LIFE PROCESSES

MOLECULAR MOVEMENT(Sign of LIVING) -No mov. In viruses-Considered dead

Living beings-well organised structures – These structures likely to break –Organism dead.So its imp-
Living beings must keep repairing,maintaining these structures

Since these structures – made of molecules-must be moving all the time

For a living being it is necessary to perform basic functions for proper body functioning. These
basic functions performed by organisms to maintain life are known as life processes.

Processes essential for maintaining life

1)NUTRITION –Energy needed for maintenance processes .This energy comes from outside of the
body of living organism .So the process to transfer the energy(food) from outside-inside the body is
called NUTRITION. CARBON-BASED MOLECULES
Food includes carbohydrates ,fats ,vitamins ,proteins.

CELLULOSE STARCH SUGAR

(CAN’T BE DIGESTED (DIGESTABLE)

BY HUMANS)
OUTSIDE RAW MATERIALS USED BY AN ORGANISM—food,water,sunlight,Oxygen( oxidise
food and release energy)
2)RESPIRATION-Energy must be broken down for use in the body.Oxidising-reducing reactions-
common chemical means to break down molecules..The process of acquiring oxygen from outside
the body and using it to breaking the food sources for cellular needs-RESPIRATION.
SINGLE-CELLED ORGANISM-No specific organs MULTI-CELLED ORGANISM-All cells may not be
Entire surface of organism is in Taking in food direct contact with the environmentSimple
contact with environment Exchanges of gases diffusion(gaeous movement from high to low
Removal of wastes concentration)will not meet requirements of all
Cells
3)TRANSPORTATION-Food and oxygen are taken up at only one place and all the body parts need
the foodProcess of carrying food and oxygen from one place in the body to another 
TRANSPORATION(TRANSPORTS WASTE AWAYS FROM CELL TO EXCRETORY TISSUE)
4)EXCRETION- When chemical reactions uses food and O2 to generate energy, many by products are
created in the body that are not only useless but also harmful for the bodyNeeded to be removed
and discarded out from the body EXCRETION(TRANSPORTS OUT FROM THE BODY)
NUTRITION

AUTOTROPHIC HETEROTROPHIC
HIC
Organisms that prepare their Organisms that cannot prepare their own
own food through the process of food and depend upon autotrophs for
photosynthesis .Ex-Green plants nutrition

SYMBIOTIC PARASITIC SAPROTROPHIC HOLOZOIC

Two organisms live in Organism lives inside organisms feed Organism takes
close association to the host organism for on dead and food into the body
benefit each other nutrition decaying matter through mouth
 EXAMPLES Of SYMBIOTIC-Lichens(algae and fungi)&corals and sponges
PARASITIC-Tapeworm,cuscuta,leeches
SAPROTRPHIC-Bacteria,fungi(yeast,mushrooms,bread moulds)-Convert dead
matter to compost(simpler sub.)
HOLOZOIC(Animal like)- Humans,amoeba
AUTOTROPHIC NUTRITION
Photosynthesis-Autotrophs take in substances from outside(CO2,H2O) and convert them
to forms of energy(Carbohydrates) in presence of sunlight and chlorophyll

Not used immediately are stored inSTARCH

(Serves as internal energy to be used as and when required)
For transportationSUCROSE
6CO2+12H2O C6H12O6+6CO2+6H2O
Sunlight &Chlorophyll (Glucose)
Comes from H 2O not CO2
Raw materials required for photosynthesis-
 Sunlight(Keep it in dark room or cover one leaf with black paper)
 Water-Taken up from soil by the roots(Stop giving it for days)
 Carbon dioxide-Stomata(pl)/Stoma(s) are tiny pores present on the surface of leaves
 Massive amounts of gaseous exchange takes place thrgh these pores
 Since,large amt of water lost thrgh these pores,plant closes these pores when
not in need for CO2
 Guard Cells-Kidney shaped cells that surround the stoma and responsible for
opening and closing of these pores.
 They swell when water flows in thempore opens
 Pore closesGuard cells shrink
Steps need not  In DESERTS if stoma opens in daytime(water loss would be high-Sunlight)
take place one Stoma opens at night and exchange gases(Transpiration rate minimum) and
after the other
in morning traps sunlight and quickly prepares food
Necessity-Place two plants in sep. Glass plates.Put a watch glass containibng KOH in one .
(KOH will react with some CO2 present in glass and give K2CO3)No CO2  Die
 Chlorophyll-Chloroplasts contains chlorophyll(green pigment) and responsible for
trapping solar energy from sun.

 N2,Phosphorus,Mg,Fe-Taken up frm soil.N2  Synthesis of proteins.Taken up in form

of inorganic nitrates/organic compounds prepared by bacteria from atmospheric
nitrogen
EVENTS OCCURING DURING THE PROCESS OF PHOTOYNTHESIS
1)Absorption of light energy by chlorophyll
2)Conversion of light energychemical energy splitting water moleculesH2 and O2
3)Reduction of CO2 CH2(Oxygen removed+Hydrogen added)
 HETEROTROPHS-Consume complex substances broken down into simpler ones upkeep
and growth of body bio-catalysts(enzymes)

PROCESS FOR NUTRITION IN AMOEBA

ASSIMILIATION EGESTION
INGESTION DIGESTION ABSORPTION
The absorbed food is The remaining
Pseudopodia(temporary Inside the food small molecules
further assimilated by undigested
finger like projections) vacuole , then absorbed
amoeba to use energy for material is moved
engulfs the food that complex food is by cytoplasm growth to the surface of
comes in contact with broken down cell and thrown
its cell surface and
into simpler out.
forms food vacuole
PROCESS OF NUTRITION IN PARAMOECIUM(unicellular org.)

1)Cell has a definite shape and food is taken in at a specific spot

2)Food is moved to this spot by movement of cilia which cover the entire surface of cell.

PROCESS OF NUTRITION IN HUMANS

ALIMENTARY CANAL-Long tube extending from mouthanus
Food has to be processed to 1)Ingestion-It means taking in food into
generate particlessmall,same mouth or buccal cavity . As the food enters
texturecrushing food with teeth the mouth ft is moistened by saliva (lining of
canal is soft)-fluid secretedsalivary gland
Food
MouthStomac As food is complex in nature,so it is
oesophagus converted into its simpler form by the
action of biological catalyst called enzymes.
S.I.-Longest part of canal 2) Digestion-Breaking down of large organic
fitted in a compact molecules ( like carbohydrates to small
space becoz of extensive molecules (like simple sugar) .
coiling-more time for
absorption.Site of Large organ that expands
complete digestion when food enters it

4)Assimiliation- The villi in small 3)Absorption-Inner lining of s.i. has

Intestine are richly supplied with numerous finger like projections
blood vessels which take the called villi which increase the surface
absorbed food to each cell of
area for absorption of digested food.
body to building new cells or
repair of old ones

L.I.-Unabsorbed food sent to 5)Excretion-Rest of material

l.i. where its wall aborbs more removed from body via anus
water from this material
Paristaltic movement(Wave like mov.)-Contraction and expansion of muscles of the Oesophagus to
push the food forward . Food move in a regulated manner and process properly in each part.
 GLAND SECRETION SITE FUNCTIONS
FUNCTION
1)Salivary Gland Saliva(salivary Buccal The enzyme(salivary amylase)breaks down starch to
amylase) Cavity maltose then to glucose

2)Gastric Gland Hydrochloric acid Creates an acidic environment for Enzyme pepsin to action
Stomach Kills harmful microbes present in stomach
Pepsin ProteinAmino acids
Mucus Protects the inner lining of stomach from the action of acid
3)Liver(Largest gland) Bile juice Food coming from stomach-acidic .To make it alkaline for
Gall Bladder(storage) S.I pancreatic enzymes to act
Bile Salt Fats- large globules in intestine-difficult for enzymes to act.
Breaks down into small globules-Incr. in efficiency of enzy.
Known as EMULSIFICATION
4)Pancreas(second Amaylse Starch/GlucoseSugar
largest gland) Trypsin S.I ProteinAmino Acids
Lipase FatsFatty Acids+ Glycerol(energy stored)

5)Small Intestine Intestinal Juice S.I. Starch/GlucoseSugar

ProteinAmino Acids
FatsFatty Acids+ Glycerol(energy stored)