Science : Biology

Lesson No 5

Life Processes

Question 1

Why is diffusion insufficient to meet the oxygen requirements of multicellular organisms like humans ?

Answer:

In multicellular organisms like humans, all the body cells are not in direct contact with the surrounding
environment. Therefore, every cell of the body will not get oxygen as per need by the process of diffusion from
the environment. Therefore diffusion is insufficient to meet the oxygen requirements of multicellular organisms.

Question 2

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

Answer:

The main criteria used to decide whether something is alive are breathing and respiration. However, living
beings also show growth and movement.

Question 3

What are outside raw materials used by an organism ?

Answer:

Any organism uses organic molecules as raw material. Heteroptrophs use food and autotrophs use carbon
dioxide, minerals, water and all organisms use oxygen (for respiration) as raw materials.

Question 4

What processes would you consider essential for maintaining life ?

Answer:

Processes essential for maintaining life are :

(i) Nutrition

(ii) Respiration

(iii) Transportation

(iv) Excretion

Page Number: 101

Question 1

What are the differences between autotrophic nutrition and heterotrophic nutrition ?

Answer:
Autotrophic nutrition

(i) In this mode of nutrition an organism makes or synthesizes its own food.

(ii) Organisms use simple inorganic materials like carbon dioxide and water and synthesise their food in
presence of sunlight.

(iii) All green plants and some algae undergo this mode of nutrition.

Heterotrophic nutrition

(i) In this mode of nutrition an organism cannot make or synthesize its own food

(ii) Organisms cannot make their own food from simple inorganic matter and depend on other organisms for
their food.

(iii) All the animals, most bacteria and fungi undergo this mode of nutrition.

Question 2

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

Answer:

(i) Carbon dioxide : Plants get carbon dioxide from the environment/atmosphere through stomata.

(ii) Water : Plants absorb water from the soil through roots and transport to leaves.

(iii) Sunlight : Plants get sunlight from the sun.

(iv) Chlorophyll : It is present in chloroplast found in green leaves and green parts of plants.

Question 3

What is the role of the acid in our stomach ?

Answer:

Role of acid in our stomach is :

(i) To make acidic medium which is necessary for the activation of the enzyme pepsin.

(ii) To kill bacteria which the food may contain.

Question 4

What is the function of digestive enzymes ?

Answer:

The food we eat is complex in nature, i.e., it contains complex molecules. Digestive enzymes break down these
complex molecules into smaller simpler molecules so that they can be absorbed by the walls of the intestine.

Question 5

How is the small intestine designed to absorb digested food ?

Answer:
The small intestine is designed to provide maximum area for absorption of digested food and its transfer into
the blood for its circulation into the body. For this the inner lining of the small intestine has numerous finger-like
projections called villi. The villi are richly supplied with blood vessels which take the absorbed food to each and
every cell of the body.

Page Number: 105

Question 1

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

Answer:

Aquatic organisms use oxygen dissolved in surrounding water. Since air dissolved in water has fairly low
concentration of oxygen, the aquatic organisms have much faster rate of breathing.

Terrestrial organisms take oxygen from the oxygen-rich atmosphere through respiratory organs. Hence, they
have much less breathing rate than aquatic organisms.

Question 2

What are the different ways in which glucose is oxidised to provide energy in various organisms ?

Answer:

First step of breakdown of glucose (6 carbon molecules) takes place in the cytoplasm of cells of all organisms.
This process yields a three carbon molecule compound called pyruvate.

Further break down of pyruvate takes place in different ways in different organisms.

(i) Anaerobic respiration : The anaerobic respiration in plants (like yeast) produces ethanol and carbon dioxide
as end products.

(ii) Aerobic respiration : In aerobic respiration break down of pyruvate takes place in presence of oxygen to give
rise three molecules of carbon dioxide and water. The release of energy in aerobic respiration is much more
than in anaerobic respiration.

(iii) Lack of oxygen : Sometimes, when there is lack of oxygen especially during physical exercise, in our
muscles, pyruvate is converted into lactic acid (3 carbon molecule compound). Formation of lactic acid in
muscles causes cramp.

Question 3

How is oxygen and carbon dioxide transported in human beings ?

Answer:

(i) Transport of oxygen : Haemoglobin present in the blood takes up the oxygen from the air in the lungs. It
carries the oxygen to tissues which are deficient in oxygen before releasing it.

(ii) Transport of carbon dioxide : Carbon dioxide is more soluble in water. Therefore, it is mostly transported
from body tissues in the dissolved form in our blood plasma to lungs. Here it diffuses from blood to air in the
lungs.

Question 4

How are the lungs designed in human beings to maximise the area for exchange of gases ?
Answer:

Within the lungs, the air passage divides into smaller and smaller tubes, called bronchi which in turn form
bronchioles. The bronchioles terminate in balloon-like structures, called alveoli. The alveoli present in the lungs
provide maximum surface for exchange of gases. The alveoli have vary thin walls and contain an extensive
network of blood vessels to facilitate exchange of gases.

Page Number: 110

Question 1

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

Answer:

The transport system (circulatory system) in human beings mainly consists of heart, blood and blood vessels.

(i) Function of heart : The heart receives deoxygenated blood from the body parts and pumps it to lungs for
enriching with oxygen. It receives purified blood from lungs and pumps it around the body.

(ii) Function of blood : Blood transports oxygen, carbon dioxide, digested food, hormones and nitrogeneous
waste like urea. It also protects the body from diseases and regulates the body temperature.

(iii) Function of blood vessels : The blood pushed by the heart flows through the blood vessels (arteries, veins
and capillaries) and also comes back to the heart through them.

Question 2

Why is it necessary to separate oxygenated and deoxygenated blood in mammals and birds ?

Answer:

Separation of oxygenated and deoxygenated blood allows good supply of oxygen to the body. This system is
useful in animals that have high energy requirement. Mammals and birds constantly need oxygen to get energy
to maintain their body temperature constant.

Question 3

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

Answer:

In highly organised plants there are two conducting tissues xylem and phloem.

Xylem consists of vessels, tracheids and other xylem tissues. The interconnected vessels and tracheids form a
continuous system of water conducting channels reaching all parts of the plant. Xylem carries water and
minerals.

Phloem conducts soluble products of photosynthesis from leaves to different parts of the plant body.

Question 4

How are water and minerals transport in plants ?

Answer:

The roots of a plant have hair called root hair.

The root hair are directly in contact with the film of water in between the soil particles. Water and dissolved
minerals get into the root hair by the process of diffusion. The water and minerals absorbed by the root hair
from the soil pass from cell to cell by osmosis through the epidermis, root cortex, endodermis and reach the
root xylem.

The xylem vessels of the root of the plant are connected to the xylem vessels of its stem. Therefore the water
containing dissolved minerals enters the root xylem vessels into stem xylem vessels. The xylem vessels of the
stem branch into the leaves of the plants. So, the water and minerals carried by the xylem vessels in the stem
reach the leaves through the branched xylem vessels which enter from the petiole (stalk of the leaf) into each
and every part of the leaf. Thus the water and minerals from the soil reach through the root and stem to the
leaves of the plants. Evaporation of water molecules from the cells of a leaf creates a suction which pulls water
from the xylem cells of roots. The loss of water in the form of vapour from the aerial parts of the plant is known
as transpiration.

Question 5

How is food transported in plants ?

Answer: The movement of food in phloem (or translocation) takes place by utilizing energy. The sugar (food)
made in leaves is loaded into the sieve tubes of phloem tissue by using energy from ATP. Water now enters the
sieve tubes containing sugar by the process of osmosis due to which the pressure in the phloem tissue rises.
This high pressure produced in the phloem tissue moves the food to all parts of the plant having less pressure
in their tissues. This allows the phloem to transport food according to the needs of the plant.

Page Number: 112

Question 1

Describe the structure and functions of nephrons.

Answer: Structure of nephron : Each nephron is composed of two parts. First one is a cup-shaped bag at its
upper end which is called Bowman’s capsule.

The Bowman’s capsule contains a bundle of blood capillaries which is called glomerulus. One end of the
glomerulus is attached to the renal artery which brings the blood containing the urea (waste) into it. These
impurities are filtered. The other part of the nephron is coiled. In this part, the substances like sugar (glucose),
amino acid, ions and excess water which are required by the body, are reabsorbed. The substance remained in
the nephron is mainly urine containing dissolved urea in water which is expelled from the body through urethra
from time to time.

Functions of nephron : Filtration of blood takes place in Bowman’s capsule from the capillaries of glomerulus.
The filtrate passes into the tubular part of the nephron. This filtrate contains glucose, amino acids, urea, uric
acid, salts and water.

Reabsorption : As the filtrate flows along the tubule, useful substances such as glucose, amino acids, salts and
water are selectively reabsorbed into the blood by capillaries surrounding the nephron tubule.

Urine : The filtrate which remained after reabsorption is called urine. Urine contains dissolved nitrogenous
waste like urea and uric acid, excess salts and water. Urine is collected from nephrons to carry it to the ureter
from where it passes into urinary bladder.

Question 2

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

Answer:
(i) The plants get rid of gaseous products-through stomata in leaves and lenticels in stems.

(ii) The plants get rid of stored solid and liquid waste by the shedding off leaves, peeling off bark and felling off
fruits.

(iii) The plants get rid of wastes by secreting them in the form of gums and resins.

(iv) Plants also excrete some waste substances into the soil around them.

Question 5

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

Answer:

Digestion of fats takes place in the small intestine.

Bile juice secreted by the liver poured in the intestine along with pancreatic juice. The bile salts present in the
bile juice emulsify fhe large globules of fats. Therefore, by enulsification large globules break down into fine
globules to provide larger surface area to act upon by the enzymes.

Lipase enzyme present in the pancreatic juice causes break down of emulsified fats. Glands present in the wall
of small intestine secrete intestinal juice which contains lipase enzyme that converts fats into fatty acids and
glycerol.

Question 6

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

Answer:

Saliva contains salivary amylase enzyme that breaks down starch into sugars like maltose.

Saliva keeps the mouth cavity clean and moistens the food that help in chewing and breaking down the big
pieces of food into smaller ones.

Question 7

What are the necessary conditions (or autotrophic nutrition and what are its by-products ?

Answer:

Necessary conditions for autotrophic nutrition :

(i) Presence of chlorophyll in the living cells.

(if) Provision of supply of water to green plants or cells of the plant.

(iii) Sufficient sunlight.

(iv) Sufficient supply of carbon dioxide.

By-product of auto tropic nutrition is oxygen.

Question 9

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

Answer:

(i) The alveoli are thin walled and richly supplied with a network of blood vessels to facilitate exchange of gases
between blood and the air filled in alveoli.

(ii) Alveoli have balloon-like structure. Hence, provide maximum surface for exchange of gases.

Question 10

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

Answer:

Due to the deficiency of haemoglobin in blood, its oxygen carrying capacity decreases. As a result the
production of energy by oxidation will become slower. Therefore, one would fall sick and would feel fatigue
most of the time.

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

Answer:

In our heart blood enters twice and also pumped out twice from the heart. The deoxygenated blood from the
body is brought to the right atrium through vena cava from where it is sent to right ventricle. From right
ventricle, the blood is pumped to the lungs for oxygenation through pulmonary artery. The oxygenated blood
from lungs again enters the left atrium of the heart through pulmonary veins. From left atrium it is send to left
ventricle, from where this oxygenated blood is pumped to different parts of body through the arteries. In this
way the blood flows through the heart twice, that’s why it is called ‘double circulation’.

Necessity of double circulation: The right side and the left side of the human heart are useful to keep
deoxygenated and oxygenated blood from mixing. This type of separation of oxygenated and deoxygenated
blood ensures a highly efficient supply of oxygen to the body. This is useful in case of humans who constantly
need energy to maintain their body temperature.

Question 2

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

Solution:

When we eat something we like, our mouth ‘waters’. This is actually not only water, but also a fluid called saliva
secreted by the salivary glands. Another aspect of the food we ingest is its complex nature. If it is to be
absorbed from the alimentary canal, it has to be broken into smaller molecules. This is done with the help of
biological catalysts called enzymes. The saliva contains an enzyme called salivary amylase that breaks down
starch, which is a complex molecule to give sugar. The food is mixed thoroughly with saliva and moved around
the mouth while chewing by the muscular tongue.

Question 3

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

Solution:

Carbon and energy requirements of the autotrophic organism are fulfilled by photosynthesis. It is the process
by which autotrophs take in substances from the outside and convert them into stored forms of energy. This
material is taken in the form of carbon dioxide and water, which is converted into carbohydrates in the presence
of sunlight and chlorophyll. Carbohydrates are utilised for providing energy to the plant. The carbohydrates,
which are not used immediately, are stored in the form of starch, which serves as the internal energy reserve to
be used as and when required by the plant.

Question 4

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

Solution:

The food material taken in during the process of nutrition is used in cells to provide energy for various life
processes. Diverse organisms do this in different ways – some use oxygen to breakdown glucose completely
into carbon dioxide and water; some use other pathways that do not involve oxygen. In all cases, the first step
is the breakdown of glucose, a six-carbon molecule, into a three-carbon molecule called pyruvate. This process
takes place in the cytoplasm. Further, the pyruvate may be converted into ethanol and carbon dioxide. This
process takes place in yeast during fermentation. Since this process takes place in the absence of air (oxygen),
it is called anaerobic respiration. Breakdown of pyruvate using oxygen takes place in the mitochondria. This
process breaks up the three-carbon pyruvate molecule to give three molecules of carbon dioxide. The other
product is water. Since this process takes place in the presence of air (oxygen), it is called aerobic respiration.
The release of energy in this aerobic process is a lot greater than in the anaerobic process.

Question 5

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

Solution:

Within the lungs, the passage divides into smaller and smaller tubes, which finally terminate in balloon-like
structures, which are called alveoli. The alveoli provide a surface where the exchange of gases can take place.
The walls of the alveoli contain an extensive network of blood vessels. As we have seen in earlier years, when
we breathe in, we lift our ribs and flatten our diaphragm, and the chest cavity becomes larger as a result.
Because of this, air is sucked into the lungs and fills the expanded alveoli. The blood brings carbon dioxide
from the rest of the body for release into the alveoli, and the oxygen in the alveolar air is taken up by blood in
the alveolar blood vessels to be transported to all the cells in the body. During the breathing cycle, when air is
taken in and let out, the lungs always contain a residual volume of air so that there is sufficient time for oxygen
to be absorbed and for the carbon dioxide to be released.

Question 6

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

Solution:

The double circulatory system of blood flow refers to the separate systems of pulmonary circulation and the
systemic circulation.

The adult human heart consists of two separated pumps, the right side with the right atrium and ventricle which
pumps deoxygenated blood into the pulmonary circulation.

The oxygenated blood re-enters the left side of the heart through the pulmonary vein into the left atrium and
passes to the left ventricle where it is pumped to the rest of the body. This part of the circulation is called as
systemic circulation. This type of circulation is called double circulation. The advantage of a double circulatory
system is that blood can be pumped to the rest of the body at a higher pressure.