Life Processes - Quick Study Guide
Class 10 Biology | Chapter Summary
1. What are Living Things?
Key Criterion: The most important criterion to decide whether something is alive is movement. All
living things move by themselves without external help.
Movement in Living Things:
• Animals: Can move from place to place (frog jumps, birds fly, fish swim)
• Plants: Fixed in soil; move body parts (leaves, shoots, roots) towards stimuli like sunlight,
gravity, water
• Example: Sunflower leaves bend towards sunlight; Mimosa pudica (sensitive plant) folds
leaves when touched
Seven Characteristics of Living Things:
[Link]. Characteristic Description
1 Movement Can move by themselves
2 Nutrition Need food, air and water
3 Growth Can grow from small to large
4 Sensitivity Respond to changes around them
5 Respiration Release energy from food
6 Excretion Remove waste materials from body
7 Reproduction Can produce young ones
2. Life Processes
Definition: The basic functions performed by living organisms to maintain their life are called
life processes.
The Six Basic Life Processes:
Life Process Function
Nutrition Taking food and converting it into absorbable molecules
Respiration Releasing energy from absorbed food
Transport Moving substances from one body part to another
Excretion Removing waste materials from cells/body
Control & Coordination Responding to environmental changes (stimuli)
Growth Changing from small organism to adult
Reproduction Producing more organisms to continue the species
Important Note: All living organisms need energy for life processes. They get this energy from food
through chemical reactions. Even during sleep, energy is required for processes like heartbeat and
breathing.
3. Nutrition
Definition: Nutrition is the process of taking in food (consuming food) and utilizing it to
provide energy for various metabolic activities of the organism.
Types of Nutrients:
• Carbohydrates: Main source of energy (glucose, starch)
• Fats: Energy storage
• Proteins: Building body tissues (skin, blood, organs)
• Minerals, Vitamins, Water: Essential for normal growth and development
Modes of Nutrition:
Mode Definition Examples
Autotrophic Organism makes its own food from inorganic Green plants,
materials (CO2 and H2O) using sunlight energy autotrophic bacteria
Heterotrophic Organism cannot make its own food and depends on All animals, most
other organisms for nutrition bacteria, fungi,
non-green plants
Types of Heterotrophic Nutrition:
Type Definition Examples
Saprotrophic Obtains food from decaying organic matter of dead Fungi (mushrooms, yeast),
(Saprophytic) plants and animals many bacteria
Parasitic Derives food from body of another living organism Plasmodium (malaria),
(host) without killing it; usually harms the host roundworms, Cuscuta
(amarbel), ticks, lice,
tapeworms
Holozoic Takes complex organic food by ingestion, digests Most animals including
it, absorbs nutrients, and egests undigested waste humans, cat, dog, deer,
tiger, Amoeba
4. Photosynthesis
Definition: The process by which green plants make their own food (glucose) from carbon
dioxide and water by using sunlight energy in the presence of chlorophyll, is called
photosynthesis. Oxygen gas is released as a by-product.
Photosynthesis Equation:
6CO2 + 6H2O + Light Energy → C6H12O6 + 6O2
Where Photosynthesis Occurs:
• Takes place in the green leaves of plants
• Chlorophyll is present in tiny green organelles called chloroplasts inside plant cells
• Green color of leaves is due to chlorophyll in chloroplasts
Raw Materials and Their Sources:
Raw Material Source Entry Point
Carbon Dioxide (CO2) Air Enters through stomata (tiny pores in leaves)
Water (H2O) Soil Absorbed by roots, transported to leaves via stem
Sunlight Sun Absorbed by chlorophyll in leaves
Three Steps of Photosynthesis:
Step Process
1 Absorption of sunlight energy by chlorophyll
Conversion of light energy into chemical energy, and splitting of water into hydrogen and
2
oxygen
Reduction of carbon dioxide by hydrogen to form carbohydrate (glucose) using chemical
3
energy
Four Conditions Necessary for Photosynthesis:
Condition Role
1. Sunlight Provides energy for chemical reactions
2. Chlorophyll Traps sunlight energy for photosynthesis
3. Carbon Dioxide Raw material - provides carbon for making glucose
4. Water Raw material - provides hydrogen for making glucose
5. Key Terms & Definitions
Term Definition
Autotrophs Organisms that can make their own food from inorganic substances (green
plants, autotrophic bacteria)
Heterotrophs Organisms that cannot make their own food and depend on other organisms (all
animals, fungi, most bacteria)
Saprophytes Organisms that obtain food from dead and decaying organic matter (fungi,
bacteria)
Parasite Organism that feeds on another living organism (host) without killing it,
usually harming the host
Host The organism from which a parasite obtains its food
Chlorophyll Green pigment in plants that traps sunlight energy for photosynthesis
Chloroplasts Tiny green organelles inside plant cells that contain chlorophyll
Stomata Tiny pores in leaves through which CO2 enters and O2 exits
Nutrient An organic or inorganic substance required for maintenance of life
(carbohydrates, fats, proteins, minerals, vitamins, water)
Destarching Removing starch from plant leaves by keeping plant in dark for 3 days before
photosynthesis experiments
6. Quick Revision Points
Remember These Important Points:
1. Movement is the most important sign of life - all living things can move by themselves.
2. Life processes are basic functions that keep organisms alive: Nutrition, Respiration,
Transport, Excretion, Control & Coordination, Growth, Reproduction.
3. Food provides energy through chemical reactions - even during sleep, energy is needed for
heartbeat and breathing.
4. Green plants are autotrophs - they make their own food through photosynthesis.
5. All animals are heterotrophs - they depend on other organisms for food.
6. Photosynthesis equation: 6CO2 + 6H2O + Light → C6H12O6 + 6O2
7. Photosynthesis occurs in green leaves, in chloroplasts containing chlorophyll.
8. CO2 enters leaves through stomata; water comes from soil through roots.
9. Four conditions for photosynthesis: Sunlight, Chlorophyll, Carbon Dioxide, Water.
10. Glucose is the immediate product; excess glucose is stored as starch.
11. Three types of heterotrophic nutrition: Saprotrophic, Parasitic, Holozoic.
12. For photosynthesis experiments, plant leaves must be destarched (kept in dark for 3 days).