Life Processes
The basic and essential activities performed by a living organism to
sustain and maintain life
Nutrition: Process of obtaining and utilisation of food
Food gives us energy, growth and development
Components of food: Carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins and
minerals
Types of nutrition:
1)Autotrophic nutrition: It is a mode of nutrition in which
organisms prepare their own food using simple inorganic
substances like carbon dioxide and water in the presence of
sunlight and chlorophyll. E.g. Green plants, algae, blue-green
algae
2)Heterotrophic nutrition: It is a mode of nutrition in which
organisms depend on other organisms for food because they
cannot prepare their own food. E.g. All animals
Autotrophic: Chemosynthesis:- A type of autotrophic nutrition in which
organisms prepare their own food by utilizing chemical energy. E.g.
Purple sulfur bacteria
Autotrophic: Photosynthesis: A type of autotrophic nutrition in which
organisms prepare their own food by utilizing light energy. E.g. Green
plants, Cyanobacteria, Algae, Euglena
Heterotrophic nutrition: Type of nutrition in which organisms do not
possess the ability to synthesize their own food. They depend on
autotrophs for their food supply, either directly or indirectly.
Holozoic: Animals take in solid food, which is broken down inside the
body. E.g.. Amoeba, animals
Saprophytic: Organisms feed on dead and decaying matter. E.g. Fungi
Parasite: Parasites live inside or outside another organism (host) and
derive nutrition from it. E.g. Cuscuta, ticks, leech, etc.
Photosynthesis:
6CO2 + 12H2O →Chlorophyll, Sunlight→ C6H12O6 + 6O2 + 6H2O
Raw material: Sunlight, chlorophyll, CO2, water.
Site of photosynthesis: Chloroplasts are the site of photosynthesis
which are green pigmented cell organelles containing chlorophyll
Main events:
● Absorption of light energy by chlorophyll
● Conversion of light energy into chemical energy + splitting
(breaking) of water into hydrogen and oxygen
● Reduction of CO2 to carbohydrates.
Plants store glucose in the form of starch while humans store glucose
in the form of glycogen
Stomata and its functions: Stomata are the tiny pores present on
the surface of the leaves
Functions:
● Exchange of gases (O2/CO2)
● Loses large amount of water (water vapour) during transpiration
Nutrition in Amoeba:
● Ingestion: Amoeba surrounds the food
particles using its finger-like projections called
pseudopodia and forms a food vacuole.
● Digestion: Enzymes are secreted into the
food vacuole, breaking down the food into
simpler, soluble substances
● Absorption: The digested food is absorbed
into the cytoplasm and used for energy, growth
and repair.
● Assimilation: Utilization of absorbed
nutrients in various life-processes
● Egestion: The undigested food is expelled
out of the body by rupturing the cell membrane at
any point.
Nutrition in Paramecium: Paramecium also
follows holozoic nutrition, but its method of
ingestion differs due to its structure.
● Ingestion: Paramecium uses cilia
(hair-like structures) to sweep food
particles like bacteria through the oral
groove into the gullet where a food vacuole
is formed
● Other steps like Digestion,
Absorption, Assimilation, Egestion are
similar to Amoeba and occur inside the food vacuole.
Nutrition in Humans:
● Ingestion: Intake of food
material
● Digestion: Breakdown of
complex food
● Absorption: Movement of
digested food
● Assimilation: Utilization of food
products
● Egestion: Removal of waste
Alimentary Canal: A long muscular tube from the mouth to anus
Teeth crush food → Forms uniform texture
● Salivary glands secrete saliva
● Contains enzyme salivary amylase → breaks down starch into
sugars
● Tongue mixes food with saliva and helps in swallowing
Oesophagus:
● Connects mouth to stomach, no digestion occurs here
● Food is pushed down through peristalsis - rhythmic contraction
of muscles in the wall of the alimentary canal
Stomach: A large muscular organ which secretes gastric juice
containing:
● HCl - Creates an acidic medium (helps pepsin and kills germs)
● Pepsin - Digests proteins
● Mucus - Protects inner lining of stomach
Small Intestine: ~7 meters long in humans, coiled. The site of
complete digestion and absorption.
Receives secretions from:
● Liver (bile juice): Makes food alkaline and emulsifies fats (breaks
into smaller droplets)
● Pancreas (pancreatic juice):
Trypsin (proteins)
Lipase (fats)
Pancreatic amylase (helps in digestion of carbohydrates)
● Intestinal glands: Secrete intestinal juice: Final breakdown of:
Proteins → Amino acids
Carbohydrates → Glucose
Fats → Fatty acids + Glycerol
Absorption of food in small intestine:
● Villi are finger-like projections in the inner wall of the small
intestine
● They increase surface area for absorption
● Rich blood supply helps transport absorbed nutrients to all body
cells
● Nutrients are used for energy, growth and repair of tissues
Large Intestine:
● Absorbs water from undigested food
● Prepares waste for erection
Anus:
● Egestion: removal of undigested waste
● Controlled by anal sphincter