Life Processes

How to determine if the organism is alive?

Visible Movements Molecular Movements

• What if the movement is not • Take place internally
visible? • Definitive parameter to
determine if an organism is
alive or not.

Playing Possum!!
https://youtu.be/mu9cZl2MSuE
 Molecular Movements

How millions
Four major of atoms
Biomolecules
elements come
Biomolecules as signaling
that make up together to
molecules.
our body. form
molecules. https://youtu.be/V
H_Yx37Rq5Q

Organisms are made of molecules, the molecular movements within them, aid the maintenance
of their structures.

Molecular Maintenance Life

Movements job Processes
Maintenance processes
require energy.
• The source of this energy comes
from outside.
Nutrition
• Therefore, the process of taking
in energy from outside to
provide energy to the body is
called Nutrition.
Energy
• Energy is required to carry out
all the activities of the body.
Definition: Nutrition is the
process of taking in food
and converting it into energy
and other vital nutrients
required for life.
 Nutrition
Nutrition is the process of nourishing or being nourished.
These modes of nutrition
Living organisms have
have an affix
adapted to various
"troph/trophic" which
methods for acquiring
means acquisition of
food (nutrient material)
nutrient material.

On a broad spectrum, it
can be
classified into Autotrophi
c and Heterotrophic
nutrition
 Autotrophic Nutrition
Autotrophic

Photosynthetic Chemosynthetic

AUTO= SELF, TROPHIC= NUTRIENT MATERIAL MADE ON

NUTRIENT MATERIAL OBTAINED ITS OWN.
Photosynthesis
Site of Mechanism of
Photosynthesis photosynthesis
Leaves Light Reaction
Dark Reaction

Sunlight
Chlorophyll
Cabon dioxide
Water Internal
Requirements of Factors affecting
Photosynthesis Photosynthesis
External
Why are leaves the perfect Palisade cells and Spongy
option to perform parenchyma together forming
photosynthesis? the Mesophyll tissue

Palisade are elongated cells

containing maximum amount
Recapitulate the
of chloroplasts, spongy
structure of Chloroplast and
parenchyma are almost
its components.
spherical cells which contain
smaller chloroplasts.

Significance of Thylakoids
Site of Photosynthesis
Why do plants appear green?
 Requirements for Photosynthesis

Raw materials required for photosynthesis

Light is essential for photosynthesis.
https://youtu.be/YtvyFOvbgu8
Chlorophyll is required for photosynthesis
https://youtu.be/_bg32xXpfxQ
CO2 is required for photosynthesis
https://youtu.be/yR6W34EoYyU
Water is important for photosynthesis
https://youtu.be/fQuYRecd6WU
End-product obtained from photosynthesis process.
Oxygen is evolved during photosynthesis
https://youtu.be/3RBl3xqnCrc
 Mechanism of Photosynthesis

Light-dependent reactions
Terms to familiarize:
1) NAD+ and NADP+
Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide
And Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide Phosphate
▪ Two important coenzymes that are present in most of
the plant and animal cells.
▪ Reduced form is NADPH (addition of Hydrogen)
 Light-Independent reactions

CARBON FIXATION:
Stroma has a compound called Ribulose-5-phosphate (5C)
RUBISCO enzyme joins Ribulose-5-phosphate and CO2 to give a six “C”
intermediate (quite unstable)
It immediately splits to 2 (3C) compounds, that is 2( 3phosphoglycerate
molecules)
CARBON REGENEARTION:
6 CO2 simultaneously get utilized at once to form 12 G3P
molecules.
After a molecule of glucose is formed, 10 other G3P molecules get
back into the cycle to form 6 (Ribulose-5-Phosphate) molecules.

CARBON REDUCTION:
Energy carrier molecules like NADPH and ATP add hydrogen in a series of steps to
convert 2 (3 Phosphoglycerate) to 2 (Glyceradldehyde-3-Phosphate)-G3P
These 2 (G3P) combine to give a molecule of 6C (Glucose).
 How is water formed during Photosynthesis:

6CO2 molecules get reduced to form glucose.

12 Oxygen molecules are reduced in this
process.
6 oxygen molecules get reduced to 6 (H2O) in
Carbon reduction step.
6 other oxygen molecules get reduced to form
glucose.

Factors affecting the process:

Carbon
Recap of the Photosynthesis Equation: dioxide

External Factors Internal Factor

Temperature Sunlight

Chlorophyll

Water
 What are C3 and C4 plants and CAM
pathways of photosynthesis?

C3 Plants
Form a stable 3C compound
called 3-phosphoglycerate
reducing CO2

C4 Plants
Form a stable 4C compound
called OxaloAceticAcid (OAA)
reducing CO2

CAM Plants
Form a stable 4C compound
called Malic Acid/ Malate
reducing CO2
Etymology of the following words: Saprotroph
(organisms
Sapros Troph
living on dead
(Rotten/Putrid) (Nourishment)
and decaying
matter)

Hetero (other)

Parasitic
(Seeking
Heterotrophic Parasitos nutrition from
Troph
(obtaining (eating at
(Nourishment)
the host and
nutrition from another's table) eventually
causing harm to
other sources) it)

Trophic
(nourishment)

Holozoic
Holo Zoikos (animals
(whole) (animal) eating food
as a whole)
Heterotrophic Nutrition
 Holozoic Nutrition in Human beings-Internalization of food materials

DIGESTION
Ingestion

Mechanical Digestion Chemical Digestion

• Crushing of teeth • Secretions from digestive Absorption
• Peristaltic movements of
the gut
glands
• Action of digestive
Digestion Assimilation
enzymes

Alimentary
Egestion
Canal
Human
Digestive System
Digestive Glands
 RECAP
Nutrition in higher animals
involves the following steps.

Ingestion Mechanical Digestion: Involves any

type of mechanical action.
Eg: Tearing, crushing, cutting of food.
Digestion is the process of
breaking down complex
Digestion substances into simpler
forms that can be absorbed
easily by the organism. Chemical Digestion:
Enzymatic action is involved.
Absorption Other chemical substances include
Mucus, acid and alkali to regulate pH

Assimilation
Human
Alimentary Associated
Digestive
Canal Glands
System
Egestion
 Alimentary Canal begins with the Mouth or Buccal Cavity
Teeth: Crush, tear, grind the food
Buccal Cavity/Mouth In an adult- 32 teeth in total
Teeth, Tongue, Saliva ▪ Incisors-4, Canines-2, Pre-molars-4, Molars-6=16 on upper side
and the rest in the lower side.
Each tooth has: Crown, Cervix, Root
▪ Crown has enamel and dentin, within this the pulp cavity exists.
▪ Cervix is the neck region connecting crown with the root.
▪ Root is embedded with the gingiva (gums).

Tongue: Helps in mixing food with Saliva

▪ Has taste buds or papillae present on it (Gustatory receptors)
▪ Organ of taste
▪ Organ of speech
▪ Helps in swallowing

Saliva: Secreted by Salivary Glands

3 pairs of salivary glands are present:
▪ Parotid glands-beneath the ear
▪ Sub-lingual glands-below the tongue (floor of the mouth)
▪ Sub-mandibular glands-below the jaw
Role of Ptyalin: Components of Saliva:
Starch Maltose and Dextrins ▪ pH-6.35 to 6.85
▪ 99.5% water, 0.5% solutes
▪ Solutes are made up of Mucin, Lysozyme and Ptyalin (salivary amylase)
Pharynx and Oesophagus Pharynx:
▪ Cavity present behind the mouth
▪ Present in the throat region
▪ Function: Muscles of pharynx push the
food into the Oesophagus.
Oesophagus:
▪ 25 cm long tube
▪ Extends from behind the trachea
through the Diaphragm into the
stomach.
▪ At the junction: Connecting the
oesophagus with the stomach is the
Gastroesophageal Sphincter/Cardiac
Sphincter (Valve)
▪ This is to prevent regurgitation of food.

Role of Oesophagus:
▪ Pushes food forward into the stomach
in small amounts. (bolus)
▪ Exhibits Peristaltic movements to aid in
this process.

Stomach
Enzymatic digestion in stomach:
Pepsinogen HCl Pepsin
Proteins Peptones+ Proteases
Stomach:
▪ J-shaped organ
▪ 25-30 cm long
▪ Stomach has the following parts:
▪ Cardia
▪ Fundus
▪ Corpus (Body)
▪ Pylorus
▪ Inner lining of stomach has Gastric glands
▪ Gastric glands have many different types of cells:
▪ Mucus cells (rugae)- Cardia and Pylorus
▪ Chief cells and Parietal cells-Fundus and Corpus
Chemical digestion:
▪ Chief cells secrete pepsinogen (inactive pepsin)
▪ Parietal cells secrete HCl-activates pepsin and kills the germs.
▪ pH in stomach-1.5 to 3.5
Mechanical digestion:
▪ Stomach churns the food.
▪ It denatures the proteins. Food is now called Chyme.
▪ Chyme is passed into the small intestine through pyloric
sphincter (valve).
 Small Intestine
Has 3 important digestive juices being
released into it:
▪ Bile from liver
▪ Pancreatic juice from Pancreas
▪ Intestinal juice from small intestine
Liver
Largest exocrine gland.
Situated below the diaphragm to
the right of the stomach.
It has within it a pear-shaped gall
bladder.
✔ Liver has multiple hepatic lobules-Bile
canals
✔ Bile canals together-Bile ducts
✔ Bile ducts together-Hepatic duct.
✔ Hepatic duct+Cystic duct of Gall
bladder=Common Bile duct
✔ Common bile duct+Pancreatic
duct=Hepatopancreatic Ampulla
✔ This opens directly into Duodenum
Bile:
▪ pH-7.6 to 8.6
▪ 800-1000 ml of bile is
secreted per day.
▪ Bile has Bile salts and Bile
pigments
▪ Bile is stored in Gall Bladder.
Role of Bile:
▪ It converts acidic chyme to
alkaline chyme
▪ It aids in the breakdown of
large fat globules to smaller
ones. (emulsification of fats)
 Pancreas
Pancreas- Second largest Digestive Gland
▪ Present beneath the stomach
▪ It has both Exocrine and Endocrine functions associated
with it.
▪ Exocrine:
▪ Acinar cells of Pancreas-secrete pancreatic juice
▪ Endocrine:
▪ Islets of Langerhans-secrete Insulin hormone
Pancreatic juice:
Alkaline in nature
Contains digestive enzymes like trypsin, chymotrypsin,
amylopsin and steapsin.

Trypsin Role of pancreatic juice

Proteins Proteoses+Peptides
Trypsinogen in alkaline pH gets activated to trypsin.
Chymotrypsin
(Enterokinase from intestinal juice helps in activation)
Casein Peptides
Trypsin activates chymotrypsin.
Carboxyl peptidases
Peptides Amino acids
Steapsin
Other proteoses will get converted to Emulsified fats Fatty acids and Glycerol
peptides at this stage. Amylopsin
Starch Maltose
 Small Intestine Small Intestine:
▪ 6.35 m long
▪ 2.5 cm in diameter
▪ Extends from Pyloric sphincter to ileum
▪ Longest part of the alimentary canal
▪ Length of small intestine differs in herbivores
and carnivores.
▪ Small Intestine contains Duodenum, Jejunum
and Ileum.
Small intestine secretes intestinal juice.
(Alkaline pH)
It contains the following:
✔ Enterokinase
Trypsin ✔ Aminopeptidase
Proteins Proteoses+Peptides ✔ Sucrase
Enterokinase activates Trypsin ✔ Maltase
Amino peptidase ✔ Lactase
Peptides Amino acids
Sucrase
Sucrose Glucose
Maltase
Maltose Glucose
Lactose Lactase Glucose+Galactose
Large Intestine

Large Intestine: Largest part of Alimentary Canal

▪ Junction of small intestine and large intestine-Ileocaecal valve
▪ 1.5m long
▪ 6.35 cm in diameter
▪ Extends from ileum to rectum and anus
Large intestine has:
▪ Caecum
▪ Colon
▪ Rectum
▪ Anus

Role of Large Intestine:

Absorption of water and Electrolytes
Formation and propelling of faeces into rectum
Egested through anus
 Breakdown of Carbohydrates, Proteins and fats

Carbohydrates Proteins Fats

Action of salivary amylase in Gastric juice from stomach Bile from the liver (gall bladder)
containing pepsinogen, gets activated to released into the small intestine will
the mouth to break them pepsin in presence of HCl. Pepsin digests breakdown large fat globules to smaller
down partially proteins ones.

Pancreatic trypsin and chymotrypsin released Pancreatic Lipase (steapsin) further

Pancreatic alpha amylase to in small intestine digest peptoses further into into triglycerides and some directly into
break them down further small peptides fatty acids and glycerol

Intestinal enzymes to break Intestinal lipases ensure that all fat

Intestinal peptidases digest these small
disaccharides like maltose and peptides into amino acids molecules are converted to fatty acid
sucrose to glucose. and glycerol.

Start material:
Start material: Proteins : End product: Amino Start material: Fats : End product:
carbohydrate : acids Fatty acids and glycerol.
End product: glucose
Respiration: Respiration is defined as a metabolic process wherein, the living cells of an organism obtains energy (in
the form of ATP) by taking in oxygen and liberating carbon dioxide from the oxidation of complex organic substances.

This breakdown can

Breakdown of glucose, to
form end products and
release energy in the
process-catabolic in nature.
occur in the presence or
absence of End products in each of the
carbon dioxide. (Aerobic 3 cases.
respiration, Anaerobic
respiration.

Discuss what is the one

Lower life forms are Higher life forms are more
advantage of aerobic
more adapted to adapted
respiration over anaerobic
anaerobic repiration. to aerobic respiration
forms of respiration.

Distinguished
respiratory organs start to
In mammals, a highly Explore the various parts
appear from the
evolved respiratory system and mechanism
vertebrates onwards in the
is present. of respiratory system
course of evolution. Revise
them.
Passage of air through the human respiratory system

Pharynx
Nostrils Nasal Cavity
(throat region)

Lungs Trachea Larynx

Bronchi Bronchioles Alveolar duct

Alveoli
 We have seen the role of alveoli in the exchange of gases. We require oxygen to
Mechanism of breathing be taken in by the cells for breaking down glucose and we need a mechanism to
expel out the spent carbon dioxide.
Breathing is a simple process of inhaling oxygen and exhaling carbon dioxide.

Diaphrag
m

Ribcage

Lungs

https://youtu.be/8NU
After exchange of gases is
Rib xvJS-_0k-
Diaphragm contracts to cage/chest contracts, pressu
expand thoracic/chest cavity Atmospheric pressure is
done, and CO2 is
The ANS sends signals re within is greater than Mechanism of
Now vacuum is created accumulated in the lungs,
(releases pressure from the greater and air enters inside.
Pressure is built up within
for diaphragm to relax atmospheric pressure, air is breathing
cavity. expelled
the lungs.
out (majorly containg CO2) https://youtu.be/nltE8
Lz6tRQ
C02 is evolved.
 Transportation in Plants

Raw materials required by plants for photosynthesis and building up the What if diffusion (slower process) was the only
plant body:
transportation mechanism?
For building up
Chlorophyll the plant body Soil is the source
pigment for we require to derive all
photosynthesis nitrogen, these nutrients.
(leaves) phosphorus and (roots) Chlorophyll Chlorophyll
others.
containing containing
organs organs

Why do plants have low energy needs? Shorter plants

Soil
contacting Taller plants
Plants do not move organs and trees
They have a large Therefore, there are
proportion of dead comparatively low energy
tissues needs.
Relatively, slower transport
systems can be used

Soil
contacting
organs
 Plant energy stores will move from leaves and raw materials from soil will move from roots. https://youtu.be/FmP
Independent conducting tubes have been assigned for these functions kH4BZYl8
• Xylem: water and minerals from soil to rest of the plant.
• Phloem: From leaves to rest of the plant.

But, is this pressure sufficient to move water over great

Transportation of water: heights?
Stem Should the plants have another strategy?

Water conducting
Tracheids and
channels of the
plant
vessels of
Root https://gfycat.
com/widemag
Leaves nificentlaughi
ngthrush

Mechanism:

From here, the

Ions from the
Creates a column of
soil move into Water moves
concentration water steadily
the root tissue into the root.
gradient. moves
actively.
upwards.

Major driving force of water

molecules-day and night would be?
Day-
Night-
 Mechanism
Transportation of food:

End products of photosynthesis are water-soluble in nature. Sink: As the

❖ Movement of such water soluble products from leaves to all parts of the plant is bulk flow
called translocation. This pressure come in
forces water contact with
As osmotic to move up sink tissues,
pressure the phloem
Sugars the sugar
Recap of the Phloem tissue entering into
increases, vessel. molecules are
water flows
Source phloem diffused or
into the
(leaves) creates a actively
phloem
Phloem transports sugars, Utilizing concentration transported
causing the
amino acids and other sources energy, gradient for into them.
“bulk flow”
of food to various plants of the sugars are osmosis.
plant. transferred
into phloem.
Where does phloem deliver
the sugars specifically?
❑ Storage parts
❑ Active growth regions
Keywords Source (leaves)

Sink (actively
Sink (storage
growing
organs)
Upward direction regions)
Sieve tubes and
Translocation of
companion cells
Food
in
Downward Sucrose
direction Bulk flow (non-reducing
sugar)
 Transportation system in Homo
sapiens

Recap from Grade 9 What happens when there is an injury?

Blood transports oxygen

to all the parts of the Blood also collects other
Blood has cells and body from lungs. Blood is lost
Blood is a fluid waste materials from all
plasma (the fluid content)
connective tissue Blood collects carbon body parts and ensures it
present in it.
dioxide from all parts and is removed from the body
gets it back to the lungs

It will result in loss

of pressure within
If blood carrying all these that blood vessel
crucial substances has to be
transported to each cell, the
following criteria becomes Plasma The pumping
essential: transports capacity is
food, carbon affected.
dioxide,
nitrogenous
A dedicated wastes
Network of To avoid this ❖ Platelets will clot the blood and
system that
An organ to Tubes platelets are cover the leaks.
to repair
pump this (tissues) to
these tissues present. ❖ This helps in reducing the loss of
blood reach all the
as and when blood from the system.
tissues RBCs are
required. involved in
transporting
oxygen.
 Role of Blood vessels

Blood flows through the blood vessels:

Capillaries
Arteries Veins
These blood
These blood These blood
vessels are the
vessels carry vessels carry
smallest and come
blood AWAY from blood INTO the
in contact with
the heart to all heart from all
every individual
parts of the body. parts of the body.
cell.

As the veins Capillaries of

As the heart
collect blood arteries enter
pumps blood into each
from all the
directly into individual cell.
body parts to
these arteries, They are one
heart, they
they deal with cell thick.
have low
comparatively This is where
pressure of
high pressure exchange of
blood gases occurs.
of blood
They have The capillaries
They have
thinner walls of veins collect
thicker walls
The main vein the
The main
is called vena deoxygenated
artery is called
cava (superior blood away
aorta. from the organ.
and inferior)
 Excretory System in Homo sapiens

We have seen what is the gaseous waste of our body during respiration Nitrogenous wastes from
process. protein breakdown
We have seen what is the solid waste of our body during digestion process. metabolism-Ammonia and
We are yet to see other crucial wastes that have to be released from the body. urea (mammals)

A pair of kidneys

A pair of ureters

Urinary bladder

Urethra
Filtration of blood and Formation of Urine

Keywords:
1) Nephron
2) Renal corpuscle
3) Renal tubule
4) Bowman's capsule
5) PCT
6) Loop of Henle
7) DCT
8) Collecting duct
9) Renal pelvis
10) Ureter
11) Bladder