structure and functioning of nephrons.

Answer

Nephrons are the basic filtering units of kidneys. Each kidney possesses large number of
nephrons, approximately 1-1.5 million. The main components of the nephron are
glomerulus, Bowman's capsule, and a long renal tubule.

Functioning of a nephron:
→ The blood enters the kidney through the renal artery, which branches into many
capillaries associated with glomerulus.
→ The water and solute are transferred to the nephron at Bowman's capsule.
→ In the proximal tubule, some substances such as amino acids, glucose, and salts are
selectively reabsorbed and unwanted molecules are added in the urine.
→ The filtrate then moves down into the loop of Henle, where more water is absorbed.
→ From here, the filtrate moves upwards into the distal tubule and finally to the collecting
duct. Collecting duct collects urine from many nephrons.
→ The urine formed in each kidney enters a long tube called ureter. From ureter, it gets
transported to the urinary bladder and then into the urethra.

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

Answer

Plants can get rid of excess of water by transpiration. Waste materials may be stored in the
cell vacuoles or as gum and resin, especially in old xylem. It is also stored in the leaves that
later fall off.

3. How is the amount of urine produced regulated?

Answer

The amount of urine produced depends on the amount of excess water and dissolved
wastes present in the body. Some other factors such as habitat of an organism and
hormone such as Anti-diuretic hormone (ADH) also regulates the amount of urine produced.

Page No: 113

Excercise
1. The kidneys in human beings are a part of the system for
(a) nutrition.
(b) respiration.
(c) excretion.
(d) transportation.
► (c) excretion.

2. The xylem in plants are responsible for

(a) transport of water.
(b) transport of food.
(c) transport of amino acids.
(d) transport of oxygen.
► (a) transport of water.

3. The autotrophic mode of nutrition requires

(a) carbon dioxide and water.
(b) chlorophyll.
(c) sunlight.
(d) all of the above.
► (d) all of the above.

4. The breakdown of pyruvate to give carbon dioxide, water and energy takes place in
(a) cytoplasm.
(b) mitochondria.
(c) chloroplast.
(d) nucleus.
► (b) mitochondria.

5. How are fats digested in our bodies? Where does this process take place?

Answer

Fats are present in the form of large globules in the small intestine. The small intestine
receives the secretions from the liver and the pancreas. The bile salts (from the liver) break
down the large fat globules into smaller globules so that the pancreatic enzyme lipase can
easily act on them. This is referred to as emulsification of fats. This process takes place in
the small intestine.

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

Answer

The role of saliva in the digestion of food:

→ It moistens the food for easy swallowing.
→ It contains a digestive enzyme called salivary amylase, which breaks down starch into
sugar.

7. What are the necessary conditions for autotrophic nutrition and what are its by-products?
Answer

Autotrophic nutrition takes place through the process of photosynthesis. Carbon dioxide,
water, chlorophyll pigment, and sunlight are the necessary conditions required for
autotrophic nutrition. Carbohydrates (food) and O2 are the by-products of photosynthesis.

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

Answer

Aerobic respiration Anaerobic respiration

It occurs in the presence of O2. It occurs in the absence

of O2.

It involves the exchange of gases between the organism and the Exchange of gases is
outside environment. absent.

It occurs in cytoplasm and mitochondria. It occurs only in

cytoplasm.

It always releases CO2 and H2O. End products vary.

It always releases CO2 and H2O. End products vary.

9. How are the alveoli designed to maximise the exchange of gases?

Answer

Alveoli provide a surface for the exchange of gases. An extensive network of blood vessels
is present in the wall of the alveoli. By lifting our ribs and flatten the diaphragm, the chest
cavity becomes spacious. Air is sucked into the lungs and alveoli. The oxygen from the
breath, diffuses into the blood and CO2 from the blood brought from the body, diffuses out
into the air.

10. What would be the consequences of a deficiency of haemoglobin in our bodies?

Answer

Haemoglobin is the respiratory pigment that transports oxygen to the body cells for cellular
respiration. Therefore, deficiency of haemoglobin in blood can affect the oxygen supplying
capacity of blood. This can lead to deficiency of oxygen in the body cells. It can also lead to
a disease called anaemia.

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

 Answer

During a single cycle blood goes twice in the heart which is known as double circulation. It
is necessary in human being to separate oxygenated and de-oxygenated blood because
this makes their circulatory system is more efficient and helps in maintaining constant body
temperature.

12. What are the differences between the transport of materials in xylem and phloem?

Answer

Aerobic respiration Anaerobic respiration

Xylem tissue helps in the transport of water and Phloem tissue helps in the transport of
minerals. food.

Water is transported upwards from roots to all other Food is transported in both upward
plant parts. and downward directions.

Transport in xylem occurs with the help of simple Transport of food in phloem requires
physical forces such as transpiration pull. energy in the form of ATP.

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

Answer

Alveoli Nephrons

Structure Structure

Alveoli are tiny balloon-like structures Nephrons are tubular structures present inside
present inside the lungs. the kidneys.

The walls of the alveoli are one cell thick Nephrons are made of glomerulus, bowman’s
and it contains an extensive network of capsule, and a long renal tube.
blood capillaries.

Function Function

The exchange of O2 and CO2 takes place The blood enters the kidneys through the renal
between the blood of the capillaries that artery. The blood is entered here and the
surround the alveoli and the gases present nitrogenous waste in the form of urine is
in the alveoli. collected by collecting duct.

Alveoli are the site of gaseous exchange. Nephrons are the basic filtration unit.
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