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All living organisms require energy to carry on various maintenance processes. This
energy comes from the outside the body of the individual organism. Some organism utilize
simple inorganic substances such as carbon dioxide and water, whereas other organisms
utilize complex substances which are required to be digested before they can be utilized
for various life processes such as growth, maintenance and repair. So, “Nutrition” is a
process by which a source of energy from outside the body of the organism, which we call
food, is transferred to inside the body of the organism.
modes of nutrition
There are two modes of nutrition - Autotrophic and Heterotrophic.
Autotrophic Nutrition - In this type of nutrition food is synthesized by the organism itself
(autotrophs) from simple inorganic raw materials such as CO2 and H2O. The essential
elements of Autotrophic Nutrition are the presence of green pigment (Chlorophyll) and
Sunlight. All green plants and some bacteria have this type of nutrition.
Heterotrophic Nutrition - Some organisms are unable to synthesize their own food. These
organisms rather obtain their food directly or indirectly from autotrophs. This food is then
broken down with the help of some enzymes. This mode of nutrition is called
‘Heterotrophic Nutrition’. In this type of nutrition no pigment or sunlight is required. All
animals, fungi and some bacteria have this type of nutrition.
photosynthesis
Photosynthesis is the process by which chlorophyll-containing cells in plants synthesize
food in the form of carbohydrates, carbon dioxide and water using sunlight. The raw
materials required for photosynthesis are carbon dioxide and water and the products
formed are carbohydrates and oxygen. The process can be represented as:
Amoeba takes in food using temporary finger-like extensions of the cell surface, called
pseudopodia, which fuse over the food particle forming a food - vacuole. Inside the food
vacuole, complex substances are broken down into simpler ones which then diffuse into
the cytoplasm.
Nutrition in human beings
function of kidneys
Kidneys form a part of human excretory system. Different functions of kidneys are as
follows:
1. Kidneys filter waste products from the blood e.g. various nitrogenous wastes such as
urea, uric acid etc.
2. Kidneys play an important role in the formation of urine.
3. It helps us in maintaining the water balance of our body by removing excess fluids.
4. It is the basic filtration unit of the excretory system.
5. They also make hormones that keep the bones strong and healthy.
Sample Questions
Q.1: Which pigment captures solar energy?
Ans: Chlorophyll
Q.2: Name any three life processes.
Ans: Nutrition, respiration and blood circulation
Q.3: Answer the following questions:
(i) What is the first reaction in photosynthesis?
(ii) In which form do plants store food?
Ans: (i) The first reaction in photosynthesis is the photolysis of water.
(ii) The product of photosynthesis is glucose, which is stored in plants in the form of starch.
Q.4: What are the inorganic sources used by plants for making food?
Ans: Carbon dioxide, water and sunlight.
Q.5: What are the outside raw materials used by an organism?
Ans: Various outside raw materials used by an organism are as follows:
1. Food as a source of supplying energy and materials.
2. Oxygen for the break-down of the food to obtain energy.
3. 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.
Q.6: Plants have lower energy need and relatively slow transportation system than those
of animals. Give reasons.
Ans: Energy needs differ between different body designs. Unlike animals, plants do not
move and plant bodies have also a large proportions of dead cells in many tissues. As a
result, plants have lower energy needs and also relatively slow transportation than those
required by animals.
Q.7: Briefly describe the digestive functions of liver and pancreas.
Ans: Liver :
1. The liver secretes bile which is stored in the gall bladder from where it is sent to the
duodenum whenever needed.
2. The bile breaks down the fat droplets into small fat globules. This phenomenon is known
as emulsification of the fat.
Pancreas :
1. Pancreas secretes a juice which is sent to the duodenum.
2. Pancreatic juice contains different enzymes. The Trypsin, which digests proteins into
peptones, and the pancreatic amylase, which digests starch into sugar. The lipase
which breaks down the emulsified fats.
3. It also produces hormones - insulin and glucagon. This insulin is a very important
hormone that regulates the sugar level in blood.