Life Process Notes

Life Process

- Introduction to Life and Movement

- Observations of living beings such as dogs, cows, and humans show movement, breathing, and growth as evidence of

life.

- Even when animals or humans are asleep, their breathing and internal processes continue, indicating they are alive.

- Plants are considered alive due to growth and other processes, even if they are not visibly moving.

- Visible movement is not the sole indicator of life; molecular movements within cells are also crucial.

- Molecular movements, such as those of molecules and ions, are necessary for life processes; viruses lack visible

molecular movement and are debated as living or non-living entities.

- Living organisms are structurally well-organized; maintaining this order requires continuous repair and molecular

movement.

- Why Molecular Movements Are Necessary for Life

- Living structures are organized into tissues and cells, which depend on constant molecular activity for maintenance

and repair.

- The organized structure tends to break down over time; hence, organisms must constantly repair these structures.

- Molecular movement involves transporting molecules, nutrients, and waste, which is essential for sustaining life

functions.

- What Are Life Processes?

- Life processes are continuous functions that maintain the organism's health and structure, even during rest or sleep.

- They include nutrition, respiration, circulation, excretion, growth, and reproduction.

- These processes require energy, supplied from outside sources like food.

- Energy and Nutritional Processes

- Energy is essential for maintenance and all life activities; obtained through nutrition.

- Nutrition involves acquiring raw materials (such as nutrients and oxygen) and energy from external sources.

- Different organisms have different nutritional methods depending on their complexity and environment.

- Types of Nutrition

1. Autotrophic Nutrition

- Organisms like green plants and certain bacteria synthesize their food using sunlight (photosynthesis).

- Photosynthesis converts carbon dioxide and water into carbohydrates, storing energy.

- Stored carbohydrates (like starch) act as energy reserves.

- Photosynthesis involves key steps: light absorption by chlorophyll, conversion of light energy into chemical energy, and

reduction of carbon dioxide into carbohydrates.

- Plants take in carbon dioxide through stomata, which open and close based on need, regulated by guard cells.

- Plants also absorb water from soil via roots, containing essential minerals like nitrogen, phosphorus, iron, and

magnesium.

2. Heterotrophic Nutrition

- Organisms like animals and fungi depend on consuming complex organic substances prepared by autotrophs.

- They may break down food externally (fungi, bacteria) or internally (animals).

- Parasites derive nutrition without killing hosts (e.g., ticks, tapeworms).

- Digestive systems are specialized based on organism complexity; single-celled organisms use membrane extensions,

while multicellular organisms have specialized organs.

- Human digestion involves the alimentary canal, where food is chewed, mixed with saliva (containing salivary amylase),

then broken down by stomach acids and enzymes in the small intestine.

- Absorption occurs mainly in the small intestine, with increasing surface area; nutrients are transported via blood.

- Waste is expelled through the large intestine and anus.

- Respiration and Energy Release

- Glucose breakdown for energy occurs via aerobic or anaerobic respiration.

- Aerobic respiration uses oxygen, producing more energy (ATP), carbon dioxide, and water.

- Anaerobic respiration occurs without oxygen, producing less energy and by-products like ethanol or lactic acid, causing

cramps.

- ATP is the energy currency, generated during respiration, vital for all cellular activities.

- Fishes and terrestrial animals have specialized respiratory organs (gills and lungs) for gas exchange.

- Transport in Organisms

Circulatory System in Humans

- The heart, blood, and blood vessels form a system that transports oxygen, nutrients, and wastes.

- The heart has chambers (atria and ventricles) that pump oxygenated and deoxygenated blood separately, ensuring

high efficiency.

- The right side pumps blood to lungs; the left side pumps oxygen-rich blood to the body (double circulation).

- Blood vessels include arteries (carry blood away from the heart), veins (return blood to the heart), and capillaries

(exchange sites).

- Blood pressure is maintained within normal limits; excess can cause hypertension.

- Blood contains plasma, red blood cells (transport oxygen via hemoglobin), white blood cells, and platelets (clotting).

- Lymph transports excess tissue fluid and absorbed fats.

Transportation in Plants

- Roots absorb water and minerals from soil.

- Xylem vessels conduct water upward; transpiration (evaporation of water from leaves) creates suction to assist this

process.
 Life Process Notes

- Phloem transports products of photosynthesis (sugar, amino acids) from leaves to other parts (translocation), using

energy from ATP.

- The large surface area of alveoli in lungs maximizes gas exchange, with extensive blood vessel networks.

- Oxygen is carried by hemoglobin in blood; carbon dioxide is dissolved in plasma.

- Excretion of Metabolic Waste

- In humans, kidneys filter blood to produce urine, removing nitrogenous wastes (urea, uric acid) and excess water.

- The nephron is the basic filtration unit; reabsorption adjusts urine volume.

- Urine travels via ureters to the urinary bladder, then expelled through the urethra.

- Artificial kidneys (hemodialysis) can perform filtration for patients with kidney failure.

- Plants excrete waste through leaves, resins, and into the soil, and some wastes are stored in cellular vacuoles or as

resins.

- Summary and Key Points

- Movement, maintenance, nutrition, respiration, transport, and excretion are fundamental life processes.

- Organ donation can save lives, involving transplantation of organs like kidneys, heart, liver, etc.

- Proper functioning of these processes is vital for health and survival.