6.

LIFE PROCESSES – NUTRITION

6.1 WHAT ARE LIFE PROCESSES?

1) Define life processes. What is its importance?

The processes which together perform the maintenance functions of living organisms even
when they are at rest are called life processes.
✓ Life processes prevent damage and break-down of the individual

2) Name any two life processes

- Nutrition, Respiration , Excretion

3) Define respiration.
The process of acquiring oxygen from outside the body, and to use it in the process of break-
down of food sources for cellular needs, is called respiration.

4) In the case of a single-celled organism, no specific organs for taking in food,

exchange of gases or removal of wastes may be needed. Why?
-the entire surface of the organism is in contact with the environment
-materials can easily diffuse across the membrane to the external environment.

5) Why is diffusion insufficient to meet the oxygen requirements of multi-cellular

organisms like humans?
- 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.

NUTRITION

1. Why is nutrition necessary for living organisms?

Nutrition is necessary for: - Providing energy for metabolic activities, the growth of new cells
and repair of old ones and the development of resistance

2. List in sequence the steps involved in nutrition.

3. Differentiate between autotrophic and heterotrophic nutrition with examples.

Autotrophic nutrition Heterotrophic nutrition

1) Organisms prepare own food within
their body using raw materials
accumulated from the environment by
the process of photosynthesis.
2) Complex organic molecules
[carbohydrates, fats and proteins] are
synthesized from simpler molecules like
CO2 and H2O.
Organisms depend on plants/other animals for
food since they cannot make their own food by
photosynthesis.
Complex molecules are taken up in the form of
food and broken-down using enzymes to
simpler substances and absorbed.

COMPREHENSIVE QUESTION BANK IN BIOLOGY CLASS X - THE INDIAN HIGH SCHOOL, DUBAI Page 1
 3) solar energy is converted into chemical Chemical energy is obtained along with the
energy food and used by the organism.

6.2.1 Autotrophic Nutrition

1. What is photosynthesis? Why is it necessary for autotrophs?

-Photosynthesis is the process by which autotrophs take in carbon dioxide and water from the
outside and convert them into stored forms of energy [carbohydrates] in the presence of sunlight
and chlorophyll
6CO2 + 12 H2O → C6H12O6 + 6 O2 + 6H2O
- photosynthesis fulfills carbon and energy requirements of the autotrophic organisms.

2. What is internal energy reserve in organisms? How is it different in plants and

animals?
Carbohydrates which are not used immediately are stored in the form of internal energy reserves
which can be used for later activities.
-In plants it’s stored in the form of STARCH
-In animals it’s stored in the form of GLYCOGEN. [Animals are heterotrophic and cannot
prepare starch.]

3. List the events that occur during photosynthesis.

a) Absorption of light energy by chlorophyll.
b) Conversion of light energy to chemical energy
c) Splitting of water molecules into hydrogen and oxygen.
d) Reduction of carbon dioxide to carbohydrates.( formation of glucose).

4. How are desert plants able to perform photosynthesis efficiently with minimum water
loss during day time?
Desert plants open stomata at night → take up carbon dioxide → prepare an intermediate
compound [and stored] → which is acted upon by the energy absorbed by the chlorophyll during
the day.

5. Name the site of photosynthesis in leaf cells

- chloroplasts
6) What are stomata? What is their function(s) ?
Stomata are tiny pores present on the surface of the leaves. They:
1. Help in gaseous exchange for photosynthesis and respiration
2. Allow water vapour to go out during transpiration

7) Why do plants keep stomata closed when it does not need CO2 for photosynthesis?
-Since large amounts of water can also be lost through these stomata, the plant closes these
pores when it does not need carbon dioxide for photosynthesis.

8) How does stomata open and close?

1. The opening and closing of the pore is a function of the guard cells.
2. The guard cells swell when water flows into them, causing the stomatal pore to open and the
pore closes if the guard cells shrink.[when guard cells are turgid stomata open and when flaccid
it closes.] [ or ]
Day : Endosomosis of water into guard cells→ increased turgidity of guard cells →stomata open
Night : Exosmosis of water from guard cells→ decreased turgidity of guard cells →stomata close

9) List the raw materials/conditions for building their body. What is their source?

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 Autotrophs need
a) Water –needed for photosynthesis is taken up from the soil by the roots in terrestrial
plants.
b) Carbon dioxide- enters through stomata from air
c) Minerals-Nitrogen, phosphorus, iron and magnesium are taken up from the soil.

10) What is the function of nitrogen in plants? How is this nutrient taken up by plants?
1. Nitrogen is an essential element used in the synthesis of proteins and nucleic acids
2. Nitrogen is taken up in the form of
• Inorganic nitrates or nitrites.
• Organic compounds which have been prepared by bacteria from atmospheric nitrogen.

11) Describe an activity to show that chlorophyll is essential for photosynthesis.

Material Required:- A potted plant of variegated leaf such as money plant, white paper sheet,
pencil, beaker, water bath, iodine solution and alcohol.

Procedure:-

1. A potted plant with variegated leaves is placed in sunlight for about six hours.
2. Pluck a variegated leaf from the plant and trace the outline of this leaf on a piece of paper.
3. Dip the leaf in boiling water for a few minutes and then immerse it in a beaker containing
alcohol and boil it in a water bath till it decolorizes.
4. The leaf is then dipped in a dilute solution of iodine for a few minutes.
5. Take out the leaf and rinse off the iodine solution.
6. Observe the changes in colour of the leaf.
Observation:-
1. The leaf has two type of patches- bluish black and yellow. The bluish black area contains
starch and the yellow areas without starch.
2. Bluish black areas are the ones, which were green previously, while non-green areas remain
pale coloured.

Conclusion: - This experiment proves that only chlorophyll containing areas i.e., green parts of
the leaf produce starch which is a product of photosynthesis. Thus, chlorophyll is essential for
photosynthesis.

12) Describe an activity to show that show that Carbon dioxide is necessary for
photosynthesis.
Material Required:- Two healthy potted plant of same size, two glass plates, two bell jars,
Vaseline, watch glass, potassium hydroxide, alcohol, spirit lamp and beaker.

Procedure: - Keep the two potted plants of same size, in dark for three days so that the leaves
become free from starch.

1. Place the potted plant (a) on a glass plate and put a watch glass containing potassium
hydroxide (KOH) by the side of the pot and cover it with a bell jar.
2. Place the other potted plant (b) on a second glass plate and cover it with a bell jar.
3. Vaseline is used to seal the bottom jars to the glass plates so that the set-up is air-tight.
4. Both the plants are kept in sunlight for two hours.
5. Pluck a leaf from each plant and test the same for the presence of starch.

Observation:- The leaf of plant (b) without potassium hydroxide turns blue-black, while the leaf
of plant (a) with potassium hydroxide remains pale coloured or colourless.

COMPREHENSIVE QUESTION BANK IN BIOLOGY CLASS X - THE INDIAN HIGH SCHOOL, DUBAI Page 3
 Conclusion:- This experiment demonstrates that the leaf plant(b) has synthesized starch with
the help of photosynthesis and leaf of plant (a) has not synthesized starch as it does not contain
carbon dioxide as the same is absorbed by potassium hydroxide. So, photosynthesis did not
occur in (a)

13) The form of nutrition differs depending on the type and availability of food
material as well as how it is obtained by the organism. Explain the statement

-Saprophytic organisms break-down the food material [dead and decaying organic matter]
outside the body and then absorb it. Fungi like bread molds, yeast and mushrooms.
- Parasitic organisms:-They will live inside or outside other organisms and derive nutrition from
them.

14) Give examples for plant and animal parasites.

➢ Plant parasites-cuscuta[amarbel], loranthus, orchids
➢ Animal parasites-ticks, mites, leech, tape worm.

15) Define Holozoic Nutrition: -

Animals take in solid food and breakdown inside the body.

16).How is the mode of food intake different in animals?

-In single-celled organisms, the food may be taken in by the entire surface. But as the complexity of
the organism increases, different parts become specialized to perform different.

17) List the functions of pseudopodia in Amoeba.

Amoeba uses pseudopodia for locomotion and capturing food

18.) Explain the mode of food intake in paramecium.

Paramoecium has a definite shape and food is taken in at a specific spot. Food is moved to this spot
by the movement of cilia which cover the entire surface of the cell

19). Describe the process of nutrition in Amoeba using labeled diagrams.

COMPREHENSIVE QUESTION BANK IN BIOLOGY CLASS X - THE INDIAN HIGH SCHOOL, DUBAI Page 4
 20) What are enzymes?

Enzymes are molecules which help to speed up various chemical reactions occurring in living cells. So
they are also known as biocatalysts.

21) Compare the mode of nutrition in Amoeba and paramecium.

Similarities :

1. Holozoic nutrition
2. Feed on microscopic organisms.
3. Formation of food vacuole

Dissimilarities :

AMOEBA PARAMOECIUM

Amoeba sends out finger like pseudopodia up on
contact with food and engulfs the food by the
process called Phagocytosis at any point on its
surface.
Amoeba, with “flexible mouths,” can capture prey
of different sizes
Paramecium engulfs food using cilia through oral
groove into gullet.
. The “mouth” of a paramecium is fixed, and
cannot adjust to fit different sizes of prey

Amoeba can expel the undigested remains from Any undigested matter is expelled through the
almost any point. anal pore

HUMAN DIGESTIVE SYSTEM AND NUTRITION

DIGESTION IN BUCCAL CAVITY [MOUTH] DIGESTION IN BUCCALCAVIOUTH]

1. What happens to the food that enters the mouth after eating?
-The food is crushed with teeth and wetted to make its passage smooth

2. Name the fluid secreted by the salivary gland. What is its function?
-Saliva is a fluid secreted by salivary glands
- The food is mixed thoroughly with saliva and moved around the mouth while chewing by the
muscular tongue.

3. Name the enzyme present in saliva. What is its use in digestion?

-Saliva contains the enzyme called salivary amylase [ptyalin]
-It breaks down starch [complex molecule] to give sugar [simple sugar].

4. What is peristalsis? Why is it important?

-The rhythmic contraction and relaxation of the circular and longitudinal muscles of the gut
[alimentary canal] causing narrowing and widening of the gut is called peristalsis.
-It helps to push the food in a regulated manner along the digestive tract so that it can be
processed properly in each part.

DIGESTION IN STOMACH
1. Explain the role of stomach in digestion process.
-The stomach is a large organ which expands when food enters it. The muscular walls of the stomach
help in mixing the food thoroughly with more digestive juices. // aids in mechanical digestion.

COMPREHENSIVE QUESTION BANK IN BIOLOGY CLASS X - THE INDIAN HIGH SCHOOL, DUBAI Page 5
2. Where are gastric glands present in stomach? What is their role?
Gastric glands are present in the wall of the stomach
Gastric glands secrete gastric juice which contains components that help in digestion of food.

3. Name the components of gastric juice and specify the function of each.
Hydro chloric acid 1. 1) Creates an acidic medium which facilitates the action of the enzyme
pepsin.
2. 2) kills harmful microbes in food.
Mucus Protects the inner lining of the stomach from the action of the
hydrochloric acid under normal conditions.
Pepsin digest proteins into peptones and peptides

4. What is the function of gastric sphincter?

The exit of food from the stomach is regulated by a gastric sphincter muscle which releases it in
small amounts into the small intestine.
DIGESTION IN SMALL INTESTINE

1. Name the longest part of human alimentary canal

-small intestine

2. How is the long small intestine fitted into a compact space inside the human body?
-it’s due to extensive coiling

3. Why do herbivores have longer small intestine than carnivores?

-Herbivores eating grass need a longer small intestine to allow the cellulose to be digested.
-Meat is easier to digest, hence carnivores like tigers have a shorter small intestine.

4. Name the site of complete digestion of food in human body

-small intestine
5. Specify the end products of digestion of carbohydrates, proteins and fats.
Nutrient / substrate End products of digestion
Proteins amino acids
Complex carbohydrates Glucose
Fats Fatty acids and Glycerol

6. How is small intestine designed to aid the complete digestion of food?

-It receives the secretions of the liver and pancreas for this purpose.
-It is extensively coiled to provide enough time and area for the digestion process to be
completed.

7. Name the gland that secretes bile juice. Specify its function.
BILE JUICE –secreted by liver [largest digestive gland in human body]
Functions:-
1. Provides an alkaline medium for the pancreatic enzymes to act
2. Help in emulsification of fats

8. What is emulsification of fats? What is its importance in fat digestion?

-Break down large fat globules into smaller globules is called emulsification of fats
- It increases the efficiency of action of lipase enzyme and speeds up fat digestion.

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9. How is the acidic food coming from stomach made alkaline in the small intestine for
the pancreatic enzymes to act?
Bile juice secreted by liver reaches small intestine

10. Mention the two important enzymes found in pancreatic juice. What is their function?
-trypsin for digesting proteins
- Lipase for breaking down emulsified fats [ also amylase for digesting starch ]

11. How is trypsin and pepsin different?

TRYPSIN PEPSIN
It is a pancreatic enzyme secreted into small intestine It is a gastric enzyme secreted into
stomach
Acts in an alkaline medium Acts in an acidic medium
Converts Proteins into peptides Convert peptides into amino acids.

12. Which part of the small intestine secretes intestinal juice? What is its role?
- Intestinal glands located on the walls of the intestine.
- Intestinal juice contains enzymes that act on food and complete digestion process.
The digested food is taken up by the walls of the intestine.

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

-The inner lining of the small intestine has numerous finger-like projections called villi which
increase the surface area for absorption.
-The villi are richly supplied with blood vessels which take the absorbed food to each and every
cell of the body.

14. What is assimilation?

The process in which the absorbed food is utilized for various activities in the body is called
assimilation.
The absorbed food is utilized for
1. Obtaining energy 2. Building up new tissues 3. Repair of old tissues

15. What is the function of villi in large intestine?

- absorb water from the unabsorbed food

14. Mention the role of Anal sphincter in human digestive system.

-It controls the release of undigested waste from the rectum through the anus.

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