Chapter 6 Life Process

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Question 1. Why is diffusion insufficient to meet the oxygen requirements of multicellular organisms like humans?

Answer 1 Simple diffusion is insufficient to meet the requirements of multicellular organisms like humans because multicellular organisms, are not in direct contact with the surrounding environment as they are covered by layers.

Question 2. What criteria do we use to decide whether something is alive?

Answer 2 Any visible movement such as walking, breathing, reproduction, response to changes around them, or growing is generally used to decide whether something is alive or not. A living organism can also have movements, which are not visible to the naked eye. Therefore, the presence of molecular movement inside the organisms used to decide whether something is alive or not.

Question 3. What are outside raw materials used for by an organism?

Answer 3 An organism uses outside raw materials mostly in the form of food (Since life on earth depends on carbon based molecules, most of these food sources are also carbon-based) and oxygen. The raw materials required by an organism are minerals , water and gases.It can be varied depending on the complexity of the organism and environment.

Question 4. What processes would you consider essential for maintaining life?

Answer 4 Life processes that are essential for maintaining life are nutrition, respiration, transportation, excretion, etc.

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Question 1. What are the differences between autotrophic nutrition and heterotrophic nutrition?

Answer 1 The differences between autotrophic nutrition and heterotrophic nutrition is described as:

S. No.	Autotrophic nutrition	Heterotrophic nutrition
(i)	In autotrophic nutrition, organism synthesise their own food from simple substances present in the surroundings.	In heterotrophic nutrition organism obtains food from digesting organic compounds.
(ii)	Autotrophs are the producers in the food chain.	Heterotrophs are the consumers in the food chain.
(iii)	Autotrophs are the producers in the food chain.	Heterotrophs are the consumers in the food chain.
(iv)	Presence of green pigment (chlorophyll) is necessary.	No pigment is required in this type of nutrition.
(v)	Autotrophs are fundamental to the food chains of all ecosystems in the world. They take energy from the environment in the form of sunlight or inorganic chemicals and use it to create energy-rich molecules such as carbohydrates. This mechanism is called primary production.	Other organisms, called heterotrophs, take in autotrophs as food to carry out functions necessary for their life. Thus, heterotrophs — all animals, almost all fungi, as well as most bacteria and protozoa depend on autotrophs, or primary producers, for the energy and raw materials they need.
(vi)	Types of autotrophic nutrition: (i)phototrophic (ii) chemotrophic	Types of heterotrophic nutrition: (i) holozoic (ii) saprophytic (iii)parasitic and (iv) symbiotic association.
(vii)	Example: Plants obtain food by autotrophic nutrition.	Example: Some plants and all animals obtain food by heterotrophic nutrition.

Question 2. Where do plants get each of the raw materials required for photosynthesis?

Answer 2 Plants require sunlight, water, chlorophyll and carbon dioxide as raw materials for photosynthesis. Sunlight is absorbed by the chlorophyll present in green plants from sun. Carbon dioxide is received from atmosphere by plants and water is absorbed from soil through roots of the plant.

Question 3. What is the role of the acid in our stomach?

Answer 3 Role of the acid (HCl) in our stomach are:
(i) It kills or deactivates germs present in the food.
(ii) It provides acidic medium that activates enzyme pepsin which helps in digestion of protein to peptones.

Question 4. What is the function of digestive enzymes?

Answer 4 Digestive enzymes such as amylase, lipase, pepsin, trypsin, etc. help in the breaking down of complex food particles into simple ones. These simple particles can be easily absorbed by the blood and therefore transported to all the cells of the body.

Question 5. How is the small intestine designed to absorb digested food?’

Answer 5 The small intestine has millions of tiny fingerlike projections called villi, which increase the surface area for the absorption of digested food. These villi are highly vascularised, that is, many blood vessels are present that absorb the digested food and carry it to the blood stream. From the blood stream, the absorbed food is delivered to each and every cell of the body, where it is utilised for obtaining energy, building up new tissues and repair of old tissues.

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Question 1. What advantage over an aquatic organism does a terrestrial organism have with regard to obtaining oxygen for respiration?

Answer 1 In an aquatic habitat, the concentration or amount of dissolved oxygen is fairly low as compared to terrestrial habitat where oxygen is available in free form so it is easier to absorb by organisms. Thus, the rate of breathing in aquatic organisms is much faster than that seen in terrestrial organisms. Therefore, unlike aquatic animals, terrestrial animals do not have to show various adaptations for better gaseous exchange.

Question 2. What are the different ways in which glucose is oxidised to provide energy in various organisms?

Answer 2 Glucose is first broken down in the cell cytoplasm into a three carbon molecule called pyruvate. Pyruvate is further broken down in the following ways to provide energy:

Question 3. How is oxygen and carbon dioxide transported in human beings?

Answer 3 Haemoglobin transports oxygen molecule to all the body cells for cellular respiration. The haemoglobin pigment present in the blood gets attached to O₂ molecules that are obtained from breathing. It thus forms oxy-haemoglobin and the blood becomes oxygenated. This oxygenated blood is then distributed to all the body cells by the heart. After giving away O₂ to the body cells, blood takes CO₂ which is the end product of cellular respiration. Now the blood becomes de-oxygenated. Since, haemoglobin pigment has less affinity for CO₂, CO₂ is mainly transported in the dissolved form. This de-oxygenated blood gives CO₂ to lung alveoli and takes O₂ in return.

Question 4. How are the lungs designed in human beings to maximise the area for exchange of gases?

Answer 4 The exchange of gases takes place between the blood capillaries that surround the alveoli and the gases present in the alveoli. Thus, alveoli are the site for exchange of gases. The lungs get filled up with air during the process of inhalation as ribs are lifted up and diaphragm is flattened. The air that is rushed inside the lungs fills the numerous alveoli present in the lungs. Each lung contains 300–350 million alveoli. These numerous alveoli increase the surface area for gaseous exchange making the process of respiration more efficient.

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Question 1. What are the components of the transport system in human beings? What are the functions of these components?

Answer 1 The main components of the transport system in human beings are the heart, blood, and blood vessels.

(i) Heart pumps oxygenated blood throughout the body. It receives deoxygenated blood from the various body parts and sends this impure blood to the lungs for oxygenation. 

(ii) Blood is a fluid connective tissue. It helps in the transport of oxygen, nutrients, CO₂, and nitrogenous wastes.

(iii) Blood vessels (arteries, veins, and capillaries) carry blood either away from the heart to various organs or from various organs back to the heart.

Question 2. Why is it necessary to separate oxygenated and deoxygenated blood in mammals and birds?

Answer 2 Warm-blooded animals such as birds and mammals maintain a constant body temperature by cooling themselves when they are in a hotter environment and by warming their bodies when they are in a cooler environment. Hence, these animals require more oxygen (O₂) for more cellular respiration so that they can produce more energy to maintain their body temperature. Thus, it is necessary for them to separate oxygenated and de-oxygenated blood, so that their circulatory system is more efficient and can maintain their constant body temperature.

Question 3. What are the components of the transport system in highly organised plants?

Answer 3 In highly organised plants, there are two different types of conducting tissues − xylem and phloem.

(i) Xylem conducts water and minerals obtained from the soil (via roots) to the rest of the plant. 

(ii) Phloem transports amino acids and food materials from the leaves to different parts of the plant body.

Question 4. How are water and minerals transported in plants?

Answer 4 The components of xylem tissue (tracheids and vessels) of roots, stems and leaves are interconnected to form a continuous system of water conducting channels that reaches all parts of the plant. Transpiration creates a suction pressure, as a result of which water is forced into the xylem cells of the roots. Then there is a steady movement of water from the root xylem to all the plant parts through the interconnected water conducting channels.

Question 5. How is food transported in plants?

Answer 5 Phloem transports food materials from the leaves to different parts of the plant body. The transportation of food in phloem is achieved by utilising energy from ATP. As a result of this, the osmotic pressure in the tissue increases causing water to move into it. This pressure moves the material in the phloem to the tissues which have less pressure. This is helpful in moving materials according to the needs of the plant. For example, the food material, such as sucrose, is transported into the phloem tissue using ATP energy.

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Question 1. Describe the structure and functioning of nephrons.

Answer 1 Nephrons are the basic filtering units of kidneys. Each kidney possesses large number of nephrons.

Functioning of a nephron:

(i) The blood enters the kidney through the renal artery, which branches into many capillaries associated with glomerulus.

(ii) The water and solute are transferred to the nephron at Bowman’s capsule.

(iii) In the proximal tubule, some substances such as amino acids, glucose, and salts are selectively reabsorbed and unwanted molecules are added in the urine.

(iv) The filtrate then moves down into the loop of Henle , where more water is absorbed.

(v) From here, the filtrate moves upwards into the distal tubule and finally to the collecting duct. Collecting duct collects urine from many nephrons.

(vi) The urine formed in each kidney enters a long tube called ureter. From ureter, it gets transported to the urinary bladder and then into the urethra.

Question 2. What are the methods used by plants to get rid of excretory products?

Answer 2 Plants use completely different strategies for excretion than those of animals. They can get rid of excess water by transpiration. For other wastes, plants use the fact that many of their tissues consist of dead cells, and that they can even lose some parts such as leaves. Many plant waste products are stored in cellular vacuoles. Waste products may be stored in leaves that fall off. Other waste products are stored as resins and gums, especially in old xylem. Plants also excrete some waste substances into the soil around them.

Question 3. How is the amount of urine produced regulated?

Answer 3 The amount of urine produced depends on the amount of excess water and dissolved wastes present in the body. Some other factors such as habitat of an organism and hormone such as Antidiuretic hormone (ADH) also regulates the amount of urine produced.

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Question 1. The kidneys in human beings are a part of the system for
(a) nutrition.
(b) respiration.
(c) excretion.
(d) transportation.

Answer 1: (c) excretion

In human beings, the kidneys are a part of the system for excretion.

Question 2. The xylem in plants are responsible for
(a) transport of water.
(b) transport of food.
(c) transport of amino acids.
(d) transport of oxygen.

Answer 2: (a) transport of water

In a plant, the xylem is responsible for transport of water.

Question 3. The autotrophic mode of nutrition requires
(a) carbon dioxide and water.
(b) chlorophyll.
(c) sunlight.
(d) all of the above.

Answer 3: (d) all of the above.

The autotrophic mode of nutrition requires carbon dioxide, water, chlorophyll and sunlight.

Question 4. The breakdown of pyruvate to give carbon dioxide, water and energy takes place in
(a) cytoplasm.
(b) mitochondria.
(c) chloroplast.
(d) nucleus.

Answer 4: (b) mitochondria

The breakdown of pyruvate to give carbon dioxide, water and energy takes place in mitochondria.

Question 5. How are fats digested in our bodies? Where does this process take place?

Answer 5 Fats are present in the form of large globules in the small intestine.The small intestine gets the secretion in the form of bile juice from the liver and the pancreas.The bile salts break down the large fat globules into smaller globules so that the pancreatic enzymes can easily act on them.This is referred to as emulsification of fats.It take place in small intestine. 

Question 6. What is the role of saliva in the digestion of food?

Answer 6 Saliva moistens the food which help in chewing and breaking of the food particles into smaller ones. It contains salivary amylase (also called ptyalin) which is capable of breaking down starch into simpler sugars such as maltose and dextrin that can be further broken down in the small intestine.

Question 7. What are the necessary conditions for autotrophic nutrition and what are its byproducts?

Answer 7 (i) The necessary conditions for autotrophic nutrition are sunlight, chlorophyll, carbon dioxide and water.
(ii) The by-products are carbohydrates in the form of starch and oxygen.

Question 8. What are the differences between aerobic and anaerobic respiration? Name some organisms that use the anaerobic mode of respiration.

Answer 8 

Aerobic respiration	Anaerobic respiration
(1) It takes place in the presence of oxygen.	It takes place in the absence of oxygen.
(2) In aerobic respiration, complete oxidation of glucose take place.	In anaerobic respiration, the glucose molecule is incompletely oxidised.
(3) End products are CO2 and water.	End products are either ethyl alcohol or lactic acid and CO2.
(4) Lots of energy is liberated (38 ATP).	Relatively small energy liberated (2 ATP).
(5) It occurs in plant’s and animal cells.	Occurs in many anaerobic bacteria and human muscle cells.
(6) C6H12O6 + O2 → 6CO2 + 6H2O + 686 Kcal	C6H12O6→ 2C2H5O6 + 2CO2 + 56 Kcal

Question 9. How are the alveoli designed to maximise the exchange of gases?

Answer 9 The alveoli are the small balloon-like structures present in the lungs. The walls of the alveoli consist of extensive network of blood vessels. Each lung contains 300−350 million alveoli, making it a total of approximately 700 million in both the lungs. The alveolar surface when spread out covers about 80 m² area. This large surface area makes the gaseous exchange more efficient.

Question 10. What would be the consequences of a deficiency of haemoglobin in our bodies?

Answer 10 Haemoglobin is the respiratory pigment that transports oxygen to the body cells for cellular respiration. Therefore, deficiency of haemoglobin in blood can affect the oxygen supplying capacity of blood. This can lead to deficiency of oxygen in the body cells. It can also lead to a disease called anaemia.

Question 11. Describe double circulation of blood in human beings. Why is it necessary?

Answer 11 The human heart is divided into four chambers − the right atrium, the right ventricle, the left atrium and the left ventricle. Oxygen-rich blood from the lungs comes to the thin-walled upper chamber of the heart on the left, the left atrium. The left atrium relaxes when it is collecting this blood. It then contracts, while the next chamber, the left ventricle, expands, so that the blood is transferred to it. When the muscular left ventricle contracts in its turn, the blood is pumped out to the body. Because both oxygen and carbon dioxide have to be transported by the blood, the heart has different chambers to prevent the oxygen-rich blood from mixing with the blood containing carbon dioxide.

De-oxygenated blood comes from the body to the upper chamber on the right, the right atrium, as it expands. As the right atrium contracts, the corresponding lower chamber, the right ventricle, dilates. This transfers blood to the right ventricle, which in turn pumps it to the lungs for oxygenation. During this process blood goes twice through the heart. That’s why it is known as double circulation.

Double Circulation is necessary: The separation of oxygenated and de-oxygenated blood allows a more efficient supply of oxygen to the body cells. This efficient system of oxygen supply is very useful in warm-blooded animals such as human beings. As we know, warm-blooded animals have to maintain a constant body temperature by cooling themselves when they are in a hotter environment and by warming their bodies when they are in a cooler environment. Hence, they require more O2 for more respiration so that they can produce more energy to maintain their body temperature. Thus, the circulatory system of humans is more efficient because of the double circulatory heart.

Question 12. What are the differences between the transport of materials in xylem and phloem?

Answer 12 Difference between Xylem and Phloem:

S No.	Xylem	Phloem
(i)	Xylem tissue helps in the transport of water and minerals.	Phloem tissue helps in the transport of food.
(ii)	Water is transported upwards from roots to all other plant parts.	Food is transported in both upward and downward directions.
(iii)	Transport in xylem occurs with the help of simple physical forces such as transpiration pull.	Transport of food in phloem requires energy in the form of ATP.

Question 13. Compare the functioning of alveoli in the lungs and nephrons in the kidneys with respect to their structure and functioning.

Answer 13 

S No.	Alveoli	Nephrons
(i)	Alveoli are tiny balloon-like structures present inside the lungs.	Nephrons are tubular   structures present inside the kidneys.
(ii)	The walls of the alveoli are one cell thick and it contains an extensive network of blood capillaries.	Nephrons are made of glomerulus, bowman’s capsule, and a long renal tube. It also contains a cluster of thin walled capillaries.
(iii)	The exchange of O2 and CO2 takes place between the blood of the capillaries that surround the alveoli and the gases present in the alveoli.	The blood enters the kidneys through the renal artery which branches into many capillaries in the glomerulus. The nitrogenous waste in the form of urine is collected by collecting duct.
(iv)	Alveoli are the site of gaseous exchange.	Nephrons are the basic filtration unit.