Important topics covered in the chapter Life Processes-
Basic Life Processes
Life on earth is mainly due to specific processes and functions. Many basic yet important processes are necessary for organisms for remaining healthy and maintain the proper functioning of the organ system of that specific organism. These processes are all vital for survival. Talking about life processes, it consists of six different processes that are possessed by an organism that calculate the overall condition of life. The different types of life processes include:
1. Nutrition
2. Metabolism
3. Respiration
4. Transportation
5. Reproduction
6. Metabolism(Image to be added soon)
Nutrition
Nutrition is the process in which both plants and animals obtain food and use it to get energy. It is a basic and essentially biological process that aid living beings to get their energy from different sources. The substances that provide this nutrition are nutrients depending on the requirement of the body.
However, the mode of nutrition tends to vary from one species to the other. Plants possess autotrophic nutrition since they synthesize their food through photosynthesis by using sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide.
Animals, on the other hand, are heterotrophs, meaning that they depend on plants and other organisms for their food. All vertebrates, which includes humans, and a few unicellular organisms like an amoeba, have a holozoic mode of nutrition.
Transportation
The transportation in both plants and animals differ from one another. In animals, the transportation system is via the circulatory system, which consists of blood, the heart, and the blood vessels that carry blood.
Plants, on the other hand, have vascular tissues to conduct and transport the materials throughout the parts of the plants. These vascular tissues are the xylem and phloem. Xylem tends to conduct both water and minerals from the roots to the shoots, whereas the phloem transports the food which is prepared from the leaves to the other parts of the plant.
Metabolism
Metabolism refers to the chemical process by which different kinds of chemical reactions get involved to control the living state of the cells of that organism. It is further divided into anabolism and catabolism.
Anabolism
Anabolism is the process in which the energy gets stored for future requirements.
Catabolism
Catabolism is the process in which the energy gets released.
Respiration
Respiration is the process in which the exchange of gases takes place. Animals possess a well-defined respiratory system to carry out the process of respiration.
In respiration, glucose breaks down to release energy. It is a type of redox reaction that takes place with or without oxygen. The process of respiration occurs in the mitochondria of the cells, and the energy that gets released is in the form of ATP.
Respiration is Mainly of Two Different Types
Aerobic Respiration: The respiration in the presence of oxygen
Anaerobic Respiration: The respiration that occurs in the absence of oxygen
Reproduction
The biological process to reproduce offspring determines the species continuity, one generation after the other. Reproduction is of two types:
Sexual Reproduction: The process to reproduce its offspring by involving two gametes or parents is known as sexual reproduction.
The process to reproduce its offspring by involving a single gamete or parent is known as asexual reproduction.
Excretion
Excretion refers to the process of eliminating toxic waste substances from the organism’s body. There are different ways in which organisms excrete.
Plants possess different types of modes of excretion. The oxygen during the process of photosynthesis and the carbon dioxide during the process of respiration are given out through stomata. The excessive water gets removed by the process of transpiration. Plants even shed dead cells and leaves. These waste products get stored in the plant vacuoles and the leaves, which fall off. The other waste products are resins and gums, etc.
Humans, on the other hand, have a very well developed excretory system that consists of a pair of kidneys, urinary bladder, and urethra. The structural unit of kidneys are nephrons in which the blood gets filtered. Pureblood, after the process of filtration, circulates to the other parts of the body and the waste products that get extracted pass to the ureter and enter the urinary bladder. In the urinary bladder, urine gets collected and is then excreted out through the urethra.
FAQs on Life Process
1.What are life processes?
All living organisms possess specific characteristics which differentiate them from non-living things. These characteristics are essential and play a crucial role in the overall health of the organism. Be it plants or animals, prokaryotic or eukaryotic organisms; they are possessed by all. These basic processes are known as the life processes and include nutrition, metabolism, transportation, respiration, excretion and reproduction. All of these processes are related to one another. All these processes function together in any living organism to maintain life and wellbeing. However, when disease invades the organism, these processes get disrupted and change the balance in them.
2. What is the importance of life processes?
Life processes are regarded as the processes which are required for maintaining bodily functions and are required for survival. The essential life processes include nutrition, metabolism, transportation, reproduction, excretion, and respiration. They work together and result in the overall growth and development of the organism.
Nutrition, for example, is the process through which nutrients are used by the cells for meeting their respective needs. It is a crucial process that helps living organisms get their energy from different sources. Respiration is the process that deals with the exchange of gases. It breaks down the glucose molecules to release energy. The cell division and cell cycle are other important processes that play a crucial role in the growth and development of organisms. They help to form new organisms and repair the damaged and dead tissues and cells.
3.What are the key concepts covered in life processes?
The key concepts taught in life processes are – Nutrition, autotrophic, heterotrophic nutrition, respiration, transportation, excretion both in human beings and plants is deeply discussed in this chapter called life processes. In order to get a good grasp of these concepts, refer to Vdebatu’s website to get more insight into various terminologies discussed in the chapter.
4.Explain the two types of respiration?
The Two different types of respiration or aerobic respiration and anaerobic respiration. Aerobic respiration is basically the respiration that takes place in the presence of oxygen, while anaerobic respiration is the kind of respiration that takes place in the absence of oxygen.
